Cedar Rapids Wedding Venues
A Photographers Guide to
The Best Wedding Venues in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
For all you recently engaged couples out there, here is a list of our favorite Cedar Rapids wedding venues! Choosing a venue is usually the first step in the wedding planning process and it can be overwhelming! And as wedding photographers, we have been to A LOT of wedding venues! There are so many things to consider: budget, guest list, if you want to be indoor or outdoors, style and location just to name a few. Hopefully this curated list helps jump start your search on finding the perfect wedding venue in Cedar Rapids for you to say ‘I do!’.
In no particular order, here are a few of our favorites:
Ashton Hill Farm
For the modern rustic couple
If you love the light and airy style, Ashton Hill Farm is the perfect wedding venue! It’s a ‘one stop shop’ kind of deal, meaning it’s perfectly set up to have your entire wedding in the same place from getting ready in the morning, to your ceremony and through your entire reception. With two getting ready suites, an outdoor ceremony space, an indoor reception hall that holds up to 300 guests, an outdoor patio, and an upstairs loft, you’ll surely have enough space for all of your family and friends. The rental also includes tables, chairs and linens.
If you’re looking to get out of Cedar Rapids for your wedding, check out their newly built venue in Galena, Illinois!
The HarMac
For the Modern Industrial Couple
The HarMac wedding venue in downtown Cedar Rapids has become one of the most popular places to say ‘I do!’ Featuring exposed brick walls and tons of natural light, it can easily be transformed into the wedding of your dreams! The space is large enough to host both your ceremony and reception for up to 400 guests with additional space to get ready ready in. And with it’s prime location downtown, you’re walking distance to local bars, hotels and endless places to take pictures! The best part? A rooftop with scenic views of downtown Cedar Rapids that can be used for a ceremony or sunset pictures!
Eastbank Venue
For the Urban Sophisticated Couple
Located in downtown Cedar Rapids, Eastbank Venue has tastefully renovated the old Smulekoff’s building into a modern urban wedding event space while keeping plenty of its historic charm. With over 14,000 square feet of space, Eastbank can seat up to 475 guests, perfect for larger weddings! With features like exposed brick walls and floor to ceiling windows, there’s not much you have to do to make this space beautiful. The venue also provides dining tables, imported Italian dining chairs, floor length linens, china and flatware. Eastbank is effortlessly elegant!
The Carriage House
For The Elegant Couple
If you haven’t been to The Carriage House in downtown Cedar Rapids, you are seriously missing out! This space is so unique because back in the 1800s, it actually served as a carriage house for horses! It has been recently renovated with modern amenities while still holding onto to the historic charm. The floor to ceiling black framed windows provide stunning natural light, and the white wanes coating on the walls serves as a beautiful backdrop for weddings of any style. There are two getting ready spaces (one equipped with an outdoor balcony and the other with a fully stocked vault of carefully curated whiskeys) and a beautiful outdoor patio for your ceremony and cocktail hour!
The Olympic South Side Theater
For The Elegant Couple
Another unique wedding venue, The Olympic Southside Theater is located in NewBo District near downtown Cedar Rapids. The event space is newly renovated with a modern elegant style while keeping the original historic charm of the brick building it’s housed in. The space offers seating for 300 people, an upstairs mezzanine, getting ready suites, stage and a full service bar. You can use the stage at the NewBo City Market next door for an outdoor ceremony and the entire neighborhood provides plenty of photo ops. You can hop downstairs for quick coffee at Brewhemia or take your bridal party to Caucho for a celebratory cocktail on the patio!
The Hotel At Kirkwood
For the classic formal couple
If you love classic hotel ballrooms, the newly built and modernly designed space at The Hotel at Kirkwood might be just what you’re looking for. With classic black and white decor, it’s sure to make the perfect backdrop for any wedding. You can get ready in the presidential hotel suite, or any of the conference rooms. They also have an outdoor and indoor ceremony space, a beautiful entry way for a cocktail hour, and a spacious ballroom for your reception. On top of all of that, they have the most incredible food! Your guests will not walk away hungry!
Ushers Ferry Historic Village
For the Couple Who Loves Historic Charm
If you’re from Cedar Rapids, you probably remember taking a field trip to Ushers Ferry Historic Village during your elementary years. But wow, this place makes for a beautiful wedding venue! Located on 10 acres of land in Seminole Valley, it is a recreated town from the turn of the 20th century full of quaint historical buildings, including a small church perfect for small, intimate weddings. The large gazebo in the center of the space is beautiful for outdoor ceremonies and a newly renovated lodge seats up to 300 guests. Ushers Ferry has endless outdoor and indoor options for taking pictures and your guests can freely tour the grounds between the ceremony and reception. If you love the outdoors and the historical charm of Cedar Rapids, Ushers Ferry is a great option for both your wedding ceremony and reception!
National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
For the Cedar Rapids Natives
Whether you’re having a small or large wedding, The Czech Museum in Czech Village, Cedar Rapids is an iconic landmark to host your wedding. With historic architectural detail and a spacious reception hall, this space is definitely unique to any other wedding venue in the area. Being located in historic Czech Village, you can hop down the street to take photos at the gazebo or grab a celebratory beer with your bridal part at Lion Bridge Brewing Company.
