You know what’s not fun? Spending months wedding planning and stressing over a venue that eats half your budget. You know what is fun? Finding a space that feels right, matches your vibe, and still leaves room in your wallet for the things you actually care about, like travel, good food, or starting your life together without debt. 

The average cost of a wedding venue is about $12,200, which can feel like a massive wedding expense before you’ve even thought about flowers or a photographer. But there are affordable wedding venues that let you focus on what matters, and give you the freedom to celebrate your day without a five-figure weight holding you back. Once you know where to look, the options are wider than you might think. Let’s explore a few affordable options.

Affordable Wedding Venues by Destination

Pisgah National Forest in Asheville

This kind of place that makes you stop and just breathe in all the natural beauty. Towering trees, endless trails, waterfalls that feel straight out of a postcard, this is nature showing off. If you’re the kind of couple who wants your special day to feel wild, grounded, and a little adventurous, Pisgah delivers. It’s beautiful in every season, it’s massive enough to feel private, and it gives you a backdrop that no florist could ever recreate. Best of all, it’s affordable, especially compared to traditional venues. 

If your version of a “wedding aisle” is a trail lined with wildflowers, Pink Beds in Pisgah National Forest might be your spot. Known for its pink flora and gentle, open landscape, it’s a ceremony location that feels both laid-back and unforgettable. If chasing waterfalls speaks to you, Pisgah’s Tom’s Creek Falls is both grand and easy to reach, an 80-foot cascade that feels like you hiked miles to find. And then there’s Wiseman’s View, perched high above Linville Gorge in the heart of Pisgah, where the sweeping outlook makes it feel like you’re ready to tie the knot at the edge of the world.

Lake Tahoe

Emerald Bay isn’t just a pretty name; it’s one of the crown jewels of Lake Tahoe. Picture turquoise waters framed by rugged peaks and a bluff that looks straight out onto Fannett Island. It’s the kind of view that feels cinematic without trying. You can come here year-round and catch Tahoe showing off in different ways, depending on the time of year,  whether it’s the snow-capped ridges in winter or golden sunlight pouring through evergreens in summer. Because it’s a National Natural Landmark and part of one of California’s first underwater parks, it does require a permit, but the payoff is a ceremony setting that doesn’t need a single extra detail to impress. 

Big Sur

California’s central coast is a classic destination wedding choice, and it doesn’t have to come with oversized wedding costs. With cliffs that drop straight into the Pacific, towering redwood groves overhead, and trails winding through breathtaking landscapes, these venues feel both wild and intimate. For couples, this means you can have a ceremony on a windswept bluff, a quiet beach, or in the heart of an ancient forest. Most of the prime locations require permits, but that’s a small trade-off for access to these types of venues. 

Garrapata Overlook is Big Sur’s answer to a beachside ceremony with impact. The rocks and cliffs at Garrapata Beach create a striking backdrop, while Wedding Rock puts you in the middle of the Pacific drama with the surf crashing below. Middle Beach offers peace and a pristine view of the coastline, and Carmel River State Beach has rocky shores and intimate nooks where six guests can feel like the only ones on the planet. Every location is part of Big Sur, so the dramatic views are guaranteed.

Central Park, New York City

Who says you can’t get a nature fix in the middle of Manhattan? The park makes urban elopements feel like a secret adventure. Choose from wide-open lawns for dramatic moves or hidden corners that feel like your own private world. There’s greenery, fountains, and city charm everywhere you look. Permits are required, but they just make sure your little escape goes off without a hitch.

Central Park is full of ceremony options that go beyond the standard lawn. Cop Cot is ideal if you want a structured backdrop and a few extra guests, while The Pool provides quiet, private surroundings and city glimpses through the trees. Bethesda Arcade offers a historic, tiled interior from the 1860s that is impossible to forget. For a cozy, off-the-path option, Ladies Pavilion sits beside The Lake, though it only fits a couple and an officiant inside. Gapstow Bridge adds storybook vibes with a small beach area right on the water, perfect for an intimate gathering. And Bow Bridge gives your vows a grand, historic frame, even if it’s not fully private.

New Orleans

Ahoy, mateys. If your idea of romance includes cobblestones, literary ghosts, and the faint whiff of pirate mischief, Pirate Alley delivers. Small guest list? Great. Pirate Alley has just enough space, plenty of history, and loads of character. It’s intimate without feeling staged… though don’t be surprised if a passerby stops to watch. After exchanging vows, stroll to Jackson Square for photos and then head to Pirate Alley Café for a celebratory sip of absinthe, just to prove you survived the ceremony and lived to tell the tale.

The Beaches of Hawaii

Eloping in Hawaii means swapping fluorescent lights for sunsets over the Pacific, and reception halls for cliffs, beaches, or hidden jungle paths. Each island has its own personality, from Maui’s iconic beaches to Kauai’s dramatic cliffs and waterfalls. With permits and planning in place, you can claim a private moment in some of the most striking landscapes on earth, then toast your marriage to the sound of waves… not elevator music.

Hawaii gives you ceremony options that go far beyond just a beach backdrop. Puako Beach on the Big Island combines black rocks and soft sand for an intimate, private spot. Makena Cove on Maui offers an iconic ocean view that makes every photo feel effortless. If you want a touch of regal flair, Prince Albert Terrace at Queen Emma’s Summer Palace provides lush gardens and spaces that feel fit for royalty. [INSERT FANFARE MUSIC HERE] And for couples drawn to greenery over sand, Kula Botanic Garden feels both intimate and natural. These outdoor spaces make it easy to save money while still getting a beautiful setting.

Portland

Portland’s outdoors are basically a choose-your-own-adventure for your wedding day. You can say your vows perched on a cliff with the wind threatening your hair, sneak down trails where waterfalls appear like a bonus feature, or find a mossy forest nook that feels like it’s been saved just for you. It’s dramatic, intimate, and comes with the kind of scenery that makes people forget they’re in the Pacific Northwest and not some fantasy novel.

Just a short drive from Portland, Rowena Crest Viewpoint and Silver Falls State Park offer two very different but equally stunning ceremony backdrops. At Rowena Crest, you can stand above the river gorge and twisting highway for an open-air moment that feels cinematic. Silver Falls State Park, on the other hand, delivers waterfalls that flow year-round, mossy trails, and lush green forests that create a magical, intimate setting where you might half-expect a wizard to offer marriage advice.

No matter what kind of scenery makes your heart skip a beat, we offer customizable, all inclusive wedding packages that’ll fit your vibe without devouring your budget. From dramatic cliffs to hidden forests, from the grandeur of a national park to tropical beaches, these locations prove that an unforgettable ceremony doesn’t have to come with a five-figure price tag. Once you know where to look, adventure, intimacy, and epic views are all within reach. Reach out anytime, and we’re ready to chart your course. 

Citation

Nowack, Hannah. “Average Wedding Venue Cost: The Truth About How Much Real Couples Spend.” The Knot, 5 May 2025, www.theknot.com/content/average-cost-reception-venue. Accessed 9 Sept. 2025.