Photography by Charis Rowland
Salem-Baum Church in Waterloo, Illinois
Public Media Commons
For the digitally inclined, the Public Media Commons in Grand Center offers a host of wedding options. The urban space is replete with six huge screens and an audio system—and for the lights-camera-action kind of couple, the 9,000-square-foot commons can accommodate additional lighting and special effects and even stages for as many as 700 guests at a standing reception. The Commons rents for $2,700 Monday–Thursday and $3,300 Friday–Sunday. publicmediacommons.org.
Salem–Baum Church
This 19th-century church in Waterloo, Illinois, closed in 1939 after its membership declined, but in 2014 it was reopened as a wedding venue. With only its outer walls remaining—the roof is long gone—the church feels at once traditional and connected to nature. The venue provides nothing except those walls, so it’s a blank slate for your wedding day. Bring your own chairs and benches; if you squish, you can fit 100. The rental costs $200 (but prepare to buy liability insurance for the big day). Peak days and seasons tend to be booked a year in advance. 618-939-3775.
City Cottage on Chouteau
This onetime restaurant gained new life as a French country–style bar and dining room. Exposed brick and dark woods make for a cozy reception venue; the chapel is brighter and partially open to the elements. A landscaped, covered patio surrounds the building and sports a wood-burning pizza oven. For a seated dinner, 100 guests will fit; for a cocktail reception, 175. Rental fees range from $500 to $2,200. The venue suggests a menu of French cuisine, but as part of Catering St. Louis, it offers other food options. 314-961-7588.
Mad Art Gallery
We’ll spare you the ball-and-chain joke, but there aren’t many reception venues as memorable as a onetime police station. The old-school prison cells sit intact, and marble-lined hallways and terrazzo floors add vintage charm to the 19,000-square-foot place. The complex also comprises a restaurant, gallery, and garden. Mad Art accommodates 220–500 guests, and space rental starts at $1,500. madart.com.
Jefferson Underground
Enter the steamboat era in this rooftop venue, which has been reconstructed from repurposed trash—including a scrapped yacht that became mahogany tables and marine-themed chairs. Mosaics cover the walls. In addition to a wet bar, you can get drinks from a 1957 boat bar. It’s not all ye olde, though—get down with the disco ball in the cupola. The 10,000-square-foot space can accommodate up to 250 guests. Spring and fall Saturdays book 12–18 months in advance, and prices vary. jeffersonunderground.com.
