…or more aptly titled, “My Favorite Wedding Venues in Maryland.” After nearly fourteen years (!!!) as a Maryland wedding photographer, I think this blog post is long overdue! Today I’m sharing some of the best wedding venues from the mountains of Maryland to the beaches of the Eastern Shore. We have so many fantastic venues in our tiny but mighty state, and this list is by no means exhaustive – just a handful of my personal favorites from places I’ve photographed and loved over the years. Let’s get into it!
Best Wedding Venues – Eastern Shore, MD
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
HEART OF MY HEARTS – how I love the CBMM! Whether you’re having a tented celebration with full waterfront views on Navy Point or you’re keeping it romantic and personal with a reception in the Boat Shed, this is my all-time favorite venue for brides looking for a full-blown, Eastern Shore experience. It’s in St. Michaels, MD – a town that’s a weekend experience in itself, and weddings here have a destination feel, even if they aren’t. Whether you’re welcoming your guests Maryland-style with a crab feed at The Crab Claw, or you’re getting ready for the big day on a house boat, or you picture yourself saying your vows in a historic church – St. Michaels has all the summery, nautical charm of Nantucket, right here in Maryland.
See real weddings at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum:
Allison + Ed’s Colorful Disco Wedding
Whitney + Jeremy’s Autumn Wedding
Missy + Scott’s Waterfront Wedding
Preston + Will’s St. Michaels Wedding Weekend
My favorite St. Michaels, MD Wedding Planners: Sara Reynolds Events, Rebecca Thomas Events
A new-to-me but already a favorite Eastern Shore wedding venue – the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club in Stevensville, MD! Drop yourself off at their adorable, bright and airy cottages as soon as you finish white-knuckling yourself across the Bay Bridge and you’re ready to rock. With options for indoor or outdoor ceremonies, multiple reception spaces depending on your guest count, a killer rain plan, gorgeous grounds and beach access for waterfront portraits, there’s so much to love about this one. I’ll be there a few times next year for 2026 weddings and I can’t wait to go back!
Hannah + Steven’s Colorful and Classic Wedding
Looking for Eastern Shore wedding venues but you’re terrified of falling into water (with all your camera gear strapped to you? No? Just me?)? The Tidewater Inn in Easton, MD is perfect for couples looking for a quaint, historic feel but still within driving distance of the waterfront if you want to cash in for portraits. Their reception spaces feel downright luxurious by candlelight, and I’ve absolutely loved the warm and cozy feel of winter weddings at the Tidewater. Their in-house team knows what real hospitality feels like, and it’s always a treat to work here.
A Luxe, Evergreen Winter Wedding at The Tidewater Inn
A Sparkling, Festive New Year’s Eve Wedding
She’s swanky, she’s luxurious, she’s the backdrop for everyone’s favorite raunchy wedding movie – a St. Michaels staple, the Inn at Perry Cabin is perfect for brides craving a high-end, sumptuous wedding experience. With options for tented receptions, indoor ceremonies, and a crackling fireplace should it be dreary on your big day, there’s so much to love about IPC. It’s also a favorite getting ready venue for brides hopping on the water taxi for weddings just across the water at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum!
Terri + Eric’s Cozy Autumn Wedding
Eastern Shore Wedding Venues on my Wish List:
The Oaks Waterfront (Call me! Wink, wink!)
Best Wedding Venues – Frederick, MD
A black and white, modern marble heaven, Citizens Ballroom is a swanky downtown spot in a former bank building. It’s not huge so you’d be hard pressed to fit more than 100-ish guests into this historic space, but if a more intimate affair is right up your alley, Citizens is a great option! I love the bank vault backdrop to the ceremony site – with a lush, floral arch and matte black chairs, this venue feels modern and sleek in the heart of downtown Frederick.
The Overlooks – Dulanys + Walkers
Two absolute staples in the Frederick wedding market, Dulany’s Overlook and Walker’s Overlook are perfect for couples looking for a more rustic, farmhouse-style wedding day. Dulany’s offers a two-story barn for cocktails and reception, Walker’s is better for a higher guest count with a tented reception behind the manor house. I’ve photographed dozens of weddings at these two venues and my Frederick brides love them!
Less of a “farm” and more of a “gorgeous farmhouse with immaculately maintained gardens and grounds,” Glen Ellen is an absolute gem just outside of Frederick in Ijamsville, MD. I especially love the cocktail area – stone ruins carefully restored for a rustic and intimate cocktail hour space. With a gorgeous pond behind the ceremony site and a white tented reception area, Glen Ellen offers an elevated farmhouse feel without leaning overly rustic.
Just a few minutes down the road from Gettysburg, Springfield Manor always feels like coming home. With a massive, blank slate of a ballroom, you can turn your reception into anything you like! I’ve had weddings there that felt like an extravagant indoor garden, others with punchy summer colors and bright florals, and still others with a neutral, subdued color palette. You can’t go wrong. Pair it with peak lavender blooms in the summer and you’re in for some of the prettiest bride and groom portraits around.
See real Springfield Manor weddings here and here.
This one’s technically a Taneytown, MD wedding venue, but sue me, I’m not Google Maps. I feel like we’re pushing it by calling it a “barn,” more like “used to be a barn but has since been painstakingly renovated and now feels stylish and romantic.” I love how much this venue has grown over the years, the owner is constantly upgrading, refining, and making it better than ever. It’s not huge but I love the intimate feel of weddings here and all the great portrait locations it offers in a small space.
Summer Tannery Barn Wedding in Taneytown, MD
If you’re as obsessed with downtown Frederick as I am, Union Mills is for you! Located right in the heart of Frederick on Carroll Creek, it’s giving New York City loft vibes from the moment you walk in the door. With sparkling chandeliers and exposed brick walls (and also really delicious coconut shrimp hors d’oeuvres that you can stuff into one cheek on your way to check your off camera flash….so I’ve heard), it’s one of my favorite “city feeling” venues. (And peep how close the Sky Stage is for an epic ceremony back drop.) Hop back out the front door and we’ve got a great portrait location for couples who want a city backdrop but hello, there’s off-street parking for us.
Frederick, MD Venues on my Wish List:
Best Baltimore Wedding Venues
Tucked away off a shade-covered side street in Baltimore, this Johns Hopkins gem is radiant in her Gilded Age glory. Cheerfully yellow and sprawling in size, this venue makes the most unexpected, historical backdrop for a Baltimore wedding. Receptions are hosted in the carriage house on site (you don’t have interior access to the museum for weddings) with full use of the beautiful grounds. This one’s a showstopper – I’d love to shoot there more often!
Early Spring Wedding at the Evergreen Museum + Library
Built in 1810 as a textile factory, the Mt. Washington Mill Dye House is perfect for couples who want an industrial vibe for their wedding. Exposed wood beams, multi-pane windows, exposed brick, and distressed concrete floors make this venue a great choice for more modern styles. They also have similar sister venues, The Winslow and The Loom at Meadow Mill.
Molly + Matt’s Autumn Wedding at Mt. Washington Mill Dye House
My Baltimore Wedding Venue Wish List:
Best Annapolis Wedding Venues
In the heart of downtown Annapolis, this trendy hotel has a gorgeous location for a rooftop ceremony overlooking the water. I loved seeing sailboats dotting the background of ceremony photos here! The rooftop can be used for cocktail hour with a rooftop bar and outdoor fireplaces making it extra cozy for your guests.
Simone + Seth’s Rooftop Wedding at the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel
A perfect spot for military weddings using the Naval Academy (or for people who just really love Annapolis because this is as Annapolis as it gets) or for ceremonies at St. Mary’s Parish – I’ll be here next spring and I can’t wait!
Annapolis Wedding Venue Wish List
Whitehall
William Paca House + Garden
Aaaand that’s a wrap for the Best Wedding Venues in Maryland! I know there are so many that deserve a mention, and I full expect to update this post as wedding season goes on and new-to-me venues arrive on my radar.
Getting married in Maryland in 2026 or 2027? Need a wedding photographer? I’d love to hear from you! Get in touch here.
