Courtesy of The Dogwood
The Dogwood: When the owners of The Social Affair renovated this space and added a second level, they used bricks from the 1941 building’s original life as a Kroger grocery and bakery. The sophisticated yet intimate Grove venue hosted its first wedding in August. Inside, the first floor features a lounge and 15-foot marble-topped bar. A matte black–and–brass grand staircase takes wedding guests up to a bright 1,320-square-foot gathering room, where a folding glass wall leads to an outdoor terrace. It might just be the perfect setting for an über-chic black wedding cake. Maximum 250 guests. $3,000–$4,000. 4308 Manchester, 314-300-8500.
Rendering courtesy of 18Rails
18Rails: The hotly anticipated City Foundry will have a pared-back 6,724-square-foot space event space. The beauty of it? Its flexibility. Slated to open in the spring of 2021, 18Rails is housed in a former electric company building that’s been reimagined as industrial and modern, with exposed brick walls and lofty ceilings. Butler’s Pantry Catering, which owns the venue, handles all things food in its on-site kitchen. Although 18Rails has yet to officially open its doors, couples can get a jump on planning 2021 events. 300 guests seated, 700 standing. $2,000–$4,000 venue rental; $7,500–$15,000 food-and-beverage minimum, depending on date. 3730 Foundry Way, 314-881-4318.
Courtesy of The Noble
The noble: It’s not hard to imagine F. Scott Fitzgerald penning a romance with this South St. Louis venue as a setting. The event space is located at the corner of Grand and Gravois, inside a 10-story former bank building once called the South Side’s first skyscraper. On the exterior, Greek and Roman features complement intricate stonework. The venue’s 7,000 square feet are graced with Art Deco architecture, high ceilings, and two-story arched windows. It’s elegant, timeless, and the only venue with its own photo-ready bank vault. Maximum 250 guests seated, 350 max for a cocktail reception. $2,000–$2,500. 3611 S. Grand, 314-455-7111.
Courtesy of Chanting Oak Ridge
Chanting Oak Ridge: Sitting on 8.5 acres, this new barn venue is just the place for a country chic wedding. Couples can share vows at the outdoor altar, which is faced by warm wooden benches and—if planned right—a picturesque sunset. The property’s spacious white barn boasts natural wood, corrugated steel accents, sliding doors, industrial light fixtures, and a photo area that has a pair of chintz-upholstered wing chairs set against a greenery wall. Our favorite spot: a covered side patio, swathed in twinkling lights, that fairly begs for a dance partner to be dipped there. Maximum around 300. $3,750–$5,500 without food. 1585 Highway J, Wright City, 636-544-7578.
