Alabama's Gulf Coast is an ideal location for a beachfront wedding.
Couples planning a wedding in the southern state of Alabama have a wide variety of indoor and outdoor ceremony sites from which to choose. From quaint chapels to rustic farms and elegant, beachfront weddings, Alabama has venues for all tastes and preferences when it comes to tying the proverbial knot.
Chapels
Couples who wish to exchange vows in a traditional chapel setting will find several options in Alabama, including the Mentone Wedding Chapel, a replica of an early Appalachian church located on Lookout Mountain. The chapel features a steep cedar shake roof, a bell and steeple, stained-glass windows and a 50-candle candelabrum. Several packages are available depending on the number of guests.
Alternatively, couples can host their ceremony at the Lucille Ryals Thompson Colonial Chapel, which is part of The American Village campus in Montevallo. The design of the chapel was inspired by the Bruton Parish Church of Williamsburg, Virginia. It features a 100-foot tall steeple, arched and round windows and a British antique wooden pulpit.
Gardens
Couples who want to get married outdoors can do so at one of several gardens throughout Alabama. Among these is the 65-acre Bellingrath Gardens and Home in Theodore, which offers two outdoor ceremony sites. The smaller of the two, the South Terrace, overlooks the Fowl River and can accommodate up to 200 guests; the larger space, known as the Great Lawn, accommodates up to 500.
Another option is the Huntsville Botanical Garden. Ccouples can choose from several outdoor settings, the most popular of which are the Arbor Courtyard and the Teledyne Terrace, which is adjacent to a lake. The latter may only be reserved in conjunction with an indoor reception space.
Farms
Several farms in Alabama host wedding ceremonies and receptions, including the family-owned Stone Bridge Farm in Cullman. Couples can say "I do" on the lawn in front of the manor, in the gazebo by the pond or in the farm's lodge chapel.
At the Oak Hollow Farm in Fairhope, wedding ceremonies can be held outdoors or indoors in the farm's 6,000-square-foot barn. Another alternative is Huckleberry Farm in Jasper, which has a horse-drawn carriage available for rent.
Orange Beach
Couples for whom the ideal wedding includes sand and foam should head to Orange Beach, where ceremonies can be held at sunset at the Gulf State Park Beach Pavilion. There are also several hotels and resorts along Alabama's Gulf Coast that host oceanfront weddings, including the Beach Club and the Caribe Resort. A permit is required to get married on the shore.
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