Looking for the best Maryland wedding venues? Great, I’m glad you’re here! As a wedding photographer based in Maryland, I’ve photographed in all kinds of incredible local venues – many of which are unique, alternative and non-traditional. Couples I work with are often searching for something edgy, moody, nature-inspired, or eco-friendly, instead of a typical 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 surrounding Delaware, Southeastern Pennsylvania, & Washington DC.
From plant centers, breweries, exposed-brick downtown buildings, repurposed mills, libraries, to glasswork buildings, each of these locations is unique in its own way. After all of these years photographing weddings, I’ve collected my all-time favorite moody venues to help you along your search – have fun exploring below!
Getting married? Check out my portfolio here & say hello!
Mt. Washington Mill Dye House
Baltimore, Maryland Wedding Venue
Vibes: moody, industrial, romantic
One of my most frequented venues for a reason, Mt. Washington Mill Dye House is a great venue 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. On the other hand, your ceremony can 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, multi-pane 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 story here and Jessica & Andrew’s moody dusty rose wedding story here.
Terrain at Styer’s
Glen Mills, Pennsylvania Wedding Venue
Vibes: boho, nature-inspired, indie
Terrain lands in the top of my vibey wedding venue list for many reasons. A plant nursery, Terrain at Styer’s celebrates horticulture and invites connection to nature & community. Every wedding I’ve photographed here fills me with visual inspiration, a deep sense of tranquility, and delicious seasonal food. Pretty great, right? 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.
In cooler weather, the ceremony can be held in the 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. One of the walls is covered in vertical strands of twinkling lights and creates a gorgeous backdrop for your first dance. In short, Terrain is gorgeous. No additional decorations required.
Check out Minh & Rob’s bespoke fall-inspired wedding story here and Ashley & Zack’s chill anthropologie-style wedding story here.
Strong Mansion at Sugarloaf Mountain
Dickerson, Maryland Wedding Venue
Vibes: secret garden, earthy, historic
Nestled in the woods of Sugarloaf Mountain just outside of Frederick, Maryland 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. Outside, the garden landscapes blend 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 story here and Melissa & Peter’s haunted haus wedding story here.
The Ivy Hotel
Baltimore, Maryland Wedding Venue
Vibes: intimate, charming art deco, historic
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 story at the Ivy Hotel here.
The Winslow Room
Baltimore, Maryland Wedding Venue
Vibes: industrial, moody, urban
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 here.
Sandtown Furniture Co, Butterfly Room
Baltimore, Maryland Wedding Venue
Vibes: industrial, edgy, historic
This gorgeous historic building is now a new Baltimore wedding venue located in a quiet industrial area. Early last year, the Sandtown Furniture 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. This new Baltimore wedding venue provides great historic character, natural light, high ceilings, old preserved textures, and an experience your guests will love.
Check out more venue photos here.
Winterthur Museum, Garden, & Library
Winterthur, Delaware Wedding Venue
Vibes: secret garden, historic, dinner party
Spread over 1,000 acres of rolling meadows and woodlands, Winterthur Museum, Garden, & Library is a Delaware wedding venue gem. Once a Du Pont family country retreat, this estate’s spectacular 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. With gorgeous landscaping, picturesque stone staircases, a reflecting pool with floating water lilies, and a stone courtyard lined with greenery & blooms, your guests will have plenty to explore. Outdoor ceremonies take place in the lush outdoor grottos. While indoor ceremonies are hosted in the Galleries Reception Atrium with floor-to-ceiling windows, providing delightul natural light. 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 story here.
Monument City Brewing Company
Baltimore, Maryland Wedding Venue
Vibes: industrial, alternative, beer
What isn’t there to love about hosting your wedding at a brewery? Monument City Brewing Company is a great non-traditional wedding venue option in Baltimore. The atmosphere is instantly relaxing and fun to look around. 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 story here.
Accelerator Space
Baltimore, Maryland Wedding Venue
Vibes: modern, open warehouse, minimalist
Do you imagine a flexible wedding space where you can bring your vision to life? If so, the Accelerator Space is the venue 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. It 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 here.
Lauxmont Farms
Lancaster, Pennsylvania Wedding Venue
Vibes: farm, outdoor, relaxed
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. My favorite? The cobblestone courtyard, of course. I love the textures of the stones, the crawling ivy, and the small greenhouse that offers beautiful photo opportunities. On a gorgeous spring, summer, or fall day, this is exactly where I picture spending my time. 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.
Check out this edgy cobblestone wedding editorial here.
The Bond
York, Pennsylvania Wedding Venue
Vibes: moody, exposed brick, edgy
Right in the heart of historic downtown York in Central Pennsylvania, The Bond offers a quaint industrial wedding space. 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. Extra moody. 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!
Check out Kristen & James’ mega vibey candlelit wedding story here.
Dock 5
Washington, DC Wedding Venue
Vibes: open warehouse, edgy, industrial
Dock 5 is a venue located above Union Market in DC. It’s a purely 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. – get wild. Though one open room, you can add drape & piping to section off areas for a more intentional use of space. The best part? You can head up to the rooftop where the Union Market marquee 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, as you can imagine.
Check out Liz & Chris’s luxuriously edgy and velvety wedding story here.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Annapolis, Maryland Wedding Venue
Vibes: eco-friendly, earthy, beach, nature
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is one wedding venue my eco-friendly, chill couples love. The foundation itself is dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay, the shining centerpiece of the property. 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 here and Kelly & Kyle’s relaxed outdoorsy wedding story here.
Historic London Town and Gardens
Edgewater, Maryland Wedding Venue
Vibes: waterfront, historic, garden
Historic London Town and Gardens combines waterfront views with open garden space. This wedding venue offers a blank canvas with a base of a beautiful nature setting. To kick-off the day, 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 story here and Amanda & Taylor’s autumn garden wedding story here.
Cloisters Castle
Lutherville, Maryland Wedding Venue
Vibes: castle, romantic, architecture
Nestled on a hilltop in Lutherville, The Cloisters is an absolutely epic wedding venue. 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, the Cloisters now hosts weddings & events. Delicately carved wood, stained glass, and wrought iron frame the medieval building settled in 60 acres of woods. Oh and the turrets, the turrets! Castle dreams come true. Ceremonies are held in the courtyard or amphitheater, which are both gorgeous options. Then guests can 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. Delightful. 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 here.
George Peabody Library
Baltimore, Maryland Wedding Venue
Vibes: architecture, moody, historic
Get ready for all the clapping emojis. The George Peabody Library is a fantastic choice for couples looking for a non-traditional, really unique wedding venue in Baltimore. Located in the Mt. Vernon neighborhood, The Peabody is an architectural splendor. For example, the main room contains five tiers of ornamental cast-iron balconies, which rise dramatically to the skylight ceiling. Your ceremony & reception space share the main room with a very smooth transitional flip of the space. 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
Baltimore, Maryland Wedding Venue
Vibes: artistic, industrial, rustic
The Corradetti Glassblowing Studio is a great option for a really unique, alternative wedding location. This working glassblowing studio rents out their space for private events in their textured, charming building. 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. Plus, the studio is located right in the heart of Clipper Mill industrial area. Which means there are a ton of great photo locations I already have ready for ya!
Excelsior
Lancaster, Pennsylvania Wedding Venue
Vibes: industrial, downtown, urban
Looking for a venue to suit your industrial, minimalist wedding vision? You’ve found it: The Excelsior in Lancaster, PA. With exposed brick and plaster textures, you can really moody it up or keep it simple & chic. The ceremony is set up on the slatted wood patio where luscious ivy covers large sections of the walls. Gorgeous. There are also plenty of areas for gorgeous floral installations – including the beautiful industrial staircase railings. The Excelsior is really a wonderful, inspiring venue.
Looking for a down-to-earth wedding photographer? Check out my portfolio here & say hello!
