Our Favorite Virginia Beach Wedding Venues

There are some pretty amazing wedding venues in Norfolk, but Virginia Beach might just take the cake for most wedding venues in Hampton Roads, because there are SO MANY hotels in Town Center and the Oceanfront. For today, I’m just going to focus on venues spaces, although I will let one hotel sneak in, because Founder’s Inn is such a great spot!

The Water Table - Virginia Beach

The Water Table is right on the marina of Rudee Inlet, making it the perfect spot for a nautical wedding! The venue has a beautiful fireplace and space for 200 people with an option for an outdoor cocktail hour space. This is the perfect venue for nautical weddings, modern weddings, and small indoor weddings. View our Water Table wedding day.

The Attic at Watermans - Virginia Beach

If you're looking for a place to get married at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, this is it! With a ceremony out on the beach and a reception in Waterman's private upstairs space with a wall of windows facing the ocean, the Attic is sure to wow your guests! And the food is top notch! This is the perfect wedding venue in Virginia Beach for small beach weddings. View our most recent Attic at Watermans Wedding.

The Founder's Inn - Virginia Beach

The Founder's Inn is a very popular wedding venue in Hampton Roads. And their outdoor ceremony space is truly special, facing the water and surrounded by the beautiful Colonial English gardens. Ceremonies can also be held indoors at the atrium (which is also a great spot for cocktail hour) or at Regent University's Divinity Chapel. Whether you're looking for a ballroom wedding or a garden wedding, the traditional look of Founder's Inn is a beautiful choice. And it's a beautiful hotel for your guests to enjoy as well! View our most recent Founder's Inn wedding.

The Lesner Inn - Virginia Beach

The Lesner Inn is the perfect spot for small nautical weddings in Hampton Roads. The venue sits right on the coastal waterway of Virginia Beach, giving guests a beautiful view. Their downstairs deck gives the idea of being outdoors while being completely protected from the elements. And upstairs, they have a lovely ballroom and covered deck that gives couples a variety of ceremony and reception options. View an upstairs wedding reception and a downstairs wedding reception.

First Landing State Park - Virginia Beach

First Landing State Park is a popular Virginia Beach location for beach ceremonies and outdoor wedding receptions. After a casual ceremony on the sand or in the ampitheater, guests can gather around the stone gazebo on the courtyard lawn for a reception. View our most recent First Landing State Park wedding.

The Signature West Neck - Virginia Beach

The Signature West Neck is one of my favorite Hampton Roads wedding venues! This golf club has an outdoor ceremony location perfectly positioned for the setting sun. It's gorgeous! They can hold smaller receptions in their inside dining space, while larger receptions take place on their tented deck. View one of our Signature West Neck weddings.

And I can’t share my favorite Virginia Beach venues without including my favorite Chesapeake wedding venue:

Noah's Event Venue - Chesapeake

Noah's Event Venue in Chesapeake is such a great wedding space, because it's a clean slate! The venue has two beautiful rooms connected by a lobby, the perfect space for cocktail hour. One room opens onto the courtyard for ceremonies, so it's the perfect venue for your entire wedding day! There's a field across the street for portraits and the venue has a wide variety of lighting and draping packages to make the space even more beautiful. View our wedding at Noah's Event Venue. 

Are you newly engaged and looking for a wedding photographer in Hampton Roads? Whether you're planning a golf club wedding day at the Signature West Neck or a nautical affair at the Water Table, I'd love to hear from you! Shoot me an email to say hello and see if I'm available for your wedding day!

Our Favorite Norfolk Wedding Venues

Virginia has so many amazing wedding venues that it’s a little difficult to list them all out. Today we’re kicking off a three part series of our favorite wedding venues in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and the peninsula. And we’ll throw in the best of Suffolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake along the way.

Here are our favorite wedding venues in Norfolk:

The Chrysler Museum of Art - Norfolk

The architecture of the Chrysler Museum of Art is stunning and it’s a venue that is sure to wow your guests. They have outdoor and indoor options for cocktail hour, and the stone staircase in Huber Court makes for a truly grand entrance! We absolutely love this venue! View more here: Chrysler Museum of Art Wedding.

The Botanical Garden - Norfolk

With acres of beautiful landscaping and flowers, the Norfolk Botanical Gardens is a gorgeous venue for an outdoor wedding! Each area of the gardens offers something different, and it's all beautiful! (See the different areas of the garden here.) After a garden ceremony, the reception can be held inside one of their three spaces or tented on the lawn. We love this venue so much, because so many of our CGP couples choose romantic outdoor weddings! We’ve done a ton of weddings here, but we’ll never get tired of this venue! View a Wildflower Meadow & Baker Hall Wedding, a Renaissance Court & Rose Garden Hall Wedding, and an outdoor Terrace Reception.

The Virginia Zoo - Norfolk

The Norfolk Zoo is such a fun and unique place for a wedding! Larger events can be held under the event pavilion, while small weddings can take place in several areas around the zoo, including their rose garden. And the best part... your guests get to tour the zoo during cocktail hour! The Zoo is the perfect wedding venue for outdoor weddings with a tented or pavilion reception. View more here: Norfolk Zoo wedding.

Half Moone - Norfolk

Half Moone is another of my favorite wedding venues in Hampton Roads! It's so beautiful! The beautiful circular ballroom features a large glass wall giving guests a beautiful ceremony backdrop and a front-row seat to the sunset. And this venue couldn't be at a more convenient location, right in the heart of downtown Norfolk. With Nauticus and Town Point Park next door and the Pagoda and gardens just a few blocks away, there are plenty of gorgeous backdrops for portraits. View our Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center wedding.

And I can’t share my favorite venues without including my favorite Portsmouth wedding venue or my favorite Suffolk wedding venue, so here are two more:

The Historic Obici House - Suffolk

The Obici House is such a cute wedding venue in Suffolk. It's located on a golf course, with a beautiful ceremony spot overlooking the water and plenty of space for a large reception tent. The inside of the house is simple and beautiful, offering a lovely backdrop for smaller weddings. View more here: Romantic Jewel Toned Wedding Inspiration at the Obici House.

The Woman's Club - Portsmouth

I think the Portsmouth Women's Club might just be the prettiest wedding venue in all of Hampton Roads! The ballroom has a high vaulted ceiling, and there's a beautiful staircase and a balcony to photograph from! The venue also has a long covered porch in the front and a big deck out back. I love that there are options for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies and it's the perfect venue for a large wedding! View our Portsmouth Woman's Club wedding and a styled shoot at the Woman's Club of Portsmouth.

Are you newly engaged and looking for a wedding photographer for your Norfolk wedding? Whether you're planning a wedding at the Chrysler Museum or the Woman’s Club of Portsmouth, we'd love to hear from you! Shoot me an email to say hello and see if we’re available for your wedding day!

Virginia Wedding Venues

There's a shiny new ring on your finger! Congratulations! Now that you've called all your friends and family, it's time to find a wedding venue! This first step of the wedding planning process isn't easy, because there are so many beautiful choices! And the venue affects the entire wedding, from the style to the size to the budget.

I have collected all of my favorite Virginia wedding venues into one place to hopefully make this process a bit easier for you. As you can see, the Hampton Roads area has a lot of beautiful options for your wedding day, whether you want to have a small nautical affair or a large garden wedding.

Each venue listed below is linked to a wedding or stylized shoot I've photographed there, so you can get an idea of what the possibilities are and if it might be the right venue for you.

The Botanical Garden - Norfolk

With acres of beautiful landscaping and flowers, the Norfolk Botanical Gardens is a gorgeous venue for an outdoor wedding! Each area of the gardens offers something different, and it's all beautiful! (See the different areas of the garden here.) After a garden ceremony, the reception can be held inside one of their three spaces or tented on the lawn. We love this venue so much, because so many of our CGP couples choose romantic outdoor weddings! View a Wildflower Meadow & Baker Hall Wedding, a Renaissance Court & Rose Garden Hall Wedding, and an outdoor Terrace Reception.

The Chrysler Museum of Art - Norfolk

The architecture of the Chrysler Museum of Art is stunning and it’s a venue that is sure to wow your guests. They have outdoor and indoor options for cocktail hour, and the stone staircase makes for a truly grand entrance! We absolutely love this venue! View more here: Chrysler Museum of Art Wedding.

The Virginia Zoo - Norfolk

The Norfolk Zoo is such a fun and unique place for a wedding! Larger events can be held under the event pavilion, while small weddings can take place in several areas around the zoo, including their rose garden. And the best part... your guests get to tour the zoo during cocktail hour! The Zoo is the perfect wedding venue for outdoor weddings with a tented or pavilion reception. View more here: Norfolk Zoo wedding.

The Water Table - Virginia Beach

The Water Table is right on the marina of Rudee Inlet, making it the perfect spot for a nautical wedding! The venue has a beautiful fireplace and space for 200 people with an option for an outdoor cocktail hour space. This is the perfect venue for nautical weddings, modern weddings, and small indoor weddings. View our Water Table wedding day.

The Historic Post Office - Hampton

The Historic Post Office is one of the newest venues in Hampton Roads, but its beautiful architecture has instantly made it a popular wedding venue! Not only does HPO have a beautiful bridal suite with a makeup counter, a walk in closet, and an en-suite bathroom, but there is also a masculine lounge for the guys as well! This is the perfect venue for indoor weddings with a cocktail hour on the mezzanine and a reception on the main floor. View one of our Historic Post Office weddings.

Christopher Newport University - Newport News

CNU has a truly beautiful campus, and we were very excited to have a wedding ceremony at the president’s home. Several of the buildings on campus are available for weddings, and it’s the perfect venue for couples who attended the school. View more here: CNU Campus Wedding.

Noah's Event Venue - Chesapeake

Noah's Event Venue in Chesapeake is such a great wedding space, because it's a clean slate! The venue has two beautiful rooms connected by a lobby, the perfect space for cocktail hour. One room opens onto the courtyard for ceremonies, so it's the perfect venue for your entire wedding day! There's a field across the street for portraits and the venue has a wide variety of lighting and draping packages to make the space even more beautiful. View our wedding at Noah's Event Venue. 

The Historic Freight Shed - Yorktown

The Yorktown Freight Shed combines an outdoor lawn ceremony space with an indoor reception space and attached tent overlooking the water. Add in the option for beachfront portraits and the surrounding historic area, and you have a beautiful wedding venue with lots of options for brides and grooms! View our Historic Freight Shed Wedding.

Fort Monroe Commanding General's Residence - Hampton

The Commanding General's Residence at Fort Monroe, a beautiful historic home with tons of natural light, is a beautiful spot for intimate wedding receptions. The Bandstand across the street is the perfect spot for an outdoor ceremony looking over the water and the nearby fort provides some variety in portrait locations. View our Fort Monroe Wedding.

The Attic at Watermans - Virginia Beach

If you're looking for a place to get married at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, this is it! With a ceremony out on the beach and a reception in Waterman's private upstairs space with a wall of windows facing the ocean, the Attic is sure to wow your guests! And the food is top notch! This is the perfect wedding venue in Virginia Beach for small beach weddings. View our most recent Attic at Watermans Wedding.

Williamsburg Winery - Williamsburg

With a beautiful vineyard, gorgeous wooden doors, and a romantic cellar for wedding portraits, the Williamsburg Winery is a show-stopping venue! Whether you choose to have your ceremony on the lawn or inside in front of the fireplace, this venue is perfect for romantic weddings. And the romantic dim lighting of the reception space is perfect for fall and winter weddings! View our Williamsburg Winery wedding.

The Historic Obici House - Suffolk

The Obici House is such a cute wedding venue in Suffolk. It's located on a golf course, with a beautiful ceremony spot overlooking the water and plenty of space for a large reception tent. The inside of the house is simple and beautiful, offering a lovely backdrop for smaller weddings. View more here: Romantic Jewel Toned Wedding Inspiration at the Obici House.

The Founder's Inn - Virginia Beach

The Founder's Inn is a very popular wedding venue in Hampton Roads. And their outdoor ceremony space is truly special, facing the water and surrounded by the beautiful Colonial English gardens. Ceremonies can also be held indoors at the atrium (which is also a great spot for cocktail hour) or at Regent University's Divinity Chapel. Whether you're looking for a ballroom wedding or a garden wedding, the traditional look of Founder's Inn is a beautiful choice. And it's a beautiful hotel for your guests to enjoy as well! View our most recent Founder's Inn wedding.

The Woman's Club - Portsmouth

I think the Portsmouth Women's Club might just be the prettiest wedding venue in all of Hampton Roads! The ballroom has a high vaulted ceiling, and there's a beautiful staircase and a balcony to photograph from! The venue also has a long covered porch in the front and a big deck out back. I love that there are options for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies and it's the perfect venue for a large wedding! View our Portsmouth Woman's Club wedding and a styled shoot at the Woman's Club of Portsmouth.

The Lesner Inn - Virginia Beach

The Lesner Inn is the perfect spot for small nautical weddings in Hampton Roads. The venue sits right on the coastal waterway of Virginia Beach, giving guests a beautiful view. Their downstairs deck gives the idea of being outdoors while being completely protected from the elements. And upstairs, they have a lovely ballroom and covered deck that gives couples a variety of ceremony and reception options. View an upstairs wedding reception and a downstairs wedding reception.

The Wren Chapel - Williamsburg

The chapel in the Sir Christopher Wren Building on William and Mary's campus is such a beautiful and unique wedding venue. The historic chapel is over 300 years old and has been restored to its original colonial design. And there's such beautiful light in there, thanks to the bank of windows! It's such a sweet venue for intimate weddings! View our Wren Chapel wedding.

Half Moone - Norfolk

Half Moone is another of my favorite wedding venues in Hampton Roads! It's so beautiful! The beautiful circular ballroom features a large glass wall giving guests a beautiful ceremony backdrop and a front-row seat to the sunset. And this venue couldn't be at a more convenient location, right in the heart of downtown Norfolk. With Nauticus and Town Point Park next door and the Pagoda and gardens just a few blocks away, there are plenty of gorgeous backdrops for portraits. View our Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center wedding.

First Landing State Park - Virginia Beach

First Landing State Park is a popular Virginia Beach location for beach ceremonies and outdoor wedding receptions. After a casual ceremony on the sand or in the ampitheater, guests can gather around the stone gazebo on the courtyard lawn for a reception. View our most recent First Landing State Park wedding.

Kingsmill Resort - Williamsburg

Kingsmill Resort is the perfect place for an elegant traditional wedding. The ceremony location overlooks the James River. And they have a beautiful ballroom with space for cocktail hour on the deck or on the 18th hole just a few steps away. This is also a great location for destination weddings or weddings with lots of out of town guests, because lodging, restaurants, and plenty of activities can be found all in one place! View a beautiful navy and pink Kingsmill Resort wedding day.

The Signature West Neck - Virginia Beach

The Signature West Neck is one of my favorite Hampton Roads wedding venues! This golf club has an outdoor ceremony location perfectly positioned for the setting sun. It's gorgeous! They can hold smaller receptions in their inside dining space, while larger receptions take place on their tented deck. View one of our Signature West Neck weddings.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens - Richmond

The Lewis Ginter gardens are my new favorite spot for weddings! There are so many beautiful ceremony and reception locations around the property, from the tea house and Flagler Pavilion to the rose garden and Robins Visitor Center. They even have a beautiful historic home, Bloemendaal House! View an intimate tea house wedding at Lewis Ginter.

Are you newly engaged and looking for a wedding photographer in Hampton Roads? Whether you're planning a golf club wedding day at the Signature West Neck or a nautical affair at the Water Table, I'd love to hear from you! Shoot me an email to say hello and see if I'm available for your wedding day!

Megan & Ryan: Jefferson Hotel Wedding in Richmond

It was just one of those silly little things. Something that Megan had found online when looking for wedding inspiration. She had told herself that it wasn't important. But her sister and mom knew her better than that.

So as Megan and her bridesmaids laughed on the couch the morning of her wedding, her mom unpacked plastic toasting glasses, a bottle of champagne, and a box of orchids. Her sister popped the cork and poured the first glass for the bride

The rest of the girls gathered around and raised orchid filled glasses, toasting to a beautiful wedding day in defiance of the gloomy drizzle outside. 

And sure enough, when the wedding guests lined up on the stairs of the church for Megan and Ryan's grand exit, the rain was gone. But the overcast skies remained, giving us a giant light diffuser. And thanks to the overcast sky, Megan & Ryan's bridal party portraits are some of my very favorite! And just wait until you see the portraits we took of the newlyweds! They're stunning!

Megan & Ryan incorporated personal touches throughout the day that showed their love of sports. The guests' seating cards were designed like tickets and guests were given towels to wave as the bride and groom exited the ceremony. They also used a jersey as a guestbook, having guests sign the back with silver markers. The popcorn favors and custom cake topper also added to the theme, but my favorite detail of all was the use of megaphones as table numbers, a nod to Megan's job as a cheerleading coach. All these fun details weaved their fun-loving personality throughout the classic Jefferson Hotel wedding day.

Enjoy my favorites from this Richmond wedding!

The ceremony took place downtown at St. Mark's Episcopal Church. Such gorgeous stained glass!

I absolutely loved that Megan and Ryan chose towel-waving for their exit! It made for such a colorful and unique exit! And doing the exit right after the ceremony meant that we had plenty of light and all their guests were able to participate!

After portraits at Carillon Tower in Byrd Park, we hopped back in the party bus for the ride to the Jefferson Hotel. That was a party all by itself!

Seriously, how cute is this cake topper? And I just have to say that this wedding cake was one of the yummiest I've ever had! There was a layer of chocolate mousse! So good!

And much thanks to the wonderful team:
Wedding Dress: Mila Bridal
Florist: Vogue Florist
Ceremony Venue: St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Portrait Location: Byrd Park and Carillon Tower
Reception Venue: Jefferson Hotel
Minister: Michelle Lindsey
Beauty: Bombshell Salon
DJ: All About the Music
Catering: Jefferson Hotel
Cake: Jefferson Hotel
Photobooth: Richmond Photo and Video Booth
Party Bus: TNT Limousine
Bridesmaid Attire: David's Bridal
Groomsmen Attire: Joseph A Bank
Invitation: David's Bridal
Lighting: Blue Steel Lighting
Favors and Sports Details: DIY
Honeymoon: Sandals La-Toc St. Lucia

Want to see more weddings? Looking for a wedding photographer? I'd love to hear from you! Contact me here!