We have some pretty great wedding venues here in Huntsville Alabama - but some come with more challenges than others. We're here to share the inside scoop on helpful things to know before booking these local spots

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HUNTSVILLE BOTANICAL GARDEN

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The Pros​

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• Photo spots - there are no shortage of photo spots at the Garden! Every inch of this property makes a great backdrop for wedding photos

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• The staff - the event staff is great. From adjusting the lights to shuttling the couple around on the golf cart for photos, the staff is super helpful. But don't expect them to act as your wedding planner or wedding day coordinator (that isn't their job), and while they will provide very limited assistance on the big day - their only job is to make sure the venue is taken care of

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• Inclusions - tables and chairs are provided for your indoor reception and they set it up according to your layout so you don't have to!

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• Space - The Grand Hall is one of the more spacious and lovely event spaces in Huntsville. The Veranda and Conservatory are amazing spots for both photos and for guests to enjoy cocktails. The Carriage House is a sweet little space that is perfect for a rehearsal dinner or very small wedding with gorgeous stall doors that open up to the outdoor patio.

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• Location - just minutes from downtown, attractions and local hotels, it's convenient and easily accessible for guests

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• Suites: The Garden has a large bridal suite for weddings in the Grand Hall, that can fit about 8 comfortably. Grand Hall weddings also come with a Grooms suite but it is small and can only comfortably fit about 5 or 6. Both suites have a private restroom. The Carriage House comes with a small bridal suite that can fit about 5-6 but does not come with a Grooms Suite.

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• Bar & Alcohol: The Garden carries a liquor license, so all bar service is handled in-house. This is a big convenience because you don't have to figure quantities or search for a bartending service - but that convenience will come at a cost (see the cons)

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• Popularity - because of the style and overall aesthetic, it's a popular spot for weddings. This is also a bit of a Con because it's likely you and your guests have seen or been to multiple weddings there already - so you may have to place some extra focus on making sure your wedding isn't a carbon copy of all of those that came before.

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• Drones - The Garden allows drone but a permit is required, so you should talk to the event manager before telling your videographer they can have a drone on your wedding day.

 

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The Cons

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• Capacity - although the Grand Hall is spacious and they state their max capacity to be over 300, don't be deceived and think you can or should invite 250 to 300 people!! Max capacity means wall to wall people with room for nothing else. The comfortable max capacity for a seated dinner reception is only about 175 unless you don't intend to have a dance floor, band, buffet or room for guests to move about the room without having to squeeze in between chairs at other tables. The Carriage House is a much smaller space and is better suited to weddings of 150 or less if you are having a plated dinner and 100 or less if you are having a buffet. Because of the rectangular shape of the room, your layout options are limited and it can get very loud because there is nothing in the room (such as carpet) to absorb sound like there is in the Grand Hall. 

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• Public - the Gardens is a city owned attraction that is open to the public and does not shut down for weddings, so there are always visitors (and lots of kids) on the property as late as 6pm daily but sometimes later if they have special events going on. It is especially busy during the spring and summer months.

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• Other weddings - there can be as many as 4 other weddings happening at the Garden on any given Friday, Saturday or Sunday. It's usually not that much of a problem but the parking lots get filled fast and you may have to coordinate with other wedding couples if you plan to use the front of the building for your send off

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• Ceremony Rehearsals - booking your wedding day does not guarantee you will be able to have access the day before your wedding for your ceremony rehearsal, but if the venue is not already booked for another wedding on your rehearsal day they are usually able to grant access

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• Restrictions - no outside alcohol is allowed and what you can use for your send off is very limited. Tents are also not allowed anywhere on the property.

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• Rain Plan - There are no indoor ceremony spaces available unless you book another space in advance to ensure you have a back up. Otherwise, the only indoor rain plan option is your reception space but if you're very lucky and one of the other indoor spaces is happens to be available on your date, the Gardens is usually good about allowing use of one of those spaces for a rained out ceremony - but availability and permission are not guaranteed.

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• Vendors - only approved caterers are allowed but even some of the caterers on the approved list are not ones that we would recommend  to cater weddings (IE: restaurants). Their vendor list also contains vendors that aren't even in business anymore. While some of the vendors listed are preferred, many are only on the list because they have asked to be. They also have Garden employees who list their own side wedding planning businesses on the vendor list (be warned - this is a major conflict of interest!)

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• Access times - contracts for weddings usually allow for 12-14 hours of access depending on your chosen package. This may not work if you and your bridesmaids need to get in at 8am to start hair & makeup before 1pm photos begin - not unless you plan on ending your reception at 7pm! Don't forget that your vendors will need access as early as possible and will also need 1-1.5 hrs. at the end of the night for break down - all of which must be done within your contracted access time.

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• Clean Up: The venue staff does not do the clean up! The renter must do a final walk through with the venue closer before leaving, to ensure the renter has done all the clean up. The venue requires the caterer to follow a kitchen cleaning checklist, all garbage must be taken to the dumpster. Note: Most caterers will take out all trash before they leave BUT they do not stay until your reception is over so you need your own people to stay to finish the clean up and putting trash in the dumpster!

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• Non-inclusions: the Garden does not provide table linens and they do not provide chairs for outside ceremonies so you will need to rent those but be sure you have a plan for who will set those up! Because of the labor and time consumption involved, most planners don't do this but the rental companies usually will place chairs for an extra fee - but not table linens!

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• Alcohol prices - since the Garden holds the liquor license, they provide and manage the alcohol for all events hosted there so no outside alcohol or bar service is permitted. With that, you should prepare to pay premium prices for your wedding day drinks! You are charged by the glass, per beer, per seltzer etc. On top of those fees, you will be charged per bartender as well as an 18-22% service charge. On average, we see bar totals of around $3500 for a beer and wine only wedding with 150 guests.

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BEST USES

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Grand Hall & Conservatory

dinner receptions with no more than 175 guests

cocktail receptions under 250 guests

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Conservatory only

bar

lounge seating

cocktail tables (4-6)

table seating for up to 40

 

Carriage House

dinner receptions under 100 guests

cocktail receptions under 150 guests

dinner receptions under 60 guests with a band

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Celebration Garden

ceremonies under 200 guests

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The Meadow at Lake Lonnie

ceremony up to 350+/-

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BURRITT ON THE MOUNTAIN

 

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The Pros​

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• Photo spots - the sky high city view and lush trees ensures you will have no shortage of photo spots at Burritt! The View patio at Burritt is probably the #1 most popular ceremony spot in North Alabama

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• The staff - the venue manager is fantastic as is most of the closing staff. The bar staff is also great and very helpful. As with most venues, do not expect the venue staff to help you plan your wedding, coordinate your wedding day, help with set up or clean up - they are actually prohibited from doing any of that.

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• Inclusions - tables and chairs are provided for your indoor reception and they set it up according to your layout so you don't have to! They also provide cocktail tables with barstools for the veranda and chairs for The View and the new Pavilion.

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• Space - Barron Bluff (the main venue) has an uncomplicated footprint and can comfortably accommodate up to 175 but be warned that 175 is going to still be a little tight. To keep the space open here is a Board Room in the northwest corner of the ballroom that works well for a buffet BUT it's challenging for catering because they still have to navigate through guest tables to get from there to the kitchen, all while carrying large pans of very hot food!

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• Location - just minutes from downtown, attractions and local hotels, it's convenient and easily accessible for guests

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• Alcohol - Burritt holds an alcohol license so outside alcohol is prohibited. You also won't be paying for alcohol by the glass which can translate to some significant savings on your bar! What's more, any alcohol that is leftover from your event is packed up by the bartenders and yours to take home!

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• Popularity - Just like the Botanical Gardens, the style and overall aesthetic make Burritt a very popular spot for weddings. This is also a bit of a Con because it's likely you and your guests have seen or been to multiple weddings there already - so you may have to place some extra focus on making sure your wedding isn't a carbon copy of all of those that came before.

 

 

The Cons

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• Capacity - although Barron Bluff seems spacious and their max capacity is 235. Max capacity means wall to wall people with room for nothing else - but the actual comfortable capacity for a seated dinner reception is only about 150 unless you don't intend to have dancing, a band, photo booth or room for guests to move about the room without having to squeeze in between chairs at other tables. Important thing to note: if you are going to push the envelope on guest count, remember that your vendors count towards the venues max capacity numbers!

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• Sun & Weather - The View is the most popular ceremony spot for weddings but this comes with a problem...the sun! The View faces west so later in the day when most ceremonies are scheduled, the sun will be directly in the faces of you and your guests. This is less of a problem for spring ceremonies after 5:30pm, summer ceremonies after 6:30pm and fall/winter ceremonies after 3:30pm. Burritt also experiences more wind than down below in the city, this can result in outside tablecloths, flowers and décor getting blown over.

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• Rain Plan - the rain plan for ceremonies can be limiting depending on your vision and guest count. Having to move the ceremony to the chapel, pavilion or inside the ballroom can leave couples feeling disappointed because the esthetics are vastly different from a ceremony on The View.

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• Public - Burritt is also a city owned attraction that is open to the public and does not shut down for weddings, so there are always visitors (and lots of kids) on the property as late as 5pm daily and it is especially busy during the spring and summer months.​

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• Restrictions - no outside alcohol and what you can use for your send off is very limited. Champagne walls/shelves are allowed but alcohol must be physically handed to guests by their licensed bartenders - no self serve walls/towers/shelves. No tents are allowed on the property, no arbors/arches or anything taller than the glass railing is allowed on The View.​

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• Non-inclusions: Burritt does not provide table linens so you will need to rent those but be sure you have a plan for who will place them! Rental companies will not place table linens! They also do not provide bar cups, napkins, décor or clean up.

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• Suites: Burritt does not have a Grooms suite. Grooms and groomsmen are typically sent to hang out in the chapel. They do provide a very small Bridal Suite, but be warned - it's small and can only fit about 6 comfortably.

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• Clean Up: The venue staff does not do the clean up! The renter must do a final walk through with the venue closer before leaving, to ensure the renter has done all the clean up. The venue requires the caterer to follow a kitchen cleaning checklist, all garbage must be taken to the dumpster (hint: you'll want to take it in a truck unless you want to have a long walk!). Note: Most caterers will take out all trash before they leave BUT they do not stay until your reception is over so you need your own people to stay to finish clean up and dumpster trips!

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• Drones - Burritt dos not allow drones anywhere near or on the property. While it may be tempting for your videographer to go off-site and fly a drone towards Burritt, they will get caught and the consequences will be harsh!

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BEST USES

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Barron Bluff

dinner receptions with under 175 guests

cocktail receptions under 235 guests

 

Pavilion

dinner receptions under 100 guests

cocktail receptions under 150 guests

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The View

ceremonies under 200 guests

cocktail hour or cocktail receptions under 150

dinner receptions under 125 guests

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The Mansion Lawn

ceremonies under 175 guests

cocktail hour or cocktail receptions under 150

dinner receptions under 125 guests

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THE LEDGES

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The Pros​

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• Photo spots - the grounds at The Ledges has tons of great photo spots! A hidden gem is the grand gazebo at the end of the street across from the main clubhouse. After hours (after 6:30pm) you can do photos with the city view on the 18th hole!

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• The staff - the venue manager and staff are amazing and very attentive. While they are helpful and attentive, they do not help you plan your wedding or coordinate your wedding day - for this reason, they require couples to have a planner. 

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• Inclusions - tables and chairs are provided for your indoor reception and they set it up according to your layout so you don't have to - and they break it all down too! They will also place rental orders for things such as linens, china, dance floors etc. and those will be added to your bill.

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• Space - the main ballroom boasts beautiful chandeliers and a large bay window overlooking the lawn. The terrace is also a spacious area for cocktail hour or outside lounge seating.

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• Location - just minutes from downtown, attractions and local hotels, it's convenient and easily accessible for guests. Because it is a gated community, guests will need to check in with the guard at the gate to be granted entry.

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• Catering - All catering is handled in-house and no outside catering is permitted, except for wedding cake. This eliminated the need to book an outside caterer. Tastings are scheduled about 90 days before wedding day

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• Alcohol - The Ledges holds an alcohol license and handles all alcohol and alcohol service. Outside alcohol is prohibited. Alcohol packages are available.

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• Bridal Suite - There is a large bridal suite with restrooms and living room area for the bride and her crew to get ready. However, everyone's belongings must be packed up and moved to the ladies locker room (inside the suite) before the ceremony begins because the restrooms must remain accessible for female members.

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• Access - Access hours are more robust than most venues. You can get in as early as 8am and your access can end as late as midnight. Don't forget that the access end time needs to factor in about 1.5 hours for clean up and breakdown.

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• Popularity - The feeling of exclusivity makes The Ledges a very popular spot for weddings, but you actually do not need to be a member to have your wedding there. This is also a bit of a Con because it's likely you and your guests have seen or been to multiple weddings there already - so you may have to place some extra focus on making sure your wedding isn't a carbon copy of all of those that came before.

 

 

The Cons

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• Capacity - the ballroom can only seat about 125 comfortably for a dinner reception, so other guest tables will have to be in the adjacent dining rooms. This can isolate some guests from reception activities but while it may not be great for dinner receptions over 125, The Ledges is an ideal venue for cocktail receptions.

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• Members - The Ledges is open to it's members until 9pm, for dinner service and the lounge bar - but this usually never has an impact on any weddings. ​

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• Grooms Suite - there is not a Grooms suite so you will want to plan for an off-site location for the guys to hang out before they have to arrive at the clubhouse for photos. They do make the managers office available for the guys to congregate while waiting for photos to start - the office can comfortably fit about 6.

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• Restrictions - no outside alcohol is permitted, glassware is not allowed outside and your event guests must remain in the designated areas. Guests are also not allowed inside the club until after the ceremony. Most importantly, the member bars in the men's lounge and main dining room are off-limits. No exposed open flames - candles must be contained in glass​

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• Cost - what you save in rental fees over other venues, you will certainly make up for in food and bar expenses. On average, you should expect a cost of about $130-$150 per person plus service fees and tax.

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• Non-inclusions: If you are planning for a ceremony on the lawn, The Ledges does not provide chairs but they will handle the chair rental order for you and add those fees (along with other rental item fees) to your final bill that is due before wedding day. They also do not provide floor length linens, tents or dance floors.​

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• Style - The clubhouse at The Ledges is very dated. Gold drapery, red floral carpet and lots of dark wood can make it hard to have a cohesive color palette and whites get a yellow cast from all of the dark tones, so you will want to plan to put extra funds into your design budget to modernize or brighten things up.

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• Clean Up: The venue staff does not gather or pack your flowers or décor - they do however, handle clean up of all trash! You will need to designate friends/family to pack and load your personal items. The Ledges is one of the only venues in Huntsville where the client doesn't have to clean up or take out trash at the end of the night!

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• Rain Plan - the only feasible alternative for a ceremony when there is rain is to add a tent to the lawn or move the ceremony inside to the ballroom. Both will likely come with additional costs for tenting and/or room flips. Talk to your planner about the most efficient option.

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BEST USES

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Ballroom

dinner receptions with under 175 guests

cocktail receptions under 200 guests

 

Formal Dining Room (next to the ballroom)

dinner receptions under 40 guests

cocktail receptions under 60 guests

bar

lounge area

wedding cake or dessert bar

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Large Dining Room

as a buffet room

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Terrace

cocktail hour

bar

lounge seating

table seating up to 25

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WHITE AZALEA ESTATE

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The Pros​

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• Photo spots - the grounds at White Azalea offer ample open space and tree filled backgrounds for photos. There is also the front of the venue if you want a more modern vibe or the front of the large home on the property for a more traditional style. 

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• The staff - the venue manager and staff are amazing and very attentive. While they are helpful and attentive, they do not help you plan your wedding or coordinate your wedding day. 

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• Inclusions - tables and chairs are provided and they set it up according to your layout so you don't have to - and they break it all down too! 

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• Spaces - the main venue space is very open with tons of natural light. Lots of white with black metal trussing in the ceiling gives it a rustic industrial vibe but also makes it a blank slate conducive with almost any design style. The lawn is also a beautiful ceremony spot but if rain pops up, the new indoor space is a perfect ceremony alternative!​

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• Catering - Outside catering is allowed but they also now offer the option for in-house catering. For many, this can be incredibly convenient and eliminate the need to search for a caterer.

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• Alcohol - the venue does not provide alcohol. The renter may bring in their own alcohol - but a licensed bartender is required. Expect to hire at least one bartender for every 75 guests when serving beer and wine and 2 bartenders for every 100 guests if you will also be serving cocktails.

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• Bridal & Grooms Suite - There is a large bridal suite with restrooms for the bride and her crew to get ready. It can comfortably hold about 6-8 people. The new grooms suite opened in 2024 is large with a dining table, couches and television and can hold up to ten fairly comfortably.

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• Access - Access hours are pretty flexible. You can get in as early as 9am and your access can end as late as 11pm. Don't forget that the access end time needs to factor in at least an hour for clean up and breakdown.

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• Food service area - White Azalea is one of the only venues that has a separate space for buffets, with their buffet room. This does a lot to free up the main space for guest tables and other wedding day items.

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• New Space - in 2024 White Azalea unveiled an addition to the east wing of the venue. This new space is huge and open. We were proud to have had the very first wedding ceremony in the new space in April 2024. The new space also has restrooms and is connected to both the patio and the main space. As of April 2024, use of the new space comes at an additional fee on top of the venue rental fees.

 

 

The Cons

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• Capacity - although very spacious, it can comfortably only hold about 200-225 but that is still very tight. Larger guests counts will mean that some tables will have to be placed close to the bathrooms.​

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• Restrictions - as with many venues, sparklers are not allowed. Nor are confetti, flitter or open flames, meaning candles must be contained in glass via cylinders or chimneys.​

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• Location - outside of Huntsville, the drive can be a bit much especially for guests not familiar with the area. Traffic coming through Madison can also prevent challenges as can higher delivery costs from rental companies. The nearest hotels are in the Providence area which can get booked up quickly, so you will want to encourage guests to book early or you may want to consider a Guaranteed Room Block.

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• Clean Up: The venue staff assists with clean up and trash removal but you must still provide people to assist with clean up and packing/loading of your take home items including your flowers!

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• Cost - the rental cost is a tad above average especially considering the location in relation to the city and the lack of Ubers that are willing to pick up late riders going to Huntsville.

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BEST USES

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Main Space

dinner receptions with under 225 guests

cocktail receptions under 300 guests

 

Patio

bar

lounge area

cocktail hour with up to 100 guests at the same time

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Lawn

ceremony up to 300

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New Space

cocktail hour up to 300

ceremony up to 200

reception tbd

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