5 Most Amazing Outdoor Wedding Venues in Richmond, Virginia
Looking for the best outdoor wedding venues in Richmond, Virginia? Downtown? Winery? Summer Camp? Plantation?
You’ve come to the right place.
Virginia is full of breathtaking outdoor venues that span from the coast to the mountains and Richmond is so well placed that you can find an outdoor wedding location that fits any vision that you have in mind. Whether you’re looking for an outdoor location in the city downtown, the woods, or overlooking a river - I’ve got you covered. Plus, you can bring your pets (or borrow a couple) and park your VW bus outside your cabin.
These are in no real particular order.
1 - Camp Friendship
This summer camp wedding venue just down the road from Richmond and Charlottesville is an absolute gem. Imagine getting married at the summer camp you went to as a kid. Complete with archery lessons, soccer games, ropes course, fishing, a dip in the lake, and a tractor ride - Camp Friendship will give you and your guests a wedding experience that they won’t soon forget. You and all your family and friends can make a whole weekend of it, staying in cabins and doing the whole summer camp thing as adults. The camp is very pet friendly so your fur babies are absolutely welcome to hang out and be part of your wedding party.
Camp Friendship is a functioning summer camp. To find more information, visit their website and contact them there. http://campfriendship.com/
Directions: If you’re coming from Richmond, take 64W towards Charlottesville. Take exit 136 onto US-15 to head to Palmyra. From downtown, travel time is about an hour.
2 - Tuckahoe Plantation
If you’ve been searching for the perfect Virginia Plantation Wedding Venue - look no further and get ready to fall in love with the charm of the south. The Tuckahoe Plantation is an excellent example of early colonial plantation house, built in the early part of the 18th century. The plantation proudly served as Thomas Jefferson’s boyhood home and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1969.
While all of that is pretty cool if you’re interested in early American history, forget all that and you’ll still fall in love with Tuckahoe. Just 30 minutes from downtown Richmond, the house, outbuildings, gardens and grounds will feel like your own childhood home after spending just 20 minutes. The caretaker family’s pets will seek you out and say hello as if you’re already old friends. The cat might even wander over to your ceremony if you’re lucky.
I’m sure in all seasons Tuckahoe is gorgeous, but as Fall is my favorite, it’s my recommendation to visit
(or plan your wedding here) in the Fall months.
Tuckahoe Plantation Website
To read more about the history of Tuckahoe Plantation, click here.
Directions: Only about 30 minutes from downtown, getting there is so easy… basically just take River Rd to Henrico.
3 - Quirk Hotel
By far the coolest Richmond venue for all of your wedding day needs. Want to show your guests a bit of the art scene downtown? The Quirk Hotel has got you so covered, you never need to leave.
Quirk is my favorite hotel for getting ready photos in the Richmond area. Their modern, minimal, artistic decor lets all the light into the hotel rooms with minimal distractions. Your photos will look amazing if you get ready here, so why bother leaving? Once you enter the lobby you’ll know you made the right choice.
Have your ceremony at Quirk or anywhere else in the city (maybe Libby Hill Park), swing my Charm School for a scoop of your favorite ice cream, take portraits in front of your favorite mural, and head right back to the hotel’s rooftop deck for your after-ceremony celebration. You’ll be greeted by a really cool view of Richmond and your dance party will be fueled by the lights and energy of the city below.
If you’re looking to stay downtown, Quirk gets all my votes.
Directions: From downtown… stay downtown.
4 - Upper Shirley Vineyards
If you’re hoping for a vineyard location to affirm your nuptials with vines, gorgeous trees, big blue skies, and a river view - Upper Shirley will be your favorite place. A full service wedding venue, the folks at Upper Shirley can take care of just about everything when it comes to planning your day. If you’re having a really large wedding, they can host receptions up to 300 guests! Wed on their waterfront ceremony lawn, take your portraits in the vines, and dance and eat s’mores into the night under the stars. (With a full bar of delicious wine, of course.)
To get more information about hosting your event at Upper Shirley (including pricing information) - visit their website below: Upper Shirley Vineyards Website
Directions: About 30 minutes from downtown, head SE on VA-5 to State Rd 608.
5 - Pop Castle
Pop Castle is your summer backyard wedding paradise, especially if you don’t have the kind of backyard that could hold a larger event and you don’t want your run of the mill typical wedding venue. The home is a historic plantation house located near White Stone, Virginia and sits overlooking the Rappahannock River. It’s a private residence a lot of the time, but you can rent the home on VRBO.com or Airbnb for as many nights as you’d like. My couple spent the whole week before their wedding hanging out at the house with their closest friends and family, swimming in the river and getting ready for their day. Hire a planner/coordinator to take care of the details, pitch a tent, set up some chairs, order pizza and/or some bbq and you’ve got the most amazing summer wedding ever.
Get booking information for Pop Castle here:
Pop Castle on Airbnb
Pop Castle on VRBO
For more information on the history of Pop Castle as a historic plantation house, click here
Directions: From downtown Richmond, head out on 64E towards Norfolk/Hampton Roads. Take VA-33 E and VA-3 W towards White Stone. It’ll take you a little over an hour from downtown.
I love being able to give my couples recommendations for venues and vendors that can help make their day relaxed and stress free. In fact, I only take a limited number of weddings each year so that I can give my time and energy to serving my couples the way they deserve - learning about your wedding day vision, giving advice and tips to help when you need, photographing engagement sessions, and helping you walk into your wedding day knowing that everything will work out the way it’s supposed to. I’d love to help you along that journey of wedding planning and document your amazing day.