Congratulations on your engagement! If you love Bourbon, unique event spaces, and downtown Louisville, you’re going to love the Frazier History Museum as a wedding venue!
Frazier History Museum
Located in the Louisville Bourbon District, the Frazier History Museum is also the starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. It’s part museum, part educational, and part event space and it’s truly a creative space to have your wedding!
One of the most exciting parts of having a wedding at Frazier History Museum is getting to pick which venue space within the Chicago-style Doerhoefer Building you want to use to create the day or night of your dreams.
This building, which was commissioned in 1897 by tobacco baron John Doerhoefer, was built by the same architectural firm that designed the well-known Twin Spires at Churchill Downs. This massive building stretches across four Main Street storefronts and rounds the corner on 9th Street.
Inside, there are three levels of exhibit space, totaling 7,500 square feet. During the summer, fall, and winter, the space also serves as a camp and homeschool program. There are programs for field trips and teacher professional development sessions.
However, the most popular among visitors might be the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome Center. This is where adventure-goers looking to take part in the Bourbon Trail would get started.
Now let’s talk about the difficult choice you’ll have to make in picking which event space within the Frazier History Museum you want to choose.
What we love about this event space is that it’s historic but with a modern twist. The building itself holds so much history, but with all the modern amenities and features you would want.
Top of our favorite spots, no pun intended, is the Rooftop Garden. With a picturesque view of the Ohio River, the Rooftop Garden is perfect for ceremonies, cocktail hours, and receptions. User choice!
You may not think you could fit many wedding guests on the roof of the Frazier History Museum, but you can! For a wedding ceremony, you can fit up to 250 guests. But for those who have a smaller wedding guest list, you can fit 75 guests for a reception too.
We adore the idea of you dancing the night away with rooftop views in the warmth of summer. But there’s more to explore here!
Another great space within the Frazier History Museum is the 4th Floor Loft. Here you can get the feeling of an expansive NY-style loft with the possibility of adding market lighting to give it that warm cozy ambiance that will really help you feel like you are sharing the most intimate time with your closest loved ones, no matter the size of your wedding.
The brick walls, ambient lighting, and expansive space make it feel extra luxurious while still allowing you to make it your own.
If you’re looking for a more unique space, consider the Great Hall. Here you can seat up to 100 guests and share access to the museum galleries via a grand staircase. There’s a built-in sound system and the ability to set up a microphone. The space features two giant multimedia screens so you can project a slideshow of all your favorite couple photos or other fun adventures.
Even smaller wedding parties may love the Speakeasy. You can sit 50 seated or 100 standing in this space, so it is a perfect intimate space for a cocktail or reception. This space is really one you need to see to believe. It’s located behind a false wall, and the Speakeasy is decorated in an ecclectic caberet-style. A total speakeasy vibe!
With red velvet couches, vintage tables, and decor, you will feel completely transported to another decade. There’s a small stage and a custom built-in bar. You have access to the museum galleries but your rental also includes access to The Spirit of Kentucky Bourbon exhibition. We think this space would be so fun for a cocktail hour, especially if the time of year doesn’t work for the Rooftop Garden.
If you want to add some extra space to the Speakeasy, you can add on the Order of the Write, which is the newest event space at the Frazier History Museum that has a great window view of Main Street. This addition makes it seamless for guests to float between the Speakeasy and the Spirit of Kentucky Bourbon exhibit, which gives you more space and your guests more of an experience.
Lastly, the Gateway Garden is another sweet spot for a cocktail hour or reception. This secluded area is surrounded by seasonal blooms, and we love the idea of the tucked-away secret garden cocktail hour idea! The landscaping was curated by award-winning gardener Jon Carloftis.
You may not recognize his name if you’re not fluent in your award-winning gardeners, but let’s just say he’s designed and installed gardens for celebrities Julianne Moore, Edward Norton, and Mike Myers to name a few. So you just know the Gateway Garden in the Frazier History Museum is where you want to hide away with your friends laughing over cocktails.
Whichever space you choose, we know you’re going to absolutely love this wedding venue option. They’ve also won the Wedding Wire’s Couple Choice multiple times, as well as their Editors’ Picks award.
Pricing
Pricing for the Frazier History Museum is not available online but you can fill out this request form here on their website.
Rentals
Every wedding reception rental includes up to four hours of event time, with more time available for a fee.
Rentals include two dressing rooms. For your event, you have your choice of tables, as well as chairs, housekeeping staff, security staff, and a Frazier event staff member.
You can learn more about the Frazier History Museum on its website here.
Want to see more? Take a look at these weddings that Green Apple Weddings captured at the Frazier History Museum here, here, and also here.
When you’re done exploring those photos, head back to our main Louisville Wedding Venue page to see what else is out there!
