Top Five Venues for Wedding Receptions in Charlotte, NC

Your wedding day is one that you want to be beautiful, enjoyable, and unforgettable. If you are getting married in Charlotte, North Carolina, the number of venues for stunning weddings and receptions are countless. From outdoor venues to hotels to museums, there is no end to the possibilities for your big day. Here are my top five rated venues for wedding receptions in Charlotte.

Maggiano's Little Italy

Located in the Southpark area of Charlotte, Maggiano's Italian Restaurant has what it takes to make your event special. Whether you are looking for an intimate, candlelit ceremony and dinner with your closest friends and family, or if you are looking for a lively reception with a crowd of guests dancing the night away to a live band, Maggiano's Little Italy can deliver that special day of which you have always dreamed. The Charlotte, North Carolina location has two banquet event managers to assist with planning your event.

Available services at Maggiano's include rich, beautiful rooms and table settings; elegant, adjustable lighting; skilled and impeccably-dressed servers; full-service bars with an extensive selection of wines, spirits and champagnes; and authentic, chef-prepared Italian-American dishes served buffet, cocktail, or family style.

The best part about this venue is that there is no charge for use of the magnificent room for your event, so long as you meet the food and beverage minimum for your guests. In addition to food and beverage, there is also a charge for taxes and gratuity for your servers.

The time of day of your wedding dictates the cost of your meal. For earlier weddings (reception meals served before 4 pm), the price for family-style dining is less expensive than for evening weddings (reception meals served after 4 pm).

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Located in the historic town of Belmont, North Carolina, which is right outside of Charlotte, the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden (DSBG) is a magnificent and unique venue for wedding receptions. DSBG has over 110 acres of themed gardens, a dozen sparkling fountains, and an ever-changing display of the best of Southern horticulture. The garden was recently named one of the nation's "20 Great Gardens" by HGTV.

This venue has several different indoor rooms and outdoor areas that can be rented to accommodate parties from as small as 18 guests to as large as 300 guests. Two great rental areas in the DSBG include the Nellie Rhyne Stowe White Garden, which was designed especially for weddings and the Great Hall, which is a versatile indoor space for gatherings of up to 300.

The White Garden features an ever-changing display of white flowers and foliage against an evergreen backdrop, and has a gazebo entrance, while the Great Hall offers a breathtaking panorama of the Four Seasons Garden. Outside this area lies a sweeping Garden Terrace.

The Westin Hotel

The Westin Charlotte is situated in the uptown district of Charlotte, and is another perfect venue for your wedding reception. From extravagant receptions to an intimate affair, the Grand and Providence ballrooms offer enchanting settings for weddings of all sizes.

The Westin features versatile event space with an open setting and contemporary design, and also provides experienced wedding planners that will orchestrate your elegant event. The hotel also boasts an award-winning Executive Chef who can customize a menu for your event that reflects your style and personality.

The Mint Museum of Art and the Mint Museum of Craft and Design

The Mint Museum offers two unique venues in which to host your special event-the Museum of Art and the Museum of Craft and Design.

The Mint Museum of Art, a long-time Charlotte tradition, offers a park-like setting in the beautiful Eastover neighborhood. This place initially served the region as the first branch of the United States Mint; today, it is a rich and diverse resource with noted collections of all types of art and ceramics-from American to pre-Columbian art. This venue is definitely for those who appreciate creativity.

The Mint Museum of Craft and Design, located in the heart of Center City Charlotte, is a museum that boasts a dramatic rooftop terrace overlooking the city. It features a permanent collection that documents contemporary studio craft, tracing the movement's historical roots in the 19th century and its relationship to traditional decorative arts and industrial design.

For a special treat for your wedding guests, after-hour gallery viewing time at either museum may be added as part of your reception package.

The Museum of Art is the larger of the two venues, and can accommodate receptions of up to 500 guests. The Museum of Craft and Design can accommodate receptions of up to 150 guests.