Bradenton is a stunning location for a wedding, with its gorgeous beaches, lush greenery, and vibrant local culture. Bradenton wedding venues are often overlooked, with many couples instead looking for venues in Sarasota to the south, and Tampa/St Pete to the north.

But Bradenton (and the surrounding areas), boast a handful of unique wedding venues that are absolutely worth your consideration, from waterfront properties on the Manatee River to stunning barns on vineyards and tree farms. 

Plus, Bradenton is a super popular destination, thanks to its access to the famous beaches of Anna Maria Island, and laid-back vibes compared to the busier cities nearby.

*Looking for a beach wedding near Bradenton? These 2 islands are just minutes from downtown Bradenton.

• Check out these venues on Anna Maria Island
• Check out these venues on Longboat Key

1. The Bishop Museum

This is probably my favorite wedding venue in Bradenton, thanks to the absolutely stunning courtyard that has a distinctly European feel.

The Bishop Museum is a unique and historic wedding venue located in Bradenton’s downtown district. 

It offers a range of indoor and outdoor spaces, including a beautiful outdoor courtyard and a stunning ballroom with soaring ceilings and elegant chandeliers. The courtyard is an absolutely stunning backdrop for your ceremony, with classic Spanish architecture that will make you feel like you’re in Europe.

Oh, and you can also see the resident Manatees directly from the courtyard. 

There are technically a handful of other event spots on the property, but most are geared toward parties or corporate gatherings. If you’re saying I Do, you’ll want to do so in the Courtyard. The South Courtyard can accommodate up to 225 guests.

2. Pier 22

Just around the corner from the Bishop Museum, you’ll find another one of the most in-demand wedding venues Bradenton has to offer. Pier 22 is a waterfront wedding venue located on the historic Bradenton Pier in the heart of downtown. This venue offers a picturesque backdrop for your wedding, with stunning views of the Manatee River. 

Pier 22 offers a variety of indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception spaces, as well as a wide range of catering options to fit any budget. This venue can accommodate up to 200 guests and also offers on-site event planning services to help ensure that your wedding day is perfect.

Pier 22 is also a fine-dining restaurant, so you’ll be eating good if you host your reception here. 

Not only will you get gorgeous photos down by the river, but the property itself is made up of vintage Spanish architecture and southern charm. It’s got that Old Florida, coastal vibe that’s becoming harder to find these days. And it’s awesome.

3. The Pavilion at Mixon Farms

The Pavilion at Mixon Farms is a stunning wedding venue located in the heart of Bradenton. This venue offers a charming and rustic setting, with a beautiful outdoor ceremony area and a spacious indoor reception space. 

If you’re looking for a barn wedding, without being too far away from the beach, this is an awesome spot. It’s everything vintage, and everything southern, in the best way. And there are so many gorgeous spots on the property for your wedding photos, making this one of the most popular Bradenton FL wedding venues.

The Pavilion can accommodate up to 200 guests and offers a variety of packages to fit any budget. The venue also offers a variety of catering options, from casual to formal, and provides a list of preferred vendors to help make your wedding planning process as stress-free as possible.

4. Cortez Dockside Cottages

Cortez Dockside Cottages is a charming waterfront wedding venue located in the quaint fishing village of Cortez. It sits right on the bay, overlooking the water and Anna Maria Island. It’s right next to 1 of 2 bridges that lead from Bradenton to the island. 

This isn’t your luxurious mansion on the water type wedding venue. It’s rustic, yet charming, and incredibly fun. After all, Cortez is a historic fishing village, and this venue almost feels like you’re in a small fishing village on the Mediterranean Sea. 

What’s really nice about this wedding venue is that it’s a private location on the water, unlike most venues in the area. Most waterfront venues around here allow the general public to walk by. But at this venue, it’s just going to be your family and friends on your own private stretch of waterfront property. 

Cortez Dockside Cottages is one of the newest wedding venues in Bradenton FL, and can accommodate up to 100 guests. The cabins on the property are also available for rent, so some of your guests can even stay on-site.

5. Fiorelli Winery

Fiorelli Winery is a charming and picturesque wedding venue located on the FAR east side of Bradenton, right across from Lake Manatee State Park, out in the country. This venue features a beautiful outdoor ceremony area surrounded by lush vineyards and a spacious indoor reception space with rustic wooden beams and a grand fireplace. 

And yes, it’s a real vineyard, which honestly makes for stunning photos and of course, a fun day of wine tasting. Although you’re in rural Florida, you’ll feel like you’re in the Italian countryside.

A covered terrace provides the perfect dance floor for your reception. And setting up an arch in front of the vineyard will make your ceremony one to remember. 

Fiorelli Winery can accommodate up to 150 guests and offers a variety of catering options, as well as on-site event planning services to help make your wedding day unforgettable.

6. Cavalli Creek Farms

Cavalli Creek Farms is a charming and rustic wedding venue located on the far east side of Bradenton, near the upper sections of the Manatee River. The venue is an actual equestrian farm, so if you love horses, this might be the perfect barn venue for you. 

And yes, they’ll let you get close-up photos with some of the horses. This venue offers a range of outdoor ceremony and reception spaces, including a beautiful barn with soaring ceilings and rustic wooden beams.

7. Urban Loft

Urban Loft is a unique and trendy wedding venue located in downtown Bradenton. This venue features a spacious industrial-style loft with exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and stunning views of the Bradenton skyline. 

This indoor venue offers fun backdrops, such as rustic wood paneling and original brick, but there’s not a ton of natural light inside the room often used for ceremonies. In the larger banquet hall, where you can host the reception, there are tons of windows overlooking the historic corner of 9th and Manatee Ave. Urban Loft can accommodate up to 150 guests.

8. Motorworks Brewing

Motorworks Brewing is a fun and quirky wedding venue located in downtown Bradenton. This venue features a spacious indoor taproom with industrial-chic decor and an outdoor beer garden with string lights and picnic tables. 

The focal point of the outdoor beer garden is a massive Southern Oak, which is the perfect backdrop for your ceremony. It’s definitely a fun place to host an event. But since the beer garden is next to a major road, there is lots of noise. 

The cornhole boards might just make up for it, though. Motorworks Brewing can accommodate up to 250 guests for outdoor weddings.

9. Palma Sola Botanical Park

This gorgeous, natural area is across the street from Robinson Preserve, the most popular outdoor recreation area in Bradenton.

This corner of Bradenton is tucked away, near the Manatee River, and very quiet. It’s an intimate, quaint venue, but it sure is beautiful. At Palma Sola Botanical Park, your reception can take place indoors, on the patio, or on the lawn.

10. The Nest at Robinson Preserve

Robinson Preserve is a massive nature preserve filled with walking and biking trails, observation towers, and waterways that are perfect for paddling and fishing. And it’s also home to a super unique event rental space.

The Nest is up in the trees (and is completely accessible) and features a round event space with floor-to-ceiling windows. So yes, if you want to get married in a treehouse, this is your spot.

There are a handful of parking spots near the base of the Nest, with a much larger lot that requires a 5-minute walk. And if you’re planning on having lots of kids at your wedding, you’re in luck, since the Nest is connected to the playground in the treetops, with slides, rope tunnels, and more.

11. Grove Ballroom

Looking for some Lakewood Ranch wedding venues? Grove Ballroom is an elegant and sophisticated wedding venue in LWR, on the east side of Bradenton. This venue features a spacious ballroom with stunning crystal chandeliers, a grand staircase, vaulted ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows. 

The Grove Ballroom can accommodate up to 400 guests (for cocktails) or up to 300 seated guests. As a high-end restaurant, the food and beverages will be handled directly by Grove (which is worth it). The head chef, Greg Campbell, is also the master behind Pier 22.

12. Lakewood Ranch Country Club

The Lakewood Ranch Country Club is a lot more luxurious than most golf course wedding venues. This country was actually set up to be an incredible wedding venue.

It features a grand staircase for the bride to walk down as she approaches the groom during the ceremony. The grand ballroom is impressive and ornate, making for an exquisite reception. And plenty of details, like marble columns and intricate archways, make for stunning photos. 

An on-site bridal suite makes logistics easy. And delicious, on-site catering is to be expected at such a high-end venue.

13. Bradenton Country Club

Bradenton Country Club is a classic and elegant wedding venue near downtown. This venue offers a range of indoor and outdoor spaces, including a beautiful outdoor ceremony area and a spacious ballroom with crystal chandeliers and a grand staircase. 

The Bradenton Country Club can accommodate up to 300 guests and offers a variety of catering options, as well as on-site event planning services to help make your wedding day unforgettable.

Weddings Venues Across the River (in Palmetto)

Palmetto is the town that sits just across the Manatee River from downtown Bradenton. Many people think it’s just another part of Bradenton. Nonetheless, it has its own fair share of gorgeous venues (most of which are rustic).

14. Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast

The Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast is a historic and charming wedding venue located in Palmetto, just a short drive from Bradenton. It sits in one of my favorite neighbors in the entire area, as the streets are lined with mature trees, and views of the river are abundant. 

This venue features a beautiful outdoor ceremony area overlooking the Manatee River and a spacious reception space with elegant chandeliers and beautiful antiques. Your ceremony will take place on the lawn, with the river (and views of Downtown Bradenton) right behind you. There’s also a massive, mature oak tree providing shade for you and your guests, and ensuring the lighting is perfect for photos. 

The Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast is one of the top wedding venues near Bradenton FL. It can accommodate up to 150 guests. Rooms are available for rent as well.

15. Southern Magnolia Acres

Southern Magnolia Acres is a rustic and picturesque barn wedding venue on the northern end of Palmetto. 

This venue offers a range of outdoor ceremony and reception spaces, including a beautiful barn with wooden beams and a stunning outdoor ceremony area with a rustic wooden arbor. Southern Magnolia Acres spans 4 beautiful acres with numerous ceremony locations available.

16. Hidden Acres Barn

Hidden Acres Barn features a classic red barn, surrounded by mature trees draped in Spanish moss. The views here are spectacular, and there’s plenty of space inside the barn, and outside on the property for guests, festivities, and gorgeous photos. 

Numerous packages are available, including an all-inclusive package for couples that don’t want to hire individual vendors.

17. Terra Ceia Bay Country Club

Terra Ceia Bay Country Club is a stunning golf course wedding venue located just outside of Bradenton. This venue offers a range of indoor and outdoor spaces, including a beautiful outdoor ceremony area and a spacious ballroom perfect for receptions. 

Terra Ceia Bay Country Club can accommodate up to 250 guests and offers a variety of catering options, as well as on-site event planning services to help make your wedding day perfect.

Wedding Venues in Parrish (Inland a Little Bit from Bradenton)

Parrish is a rural community to the northeast of Bradenton. It’s only about 20 minutes from downtown Bradenton and offers a handful of stunning venues in the country.

18. Bakers Ranch

Bakers Ranch is a unique, outdoor wedding venue that boasts a large, green property without a barn. Rather than a country-style barn, Bakers Ranch features the Enchanted Garden Chapel, with a big, beautiful wooden door (that is perfect for photos).

One of the most unique spots is the Infinity Forest, which features a natural, circular wedding arch with a lush forest behind it, creating the most beautiful backdrop for a ceremony. 

This is an awesome venue to work with and makes it super easy for couples by doing all of the hard work for you.

19. The Barn at Lone Oak Acres

The Barn at Lone Oak Acres is a 15-acre tree farm. And unlike many of the other outdoor venues in the area, this venue features tons of tall pines, creating a different look and feel, which perfectly matches the natural wood barn and the Airstreams that are used as bridal suites. 

It feels a bit more northern and a bit less southern, but it’s gorgeous nonetheless. They also have a 4,500 sqft farmhouse that sleeps up to 15 guests (this is a separate building from the barn used for weddings).

Venue First, Photographer Second

Sure, there might be a few other Bradenton wedding venues available in the area. But these are the top venues to choose from in Bradenton (and nearby).

If you’re looking for something on the beach, DEFINITELY check out these wedding venues on AMI, just minutes from downtown Bradenton.

If you’re looking for something a little more elaborate, the venues in Sarasota are for you (Powell Crosley, The Ringling, New College, etc).

And if you’ve found your dream venue, and you’re looking to book your photographer to actually capture the magic of your wedding date, then feel free to send me a message here! I’d love to hear more about your wedding plans and date.