16 Unique Venues For A One-Of-A-Kind Event
Before anything else, the venue truly sets the tone for the type of event you’re throwing, be it otherworldly, ethereal, old-school or modern. And, while spectacular decor is a tremendous component to any remarkable celebration, sometimes the venue just speaks for itself. We’re talking about unique, one-of-a-kind spaces that instantaneously transport guests to another time or place the moment they walk through the door. How about hosting an intimate dinner party in author Ian Flemming’s home in Jamaica where he penned the James Bond books or milestone birthday in an old distillery from the 1800s? These 16 venues prove that anything can be possible and that sometimes, you just want to step outside the ballroom box.
Location: Dallas, Texas
Capacity: 25 reception, 20 dinner
Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek offers a magnificent historic location for extraordinary events. Bringing history to life in the heart of downtown Dallas, this is an exceptional destination for meetings and corporate events of all kinds and a sought-after location for memorable weddings and celebrations. The FDR Suite is designed for smaller parties and meetings and is an intimate, welcoming venue offering 272 square feet of event space. French doors overlook the hotel’s landscaped courtyard and fountain and provide access to a terrace that can be used for meeting breaks or cocktails.
Location: Palm Springs, California
Capacity: Depends upon setup
Yes, Gene Autry, the singing cowboy lived here. The ultimate Palm Springs experience, this two-bedroom, two-bathroom residence at the Parker Palm Springs hotel has a private enclosed patio as well as a large living room, dining room, terrace and kitchen. Located a few steps from our saline Autry Pool, this residence is the place to be for the ultimate in luxury while enjoying all the estate’s amenities. This private estate also features two beautiful lawns.
Here are all the different ways this space can be used for a unique event.
Location: Oracabessa, Jamaica
Capacity: Depends upon setup
The five-bedroom Fleming Villa at GoldenEye is the premier accommodation at GoldenEye and was the Jamaica home of author Ian Fleming and location where he penned all 14 James Bond novels (both of his original writing desks are still standing in the villa). It was also during a stay at the Fleming Villa that Sting wrote “Every Breath You Take.” If these walls could talk, they would tell tales of artists, writers and spies. Here, Fleming used to entertain the likes of Noel Coward and others of the jet set era. It’s located on the edge of the cliff and overlooks the Caribbean sea and includes a private swimming pool, media room, sunken garden and direct access to the private Fleming Beach. The “main property” is only steps away – walk over for a spa treatment, sunset cocktails or dinner at the Gazebo. Walk back to the Fleming Villa and be secluded from it all. The villas has its own dedicated staff – butler, housekeeper and cook. The Ian Fleming airport is located 10 minutes away, and ideal for private planes.
See why it was easy for Fleming to write his famous books here!
The Deck at Island Gardens
Location: Miami, Florida
Capacity: Depends upon setup
The Deck at Island Gardens is Miami‘s exquisite superyacht marina-front amenity catering to elite global marina clients and local lovers of the yachting lifestyle alike. Offering panoramic views of Biscayne Bay and Downtown Miami, The Deck at Island Gardens overlooks some of the world’s largest and most extravagant yachts docked at the Deep Harbour superyacht marina. Guests can arrive by land or by superyacht to enjoy acclaimed Chef Alfredo Alvarez’s all-new culinary concept, fusing Mediterranean flavors and quintessential European dishes that draw from the yachting circuit’s various ports of call, from Ibiza to Bodrum.
Location: Frankfort, Kentucky
Capacity: The Shooken Building has a capacity of 250 guests; outdoor spaces are flexible on guest capacity
Founded in the 1800’s, the Old Taylor Distillery was abandoned for over four decades before being reborn as Castle & Key Distillery. This architectural treasure is centered around a limestone castle, elaborate gazebos and sunken gardens. In addition to the open space available within the castle itself, several gardens and outdoor spaces have been transformed into event venues for private events, tastings, cocktail parties and weddings.
Award-winning garden designer, Jon Carloftis (known for his work with NYC rooftops, including Google), is resurrecting the historic landscape that surrounds the distillery and new visitor’s center. At the foot of the castle is a koi pond with benches surrounded by greenery, southern magnolia and hydrangea. The grounds also feature a quarter-mile botanical garden path from which the distillery team will source botanicals for their gins and other spirits.
Location: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Capacity: 70
This unique venue is located right on top of a beautiful, mystical cenote that guests can also swim in! The lush jungles and natural environs create the perfect atmosphere for those seeking an ecocentric, green event. Optional add-ons include: symbolic minister or authentic Maya ceremony, organization of donations to the less fortunate, organization to plant a tree to honor your special day, live Mayan drum music during the ceremony, Temazcal ritual for the couple in the Sandos Spa and a commemorative certificate in the form of the “Sandos Weddings Tree.”
Location: Long Beach, California
Capacity: Front Lawn (maximum 800), Watershed (maximum 40), Café Scuba( maximum 80), Tropical Gallery (maximum 50), Great Hall (maximum 500), Entire (maximum 1500)
On-site wedding professionals are on-hand to help you plan a truly unique aquatic event surrounded by the museum’s awe-inspiring exhibits. From a ceremony in front of the breathtaking three-story Blue Cavern exhibit, to an outdoor affair in the Shark Lagoon, to an exquisitely catered dinner in the Great Hall, the Aquarium of the Pacific will lend an aura of sophistication and class to make your wedding an evening to remember.
See what it looked like when these couples said “I do” under the sea!
Pagoda Red
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Capacity: 150 standing, flexible table configurations for seated events
Cocktail parties, corporate events, weddings and fundraisers come to life in Pagoda Red’s stunning 5,000 square foot gallery and garden filled with high-end Chinese furniture, accessories and fine art — all available for purchase, With that said, the space feels as though you’re celebrating in a beautiful Asian abode.
The Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits
Location: Los Angeles, California
Capacity: Varies by space/setup. Typical ceremony ranges from 100-200. Receptions range from 100-400
A seated dinner next to Ice Age fossils at the world-famous La Brea Tar Pits is an experience your guests will be talking about for years. The museum is full of awe-inspiring exhibits — including a full skeleton of a giant Colombian mammoth. Guests can also explore the prehistoric tar pits that draw crowds from around the world. If you’re in need of outdoor space, there’s an intimate courtyard surrounded by lush foliage and beautiful landscaping.
Location: Rochester, New York
Capacity: Depends upon setup
One of only two National Historic Landmarks in Greater Rochester, the George Eastman Museum is a hybrid of the best museum of photography and film in the world and the mansion (with a majority of the home staged as Eastman left it) and gardens of George Eastman, founder of Eastman Kodak Company. The beautiful estate of this world-respected innovator and renowned entertainer is available for events of all sizes, all with the option of a guided tour of the historic mansion or temporary exhibitions. There are several event spaces to choose from, ranging from the 500-seat Dryden Theatre (perfect for film screenings or corporate presentations) to spaces within the mansion to the Schuyler C. Townson Terrace Garden, complete with lush with blooms and brick pathways.
Host an event at the home of this incredible visionary.
Location: Corning, New York
Capacity: Admissions Lobby (300 reception, 100 dinner); Auditorium (800 reception, 750 meeting, 300 dinner); Crossroads (70 reception, 32 dinner); Outdoor Areas (400 reception, 90 dinner); Rakow Library (60 reception, 35 meeting, 32 dinner); The Cafe (170 reception, 120 meeting, 120 dinner); Upper West Bridge Lobby (150 reception, 32 dinner)
The Corning Museum of Glass is home to the world’s most comprehensive and celebrated collection of glass, with more than 40,000 objects reflecting 3500 years of glassmaking history — including the oldest known portrait in glass. It’s of King Amenhotep II, Pharaoh of the 18th, Dynasty of Egypt. The museum now features a new Contemporary Art + Design Wing in a state-of-the-art, “energy smart” building. The museum has eight indoor and outdoor event spaces available, each offering its own form of function and creativity. One of the most cutting-edge architectural spaces in the Museum, the Innovation Center consists of three floating pavilions, connected with a 300-foot bridge. Note this venue does not host weddings.
Location: Agoura, California
Capacity: Flexible
Only in Los Angeles can you host an event where Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman was shot for years. Nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains, this former movie ranch — once owned by Paramount Pictures and used as a filming location for many Hollywood westerns — is the perfect place to host a one-of-a-kind event and channel your inner-movie star in the process. Since the National Park Service owns the property, you must request a wedding permit — but just think of how fabulous your photos are going to be when all is said and done.
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Capacity: 2300 for arena seating, 3400 including floor seating
Originally built in 1908 for the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and home to the world’s first indoor rodeo, the Cowtown Coliseum, situated in the heart of the Fort Worth Stockyards, is now host to weekly rodeos and a variety of events — but you can host your own celebration or meeting, too! Though the venue has a rustic, historic feel, it’s outfitted with all the modern-day amenities you need to host a seamless event. On-site catering packages offer a traditional barbecue meal with all the fixings.
It’s never been easier to host an authentic country event.
Silent Movie Theater
Location: Los Angeles, California
Capacity: Depends upon setup
If you’re a cinema buff, you’ll love this stunning Art Deco landmark. Though it’s called the Silent Movie Theater, this unique LA venue is equipped with a killer sound system, DVD and Blu-ray projection for your slideshow, and DJ turntables. There’s also the option for guests to walk down the red carpet, all the popcorn you can eat and a marquee lit up with your name.
Location: Los Angeles, California
Capacity: 300+ for reception, 150 or fewer for dinner
A wedding or event at an old bookstore? You bet — in fact, this downtown LA shop has hosted plenty of events over the years. Housed in a former bank — completed with vaults and hidden passageways — this unique venue contains thousands of books. As if that wasn’t enough photographic inspiration, there’s also the ornate mosaic floors and commanding marble columns throughout the space. You are allowed to use your own vendors for everything, but note the venue does not have kitchen facilities. Cooking is not allowed, both for the increased fire risk and also for the possibility of food or smoke odors affecting all of those wonderful books.
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Capacity: 70
Head to the roof of Majestic Hotel & Spa – a nearly century-old property positioned on the Paseo de Gracia – for a night of champagne, Michelin-star cuisine, and views of Barcelona. Dubbed La Dolce Vitae, Majestic Hotel & Spa can coordinate something as small as a private cocktail party to an all-night celebration with a local DJ or jazz performer. The traditional Spanish style cuisine is from Michelin-starred chef Nandu Jubany, so you and your guests can expect a memorable experience. The pool, the centerpiece of the roof, is surrounded by murals courtesy of Barcelona-based artist Philip Stanton — but with buildings such as the Sagrada Familia, Torre Agbar and Casa Batlló in the background, the views aren’t bad either.
