Boasting historic architecture, breathtaking green spaces, and pleasant year-round weather, Indianapolis bubbles over with outdoor wedding venues to please.
You have your pick from chic rooftop lounges, verdant gardens, or even sophisticated vineyards. And that’s just scratching the surface!
Plus, wedding costs here are on par with the national average with the average couple spending $27,997 on their 2021 wedding.
This means that you’ll have plenty of money left over for the important things in life, like an extravagant honeymoon and vacation!
If you’re still interested, here are the 10 best outdoor wedding venues in Indianapolis.
Finley Creek Vineyards
If you’d like to escape Indianapolis’ fast-paced city living, then Finley Creek Vineyards is a great wedding venue to consider. This natural oasis provides the means to host a quaint, countryside wedding that you and your love will remember forever.
You can exchange your vows on a lush lawn covered in native flowers and vines, and your altar will be marked by a stunning wood pergola.
When it’s time for your reception, you can venture inside the property’s main barn, which features high ceilings with exposed beams, crystal chandeliers, and plenty of space for dining and dancing.
One thing that sets Finely Creek Vineyards apart from other venues is its dedication to sustainable gardening and food production.
Since the venue handles all food and drink options, you can rest easy knowing that you’re dealing with a business that cares about our beautiful planet.
Price Range: $2,800 – $4,200 for venue rental; add-ons extra.
Capacity: Up to 250 guests.
Find Finley Creek Vineyards at Finley Creek Vineyards or check out Facebook.
The Indianapolis Public Library
Whether you’re an avid reader looking to wed amid a sea of books or just want to exchange your vows in a gorgeous, ornate space, The Indianapolis Public Library has you covered.
This grand and elegant building has stood for over a century and offers several breathtaking spaces to serve your wedding activities.
Start your day by taking wedding photos at the entrance, marked by limestone columns that hold up the stately building.
For an outdoor wedding ceremony, you’ll venture out into the East Garden, an oval-shaped garden enclosed by towering trees. You can say “I do” underneath the covering of a charming flower-adorned pergola.
Your reception can take place in one of two indoor places, but if you want an outdoor feel then the Atrium is the place for you. This space spans 13,000 feet and features stunning arched decor, floor-to-ceiling glass walls, and an intricate spiral staircase at the center.
Another great ceremony option is the Simon Reading Room, a grandiose event space that boasts high ceilings, two marble staircases, and real oak floors.
Price Range: $3,500 – $5,500 for venue rental; add-ons extra.
Capacity: Up to 450 guests.
Find the Indianapolis Public Library at the Indianapolis Public Library or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Willows
The Willows is a lakefront venue that’s perfect for a fairy tale wedding. This property spans 20 acres and offers expansive views of Spirit Lake, manicured lawns, 100-year-old trees, and lush flowers.
For an outdoor ceremony, you have three spaces you can utilize for your wedding activities:
The Lakefront Garden is a romantic space located right next to Spirit Lake. It features a stone-lined path, flanked on both sides by white garden chairs. At the altar sits a crisp white pergola sitting underneath century-old trees.
You can also exchange your vows in the Terrace Garden, a similar space with a charming path, wooden pergola, and stone accents scattered about.
For your reception, you can head to one of the decks or patios, which features outdoor fireplaces, colorful flowers, and gorgeous views of the property.
Just in case the weather doesn’t hold up, The Willows offers indoor venues, including The Lodge and a grand, ornate ballroom.
Wedding packages include the ceremony and reception space, a wedding day coordinator, and decorations.
Plus, the venue offers access to bride suites and groom cottages.
Price Range: $2,500 – $3,000 venue rental; $8,000 – $12,000 food and drink minimum.
Capacity: Up to 300 guests.
Find The Willows at The Willows or check out Facebook or Instagram.
JPS Events at Regions Tower
JPS Events at Regions Tower is one of Indianapolis’s premier destinations for chic, upscale events. If that’s how you’ve always envisioned your wedding, then this could be the venue for you.
Over the years, this venue has hosted numerous celebrity music acts, branded events such as the iHeart Radio Big Game Party, and, of course, weddings! So you can rest assured that your event will be in good hands.
While Regions Tower does offer indoor spaces, outdoor ceremonies take place on the rooftop. And honestly, what could be better? After you’ve exchanged vows, you can dance the night away overlooking the illuminated Indianapolis skyline.
Rentals include the event spaces, wedding planning services, tables, chairs, linens, silverware, votive candles, day-of coordinators, outdoor lights, and suites for the bride and groom.
Price Range: $6,500- $21,000, depending on the day.
Capacity: Up to 400 guests.
Find JPS Events at Regions Tower at JPS Events at Regions Tower or check out Instagram.
The Indianapolis Zoo
While a zoo might not be a traditional wedding location, it actually makes for a great outdoor wedding venue. Yes, really! A zoo usually contains gorgeous green spaces that offer scenic views and plenty of space to accommodate large numbers of guests.
This applies tenfold to the Indianapolis Zoo, which not only offers gorgeous views of its property but also of the surrounding skyline and water features!
Spanning 64 acres, this sprawling space has three outdoor venues available for rent:
The Bicentennial Pavilion is a unique outdoor space made up of wooden pods that are meant to mimic the feel of being underneath a forest’s canopy. Its unique designs allow you to enjoy splendid views of the surrounding property while insulating you from inclement weather.
The Hulman Riverhouse is technically an indoor space but floor-to-ceiling windows allow natural light to flood in and make you feel like you’re out outdoors.
Finally, the Efroymson Wedding Garden is a spherical garden space that features a wooden trellis and manicured flowers and foliage.
Rentals include the event space, reception area, and covered outdoor space. All catering must go through the facility’s in-house caterers, though you’re allowed to bring a wedding cake if you so choose.
Price Range: Contact the venue for a quote.
Capacity: Up to 450 guests.
Find The Indianapolis Zoo at The Indianapolis Zoo or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Avon Gardens
Garden venues are plentiful throughout the world, but there’s something particularly special about Avon Gardens. From top to bottom, this dreamy natural oasis evokes fairy tale charm and splendor.
You can start your day by taking wedding photos set against any number of green spaces, including gentle flowing creeks, flower-scattered lawns, and long, meandering pathways.
After, you will exchange vows on a private lawn, which features Maple trees adorned with lanterns and a pathway decorated with white flowers.
After the ceremony, you and your guests will travel through the garden’s charming grounds — which include ponds and waterfalls– until you arrive at the reception space. It’s an outdoor area covered by white tents and surrounded by vibrant blooms.
And while all weddings here benefit from the natural splendor, evening and nighttime weddings are set aglow by lanterns and natural light, adding an extra special luster.
This particular venue makes allowances for outside caterers and also provides bride and groom suites, an outdoor bar, and free decorations!
Price Range: $4,000 – $5,000.
Capacity: Up to 250 guests.
Find Avon Gardens at Avon Gardens or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Plum Creek Golf Club
Plum Creek Golf Club is a famed Golf Club that’s hosted several industry events over the years. During downtime, it also doubles as a surprisingly affordable wedding venue.
Here, you can take advantage of both inside and outdoor event spaces for all of your wedding activities.
Boasting acres of verdant lawns and scenery, and an elegant club to use as a backdrop, this golf club offers numerous spots to take breathtaking wedding photos.
After, you can hold your ceremony right on the golf course, where you’ll be surrounded by picturesque scenery. The aisle is flanked on both sides by chairs, adorned with colorful ribbons. The altar is marked by a white archway and beautiful flowers.
You can hold your reception inside the club’s banquet hall, a sweeping space with high ceilings and plenty of space for dancing and dining.
Wedding packages include a five-hour rental, tables, chairs, accessories, an event coordinator, a bridal suite, and a special bridal golf cart.
This venue even offers a complimentary golf round for the groom and three of his friends!
Price Range: $500- $1,500.
Capacity: Up to 200 guests.
Find Plum Creek Golf Club at Plum Creek Golf Club or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Indianapolis Arts Center
The Indianapolis Arts Center is a non-profit foundation that uses art to unite its community. However, its gorgeous grounds also make it a popular wedding venue in Indianapolis.
This creative space offers several indoor and outdoor venues to host all of your wedding festivities:
Most outdoor ceremonies take place in Arts Park, a whimsical sculpture garden that spans nine acres and offers picturesque views of the White River.
One highlight of this space is a gorgeous spherical stone feature that can act as the perfect backdrop for your photos. This space also boasts a riverfront deck — a great spot for a chic, upscale reception.
This venue notably offers several, unique indoor spaces for not only your ceremony and reception, just in case the weather doesn’t hold up.
The best part about hosting your wedding here is that the art installations offer built-in enrichment for you and your guests.
Price Range: $500 – $600 depending on the venue.
Capacity: Up to 150 guests.
Find The Indianapolis Art Center at The Indianapolis Art Center or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Indiana Roof Ballroom
The Indiana Roof Ballroom is technically an indoor wedding venue, but once you read about all of its wonderful details, you’ll understand why it sits among these great outdoor spaces.
This ballroom was built to mimic a European Village. A 15,000-square-foot space boasting soaring ceilings with red-tiled tiles and chateau-esque walls, this venue will trick your mind into believing your wedding is set in a courtyard.
Little details, such as shrubbery, lamp posts, and tiled floors, really bring the space together. The absolute best part is the ceiling, which electric lights help transform into a dramatic star-filled sky.
Rentals include a six-hour time slot, tables, chairs, flatware, silverware, and onsite caterers.
Price Range: $1,200 – $1,800 venue rental; $12,000 – $18,000 food and beverage minimum.
Capacity: 100 – 1,500 guests.
Find The Indiana Roof Ballroom at The Indiana Roof Ballroom or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Montage
If quality food is as high on your list of priorities as gorgeous views, then Montage might be the wedding venue for you!
The owners started a catering business, and once their customers inquired about them hosting larger events, they expanded into a full-scale operation.
There are several indoor and outdoor spaces for you to take advantage of:
For an outdoor option, you can exchange your vows on top of lush lawns as you and your guests bask in the beauty of the lake. The ceremony site includes a stunning rectangular pergola, draped in flowers and vines. You can also flip this space into a reception spot.
If you’d rather head indoors, but still want to feel like you’re outside, then you can head to the Chardonnay room, a stunning glass enclosure that offers panoramic views of the property.
Wedding packages include event specialists, tables, chairs, in-house catering services, a buttercream wedding cake, a dance floor, and even setup.
You can access a bride and groom’s suite for an additional charge.
Price Range: $4,650 – $34,840, depending upon the number of guests and which tiered wedding package you choose.
Capacity: 30 – 600 guests, depending on the venue.
