Characterized by pre-historic granite mountains and rock formations, The Black Hills are known for the stark and stunning beauty of the mountains, buttes, and caves that thread the region. For nature lovers, The Black Hills offer countless stunning wedding sites.
It also doesn’t hurt that the average cost of a wedding in the Black Hills is just $18,300 according to Wedding Report, so you can have a beautiful wedding without emptying your wallet.
Here are 10 of the best wedding venues in Black Hills, SD.
Dahl Arts Center
Built in 1974 as a gift to Rapid City by its namesake Arndt Dah, The Dahl Arts Center is a hub for arts, culture, education, and community in The Black Hills. If having your wedding surrounded by breathtaking works of art sounds like your dream wedding, then this is the venue for you.
The Dahl Center offers a space for every type of wedding. There is a grand ballroom with high ceilings, polished concrete floors, sensuous black velvet curtains, and a breathtaking view of downtown Rapid City. For something smaller and more intimate, there is the Mural room featuring a small collection of beautiful art in a quieter space that is also available for events.
All packages offer the use of the event center and lobby, a cash bar, non-alcoholic drinks, and a media package. Gallery access, tech staffing, extended access, and decorating services can be added on for a fee.
Pricing: $2,995 – $3,995
Capacity: 468
Find The Dahl Arts Center at The Dahl Arts Center or check out Facebook or Instagram.
City of Spearfish Tretheway Pavilion
A popular site for local events, The Wilbur S. Trethewey Pavilion could be the site of your dream wedding. Situated amidst the beauty of the main city park, there are both indoor and outdoor options for your ceremonies.
The pavilion features hardwood floors, high ceilings, and a stage; it is a blank canvas that you can use to create the ideal image of your wedding. You can also have your service outside with a beautiful, clear stream and shale rock for a stunning backdrop.
Pavilion rental includes the air-conditioned building, 350 folding chairs, 42 eight ft rectangular tables, six four ft. round tables, and access to a standard kitchen, sound system, and stage.
Pricing: $500 – $3,000
Capacity: 350
Find City of Spearfish Trethewey Pavilion at City of Spearfish Trethewey Pavilion or check out Facebook or Instagram.
High Country Ranch
Pine-covered mountains and endless blue sky are just two of the many stunning features of High Country Ranch. Located in the Black Hills, this tranquil mountain meadow provides the perfect romantic backdrop for your wedding.
The natural High Country Theater seats 300 and offers an arresting view of the countryside for your wedding ceremony. After your “I do’s,” take some memorable photos throughout the endless picturesque sites of the property.
For indoor ceremonies or receptions, Dakota Hall is available. Spacious with high ceilings, polished concrete floors, and charming string lights, this banquet hall could be an ideal locale for your wedding or reception.
The rental fee includes a choice of sites for your wedding and reception, a honeymoon cabin on the wedding night, cash bar, one golf cart for bride and groom until dusk, a white wedding arbor, white folding chairs, and extra tables for cake and gifts.
Pricing: $5,500
Capacity: 300
Find High Country Ranch at High Country Ranch or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Black Hills Receptions & Rentals
Tucked away in the forest of the Black Hills, Black Hills Receptions & Rentals is a full-service wedding venue featuring beautiful and elegant ceremony sites set amidst nature’s beauty. Ideal for nature lovers, classic and ethereal this venue offers fanciful wedding locales such as Swan Point or The Cinderella Gazebo.
The Grand Gazebo sits in the midst of a fountain courtyard and is surrounded by a fairy garden. This mid-capacity space is equipped with heaters for the winter and a white satin tent to offer protection to your guest year round while you say your “I dos.
My favorite, Swan Point, a natural stage formed by an outcropping of moss rock, sits amidst a backdrop of beautiful Ponderosa Pine and colorful wildflowers. A redwood deck arena offers seating for up to 300 guests, and the site is equipped for music, lighting, and sound.
A third option is the charming Cinderella Gazebo. Ideal for intimate or boutique weddings, this delicate venue will make any bride feel like a princess.
The magical beauty of this site makes for some inspiring photo opportunities. With a fairy garden, wishing well, and a wooden bridge among your options. For the reception, an exquisite white tent is available. Lit with candles and chandeliers, this refined space welcomes your friends and family to party the night away.
The rental fee includes full coordination with caterers, cake designers, florists, ministers, and entertainment. Tables, chairs, linens, tableware, dance floor, and centerpieces are also available.
Pricing: contact venue
Capacity: 300
Find Black Hills Receptions & Rental at Black Hills Receptions & Rentals or check out Instagram.
Homestake Opera House
Described as The Jewel of the Black Hills, Homestake Opera House is another stunning option for your wedding. Built as a gift to the community in 1914, Homestake Opera was an elegant and gorgeous building offering a glamorous experience to all who attended performances there.
After nearly a hundred years of performances, a fire swept through the opera, destroying it; however, it has been painstakingly restored to preserve the original opulence of the building.
The beautifully restored theater seats 466 people and will lend a stunning grandeur to your ceremony. With carved frescos, a magnificent crystal chandelier, and pitch-perfect sound, you can’t go wrong choosing their stage to host your ceremony.
While they don’t offer reception space, there are multiple photo sites, such as the grand staircase with gleaming golden wood or the historic courtyard.
Rental packages include eight to twelve hours of wedding and rehearsal time in the theater, use of sound & lighting, and full use of the bridal suite. Cocktail service can be added for a fee.
Pricing: $2,000
Capacity: 466
Find Homestake Opera House at Homestake Opera House or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Generations Weddings & Events
Built for weddings and weddings, only Generations Weddings & Events is a great choice to host the ceremony of your dreams. With multiple outdoor sites and a spacious reception hall, Generations has plenty to offer.
Lush and green the rolling acres surrounding the event hall are perfect for outdoor weddings. Fully customizable the property can be decorated in a multitude of styles to create an idyllic wedding venue. Generations is ready to be transformed into your ideal wedding venue.
After your “I do’s,” head on over to their 4,000 sq. ft. reception hall. The barn-style reception hall offers soaring ceilings, gleaming timber beams, and delicate crystal chandeliers.
The simple pricing structure offers exclusive access to the grounds and reception hall, Generation’s staff, 60″ inch round tables with Chiavari chairs, bar and bartender during events, and commercialized catering space.
You’re free to use the caterer, DJ, or band of your choice and bring your own decorations.
Pricing: $4,500 – $6,000
Capacity: 200
Find Generations Weddings & Events at Generations Weddings & Events or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Elk Creek Resort & Lodge
Situated in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Elk Creek resort is close to many local attractions such as the Petrified Forest, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Devil’s Tower. This 150-acre resort offers two breathtaking outdoor wedding venues and some really fun options for your reception.
If you have your wedding at Elk Creek, you can have it in The Petrified Forest or Deerview Meadow. The Petrified Forest is ancient and ethereal, filled with fossilized trees, and will make a stunning and timeless backdrop for your nuptials. Deerview meadow boasts a shimmering pond and shady majestic oaks, making it an excellent choice for a romantic outdoor wedding.
After saying your “I dos,” there are many charming outdoor features for photos, including the pond, a creek, and the pines.
Weddings at Elk Creek can be a simple use of the outdoor space or full-service events. You have the option of hosting your reception at The Lodge & Patio.
Rustic with a charming, homey feel, The Lodge & Patio offers catering and a full-service bar. This space has a dining room, lounge area with fireplace, game room with piano, and banquet tables with chairs.
Elk Creek Resort does require the use of their alcohol and bartenders, but you are free to provide your own catering.
Pricing: $400 -$2,850
Capacity:200
Find Elk Creek Resort at Elk Creek Resort or check out Facebook.
Alex Johnson Weddings
Described as “the showplace of the west,” the beautiful Alex Johnson hotel has stood the test of time as a grand destination of The Black Hills. Built in 1927, blending German Tudor and Lakota influences, this venue has much to offer any couple looking for someplace to host their wedding.
Alex Johnson offers several event rooms with a capacity range of 50 – 300. The rooms are elegant, refined and can be decorated to suit your taste. Regardless of which size ballroom you choose, they all offer an easel, stage, cake-cutting service, full bar, and dance floor.
Before the wedding, relax with their spa and salon services or take a trip to the Vertex Sky Bar. Afterward, take some pictures with the beauty of twinkling city lights behind you.
Base wedding packages with Alex Johnson include reception time, table linens, napkins and skirting, set-up and tear down, and tableware. Upgrades offer overnight accommodations for the bride and groom and a champagne toast for guests.
Price: $2,500 – $3,500
Capacity: 250
Find Alex Johnson Hotel at Alex Johnson Hotel or check out Facebook.
The Barn at Aspen Acres
Built for her own wedding, Tia Berens offers The Barn at Aspen Acres for your ideal wedding as well. Unique in the Black Hills, The Barn is modern, spacious, and elegant while providing the open, minimal design that makes a barn an excellent choice for weddings.
The 4,900 sq ft. open-air banquet hall features floor-to-ceiling windows, crystal chandelier lighting and is a wide open space waiting to be decorated and transformed for your special day. If you prefer an outdoor wedding, you can choose The Rolling Hills Lawn or Crows Peak View; both are lush, green, and picturesque.
The rental cost includes 15 hours at The Barn, tables, and chairs for 400 guests, onsite parking, ceremony site with arbor, bridal suite, prep kitchen, and cash bar.
Pricing: $3,500
Capacity: 400
Find The Barn at Aspen Acres at The Barn at Aspen Acres or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Custer State Park Resort
Sprawling across 71,000 acres, Custer State Park features some of the most stunning landscapes in the continental United States. Granite peaks of staggering size dominate the skyline while rolling plains and forests offer a habitat for buffalo, deer, the endangered black-footed ferret, and many more. If you’re a nature lover, this spectacular wedding venue is everything you’ve dreamed of.
With nine unique wedding venues, the park has a site for every type of wedding, indoor, outdoor, intimate or expansive the Custer State Park Resort has got you covered.
Green outdoor sites like the elegant Lover’s Leap deck offer unlimited capacity, while smaller sites like Coolidge Creekside Lawn are perfect for intimate affairs. Both are just two of many options. Both are within walking distance to indoor reception sites and feature unique green spaces.
If you prefer an indoor ceremony, you have options like the State Game Lodge, The Pavilion, or The State Game Lodge Event Barn. All are modern, spacious facilities with capacities ranging from 50 – 350.
Once you’ve said your “I dos,” you’ll have access to numerous natural features for memorable photos. Mountains, hills, streams, creeks, and ponds are just some of what you’ll find in this park. From there, you can head to one of the many reception sites. Outdoor receptions can be held on one of the lawns, or choose one of the six indoor options.
All packages include the wedding and reception site of your choice, custom set-up and tear-down, tableware, linens, cake cutting set, head table skirt, day of the banquet, bartending staff, and facility clean-up; upgrades are available.
Pricing: contact the venue
Capacity: 300+
Find Custer State Park Resort at Custer State Park Resort or check out Facebook.
