Unique Wedding Venues in Gainesville
- Korinne Giese
- Aug 4
- 4 min read
Gainesville, Florida is full of small-town charm! Along with that comes some really unique wedding venues that you can only find in and around our amazing city. Ranging from the heart of downtown to more rural surroundings, here are some of our favorite unique wedding venues in Gainesville:
The Wooly
The Details:
Located in the heart of downtown Gainesville
Full of art deco and Gainesville charm
Catering available by The Top, a local Gainesville restaurant
Fantastic place for your wedding reception, especially if you want to have live music!
Can comfortably seat around 130 guests for a traditional seated wedding reception, or you can fit up to 200 guests for a cocktail-style reception.
Why we love it:
The Wooly is a downtown Gainesville gem with serious character that's made for celebrating. We adore the art deco vibes and their stunning bar that shows it off to the max. With catering and a full bar, right in-house, it couldn't be easier for couples. Thinking of having a live band for your event? This is definitely the spot for you! The Wooly holds concerts on the regular, so they're already completely set up for live sound and bands. Thinking of having an afterparty following your reception? You're steps away from tons of options and a favorite for couples is The Arcade Bar, right across the street.
Black Prong Equestrian Village
The Details:
Equestrian resort located just outside of Gainesville in Bronson, Florida
Backs up to Gothe State Forest
Offers a stunning inside grand pavilion, screened veranda, paved patio and breathtaking scenery that makes the perfect backdrop for photos
Tons of on-property housing options ranging from 2 Bedroom Cottages, Tiny Homes, Airstreams to even RV hookups
There is a pool and bar & grill located on property - perfect for weekend wedding packages!
You can get ready right onsite in their stunning bridal suite and cottages
Why we love it:
Black Prong is truly wedding weekend vibes at their finest! We adore all their overnight stay accommodation choices for wedding parties and guests that feel like icing on top of the cake to their beautiful event spaces. Both inside and outside couldn't be lovelier and both come with super unique custom rental and decor options available for couples to include with their event. Catering and bartending are right there onsite, checking multiple boxes at once. They even have their own horse & carriage! Whether you're a horse enthusiast or not, Black Prong feels like the elegant and magical retreat it is right, on the edge of Goethe State Forest.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium ("The Swamp")
The Details:
Did you know that you can get married in the heart of Gator Nation?
The Swamp offers multiple options for reception sites
You can take pictures on the field and have the score board lit up
The stadium is full of unique amenities and tons of awesome furniture included in your rental
Capacity and price varies depending on the space you want to rent, they do not rent during football season.
Why we love it:
True Gator fans know there's nothing like being in the absolute heart of Gator Nation - and getting to celebrate the best day ever there? Epic! We love that the Champion's Club has oodles of capacity for larger weddings AND the furniture rentals to handle it seamlessly already included. It's a fun and relaxed space that allows for really creative opportunities - both for ways to layout the spaces and photo ops for our couples, their wedding parties, and guests. There's also tons of parking onsite, a huge plus here in Gainesville.
The Cade Museum
The Details:
The Cade Museum was built by Dr. James Robert Cade (the inventor of Gatorade!)
Science museum with an exhibit that highlights Dr. Cade and his invention
In that exhibit is his original lab workspace (that you can add to your rental)
Some of our favorite features of The Cade include the high ceilings, its modern aesthetic, and the gorgeous views of Depot Park
Located in the heart of Downtown Gainesville
Keep in mind - it is a working museum, so you'll have access (for both setup and the event) at the end of public hours.
Want to know more about The Cade or inquire about the space?
Why we love it:
There's tons of versatility at The Cade for ceremony locations and how to use the space for your wedding. (We even had a couple use Dr. Cade's lab for their signature drink bar - complete with cocktails served in beakers!) We love the completely modern vibe and all the panoramic windows of the park too. When the park lights up at night, the view is amazing! Their Rotunda staircase is seriously made for a grand couple's entrance too!
Sweetwater Branch Inn
The Details:
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places located in Gainesville's historic district
Features multiple charming Victorian cottages and a beautiful garden setting
Provides Catering, rentals, and on-site housing for your guests
Nestled within the heart of downtown Gainesville
Seated Wedding capacity is 150 guests, but we love it most at around 140.
Rentals start at: about $5,000, plus per person for catering
Why we love it:
We're convinced that a more charming garden setting than Sweetwater Branch Inn simply couldn't exist. Flowers abound at every turn and provide the most beautiful backdrops for photos and ceremonies. With all of the beautiful glass doors that surround Mackenzie Hall, the garden feels like it's a part of your reception as well. With catering onsite, along with all of your dinner rentals and hotel accommodations available - Sweetwater checks so many boxes for couples right off the bat. Right in the heart of downtown Gainesville, it's full of historic stories and charm that they've infused into all of their spaces.
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