Looking for the best Maryland wedding venues? Great! As a wedding photographer based in Maryland, I’ve photographed in all kinds of incredible local venues. Whether you’re looking for unique, alternative, or non-traditional Maryland styles, you’re in the right place. Couples I work with are often searching for something edgy, moody, nature-inspired, or eco-friendly, instead of a cookie-cutter ballroom.
It can be tricky to find a venue that captures your personality and vibe as a couple, but in this list I wrap-up the best moody wedding venues from Maryland and even nearby in Delaware, Southeastern Pennsylvania, & Washington DC.
After all of these years photographing weddings, I’ve collected my all-time favorite moody venues to help you along your search. From plant centers, breweries, exposed-brick urban buildings, historic mills, libraries, to glasswork buildings, each of these locations is unique in its own way. Without delay, have fun exploring below!
Are you also searching for a relaxed, candid-loving wedding photographer? Check out my portfolio & say hello!
Table of Contents
Mt. Washington Mill Dye House
Best Maryland Wedding Venues in Baltimore
First on the list of the best Maryland wedding venues is the Washington Mill Dye House. Undoubtedly one of my most frequented venues for a reason, this location is a great choice for a moody, unique wedding. While it was originally built in 1810 to bring manufactured textile goods to Maryland, now this venue blends historic textures with modern, romantic design. Surprisingly, the Mt Washington Mill Dye House is the 3rd oldest existing cotton mill in the United States, which is pretty cool.
Your ceremony can take place outdoors in the intimate stone courtyard, facing any angle of the courtyard that you like the most. Your ceremony can also be held inside the Dye House, separated from the reception space with curtains. Then, the essence of the venue comes to life inside the reception space with its original exposed brick walls, large windows, concrete floors, string lights, and rustic wood beamed ceiling. Altogether, the Dye House offers a gorgeous modern architectural backdrop for your wedding day.
For more, check out Rachel & Berto‘s hype baltimore wedding and Jessica & Andrew‘s moody dusty rose wedding.
Terrain at Styer’s
Best Maryland Wedding Venues near Baltimore
Although it’s technically located in Maryland, Terrain lands in the best Maryland wedding venues for many reasons. A plant nursery, Terrain at Styer’s celebrates horticulture and invites connection to nature & community. As a matter of fact, every wedding I’ve photographed here fills me with inspiration, a sense of tranquility, and delicious seasonal food.
When you arrive, you’ll be escorted to the historic Mushroom House. This private getting ready room includes beautiful backdrops of flower pots & textured wood beams. After couples photos around the property (there are so many great spots) it will be time for your ceremony. Unlike the open nursery area, the ceremony space is a secluded oasis. It includes an ornate Indian wedding temple as the centerpiece outlined with ancient sycamore trees.
Not only is their outdoor space great, but in cooler weather the ceremony can be held in their beautiful greenhouse which is tastefully filled with lush plants, overhead roping, & lanterns. As day transitions to night, string lights invite romance while the crackling fire provides snuggling & s’more opportunities. Following cocktail hour, guests enter the Garden Shed for a charming and modern-rustic reception. In short, Terrain is gorgeous.
Check out Minh & Rob‘s bespoke fall-inspired wedding and Ashley & Zack‘s anthropologie-style wedding.
Strong Mansion at Sugarloaf Mountain
Best Maryland Wedding Venues in Frederick
Nestled in the woods of Sugarloaf Mountain stands Strong Mansion. This wedding venue offers historic endearment and secret garden landscapes. Finding a venue with a beautiful getting ready space in addition to the wedding space is quite a welcomed bonus. Inside, charming details like floral patterned curtains drape along arched window panes and create gorgeous photo opportunities. Then on the outside, the landscaping blends greenery and stone, creating opportunities to relax and stroll through nature.
For your ceremony, guests gather on the side of a tranquil pond while you hold hands with your spouse on picturesque stone stairs. Then for your reception, the provided tent keeps your guests comfortable with nature nearby. Strong Mansion & its garden grounds are a great combination for a nature-themed, relaxed, offbeat wedding.
Check out Kerry & Nick‘s jewel-toned fall wedding and Melissa & Peter‘s haunted haus wedding story.
The Ivy Hotel
Best Maryland Wedding Venues in Baltimore
The Ivy Hotel is a charming boutique hotel in the heart of historic Mt. Vernon. With room for up to 54 guests, this Baltimore wedding venue creates a gorgeously intimate feel. Many couples choose to host a weekend-long affair with their guests overnight, relaxing into the late hours of the night playing pool, sipping cocktails, and exploring the hotel.
With an award-winning spa, a french-inspired bistro, and inspiring eclectic design in every room, the Ivy Hotel offers a unique, relaxing experience for your wedding weekend. Your ceremony can take place either indoors in the romantic tea room or outdoors in the ivy-covered courtyard. The Ivy Hotel is perfect for low-key, unique micro-weddings.
Check out Gabi & Tyler‘s relaxed indie micro-wedding at the Ivy Hotel.
The Winslow Room
Best Maryland Wedding Venues in Baltimore
Tucked into the heart of Baltimore, The Winslow Room offers a gorgeous architectural & industrial setting for your moody, non-traditional wedding. The Train Shed room features floor-to-ceiling windows for gorgeous natural light during your ceremony. Next to the ceremony room, the cocktail area centers around a 30ft reclaimed marble bar where guests can mingle & enjoy themselves.
Once it’s time for your reception, sliding wooden doors reveal the gorgeous architectural space with vaulted raw timber ceilings. With its open floor plan, the space can be transformed into any style – modern, minimalistic, boho, earthy, you name it. The textured exposed brick walls, elevated staircase balcony, and concrete floors create lovely character throughout the building. And for a bonus, when it’s time for sunset you can head up to the rooftop for gorgeous photos with Baltimore city views.
Check out Carrie & Michael‘s modern luxe wedding at The Winslow.
Sandtown Furniture Co, Butterfly Room
Best Maryland Wedding Venues in Baltimore
Next on the list of best Maryland wedding venues is Sandtown Furniture Co. This gorgeous historic building is now a new Baltimore wedding location located in a quiet industrial area. Early last year, the Sandtown team bought this abandoned warehouse for their woodcrafting company headquarters. After a journey of thoughtful renovations, they’ve re-opened the once-boarded windows. Now the sunlight shines once again on the perfectly peeling brick walls.
The wedding space, called the Butterfly Room, is located in the front of the building with concrete floors. Then on the other side of the entrance, a stunning glass wall separates The Room from the working woodshop. It features multiple nooks which perfectly separate wedding areas like cocktail hour, a ceremony space, a lounge area, or a photobooth.
The wide-open concept of the warehouse allows for total customization. You can really make this place shine with any vision, style, and unique ideas. Not only does this new Baltimore wedding venue provide great character, natural light, high ceilings, and industrial textures, it creates an experience your guests will love.
Check out more venue photos.
Winterthur Museum, Garden, & Library
Best Moody Wedding Venues near Baltimore
Spread over 1,000 acres of rolling meadows and woodlands, Winterthur Museum, Garden, & Library is a wedding venue gem. Once a Du Pont family country retreat, this estate’s gardens surround a 175-room mansion housing a collection of antique American decorative arts. Walking around Winterthur makes you feel like a guest at a fancy summer dinner party.
Not only will your guests enjoy exploring the gorgeous landscaping, they’ll also find epic staircases, a reflecting pool with floating water lilies, and a stone courtyard lined with greenery & blooms. Your outdoor ceremony can take place in the lush outdoor grottos while indoor ceremonies are hosted in the Galleries Reception Atrium. Although it’s not technically outside, the floor-to-ceiling windows provide great natural light and pull the outdoors in.
Afterward, you & your guests retire to the Visitor Center Pavilion for dinner and dancing. I love the string lights on the outdoor patio for dancing, I’ve also seen al fresco dinners take place on the patio, too.
Check out Megan & Craig‘s earthy wedding.
Monument City Brewing Company
Best Maryland Wedding Venues in Baltimore
What isn’t there to love about hosting your wedding at a brewery? Monument City Brewing Company is a great non-traditional option in the best Maryland wedding venues. In fact, between the industrial exposed brick, black-framed windows, and long wooden tables, there isn’t much decoration needed.
Combine local food trucks with the craft beer on-tap and boom, your menu is complete. While it’s great any time of year, it’s especially lovely in warm weather when guests can freely meander inside & out.
Check out Evi & Oliver‘s industrial chic wedding.
Accelerator Space
Best Maryland Wedding Venues in Baltimore
Do you imagine a flexible wedding space where you can bring your vision to life? If so, the Accelerator Space is one of the best Maryland wedding venues for you. Once an auto dealership, this newly repurposed venue now hosts weddings of all styles in its flexible floorspace. With a lightly industrial feel, the Main Room has fresh white walls & big multi-paned windows with wood flooring.
In addition to the Main Room, the newly remodeled Den can be used as a separate ceremony location. Unlike the main room, the den has darker, moodier vibes with a gorgeous fireplace in the center. The Accelerator space also has a rooftop patio with bistro lighting. Since the surrounding area isn’t much to explore, having a first-look & portraits taken before the ceremony can be really helpful to use the space before guests arrive.
Check out Kristy & Matt‘s edgy masquerade wedding.
Lauxmont Farms
Best Moody Wedding Venues near Baltimore
Lauxmont Farms is a multi-site venue located between York and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. You can choose among four sites – the rotunda, japanese gardens, cobblestone courtyard, and sunken gardens. While each option is unique, the cobblestone courtyard is my favorite. I love the textures of the stones, the crawling ivy, and the small greenhouse that offers beautiful photo opportunities, of course. Not only is this a great option for the spring & fall, but the breeze keeps summer months enjoyable too. Then, at night, the courtyard comes alive under string lights that illuminate the sky. It’s a lovely intimate location that feels both beautiful & relaxed, thus landing itself in the best Maryland wedding venues list.
Check out this edgy cobblestone wedding editorial.
The Bond
Best Moody Wedding Venues near Baltimore
Another industrial wedding space, The Bond is extra moody. With a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, the natural light fills the Ballroom and highlights the texture of the exposed brick walls and concrete floors. Though no extra light is needed, I can attest to the beauty of filling this place with endless flickering candles. In addition to the main indoor area, the Bond newly opened an outdoor urban garden space that can be used as a ceremony, cocktail hour, or reception area. A cherry on top of another great option for the best Maryland wedding venues!
Check out Kristen & James‘ candlelit wedding.
Dock 5
Best Maryland Wedding Venues near Washington, DC
Though Dock 5 is located in DC, it still lands on the list of the best Maryland wedding venues. It’s an open warehouse with gorgeous concrete floors ready to be designed with your vision. Fill it with hundreds of candles, a cool table layout, photobooth stands, games, etc. Though one open room, you can add drape & piping to section off areas for a more intentional use of space.
Undoubtedly the best part, you can head up to the rooftop where the Union Market sign lights up the night with a beautiful view of DC in the background. I’ve taken some seriously epic silhouettes up there at night. It’s also gorgeous during sunset, making it one of the best Maryland wedding venues.
Check out Liz & Chris‘s edgy and velvety wedding.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Best Maryland Wedding Venus in Annapolis
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is one of the best Maryland wedding venues for eco-friendly, chill couples. Unlike the others on this list, the foundation itself is dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay. The building, called the Philip Merrill Environmental Center, is one of the world’s most energy-efficient buildings.
When it comes to your wedding, the nature preserves provide a gorgeous backdrop of inspiration. A private beach, stately trees, grassy fields, and even a small pond with a stand of kayaks make for endless photo locations. Guests at every wedding I’ve photographed here are especially entertained. The CBF is an inspiring experience that is more than just a wedding location.
Check out Sarah & Ted‘s earthy laughter-filled fall wedding and Kelly & Kyle‘s relaxed outdoorsy wedding.
Historic London Town and Gardens
Best Maryland Wedding Venues in Edgewater
Next on the list of the best Maryland wedding venues is Historic London Town and Gardens. Not only does this location combine waterfront views with open garden space, but it is a blank canvas for your style. To start, your ceremony takes place in the open lawn with the Chesapeake bay behind you. Then, guests can walk the garden trails sipping cocktails while you mingle and enjoy the fresh air.
The reception space includes a fixed tent with open sides (sides are optional in case of inclement weather). And of course, you’ll want to land on the dock at sunset for beautiful photo opportunities. In addition to the dock on the water, great photo locations include the winding gardens & the historic buildings with great textures.
Check out Cate & Kyle‘s dreamy boho wedding and Amanda & Taylor‘s autumn garden wedding.
Cloisters Castle
Best Maryland Wedding Venues in Baltimore
As we continue our list of the best Maryland wedding venues, The Cloisters is up next. Reflecting the architecture of medieval Europe, the castle’s ornate details are endlessly enjoyable. While it was originally designed to highlight an extensive collection of medieval artwork and artifacts, this castle now hosts weddings. Carved wood, stained glass, and iron frame the medieval building settled in 60 acres of woods. Castle dreams come true.
Not only do they offer outdoor ceremonies, you have two options to choose from: the courtyard or amphitheater. After your ceremony, guests enjoy meandering through the rooms of the reception space, feeling like fancy castle people. Oh and the indoor reception rooms have working fireplaces that crackle during the colder weather months. Last but not least: the spiral staircase. This gorgeous staircase is really unique to the Cloisters and also a really fun photo backdrop.
Check out a photo tour of the venue.
George Peabody Library
Best Maryland Wedding Venues in Baltimore
Next up, the George Peabody Library is a fantastic choice for couples looking for the best Maryland wedding venues. Even more than the last venue, this venue is an architectural splendor. For example, the main room contains five levels of iron balconies, which rise dramatically to the skylit ceiling. While a room flip is required yYour ceremony & reception space share the main room), the staff here are total pros. In addition to the cascading walls of books, one of my favorite details is the iconic black & white checkered floor. And, if I may, I highly recommend adding the string lights to your wedding package. It creates a gorgeously romantic atmosphere with the flip of a switch.
Corradetti Glassblowing Studio
Best Maryland Wedding Venues in Baltimore
Last on our list of the best Maryland wedding venues is the Corradetti Glassblowing Studio. This working studio rents out their space for private events in their downtown Baltimore building. Not only do they host unique, alternative weddings, but you can even add a glassblowing activity. In addition, the space includes glass sculptural elements, a built-in bar, and hanging string lights.
The glowing glass furnace also adds to the charm. The rustic interior has so many artistic elements you really don’t need to go big in decorations. Because the studio is located right in the heart of Clipper Mill industrial area, I have a ton of great photo locations ready for you!
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