New Orleans is such a magical place to get married. You can have an artsy celebration that’s unique to you. It all starts with finding the right venue. These are the best New Orleans wedding venues for a quirky, cool celebration.

13+ of the Best New Orleans Wedding Venues

1. Pharmacy Museum

The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum is my most photographed venue, and I never get tired of documenting weddings there. 

As you first walk into the museum, you see all the old tinctures from the pharmacy. Wedding guests love the experience of looking through the collection as their first impression. 

Then you come out of that compressed area into the gorgeous open air courtyard. The courtyard is perfect for anything from an elopement to a small wedding of around 75 guests. I’ve seen couples line the aisle with antique rugs and epic floral installations. Sometimes people just leave it as is, and that’s stunning too.

Upstairs there’s a little balcony where I typically place a second photographer during the processional. That way you get a wide angle of the marriers coming down the aisle in the magical space.

Some features that make this one of the best New Orleans wedding venues include:

• An epic staircase

• Glowing strings of lights 

• An incredible team of women, including Ms. Tamme and Ms. Rose

You can see a complete wedding at the Pharmacy Museum at this blog post.

2. Music Box Village

This wedding venue is a full sensory experience for your guests! I’m planning my own wedding ceremony here because I love it so much. You’re transported when you walk in.

The Music Box Village is a collection of interactive structures. All of the structures make sounds, and the venue feels like an adult playground. Of all the best New Orleans wedding venues, this is one of the most unique.

I also love that you’re supporting a local nonprofit organization. The organization supports artists in creating collaborative installations. It gets the community involved in art in an innovative way.
Check out more from this Music Box Village wedding at this blog post.

3. BK House

BK House is easily one of my favorite venues in the French Quarter. It’s on the quieter side of the Quarter, surrounded by colorful buildings that make amazing backdrops. Anyone traveling to a wedding here feels like they’re stepping into another world in the courtyard. (Part of the TV series Interview with a Vampire got filmed here because the ambiance is so on point.)

There are two options for the ceremony: the garden or the back courtyard. Dinner usually is served buffet style inside. Dark florals and metallic highlights look amazing here.

You can see a Southern Gothic wedding at BK House at this blog post.

4. The Columns

The Columns is one of the best New Orleans wedding venues Uptown. It’s right on St. Charles in the Garden District. The gorgeous building has everything you could want out of a Southern mansion – a huge tiled porch with towering columns, elegant dining rooms, and pretty guest rooms where you can spend the weekend.

5. Hotel Peter and Paul

Hotel Peter and Paul is the Bywater’s artsy answer to the Columns. Everything is a work of art here. There are so many incredible vignettes to discover. Even if it rained the whole day, I could spend forever taking photos inside this hotel.

This hotel is one of the best New Orleans wedding venues because of its immaculate design. The food and hotel rooms are great too! The church-turned-venue is an unforgettable experience.

You can see an entire wedding at Hotel Peter and Paul in this blog post.

6. New Orleans Athletic Club

Even though New Orleans Athletic Club (NOAC) operates as a gym, you’d never know it from its event spaces. The brick courtyard gives you the feeling of being in your own world at your celebration. Strings of lights hang over the space, giving it a cozy glow. It’s a perfect canvas to create whatever you envision for your wedding day.

Check out a wedding reception at the New Orleans Athletic Club in this blog post. 

7. The Chloe

The Chloe is a boutique hotel Uptown. It’s one the best New Orleans wedding venues for lots of reasons. Hoteliers restored the historic mansion and added a gorgeous pool. The bar and restaurant serve decadent treats inspired by local tradition. A wedding at The Chloe is an intimate, elevated experience.

8. Race and Religious

Race and Religious is a complex of buildings constructed in the 1830s. Earthy pink tones dominate the space. The weathered wood doors and brick bring the full force of historic New Orleans charm. 

This is one of the most in-demand New Orleans wedding venues. It’s gorgeous during the day, but nighttime is my favorite. The lighting is fantastic. Everything feels warm and glowy. 

Your guests never run out of levels, areas, platforms, and angles to discover. You get a huge variety in your photo gallery. 

Also, there’s a pool!

Learn more about getting married at Race and Religious in this blog post.

9. Il Mercato

Il Mercato is a clean canvas to create whatever you have envisioned. The exterior has Spanish-style walls and roof tiles. Wild jasmine grows over the courtyard walls. The interior is beautiful, too. Even if it rains, you’ll be in good shape to have a great time.

See a stunning Il Mercato wedding in this blog post.

10. N7 

N7 is one of the best New Orleans wedding venues for marriers who want a cool, quirky experience. It’s more laidback, but that doesn’t mean you sacrifice aesthetics. The dining room is colorful with blue curtains, red walls, and wallpaper. 

The outdoor area is really charming. Plants and trees give it a lush feeling. Long wooden tables under string lights create an inviting atmosphere. It’s a great mix of indoor/outdoor space for your celebration.

11. New Orleans Botanical Garden

The New Orleans Botanical Garden is stunning. When you get married here, you get access to all the gardens. That means your celebration and photos have many different backdrops. Guests get to wander the gardens in the greenhouse and outdoors as well. 

The ceremonies I’ve photographed here have taken place under an epic oak tree. The conservatory and reflecting pool make your reception downright magical.

Check out a New Orleans Botanical Garden wedding at this blog post.

12. Derbes Mansion

Derbes Mansion may be towards the bottom of this post, but it’s one of my top picks for best New Orleans wedding venues! This Midcity venue is actually in my neighborhood. It’s a historic private home that has been perfectly preserved. Gilded mirrors, chandeliers, and stunning staircases make it an incredible place to take elegant photos. 

The outdoor area is amazing and gives you plenty of space for a good party. Lots of people opt to have their ceremony on the porch, too. Your guests will love it.

Take a look at a Derbes Mansion wedding in this blog post.

13. Bar Marilou 

Bar Marilou is one of the best New Orleans wedding venues for marriers looking for a speakeasy atmosphere for their intimate wedding. It’s a small, colorful space with 1920s-inspired decor. Consider it if you want your wedding day to feel like deep reds, velvet settees, and manhattans. 

14. Margaret Place

I love Margaret Place! If you get married here, you’ll have your ceremony and reception in the courtyard. Flowers and candles make the gazebo feel like a fairytale garden for your ceremony. Consider having a second line between your ceremony and reception while the venue flips the space.

Learn more about getting married at Margaret Place in this blog post.

Would you like me to photograph your wedding? I’m Ashley, a New Orleans wedding photographer embracing the color and energy in your wedding day. Inquire with me.