Louisville may be known as the home of the famous Kentucky Derby and boxer Muhammad Ali, but it’s also a gorgeous city filled with history and natural beauty. That’s what makes it the perfect city to get married in the outdoors!
And Louisville has tons of options, from farms to rooftops and botanical gardens—perfect for nuptials surrounded by natural beauty.
In Louisville, the total cost spent on a wedding was $24,415 in 2021, which ranks it on the lower end of the most expensive states to get married.
But the lower price tag doesn’t mean you’re losing out on any beauty or having a stunning and unique venue. Couples will get lots of bang for their buck with one-of-a-kind venues that won’t take from their honeymoon fund.
Blooming flowers, waterfront views, and cityscapes can be the backdrop to your wedding ceremony and reception. Check out the best outdoor wedding venues in Louisville, Kentucky.
Blackacre State Nature Preserve and Historic Homestead
Blackacre State Nature Preserve aims to preserve the rich rural land that Kentucky was once known for. This venue spreads out over 600 acres and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1986.
The fields and woods remain nearly the same as they did 200 years ago.
All of this lush greenery and historic preserve made this a gorgeous setting to host an outdoor ceremony. You have the option of hosting your wedding on the grounds outside the barn, the nature center, and the meadows.
You won’t need to do much decorating because of the venue’s natural beauty. You may bring a tent for the reception and decorate it with flowers or vines.
Blackacre State Nature Preserve and Historic Homestead is a dream venue for couples looking to add rustic influences into their wedding design.
Price Range: $300 to $900 (day rate), $18 to $80 (hourly rate).
Capacity: Up to 50 guests indoors and 300 guests outdoors.
Find Blackacre State Nature Preserve and Historic Homestead at Blackacre State Nature Preserve and Historic Homestead or check out Facebook.
21c Museum Hotel
Artistic and modem, the 21c Museum Hotel is an art gallery and boutique hotel located in historic Downtown Louisville.
Inside also includes an award-winning restaurant, which will cater for the wedding with breakfast, lunch, and dinner packages included in the venue cost. The space is cool and chic, offering couples a unique and creative location to host their nuptials.
21c Museum Hotel can also host other wedding events like the rehearsal dinner alongside the ceremony and reception. And with a variety of luxurious event locations, couples will be able to choose which space best fits their wedding vibe.
Couples have the choice of marrying in one of the galleries, in a large atrium, or on the rooftop.
The newlyweds also have the option of staying in the rooftop honeymoon suite to celebrate their first night as a married couple. The hotel also has over ninety rooms to allow your guests to stay nearby for all the wedding events.
Price Range: $16,000 to $18,000.
Capacity: Up to 450 guests.
Find 21c Museum Hotel at 21c Museum Hotel or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Oxmoor Farm
If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind wedding at a venue that your guests probably haven’t been to, then Oxmoor Farm might be the perfect wedding venue in Louisville for you. Oxmoor Farm is a private estate that isn’t open to the public and only does a few events each year.
The venue does very little marketing, so stumbling upon this venue is often a gift for engaged couples. Oxmoor Farm has acres of lush green grass, beautiful gardens, and tree-lined pathways.
Have your wedding out in the garden and enjoy a tented reception in the nearby fields. Or, choose a more intimate wedding and reception inside the gorgeous library.
The venue provides a list of suggested and preferred vendors, including those that have worked with the venue before.
Pice Range: $7,300 to $15,000.
Capacity: Up to 500 guests outside and 120 guests in the library.
Find Oxmoor Farm at Oxmoor Farm or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Waterfront Botanical Gardens
Elegant and modern, Waterfront Botanical Gardens sits on the banks of the Ohio River and provides couples with gorgeous blooms to be the backdrop of their ceremony.
On the grounds, guests can explore the winding paths of the park and water features among bright flowers and natural light.
Waterfront Botanical Gardens can host large intimate gatherings or intimate, cozy affairs. Host your ceremony on the patio that overlooks Beargrass Creek.
The West and South Plaza can accommodate tents for larger outdoor ceremonies and receptions.
Price Range: $2,000 to $5,000.
Capacity: Up to 250 guests.
Find the Waterfront Botanical Gardens at Waterfront Botanical Gardens or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Henry Clay
With timeless elegance and historical beauty, The Henry Clay is at the heart of Downtown Louisville and a part of the National Registry for Historic Places. Your guests will be wowed by the restored original architecture of this classic venue.
The Henry Clay has a gorgeous outdoor courtyard that comes with the rental of the Beaux Arts Ballroom. It’ll be the perfect location for an airy and intimate ceremony or reception.
You’ll be surrounded by the original brick of the building, and warm, twinkling string lights will illuminate the space.
Price Range: $2,000 to $8,000.
Venue capacity: Up to 75 guests.
Find The Henry Clay at The Henry Clay or check out Facebook.
Speed Art Museum
For couples looking for a sleek and elegant outdoor venue, the Speed Art Museum is a gorgeous venue that marries classic and contemporary aesthetics.
The two-floor atrium is a gorgeous location for a ceremony or reception.
But its outdoor spaces like the Art Park, the Grand Lawn, and the South Courtyard are the standout backdrops for this venue. The Art Park features contemporary art among the lush green grounds.
The Grand Lawn sits in front of the original 1927 buildings. And the South Courtyard provides an intimate setting with tiered seating built-in.
Price Range: $2,000 to $5,000.
Capacity: Up to 300 guests
Find Speed Art Museum at Speed Art Museum or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Louisville Zoo
For couples with a wild side or lovers of animals, the Louisville Zoo is a fun option. From sea lions to gorillas to tigers, you can surround yourself with your favorite animals by exploring the exhibits throughout the park.
There are four exhibits you can host your ceremony in. The Islands is a multi-exhibit habitat that mimics an Indonesian village. The Gorilla Forest is lush and green, while Glacier Run shows off the arctic wilderness.
The African Savannah is the perfect location to enjoy the sunset. At the Louisville Zoo, you’ll be able to wow your human guests as some animal friends join in on your wedding celebration.
Price Range: Starts at $1,200.
Capacity: Up to 400 guests.
Find the Louisville Zoo at Louisville Zoo or check out Instagram.
Whitehall House and Gardens
Whitehall House and Gardens provide a lovely elegance to any wedding ceremony. You’ll enjoy the historic elegance of the 19th-century mansion on the expansive estate. But for an outdoor ceremony, couples will love the gardens and grounds.
You can set up an open-air tent to create an intimate ceremony or reception space outdoors, and take photos among the lush green foliage and blossoming flowers.
The Gardens include the romantic Formal Garden and the Garden Terrace. Whitehall House and Gardens’ expansive grounds make this a gorgeous outdoor wedding venue all year round.
Price Range: $500 to $4,500.
Capacity: Up to 200 guests.
Find Whitehall House and Gardens at Whitehall House and Gardens or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Frazier History Museum
An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the Frazier History Museum sits in the West Main District of Downtown Louisville. The venue provides a unique wedding experience for all of their couples.
The Rooftop Garden has stunning, panoramic views of the city and the Ohio River. Blooming seasonal flowers will line the edges of the rooftop.
What makes this venue even more unique is the on-site speakeasy hidden behind a fake wall. This is the perfect location for your guest to enjoy a cocktail hour while the wedding party takes photos.
The Gateway Garden is a secluded area perfect for intimate wedding ceremonies surrounded by lush foliage.
Price Range: $2,000 to $7,500.
Capacity: Up to 250 guests.
Find Frazier History Museum at Frazier History Museum or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Historic Locust Grove
A 1792 Georgian mansion will be the backdrop of an outdoor wedding at Historic Locust Grove. This venue is a National Historic Landmark and is beautifully preserved to feature architecture from early Kentucky on 55 rolling acres.
Historic Locust Grove has a pavilion, formal garden, and porch of the house that can host your ceremony and reception. A lush green lawn and trees in the distance will provide a year-round beautiful wedding venue for a ceremony and reception.
Tents with string lights can be set up in the garden for evening events.
Price Range: $600 to $4,000.
Capacity: Up to 500 guests.
Find Historic Locust Grove at Historic Locust Grove or check out Facebook.
Hazelnut Farm
Secluded in the country, Hazelnut Farm is a gorgeous rustic venue with rolling hills, blooming gardens, and a private lake. The venue boasts itself as a barn meets ballroom, providing elegance like chandeliers to the traditional country barn.
You can get married on the covered patio with the rolling hills and trees in the background. The barn has French doors that open out to the patio so you can have an indoor-outdoor event if desired.
The venue has on-site accommodations for ten guests, which is perfect for the wedding party to stay overnight to be close to the wedding events. Host a rehearsal dinner or morning-after brunch on the porch of the main house.
Price Range: $4,500 to $11,500.
Capacity: Up to 350 guests.
Find Hazelnut Farm at Hazelnut Farm or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Sawyer Hayes Community Center
Located in the E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park, the Sawyer Hayes Community Center offers a beautiful and lush outdoor setting for your wedding. The venue is located only fifteen minutes from Downtown Lousiville.
The sprawling lawn has a wood pergola that will look stunning when draped with flowers and fabric. Sawyer Hayes Community Center offers a rustic and warm venue that will provide a cozy ambiance for intimate weddings and large events, no matter the season.
Sawyer Hayes Community Center has a list of approved caterers and vendors to make wedding planning easier for the couple.
Price Range: $2,000 to $3,000.
Capacity: Up to 400 guests.
Find Sawyer Hayes Community Center at Sawyer Hayes Community Center or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Yew Dell Botanical Gardens
Yew Dell Botanical Gardens is one of the most popular wedding venues in the city, and with good reason. The venue has a stunning setting filled with rare flowers that create a gorgeous backdrop to any wedding.
The grounds of Yew Dell Botanical Gardens have unique architecture, including a castle that makes for stunning portraits.
Host an outdoor ceremony in the Pavillion or amongst the flowers in the garden. Cocktail hour and the reception can be held on the stone terrace, which will create an intimate atmosphere to dance the night away with string lights twinkling up above.
Other door spaces for a ceremony or reception include the Event Lawn and the Rock House Terrace.
Price Range: $5,400 to $7,700.
Capacity: Up to 400 guests.
Find Yew Dell Botanical Gardens at Yew Dell Botanical Gardens or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Ice House
Ice House is a loft-style venue in the heart of Louisville. The backdrop for your ceremony will be a clean contemporary design and a panoramic city skyline view at this industrial venue.
Host your ceremony outdoors on the rooftop to take full advantage of the gorgeous city views. The Ice House is ideal for an evening or nighttime ceremony, where you can enjoy a lit-up Louisville from a birdseye view.
Ice House also has a terrace that’s ideal for an open-air cocktail hour. The surrounding brick buildings blend perfectly with the industrial style of the venue. Both outdoor areas have gardens with aromatic flowers that will be the perfect decorative accent on your wedding day.
Price Range: $2,280 to $2,850 for a four hour rental, additional hours for $250 an hour.
Capacity: Up to 300 guests.
Find Ice House at Ice House or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Peterson-Dumesnil House
A historic landmark that creates charm and magic for every event. The Peterson-Dumesnil House was originally built in 1896 as an Italian-style villa and has been providing an elegant backdrop for weddings.
It sits on four acres of land and provides a breathtaking venue from the inside out.
Outside, the garden space is ideal for a romantic and intimate ceremony. Peterson-Dumesnil House has covered areas to enjoy the fresh air while being protected from the elements. Tented events are also welcomed on the grounds.
They also have a catering partner to provide a delicious and customized meal that you and your guests can enjoy al fresco.
Venue cost: $15,305
Venue capacity: 500 guests
Find Peterson-Dumesnil House at Peterson-Dumesnil House or check out Facebook or Instagram.
