Best Wedding Venues in Omaha Nebraska

I am often asked what venues are the best to choose from in Omaha, Nebraska. Here is a list of my top wedding venues in the Omaha area and what I love about each one. I chose a mix of downtown, industrial, and outdoor venues, so there is plenty of variety to choose from. These venues offer ample photography opportunities as well to create a cohesive wedding day style. Here are my favorites in no particular order, as well as images I’ve photographed at each location. Choosing a wedding venue can often feel overwhelming, so my hope is this will help give you an overall feel of each space and if it’s the right fit for you.

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LAURITZEN GARDENS

event capacity - up to 275 guests

Lauritzen Gardens is hands down one of my favorite venues to shoot at. From the tropical-filled arboretum to the multiple gardens on site, the photography opportunities are endless! Victoria Gardens is my favorite! They offer multiple opportunities for both indoor and outdoor ceremony locations. An outdoor cocktail hour just sounds lovely to me. If you’ve ever dreamt of an island wedding but want to stay in Nebraska, this is your place to create all those vibes! There is so much natural beauty here that is unmatched. This is an absolute gem in Omaha!

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The Hotel Deco

event capacity - up to 170 guests

The Hotel Deco is a wonderful modern hotel and event space to host your wedding. It is an all-inclusive space where you can get ready, have a pre-wedding drink at their upscale bar, host your wedding ceremony, and also reception all in one location. Their culinary team will create an amazing wedding cuisine that is absolutely delicious (seriously the best chicken I’ve ever had at a wedding). The Park Room reception space hosts modern industrial elements and is a dream to photograph (it’s so nice and bright!). Highly recommend this location if you are going for a classy, modern, city vibe.

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ELMWOOD PARK PAVILION AND GROTTO

event capacity - up to 120 guests

Elmwood Park is the perfect location for an outdoor wedding. It truly looks different during every season of the year. You could choose it for a lush green summer wedding, or for a warm earthy vibe in the fall. There’s plenty of shade during the day as the park is covered with trees of all kinds. The pavilion on site could be a wonderful option for a reception in the same space and is reminiscent of a California wedding venue with Spanish architecture. I picture a beautiful wedding dance outside the pavilion under the stars with food trucks where guests can choose dinner of their choice. This venue is wonderful for a laid back atmosphere and casual vibe.

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joslyn art museum

event capacity - up to 400 guests

Art lovers, this one’s for you. The Joslyn Art Museum is a wonderful wedding venue offering many options. There are both indoor and outdoor opportunities for a wedding ceremony and reception. You could host your entire wedding outside, which is a huge advantage in Omaha. The museum alone speaks for itself in terms of design and architecture. Guests can enjoy artwork from world renowned artists during cocktail hour. How cool is it to get married at a location you can one day visit with your children to reminisce all the special moments. 

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The MAGNOLIA HOTEL

event capacity - up to 200 guests

The Magnolia Hotel is one of the most beautiful, charming locations in Omaha for an outdoor wedding. It was originally built in 1924 with the motivation of mimicking a palace in Florence, Italy. It is also a part of the National Register of Historic Places - how cool! The bridal suite is lovely as well with two levels, so there is plenty of room for your crew! Your out of town guests will be able to experience the hospitality on site, and won’t need to drive to a separate hotel once the dancing is over. This boutique hotel offers a few different wedding options, depending on the size of your ceremony. The natural beauty combined with modern elements make it a wonderful place to wed.

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THE PELLA AT BLACKSTONE

event capacity - up to 250 guests

The Pella at Blackstone is a truly unique space. Originally a church in the Blackstone District, the charming blend of modern and historic architecture is hard to beat. My favorite space is the Landing - a bright white lower level of the building that is perfect for either a wedding ceremony and reception, or simply a cocktail hour space. The upper level gives a more moody, dramatic vibe with an open floor plan. It’s high ceilings provide room to breathe and enjoy the space.

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THE Omar

event capacity - up to 320 guests

Originally the Omar Bakery Building built in 1923, the Omar is a historic industrial space full of opportunity. Host both your wedding ceremony and reception all in one open space, with an opportunity for cocktail hour off the back upstairs patio. Industrial exposed brick + art deco style never looked so good together.

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THE LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE BUILDING

event capacity - up to 350 guests

Sitting in South Omaha is The Livestock Exchange Building. What I love about this venue is the bright, ivory blank space. You can create a bohemian inspired wedding, or go full on classic modern here. It is as versatile as it is spacious. They offer two large ballrooms on the tenth floor to choose from, depending upon your event size. They also have plenty of on site parking for your convenience as well.

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FOUNDERS ONE NINE

event capacity - outdoor green space up to 120 guests // indoor space up to 400 guests

Founders One Nine in downtown Omaha is the perfect urban mix of bright white walls and ceilings + industrial exposed brick. It is one of the larger urban locations in downtown Omaha, which is a huge plus if you can’t cut down your guest list! I love the option of hosting a more intimate ceremony on the green space outside (or cocktail hour) and having a larger reception indoors. They also offer an award-winning exclusive culinary team who’s excited to offer you many meal options. The staff is so wonderful to work with here also! Founders One Nine was built in 1920 and is also on the National Register of Historic Places. I’d highly recommend checking it out.

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ONE THOUSAND DODGE

event capacity - up to 250 guests

Originally built as a warehouse in 1928, One Thousand Dodge is perfect for those who love a little Omaha history incorporated into their wedding story. Renovated as a unique creative space, this venue is the perfect location to host a wedding reception in Omaha’s newer Capitol District just north of the historic Old Market. It offers an open floor plan with rooms for a dance floor and catering area just off to the side of the main space. Hotels are literally located right across the street with a huge parking lot nearby, making this very convenient for your guests as well.

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COTTONWOOD HOTEL

coming in summer 2020 // event capacity - up to 250 guests

rendered images from the Cottonwood Hotel website

This is an upcoming new venue that I am majorly crushing on. As if a rooftop pool area for cocktail hour isn’t enough, the Cottonwood Hotel’s dreamy hallways leave so many options for creative photography on your wedding day. “An elegant retreat in the heart of Omaha”, this hotel is a renovation of the historic Blackstone Hotel. The boutique hotel rooms are absolutely stunning, and will be a stunning backdrop for when you slip your wedding dress on to start the day. This venue breathes “classic and modern sophistication”. Guests will be so impressed with the soulful design of this space. Absolutely check this place out when it opens in the summer.

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The living room

event capacity - up to 225 guests

An urban oasis north of downtown Omaha, The Living Room is definitely worth considering in Omaha. This venue offers industrial brick, exposed ceiling timbers, and clerestory windows. As a photographer, I love the natural light it offers too! They have a private parking lot that can host 400 cars, which is rare in downtown Omaha. One major gem of this location is the ability to host an outdoor ceremony overlooking the downtown Omaha cityscape on the Terrace. Talk about dreamy! An indoor ceremony is also available, and just as cool. It’s definitely a perk to have this option in the case of inclement weather.

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Falconwood park

event capacity - up to 0 guests

With 26 acres of shaded green space, Falconwood Park is the perfect outdoor location to host your woodsy wedding. They offer indoor and outdoor options, which is even better. There are photo opportunities GALORE. Their rustic lodge reception space is perfect for hosting your guests, and they even have the opportunity to host your dance outside under the stars! The opportunity to camp or “glamp” on site offers a really cool experience for your guests as well.

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Vintage Wedding Rentals for your Nebraska Boho Styled Wedding - The Bohemian Hatter

Did you know I have another event-based company? The Bohemian Hatter - a boho vintage rental shop where I offer a plethora of rugs, vintage wicker pieces, and decor accents! I’m based outside of Aurora Nebraska, and offer rental pieces to make your wedding more cozy and bohemianed out. I may have made that word up, but it sounds lovely, right?!

I aspire to offer unique items that will enhance your special occasion to create magical memories for you and your guests.  Are you interested in hosting a boho styled event but not sure how to execute it?  Please reach out!  I am happy to help you dream up what pieces would work best for your vision.

My pieces have been rented for weddings, birthdays, celebration parties, etc. The opportunities are endless with these pieces. You can go full out boho vibes or have some simple vintage accents to enhance your party’s theme.

You can also see my pieces in action and gain boho wedding inspiration via Pinterest. Wanting to dream about what your boho wedding might look like? Go give my Instagram page a follow and start a conversation with me over there! Can’t wait to hear from ya.

Three Ways to Elevate Your Shoot with Style - What to Wear Engagement Session Tips

One of the best experiences during your engagement season is your couples session with your photographer! This is probably something you’ve been looking forward to for quite some time, and rightfully so! You may have already imagined what you’d wear many times over, but when the actual time comes to photograph your session, you freeze. Choosing outfits for your photos can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! Here are my tips to consider when choosing clothing for your session.

This post is featured on Wedding Chicks as a guest writer post! Check it out!

NUMBER OF OUTFITS

Couples usually have 2 or 3 outfit choices. More often than not, it takes time to warm up in front of the camera to feel comfortable. Once you get into a flow, you don’t want to interrupt that to change clothes over and over again. Two outfits are great to maximize your time with each other in front of the camera. If you want to spice it up, you can add a third “just for fun” outfit. We’ll talk more about that later.

OUTFIT #1 - A CHILL EVERYDAY VIBE

I’d recommend choosing a “chill everyday” vibe for outfit #1. This could include a pair of vans and a fitted hoodie/graphic tee with a jean jacket . Think street style or whatever is normal for you! Often times there is a fear of a casual outfit for your session. It’s a special session of course, and we’re documenting a special season of your life. How could jeans and a t-shirt compliment that? I’m here to tell you, this doesn’t have to feel “sloppy”. Most likely you’re regularly wearing an outfit like this with your significant other. It’s important to remember you for how you are in every day life.

Another thing to consider is the background you are shooting in. A simple, casual outfit can compliment and calm down busy city surroundings. It brings the focus on you and compliments your environment. Having a professional photo taken in jeans is also very different than a camera phone snapshot. Jeans add a lot of texture to a professional photo that you wouldn’t see in a phone photo. A professional image will also add a lot of depth, which makes everything more interesting. Plus, athleisure/casual looks are really trending right now. Who can argue with comfy + cute vibes?!

OUTFIT #2 - BOOST THAT CONFIDENCE LOOK

For outfit #2, think about clothing you feel confident in, and find ways to spice up that look! This could be adding a floral crown from a florist, wide brim hat, leather embroidered jacket, sunglasses, etc. You might really want to wear a maxi dress to embrace the romance in your photos. That’s great! It doesn’t always have to be a dress. I had one couple who loves France, so we added a Parisian dressy casual vibe to their look. I have a Pinterest board I can send your way for ideas that have helped previous couples! Also, for the dudes - just because the girl is wearing a maxi dress doesn’t mean the guy needs to match that level of dressiness. Feel free to pair the guy in a tee and/or casual jacket. It’ll eliminate any “stuffy” dressy vibes and help match the heartfelt mood of your photos.

OUTFIT #3 - the bonus LOOK

You may solely choose to have two outfits, and that’s so great. However, if you’re more of a daring person or someone who is drawn to bold trends, a third “bonus” look might be just for you. This can be an opportunity to wear that wild jumpsuit or jacket you’ve been eyeing but think might be too “out there” for photos. Keep in mind, there is no pressure with this outfit! It’s just for fun! You’ve chosen two solid looks, so this is just a “bonus” and the cherry on top of your otherwise solid session. I’m happy to help dream up what this could look like for you. Sometimes, this outfit is the one that truly shows off your personality.

LOCATION & OUTFITS

As your photographer, I will choose locations to match your outfit vibe. It’s about creating overall cohesion, and location is a huge part of that! People don’t generally wear a suit and tie to the beach, so we might choose a city skyline for that outfit instead. If the city isn’t your vibe, avoid wearing a suit and tie. If you’re shooting in a grassy field, choose earth toned colors that blend with the surroundings and keep the focus on you. If you have a location in mind that is meaningful to you, plan your outfits around it and embrace complimenting the space.

most importantly, BE PRACTICAL

Don’t wear something that’s not you. Why would you wear a formal dress to an engagement session when you NEVER wear a formal dress or suit and tie? Be yourself and make sure you’re comfortable and can MOVE in your outfits - because you’ll be moving A LOT! Chances are you will also get dirty! Think about where we will be shooting. If it’s at the beach, I’ll most likely ask you to walk along the water (or hop right in). It’s totally okay to go without shoes too! If it’s in a grassy field, heels aren’t the best choice since you will sink into the ground, and you won’t see your shoes anyway with tall grass. If we are walking a lot, be sure to bring some comfy shoes for in-between locations to keep your feet from hurting.

last thing - style with your photographer

You’ve chosen your photographer and essentially have placed your trust in their skills to photograph your relationship best. Utilize their knowledge! I start the outfit/location conversation with my couples a few weeks before their shoot date. Together we can figure out ways to elevate their shoot and make it completely unique to them. My clients are regularly texting me photos of outfit options, which allows us to bounce ideas off each other. It truly is a collaborative effort and completely worth it after you see the magic your session will be. I truly love being an asset to my couples (seriously I would be creative director if I wasn’t a photographer haha), and I LOVE helping make your session a true testament to who you are as a couple.

Well there you have it! My tips to help elevate your photo shoot. If you have questions, please reach out! Considering a shoot with me? Click here to fill out a contact form and we can dream up your own shoot together!