When it comes to finding a dream wedding venue in Raleigh, NC, you're in luck. In a city filled with great food, music, art, and culture, not to mention grand parks with lush pastures, there's no lack of venues for these kinds of events. Weddings and receptions alike are easily planned against the backdrop of this beautiful city.
Giggster has dozens of lovely locations for a wedding ceremony and reception in Raleigh, from a modern Tudor home with a manicured front yard and clean, homey interiors with large windows to a conference hall that serves as a banquet hall. Set up a sound system in the latter, rent out chairs and tables, and decorate according to your favored color scheme and you'll have a small, intimate reception with your closest friends and family.
The best thing about Giggster is that we have something for all kinds of budgets. A versatile suburban event space with smooth wooden floors is an inexpensive but perfect setting for a small-budget wedding reception.
Giggster's curated list of event venues is built to impress. So scroll through our site and find the spot that takes your breath away!
Why Choose Giggster for Your Wedding Reception Location in Raleigh
When it comes to a wedding venue or reception venue in downtown Raleigh, we have plenty of spaces with large windows, lots of natural light, and a cozy, homelike atmosphere that will set the bride and groom at ease at once.
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Looking for the perfect wedding venue? A modern, refined, industrial space in Raleigh that is reserved for ceremonies and receptions is just the spot for you.
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A quirky and atmospheric bar with exposed brick walls and wood paneling beautifully complements the charming, old-fashioned cobblestone streets of Raleigh if that's the kind of look you're fond of.
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Outdoor spaces like a farm littered with magnificent trees are just the kind of spot that you'd want to host a spring or summer wedding.
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On the other hand, a vibrant brewing space that has options for both in-house and outside catering is perfect for rehearsal dinners and receptions alike.
Transform Your Wedding Reception in Raleigh Starting at Just $38/hour
Exceptional Variety & Quality: Whether it's a downtown Raleigh whiskey bar with warm lighting and options for outdoor seating or a stylish home with bold walls and old-world charm, you can look through Giggster's 38 venues for a place that fits your vision.
Hassle-Free Booking: The easy-to-navigate Giggster app provides all kinds of information about any event space of your choosing, from the price and venue type to whether it can accommodate events of a hundred people and more! Book venues at just $38/hour.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: In case you do need to cancel, we allow free cancellations within 24 hours of confirmation just as long as you've booked at least 48 hours before the event.
Platform Protections: Additionally, Giggster offers optional protection packages against damages and liabilities. So if you're eyeing a place like Studio Space with Adjoining Kitchen, go ahead and book without stressing about the details.
Things to Consider for Your Wedding Reception in Raleigh
Whether you're looking at wedding venues or planning for corporate events, you've got to take into account the pros and cons of the city itself!
Advantages
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The temperate weather and year-round sunshine are an automatic plus when it comes to why you should opt for Raleigh wedding venues.
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Raleigh is a haven for food lovers so you need not worry about finding excellent caterers and bakers for your reception.
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Downtown Raleigh is a great place to find museums and galleries so your guests can entertain themselves outside of the wedding events.
Disadvantages
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However, on the flipside, there's very little public transportation and you'll need a car to get around for all your errands.
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Year-round sunshine does come with the con of hot and humid summers. Unless you've got an air-conditioned venue, you should avoid summer weddings in Raleigh.
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It's not the most hip and happening city in the United States so the range of venues may not be as diverse as compared to places like LA or NYC.
What Kind of Venue Can I Rent for Wedding Receptions in Raleigh?
Glamorous and glitzy or small and inviting, whatever your plan for your wedding, we can guarantee that Giggster will find the space for you. Look through our 38 venues for the wedding venue that suits your aesthetic!
House – Cozy and Intimate Setting. When it comes to small weddings and receptions, having it in a house is often a great idea, particularly so if the house has an outdoor patio or backyard. Arranging for a cocktail hour and a nice sit-down dinner with your immediate family and close friends rounds out the wedding day in a nice manner!
Farm – An Outdoor Reception. With views of rolling hills, massive trees, paved courtyards, and shaded patios to protect against the midday sun, a farm is the ideal location for an outdoor wedding. If you've got kids in the party, there's plenty of space so they won't get restless. Set up the tiered wedding cake in the center of the lawn to draw all eyes.
Restaurant/Bar – Perfect Backdrop. If you want to go for a casual and lowkey reception option, then a nice restaurant or a bar with lounge seating is perfect for you! Not only does this venue provide food and exceptional service, but you won't even need to worry about furniture rentals and entertainment. Even the music is taken care of.
Conference Hall – Convenient Locations. While not exactly a grand ballroom, a conference hall that can be set up with several individual tables and chairs and decorated exactly according to theme is nevertheless an extremely convenient wedding reception venue. Clear out a dance floor at the center and the smooth wooden floors are perfect for this purpose!
Gallery/Event Space – Ultimate Wedding Venue. An industrial wedding venue made for exactly these kinds of ceremonies and receptions or a large art gallery with high ceilings and distinctive wooden planks makes for a memorable wedding venue indeed! Your guests are sure to be impressed.
How to Plan a Wedding Reception in Raleigh
We know that it's easy to give a wedding planner the whole responsibility of planning the wedding but sometimes the personal touch is what you need to make a wedding reception truly remarkable.
Start with a Budget – Being organized and on top of your game is what it comes down to. Weddings are often expensive affairs so starting out with a budget and setting hard limits is key! Don't go beyond your budget in any area of wedding planning and you'll avoid last-minute shocks.
Write Down a Guest List – Who do you want to be in your wedding apart from your immediate wedding party? Of course, family and friends are a given but whether you want to invite neighbors and colleagues all depends on your budget and floor space.
Make a Meal Plan – Celebrate the special occasion with a proper three-course wedding breakfast and bar or make it very casual with a BBQ, pizza, and craft beers. It's your wedding and you can do exactly what you want! But exceptional service is a must!
Delegate to Others – The wedding weekend is bound to be a hectic time for the bride and groom and whoever is planning the wedding. So there's no shame in gathering a team of efficient compatriots to help out. Gracious hospitality is all about making sure your guests are comfortable, so everything from parking spaces to hotel rooms should be taken care of.
How to Save Money on Your Wedding Reception in Raleigh
Finally, there's a belief that you have to go all out for a special event like a wedding reception. But throwing money at things doesn't always guarantee a great party!
Skip the tiered wedding cake.
They're showy and expensive, yes, but they're often very impractical. In fact, you'll find most bakers are happy to make a fake tiered cake which the couple can cut for pictures while providing actual sheet cakes to serve the guests.
Don't have a paid bar.
Your guests are here to celebrate your big day, not for free drinks! Most friends won't actually expect you to pay for their drinks and will be happy to pay their own way. You can still have some wine at the tables for toasts and speeches.
Ditch the wedding DJ.
Going for a theme of Southern elegance and energy? You can still skip the DJ or the live orchestra. Ask a friend or cousin to put together a tasteful playlist so your guests can let their hair down and have fun on the dance floor without shelling out a big sum on entertainment.
Raleigh Wedding Receptions with Giggster
Whether you're looking for a true hidden gem of rustic elegance within the city of Raleigh with a farm venue or a truly inexpensive and small wedding with just your intimate family at a downtown studio, Giggster's got you covered! Our venues are sure to win the hearts of all.
