Atlanta is a city that combines Southern charm with a hip, modern vibe. Whether couples are from the area or choosing a destination wedding, many factors go into planning Atlanta weddings. From selecting vendors, accessing wedding planners, booking photographers, arranging florists and choosing the perfect venue, here is the ultimate guide to hosting a dream wedding in Atlanta, Georgia.
Atlanta Weddings – The Ultimate Guide for Hosting The Wedding of Your Dreams
How Much Do Atlanta Weddings Cost?
Atlanta weddings can be large and luxurious or budget-friendly. The average cost of an Atlanta wedding is reported to be about $26,000, below the national average. Fall weddings are the most popular time of year, and the average Atlanta wedding hosts about 119 guests.
Some factors to keep in mind when calculating wedding costs are:
- the venue,
- food and beverage services,
- florals and decor,
- linens and rentals,
- photographers,
- cinematographers,
- wedding planners,
- paper goods,
- entertainment and music,
- hair and makeup,
- the wedding dress,
- transportation,
- the wedding cake, and
- ceremony fees.
Tying the knot in Atlanta, Georgia means getting married in a city of relatively low costs compared to the luxurious experience it provides. This makes it one of the least expensive major metro areas to get married in. Venues range in price in Atlanta. Park weddings typically cost between $1,000 and $5,000, botanic gardens cost between $650 and $4,000, and banquet halls and ballrooms cost between $2,000 and $25,000. Barns and farms cost between $5,000 and $12,000. Wedding catering in Atlanta generally costs between $1,000 and $7,000.
What Time of Year Should You Consider for Your Atlanta Wedding
Fall weddings are popular in Atlanta, with October being the city’s most popular month to get married. It’s essential to remember that Atlanta is a popular tourist destination, with many special events throughout the year that couples should be aware of. These large events can cause hotels to book up and increase traffic, making weddings much more difficult.
Some popular events and holidays that bring tourists to the area are Martin Luther King March and Rally (January), the Atlanta Film Festival (March), and Atlanta Pride (October). Several music festivals draw people to the area, including the Atlanta Jazz Festival (May), the Shaky Knees and Shaky Beats festivals (May), and Music Midtown (September).
The Weather for Atlanta Weddings
Another factor to keep in mind is the weather in Atlanta. The area is known for mild winters, occasional snow, and hot, humid summers. There are many rainy days throughout the year. The coldest month is usually January, with average temperatures of about 51 degrees, and the hottest month is usually July when it averages about 87 degrees.
Outdoor weddings can be difficult in the heat of summer or during cold, rainy winters. Spring and fall are ideal months for an outdoor wedding celebration in Atlanta. The occasional major storm is also a factor, usually occurring in August and September.
In Atlanta, springtime is generally sunny and mild, with an occasional cold front or storm system. Temperatures are mild, and the flowers bloom, making it the ideal time for a destination wedding. Summers are hot and humid, with July being the hottest month. Outdoor weddings during the summer can be uncomfortable, so choose an indoor location with air conditioning.
Fall in Atlanta is similar to spring, with mild weather. The occasional hot day occurs, but the weather is cool and brisk. There might be occasional snowfall, but fall is a gorgeous time to host an outdoor wedding in Atlanta. Winter is the most challenging time to plan a wedding because couples may have to deal with extreme cold, snowstorms, and standstill roads.
Atlanta Wedding Venues
The Atlanta area is full of stunning, high-end wedding venues. Your wedding venue should feel like a place where you can celebrate your unique love story in an environment that matches your and your partner’s personalities. Based on a couple’s aesthetic, there are many unique venues in Georgia to choose from.
The Peachtree Club
The Peachtree Club, which started as an elite restaurant, is now an all-inclusive rooftop wedding venue in the heart of downtown Atlanta. Conveniently located next to a hotel, this venue gives couples multiple spaces to choose from to host their ceremony and reception.
For outdoor ceremonies, the Skyline Terrace is the perfect spot. It overlooks the city and provides access to a retractable roof, which gives couples and their guests unrivaled views of the mountains. Couples can choose from four different dining rooms or an indoor ballroom for a reception. Each of these rooms features elegant chandeliers and can host up to 100 guests. Read more about The Peachtree Club here.
The Southern Exchange
The Southern Exchange is another stunning wedding venue in Atlanta. It features a gorgeous vintage interior where historic details meet modern elegance. Furthermore, the architectural design incorporates historical elements that pay homage to the building’s unique past.
Southern Exchange hosts exquisite wedding experiences, with over six indoor event spaces to choose from. The Whitehall Ballroom is a popular option with a dedicated bridal suite to be used as a getting-ready room. The event staff at Southern Exchange are professional and attentive, helping couples plan flawless events.
Catering options include choices from award-winning chef Rich Rosendale. The venue also has a team that takes care of all production elements, including sound, lighting, and more. Brian Worley oversees all wedding design.
The Estate
The Estate is a mansion wedding venue where couples can work with an award-winning event team to plan the wedding of their dreams. This innovative team, Legendary Events, helps couples with wedding coordination, style, and design. This luxury wedding venue features a double glass door entrance, rooms that can be used as ceremony spaces, and outdoor ceremony locations.
The mansion features lush gardens, towering trees, and a romantic fountain. This venue also has a gorgeous bridal suite for the wedding party to use as a getting-ready area. The large windows of this room let in lots of natural light, perfect for portraits and candid photos. Couples can use the mansion’s many sitting rooms and salons as a groom’s room.
The Piedmont Room
The Piedmont Room is a venue that combines historic elements with modern skyline views. This venue features granite walls, ivy-covered windows, and two different spaces for the ceremony and reception. Furthermore, The Piedmont Room is an indoor wedding venue with large windows, tall ceilings, and dark bamboo hardwood floors.
Wedding rentals include table linens, chairs, cushions, candles, uplighting, and parking. The venue can host 50-200 guests. It also consists of the Piedmont Garden Tent, a stunning outdoor location in a private meadow. It features tall silk lining, crystal chandeliers, and built-in air conditioning and heating. The Tent can host 50-200 guests.
The Wimbish House
The Wimbish House is another popular wedding venue with a midtown vibe. This venue was completed in 1906, commissioned by Atlanta attorney William A. Wimbish and designed by one of Atlanta’s best-known architects.
This venue features an eclectic French Renaissance Revival style and is a designated national landmark. This venue has a large indoor room that can host up to 150 guests and features a small stage, beautiful arches, and elegant greenery. A smaller space can also be used for the ceremony, with large windows, gorgeous chandeliers, and beautiful drapery.
Reception spaces include a beautiful ballroom that dates back to the 1920s, with high ceilings, period furniture, and antique chandeliers. Couples can host cocktail hour in the Wimbish Parlor, including a curved staircase or the outdoor Veranda that overlooks the property. A bridal suite and groom’s room are available for use during the duration of the event.
The Atrium
The Atrium is a luxurious, hidden garden gem in the middle of Norcross’s historic district. Additionally, this venue features an array of flowers and great spaces for wedding ceremonies and receptions. Outdoor ceremonies are held in gorgeous courtyards with stone pathways, a gazebo, and a rose-covered arbor and bench.
The venue’s two-story glass ballroom features a unique balcony, a custom-built bar, and garden views. This intimate, elegant venue can accommodate up to 150 guests.
St. Ives Country Club
St. Ives Country Club is a popular choice for an elegant country club wedding. With well-manicured outdoor spaces and all-inclusive packages, this North Fulton County venue resembles an 18th-century English manor house.
It has ample outdoor space for ceremonies and photos, including a patio and terrace overlooking the golf course. The indoor 45,000-square-foot clubhouse can accommodate up to 250 guests and features elegant decor and glittering chandeliers.
Obtaining an Atlanta Marriage License
Getting a marriage license in Atlanta requires both parties to be at least 18 years old. License applications can be filled out online and completed in person at a government building. Couples must bring two forms of identification to their appointment in order to obtain their license. Marriage licenses cost $56 but only $16 if couples complete a premarital course. Premarital courses typically cover the meaning of the marriage commitment, sex, division of labor, managing conflict, children, fights, and finances.
Marriage licenses in Atlanta have no waiting period or expiration date, so couples can host their Atlanta wedding whenever they choose after obtaining their license.
Getting Around Atlanta
Getting to Atlanta is reasonably easy, and many couples use the Atlanta airport, Hartsfield-Jackson, one of the busiest airports in the world, to fly in with out-of-town guests. The airport is conveniently located 20 minutes south of downtown Atlanta, and there is a rapid transit rail system to get from the airport to the city. Getting around the city is also simple, with options like MARTA, a streetcar system, taxis, Ubers, Lyfts, and car rentals.
Accommodations for Guests
Atlanta is full of excellent hotels and accommodations for out-of-town guests.
Popular hotels include Hotel Indigo Atlanta Midtown, Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta Midtown, The Whitley, The Candler Hotel, The Glenn Hotel, The Artmore Hotel, Hotel Clermont, Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Hilton Atlanta, The Georgian Terrace, Holiday Inn and Suites, Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead, The Starling Atlanta Midtown, The Atlanta Marriott Marquis, The Crowne Plaza Atlanta, Tru by Hilton, The American Hotel Atlanta Downtown, The Hilton Garden Inn, The Sheraton Atlanta, The Darwin Hotel, The Wylie Hotel, and The Westin Peachtree Plaza.
There are also a number of fantastic Airbnb rentals in Atlanta for guests that prefer to rent a house instead of a hotel.
Things to Do in Atlanta
There are many fun attractions in the Atlanta area, making it an excellent place for out-of-town guests. Couples should build in “adventure” days, and while their wedding is the main event, there are many things to do and see during their stay in Atlanta. From major attractions such as The World of Coca-Cola to the Georgia Aquarium to The MLK Center, be sure to leave time to take in everything this bustling city has to offer.
The Georgia Aquarium, The World of Coca-Cola, & Piedmont Park
Some popular things to do include the Georgia Aquarium, which hosts more than 100,000 animals and is one of the best in the entire country. The World of Coca-Cola museum is another popular tourist attraction, even if they’re not big fans of soda.
Piedmont Park is a great outdoor attraction that serves as an oasis in the middle of the bustling city. It hosts farmer’s markets, gardens, sports, and water attractions.
Centennial Olympic Park, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, & The Atlanta History Center
Centennial Olympic Park is a unique Atlanta attraction that was the site of the 1996 Olympics. This park offers exciting activities, including live music, delicious food, an audio walking tour, and a variety of fun events throughout the year.
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park is another must-see, where guests can learn about the life of this civil rights activist. The Atlanta History Center is another great Atlanta attraction where guests can enjoy learning about the region’s history.
Museums, Gardens, & The Arts in The City
The High Museum of Art is a highly-regarded art museum located in Midtown Atlanta. It houses more than 16,000 works of art, ranging from classic pieces to contemporary exhibits.
The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library Museum is a popular attraction where guests can walk through a full-scale replica of Jimmy Carter’s White House Oval Office, view his Nobel Peace Prize, and walk through gorgeous gardens.
The Beltline is a 22-mile trail that winds around the city, with artwork installations, unique shops, popular bars and restaurants, and many ways to explore the city of Atlanta.
The Alliance Theatre is a place where guests can catch a Broadway play before it reaches Broadway. This Regional Theater Tony Award winner is deeply rooted in the community and offers productions for all ages.
The Atlanta Botanical Garden features 30 acres of stunning gardens and exhibits and is fun to visit year-round. The Botanical Garden features a 25-foot-tall Earth Goddess sculpture that has a waterfall cascading from her hand. Every season, the garden offers events on the lawn for visitors to enjoy.
Hiring an Atlanta Wedding Photographer
If you’re looking for the perfect Atlanta wedding photographer, be sure to check out my work! My name is Katrina, and I’m an Atlanta-based wedding photographer. I love dogs, plants, and of course, documenting one of life’s biggest moments: your wedding day.
I have over five years of experience in professional wedding photography, capturing special moments that people will cherish forever. My photography style is bright, vibrant, joyful, and true to life. I love capturing the raw emotion of a moment just as it happens.
Being present on your wedding day is truly an honor. It feels rewarding to be part of such a momentous occasion in a couple’s life. My greatest joy comes from documenting all of the special moments that make your big day one of the best days of your life. I love documenting experiences, people, milestones, and emotions, capturing the many reasons couples have to celebrate their love for one another.
As a newlywed myself, I know just how important your wedding day is, and I understand how to capture the priceless moments you’ll want to hold onto forever. I’m also fond of my energetic rescue dog Jasper and my cat Jack. I love reading mystery novels, relaxing in a bubble bath, baking chocolate chip cookies, listening to podcasts, creating charcuterie boards, and exploring new parks. I’m always up for an adventure!
I firmly believe that all couples deserve wedding photos that bring them right back to the emotions of their special day. I want to provide pictures that they’ll proudly hang on their walls for years, photos to share with their kids and grandkids, and photos that make them smile. Moreover, I want to capture all of the unique moments that make their wedding day memorable.
Atlanta Weddings
Atlanta is a lively, unique city full of amazing venues and attractions, the ideal location for couples who want a memorable, trendy wedding. From stunning gardens to luxurious country clubs, the city is full of unique venues where couples can host the Atlanta weddings of their dreams. With a number of exciting attractions and convenient hotels, this city is the perfect place to host a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Ready for more Atlanta wedding content? Check out the blog links below!
