Wedding Venues

Written By Jon Bigelow

A common question I get asked a lot is “Have you ever photographed at <insert venue name here>?” To answer that question, I wanted to put together a blog post of all of the venues I’ve photographed (so far) around the Omaha area, with information and links to each one.

My Top 3

Having photographed many weddings over the years, it’s hard for me to pick my favorite venues. If forced though, I would say the three venues I would pick all excel for similar reasons: can accommodate ceremony & reception in one location; looks great year round; and has amazing backdrops for photo sessions (let’s be real; this last point is heavily weighted for me)

Lilac Hill
14704 156th St, Louisville, Nebraska 68037

Love everything Lilac Hill has to offer. Plenty of room on the property for an outdoor ceremony and so many scenic spots for your photos with your friends and family (you can even get a hayrack ride to take you and your wedding party to different parts of the property). The “barn” reception hall is large enough to host hundreds of people and the lighting is absolutely amazing for photos. Not only will Lilac Hill be a great venue for you on wedding day, many couples choose to come here for their engagement sessions as well, which is a nice benefit when trying to find a nice secluded outdoor spot.

Roca Ridge
5265 Prairie Sage Dr, Roca, Nebraska 68430

Roca Ridge gives me very similar vibes to Lilac Hill. Lots of great outdoor locations for photos, and a beautiful modern barn for your reception. The one things that Roca Ridge has over Lilac Hill is the lodging available for you to use for getting ready. There’s a large multistory house/cabin there that should give you more than enough room to save that first look for later on in the day, and your friends and family who arrive early can use the house to get a little break from the heat while waiting for the day’s events.

Villa Aletta
4714 N 120th St, Omaha, Nebraska 68164

When comparing the property size of Villa Aletta to my other favorites, it’s definitely smaller, but it makes great use of the space it does have. Located in Omaha, the outdoor ceremony space gives you a secluded nature feel, while the ballroom is beautifully decorated and sized right to host a large wedding. The bride/groom suites are also very large, easily accommodating your wedding party and any family members who will be there helping you with your day.

More Venues

In addition to my top 3, I’ve worked weddings at the following venues. They all come with their own sets of perks and price ranges to suit the needs of any couple.

1316 Jones
1316 Jones St, Omaha, Nebraska 68102

1316 Jones is a very unique venue located in Downtown Omaha. Definitely more on the smaller size, it has a room for an indoor ceremony and a large room that can host your reception with a dance floor. The lighting in the venue can be a challenge to work with, with areas brightly lit by the large windows, while other areas can be very dim. The venue does offer an outdoor patio area for you and your guests and can make for some good photo ops along with having Downtown Omaha at your disposal.

Arbor Hall
14040 Arbor St, Omaha, Nebraska 68144

Arbor Hall is a great choice if you’re looking for a venue in Omaha that can host both your ceremony and reception in a single location. The outdoor space gives you a nice “ceremony in the garden” feel and if you can’t host the ceremony outdoors, the reception hall is more than large enough to convert an area for a ceremony. The hall has always been nicely decorated and the natural lighting from the windows is a nice touch.

Beardmore Event Center of Bellevue
3750 Raynor Pkwy, Bellevue, Nebraska 68123

Beardmore Event Center of Bellevue is a large conference hall perfect for hosting a reception for hundreds of people. You’ll want to make sure you host your ceremony and plan your outdoor photos for other locations though as there isn’t much outside other than a parking lot for your guests.

Bellevue Berry Farm
11001 S 48th St, Papillion, Nebraska 68133

If you’re looking for a venue that can accommodate both ceremony and reception in a single location Bellevue Berry Farm definitely has options for you. The outdoor ceremony area makes for a nice backdrop for your formals as well. The two story barn can hold a lot of people, although the lower level with the bar can feel isolated from the party happening upstairs. More often than not, I see a majority of folks end up outside socializing or enjoying a live band or photobooth set up on the outdoor patio.

Bodega Victoriana Winery & Wedding Barn
60397 Kidd Rd, Glenwood, Iowa 51534

This is a really beautiful venue that’s great for hosting your all day event. Outside there are a couple options for your ceremony, and a lot of great locations for photos along the lake and the woods. The reception hall is large enough for a party of over 100 people, with plenty of space outside if your guests want to take a breather from dancing the night away.

Cellar44
2835 S 170th Plaza #206, Omaha, Nebraska 68130

If you’re looking for a venue to host a small reception with your closest friends and family, Cellar44 makes for a unique option. Live music, bar, and lounging space, couldn’t ask for anything more.

Champions Run
13800 Eagle Run Dr, Omaha, Nebraska 68164

Love the look and feel of the reception hall at Champions Run. Large windows line the walls with the view of the golf course outside. The natural lighting makes it a breeze to get amazing photos inside, and the well kept grounds are the best for a couples photos session while the guests are distracted with cake

DC Centre
11830 Stonegate Dr, Omaha, Nebraska 68164

For those looking for an Omaha venue that can accommodate both your ceremony and reception, DC Centre might be a good choice for you. The building is capable of hosting multiple events simultaneously, but I’ve yet to see that be too much of a problem. Ceremonies can be hosted indoors, but there is a little outdoor garden that can handle a smaller celebration. Along with ceremonies, the outdoor space makes for a great spot for photo opportunities for you and your loved ones. Inside, the rooms have always been nicely decorated with tulle and string lights lining the ceilings.

The Paxton Ballroom
1403 Farnam St STE 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68102

A neat venue in Downtown Omaha, the Paxton Ballroom is a great location for a large reception. Although the hall itself can be a little dark, a camera flash can go a long way here. There are so many areas within the building itself that are fun to photograph in, and you’re right in the middle of Downtown, so you have that entire area at your disposal if you want to take advantage of the surrounding areas.

Platte River State Park
14421 346th St, Louisville, Nebraska 68037

Before capturing my first wedding here, I only knew Platte River State Park as the one park with the “waterfall” (I mean it’s technically true). What I didn’t realize is that it also had a lodge to host events and an outdoor ceremony space in the woods. If you wanted to stay the night before, you could certainly rent a couple cabins there and make use of that space for getting ready. Great location for couples who want a woodsy feel on their wedding day.

Scott Conference Center
6450 Pine St, Omaha, Nebraska 68106

If you’re looking for a reception hall someplace in the middle of Omaha, Scott Conference Center is a great option. The room is nicely decorated and well lit, making it easy for your photographer. The event I covered had between 100-150 guest, but it seemed like the venue could handle more. The staff was great to work with too and I really enjoyed my time here.

Seward County Fairgrounds
Fairground Cir, Seward, Nebraska 68164

I believe there are a couple options for halls here. All of them fairly large, and surrounded by beautiful plant life and trees if you want to spend time outside. The location is about a half hour west of Lincoln, something to consider if you have guests coming in from the Omaha area.

The Valley Oak Room
10501 Pine Lake Rd #200, Lincoln, Nebraska 68526

The Valley Oak Room is a great option for hosting a more intimate celebration. From speaking with the couple, it sounds like they had the option of doing their ceremony outdoors, but had to switch due to weather. Either way, the reception hall was already nicely decorated, and was easily converted to host the ceremony, then changed back for reception. The couple and I did manage to make it outside, and as you would expect from a golf course, the grounds were well kept and made for great photos with the couple.

The Venue at Highlander
2120 N 30th St, Omaha, Nebraska 68111

I’ve only been here for a wedding reception and I really love the modern design of the venue. The large windows brought in plenty of natural light during the day and at night, looked absolutely stunning as they reflected back all of the lights of reception. If you like really cool architecture, and want that incorporated into your day, definitely look into booking this venue.

A Venue on the Ridge
20033 Elkhorn Ridge Dr, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022

A Venue on the Ridge is a nice spot for hosting an all day event. The outdoor ceremony space and the golf course are great spots for capturing photos outside. The reception hall is nice, with a large chandelier above the dance floor with lights strung from it, making for amazing photos. Some things to note, I don’t believe there are any accommodations for getting ready rooms, so that’ll have to happen offsite (or in the case of the couple I worked with, rent an RV/trailer). Also, the ceremony space is pretty close to the parking lot and in view of houses across the street, which may be an issue if you’re looking for a more secluded feel to your day.

Willow Creek
4066 325th St, Shelby, Iowa 51570

Willow Creek is another venue that’s on a large property, with different locations to host a ceremony (the glass chapel is absolutely amazing), and a large barn for reception. There are other buildings on the property that can be used for getting ready, and different trails throughout that take advantage of the natural beauty of the property. Love that this venue has so different areas that can be used as a backdrop for photos, making for a ton of variety throughout your photo gallery

Coming Soon

Jon Bigelow
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