Top Commerce Venues

• Spaces for 3,000-6,000 Guests
• 1 Event Space

The Classic Center, a GBAC STARTM Certified facility, has been a fixture in the Athens community for over 25 years. The hotel is conveniently placed in the heart of Athens, Georgia. The Classic Center is the ideal location for any conference, convention, sporting event, wedding, or special occasion, with local shops and restaurants within walking distance, as well as our own entertainment activities. Weddings The Classic Center makes each wedding and reception the celebration of your dreams, from a magnificent banquet with hundreds of guests in the Athena Ballrooms to the most private wedding ceremonies in the Foundry Building. The Classic Center offers all-inclusive reception packages that include facility rental of your event space, guest seating tables and banquet chairs, a dance floor and stage for your band to get the celebration started, and a talented Event Planner to make your big day one-of-a-kind. Levy, the in-house caterer, provides a table-side served gourmet dinner that is sure to please. Guests will enjoy served hors d'oeuvres, a delectable, custom-crafted wedding cake, and skilled bartenders serving your bespoke Levy Alcohol Package. Your Catering Consultant may be able to customize your menu to match the specifics of your reception. The wedding planning process is something to savor. From location selection to menu customization, The Classic Center and Levy strive to please not only by making your guests feel welcome on your wedding day, but also by partnering with you throughout the process so you may feel at ease and calm during this wonderful time! Meetings & Conferences In a venue that offers new and modern spaces perfectly coupled with restored historical architecture, the Classic Center brings together state-of-the-art technology and unparalleled customer service. The Classic Center in Athens is the ideal location for a successful event in a unique setting, with 5 main highways and 2 interstates connecting Athens to the Atlanta and Greenville-Spartanburg International airports.

• Spaces for 100 Guests

Saucehouse is a Southern barbecue catering operation based in Athens, Georgia, founded in 2013 near the University of Georgia campus. The business built its reputation on slow-smoked pork, tender chicken, and smoked brisket — all served with signature house-made sauces — before transitioning from a Broad Street restaurant to focus exclusively on catering and to-go pickup. Saucehouse brings Southern barbecue to weddings, corporate events, birthday celebrations, Greek Life gatherings, tailgates, and family occasions throughout Athens and the surrounding region. Two service tiers are available: full-service catering, where staff handle setup and cleanup, and pick-up or drop-off packages for smaller gatherings. Bar service, appetizers, and desserts round out the offering, giving planners flexibility from intimate dinners to large crowd events.

• 1 Historic Space
• 1 Estate
• 1 Mansion

The Thompson House and Gardens is located in the small quiet town of Bogart, Georgia, just minutes from downtown Athens and its quaint cafés, antique shops, and of course the University of Georgia. The House a historic Victorian farmhouse built in the 1880 by Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. The House remained in the Thompson family for over 100 years until On Guest transformed it into a beautiful and unique setting for weddings, receptions, and social gatherings. The Thompson House and Gardens embraces nature and elegance at its finest, as demonstrated by its ever-changing display of color and fragrance. The inviting wraparound porch offers guests a place to sit and marvel at the meticulously maintained grounds and experience the serenity and tranquility of the garden’s soothing water feature. Guests may even get a glimpse of butterflies whimsically fluttering atop the gardens flora. All the while, you may be serenaded by the romantic sound of a train rumbling along just outside the grounds of the garden, bringing you back to a simpler time. Your guests will leave with a feeling of true southern Victorian sophistication.

• Spaces for 40-300 Guests
• 4 Museums
• 1 Outdoor
• 4 Total Spaces

The Georgia Museum of Art, located on the University of Georgia campus in Athens, has welcomed visitors since 1945 as one of the state's premier fine art institutions. Its collection of approximately 20,000 works spans centuries and cultures, and the museum operates as a free public resource open six days a week. For private events, the museum offers four distinctive spaces suited to a range of celebrations and gatherings. The Grand Hall accommodates up to 300 guests for receptions and 250 for seated dinners in an elegant, light-filled setting with garden views. The Sculpture Garden provides an outdoor backdrop for ceremonies and luncheons of up to 170 guests. The M. Smith Griffith Auditorium seats 196 and supports performances and presentations with full audiovisual capabilities. The Education Center, with its floor-to-ceiling windows, works well for meetings and smaller gatherings of up to 75. All rentals include a dedicated venue manager, event layout assistance, VIP parking, guest Wi-Fi, and tables and chairs. Spaces can be combined to create multi-part events — a ceremony in the garden followed by a reception in the Grand Hall, for instance — and a team of event specialists coordinates the logistics.

• Spaces for 250-300 Guests
• 1 Outdoor
• 1 Historic Space
• 1 space at this venue

Established in 1946 as the Gainesville Arts Association, the Quinlan Visual Arts Center has grown into a comprehensive visual arts nonprofit serving Gainesville, Georgia and the surrounding region. Set in historic downtown Gainesville, the center houses five named art galleries and a sculpture garden with old-growth trees — providing a distinctive backdrop that distinguishes it from conventional event venues. For private events, the Quinlan offers flexible access to its indoor and outdoor spaces, accommodating up to 300 guests with round tables and white folding chairs for up to 250 seated. A catering kitchen supports client-chosen caterers, and extended hours allow events to run until midnight with full weekend access for setup and breakdown. Rotating fine art exhibitions remain on the walls throughout, giving every event an ever-changing gallery setting. Beyond rentals, the center hosts approximately 20 fine art exhibitions annually, a members' exhibition each fall, and a summer art camp for children — a reflection of its ongoing commitment to education, exhibition, and community engagement.

• Spaces for 60-150 Guests
• 1 Bar
• 1 Country Club

Royal Lakes Golf & Country Club is a semi-private country club set on 150 acres in Flowery Branch, Georgia, in the rolling landscape of south Hall County near the shores of Lake Lanier. The property features a Scottish-style golf course with Bermuda greens, tennis courts, and three distinct dining and event spaces — making it a versatile destination for weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, corporate gatherings, and tournament banquets. The club accommodates events for as few as 20 to more than 200 guests, with both indoor and outdoor settings available. The Dining Room is the primary reception space, featuring a corner stage and dance floor and suited for wedding receptions, dinner dances, and banquets. Longshots Pub offers a more intimate setting for groups of 50 to 60, ideal for private dinners, corporate luncheons, and meetings. The Plateau, an outdoor area, lends itself to ceremonies, casual gatherings, and barbecues set against the course's open grounds. Weddings at Royal Lakes include an experienced coordinator who guides couples and their families through planning. In-house catering is available across all event spaces.

Welcome to Best Western in Braselton, Georgia, a comfortable and convenient hotel offering quality accommodations and flexible spaces for small gatherings, celebrations, meetings, and private events. Located in the heart of Braselton, our hotel is a convenient choice for leisure and business travelers alike. Guests can enjoy comfortable guest rooms, complimentary Wi-Fi, convenient amenities, and friendly service. Our gathering spaces are well suited for intimate celebrations, family gatherings, business meetings, social events, and group stays. Whether you’re visiting Braselton for a weekend getaway, attending a local event, or planning a small gathering, Best Western provides a welcoming place to stay, meet, and celebrate.

• Spaces for 300 Guests

• Spaces for 100 Guests

• Spaces for 300 Guests

• Spaces for 44 Guests

Five & Ten is a Southern restaurant in Athens, Georgia, set in a historic home on South Milledge Avenue. Approaching its 25th anniversary, the restaurant is led by owner Peter Dale — a lifelong Athens resident who began his career at Five & Ten as an apprentice under founding chef Hugh Acheson — and executive chef Burns Sullivan, a Northeast Georgia native who trained under James Beard Award-winning chefs across the South and in New York. The kitchen focuses on Southern comfort food approached with refinement, reviving beloved dishes like Frogmore stew and watermelon-feta salad alongside contemporary Southern cuisine. The historic home setting accommodates private events of varying scale, from intimate luncheons to full-buyout celebrations, with audio-visual capabilities available for corporate gatherings.

• Spaces for 150-250 Guests
• 1 Ballroom
• 1 Country Club

The Georgia Club is a golf club and private event venue in Statham, Georgia, set within a 27-hole championship golf course designed by Denis Griffiths. The property offers views of fairways, manicured greens, and hardwood trees — a backdrop that lends itself to outdoor ceremonies, receptions, and corporate gatherings alike. The Club's event spaces range from intimate indoor settings to expansive outdoor grounds, accommodating up to 300 guests across multiple configurations. The Grand Ballroom is a contemporary space featuring striking chandeliers, high ceilings, and an expansive dance floor, suited for large receptions and galas. Village Hall offers a classically designed alternative with vaulted ceilings, exposed wooden beams, and expansive windows that draw in natural light. For outdoor ceremonies, the Wedding Garden provides a romantic setting beneath a white arbor surrounded by manicured topiary and flowers. In-house catering and full bar service are available on site, and the venue accommodates a wide range of events — from wedding ceremonies and receptions to rehearsal dinners, corporate meetings, holiday parties, and milestone celebrations.

• Spaces for 48-130 Guests
• 3 Event Spaces
• 3 Meeting Spaces

The Fair Street Neighborhood Center is a standalone rental facility operated by the City of Gainesville, Georgia, suited for meetings, workshops, baby and bridal showers, receptions, and weddings. Situated near downtown Gainesville at 715 Fair Street, the center occupies the former site of the Fair Street pool. The interior features carpeted floors, large windows, and patios at both ends of the building. The main hall can be configured as one open room accommodating up to 100 banquet-style guests or divided into two separate 900-square-foot rooms for smaller gatherings. A catering kitchen with a pass-through window, a conference room for eight, and an outdoor pavilion round out the available spaces. City staff remain on site throughout every event, and ample parking is available on the grounds. The venue does not permit alcohol due to its proximity to Fair Street International Academy. Audiovisual equipment is included, and tables and chairs are provided with each rental.

• Spaces for 60 Guests

• Spaces for 14-715 Guests
• 1 Ballroom
• 7 Event Spaces
• 9 Meeting Spaces

The Gainesville Civic Center is a municipal event facility near downtown Gainesville, Georgia, 50 miles north of Atlanta in the foothills of the Northeast Georgia mountains. The center's Grand Ballroom — spanning 6,840 square feet — features hardwood floors, a fireplace, large windows, a grand entrance, a draped ceiling, and a covered porch with an open patio, accommodating up to 715 guests for theater-style seating or 400 for banquets. Nine additional rooms serve smaller gatherings, from the Chestatee Room (3,429 sq ft, up to 130 for banquets) and Chattahoochee Room (2,500 sq ft, up to 120 for banquets) down to intimate boardroom and meeting spaces. All rentals include tables, chairs, setup, and A/V equipment; the facility permits self-catering and alcohol with applicable fees, and maintains a list of approved caterers with access to the catering kitchen.

• Spaces for 70-400 Guests
• 2 Outdoor Spaces
• 1 Barn
• 1 Waterfront

The Walters Barn is a wedding and event venue nestled on over 600 acres in the quiet North Georgia countryside near Lula, Georgia. Set against green pastures, rolling hills, and a scenic pond, the property offers both an expansive indoor barn and outdoor ceremony settings along a lakefront, at the forest's edge, or facing the barn itself. The main barn accommodates up to 250 seated guests and features covered porches, two large built-in bars, stone accents and columns, an indoor and outdoor balcony, locally crafted chandeliers, and a clean kitchen. All rentals include 10 hours of event time, setup and breakdown of tables, chairs, and linens, and day-of coordination provided by Soirées Southern Events. An additional pavilion on the property can seat up to 70 guests for overflow or ancillary gatherings. The Walters Barn is suited for weddings, rehearsal dinners, reunions, and corporate events, offering flexibility across a working rural landscape with the infrastructure to support full-scale celebrations.