March 12, 2025
Lauren Burke Meyer
|
Contributor
Call me biased, but there’s nothing quite like a wedding in Annapolis, MD. From historic mansions to stunning waterfront venues, the hardest part is choosing just one. To help, we’ve rounded up some of the best wedding venues in Annapolis—plus key details to make finding your perfect spot a breeze.
There’s a reason Scoop’s birthday parties are hosted at the Annapolis Maritime Museum — it’s one of the most unique waterfront wedding venues in Annapolis, MD. With breathtaking views of the Chesapeake Bay, rich maritime history, and a prime Eastport location, this venue offers an unforgettable setting for your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception.
Situated at the mouth of Back Creek, the museum provides a stunning waterfront backdrop while keeping your guests close to Eastport’s top restaurants and downtown Annapolis’ hotels, shops, and dining. Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or a lively celebration, this venue is a top choice for couples looking for historic and waterfront wedding venues in Annapolis.
✅ Exhibit Gallery – Guests can explore Annapolis' rich maritime history
✅ Three private docks – Arrive in style by boat
✅ Charming Barge House – The perfect getting-ready space
Confession: I’m totally biased on this venue—I had my own wedding at the Historic Inns of Annapolis, and it was an unforgettable experience! This historic wedding venue in Annapolis, MD offers a stunning mix of colonial charm, elegant ballrooms, and beautiful outdoor spaces, making it a dream location for couples.
The venue consists of three historic guesthouses:
🏛️ Governor Calvert House (primary check-in location)
🏛️ Maryland Inn
🏛️ Robert Johnson House
Hosting your wedding here means you can reserve room blocks across all three locations, ensuring plenty of space for out-of-town guests or locals looking for a downtown Annapolis staycation.
✨ Governor’s Atrium – A unique indoor space with views of the Maryland State House and historic brick architecture.
Tip: Capture a bird’s eye view photo from one of the hotel rooms overlooking your wedding!
📏 Capacity: 200 | 1,800 sq. ft.
✨ The Governor’s Hall – A grand ballroom with elegant chandeliers and French doors leading to a private terrace.
📏 Capacity: 400 | 2,413 sq. ft.
✨ Governor’s Garden Terrace – A serene outdoor setting with lush greenery, perfect for ceremonies, cocktail hours, and intimate receptions.
📏 Capacity: 80 | 1,100 sq. ft.
✨ Duke of Gloucester Room – A stunning ballroom in the Maryland Inn with Victorian charm, featuring fireplaces, grand chandeliers, and crown molding.
📏 Capacity: 150 | 990 sq. ft.
✅ In-house catering – Simplifies wedding planning with delicious, expertly crafted menus
Got a big family? The Westin Annapolis has the largest hotel ballroom in Annapolis, making it a top choice for large weddings. Located in the Annapolis Arts District, this modern venue is close to many of the city’s top attractions, so your guests can easily explore before and after the big day.
✨ The Capitol Ballroom – Where Great Aunt Ruth will have plenty of space to show off her dance moves! This modern ballroom features contemporary styling, wave-wall accents, and a neutral color palette, making it perfect for elegant receptions.
📏 Capacity: 400
✨ The Annapolis Ballroom – A bright and open space with an open-air kitchen concept, plenty of natural light, and an exclusive private wing for your celebration.
📏 Capacity: 120-150
✨ The Caucus Room – Ideal for intimate weddings, this elegant space offers soft colors and natural light for a warm, romantic atmosphere.
📏 Capacity: 30
✅ On-site catering for stress-free planning
✅ Room blocks available for wedding guests
✅ Restaurant, indoor pool, and gym for added convenience
✅ Steps from the Annapolis Circulator, making it easy for guests to explore downtown Annapolis
This waterfront wedding venue near Annapolis, MD is well worth the short drive over the Bay Bridge. The Chesapeake Bay Beach Club offers four breathtaking event spaces with scenic outdoor ceremony spots and westward-facing sunset views over the Chesapeake Bay.
With a mix of indoor and outdoor cocktail reception venues and expansive window-lined ballrooms, this venue is perfect for couples who want a romantic setting with water views. Plus, you can turn your wedding into a full wedding weekend experience—from the ceremony and reception to a rehearsal dinner, bridal luncheon, and post-wedding brunch featuring their award-winning cuisine.
🏨 The Inn – A luxury boutique hotel with guest rooms, suites, and cottages for an unforgettable stay
🍽 Knoxie’s Table – A charming, upscale restaurant for rehearsal dinners or intimate gatherings
☕ The Market – A casual eatery, coffee shop, and gift boutique
💆 The Spa – Offering full spa and salon treatments for pre-wedding pampering
With over 330 years of history, Historic London Town & Gardens is one of the oldest wedding venues near Annapolis, MD. Established in 1683, this former tobacco port played a key role in the colonial trans-Atlantic trade network and served as an important ferry crossing connecting Charleston to Boston.
Today, this 23-acre waterfront venue along the South River offers a romantic setting with year-round gardens, breathtaking water views, and a historic ambiance. Whether you're envisioning a garden ceremony or a waterfront reception, London Town provides two stunning event spaces for your big day.
🏛 The William Brown House – A beautifully preserved 1760s Georgian mansion, adding a touch of colonial charm to your wedding backdrop.
🏡 The Waterfront Pavilion – An elegant indoor space ensuring a picturesque wedding, rain or shine.
📏 Up to 220 guests
Pro tip: With Historic London Town's outdoor ceremony spaces and tented receptions, couples should also consider guest comfort. If additional restroom facilities are needed, Royal Flush Toilets offers luxury portable restrooms to keep things classy and convenient.
I was today years old when I learned that one of the best-kept wedding venue secrets in Annapolis is hidden at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation! This eco-friendly waterfront wedding venue offers panoramic views of the Chesapeake Bay, Thomas Point Lighthouse, and Kent Island from nearly every room.
With 31 acres of pristine Bay-front landscape, a private beach, and a tented deck for dancing under the stars, this venue is perfect for couples who want a scenic, sustainable, and unforgettable wedding day.
🌊 Lobby – A spacious, two-story entrance perfect for welcoming guests
🏝️ Private Beach – A picture-perfect backdrop for your ceremony or cocktail hour
⛺ Tented Deck – A 2,400 sq. ft. space to sip bubbly, dance, and dine under the stars
🌅 Canvasback Room – A 1,600 sq. ft. event space next to the tented deck, offering sunset views over Blackwalnut Creek
✅ Exclusive use of private beach for your ceremony or photos
✅ Three white A-frame tents with ceiling fans, string lights, and 10-ft clear sidewalls for uninterrupted views
✅ 31+ acres of Bay-front property for stunning wedding photography
✅ Wedding suite for getting ready in style
✅ 125-car on-site parking for guest convenience
✅ 125-foot dock for a grand arrival or departure by boat
📏 Up to 200 guests
My brother got married at the William Paca House, and aside from debating how to pronounce “Paca” (it’s PAY-KA, for the record), it was an absolute dream venue.
Located in the heart of downtown Annapolis, this National Historic Landmark blends the classic elegance of an 18th-century Georgian mansion with the romantic beauty of its gardens. Built in the 1760s for William Paca, one of Maryland’s four signers of the Declaration of Independence and the state’s third governor, this venue offers an intimate and timeless setting for weddings.
One of the most unique features? The Summerhouse, nestled at the back of the property, invites guests to cross a bridge over a fish-shaped pond, creating a fairytale moment on your big day. Couples can exchange vows outdoors in the lush gardens and then celebrate with a reception on the tented terrace.
📅 April through October
We’ve covered plenty of waterfront and historic wedding venues, but now for something totally different—yet just as idyllic. Named for its wooded setting among the trees, The Atreeum at Soaring Timbers offers a serene, nature-inspired wedding venue just minutes from downtown Annapolis (DTA). Despite its central location, this venue exudes the privacy and charm of a secluded estate.
The venue features a 4,000 sq. ft. open floor plan inside a breathtaking post-and-beam building. With vaulted ceilings, natural light, and rustic-elegant décor, it’s perfect for couples looking for a modern-meets-rustic wedding venue. There’s plenty of space for dancing, mixing, and mingling, thanks to a built-in bar and spacious dance floor.
🌿 Rustic, nature-inspired beauty with vaulted ceilings and wood beams
💃 Spacious floor plan with ample room for a dance floor
🍽 Great catering options to fit your wedding style
🚗 Plenty of on-site parking for guests’ convenience
📏 Up to 275 guests
Another spectacular waterfront wedding venue in Annapolis, the Annapolis Yacht Club (AYC) offers stunning views of Spa Creek, the U.S. Naval Academy, Eastport, and Annapolis Harbor. Located within walking distance of many downtown Annapolis churches and hotels, AYC is a prime location for a chic, nautical wedding.
💡 Important: You don’t have to be an AYC member to host your wedding, but you do need an AYC member to sponsor your event. (Don’t stress—members have been sponsoring weddings for family, friends, and neighbors for decades!)
⛵ The Skipjack – A unique space featuring an authentic Skipjack boat-turned-bar and a deck lined with members’ yachts. The indoor-outdoor dance floor is winterized with ambient lighting, heaters, and a weatherproof ceiling.
🌅 The Terrace – An outdoor event space with room for 100+ guests, perfect for ceremonies and cocktail hours with waterfront views.
🌉 The Bridge – An intimate reception space that accommodates 85 guests with a dance floor or 100 seated guests.
🏛 The Commodore’s Room – A private space for up to 50 guests, offering the best view in the club, overlooking the U.S. Naval Academy.
📏 Up to 200 guests
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