We had a small morning wedding ceremony in the garden with about 35 guests and a violinist, and it felt incredibly intimate and special. We held our reception elsewhere later that evening for a larger group, so this setting gave us exactly the quiet, meaningful atmosphere we were hoping for. In early May, everything was in bloom, and the garden was beautiful.

Richard, Veronica, and the team were wonderful throughout the process...kind, accommodating, and genuinely thoughtful. The day before our ceremony, unexpected roadwork started right outside the venue blocking all the streets leading up to it. They proactively contacted the city themselves to help reassure us and prepare the backup plan if needed. Luckily, we didn't need that backup plan but that level of care meant a lot.

We also loved that there was a built-in indoor option with the art gallery space, which gave us peace of mind. They provided chairs and tables as part of the rental. We decided to keep things simple with the black fold-up chairs they offered, everything worked perfectly for our short ceremony. They also gave us the option to bring champagne and spend time toasting with our guests afterward, which created a really nice moment to have more 1:1 time with everyone.

Overall, we had such a lovely experience and would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a unique, whimsical, and intimate setting for a wedding or special event.

📸: Farfalla Photography

We hosted a 50 guest wedding ceremony and reception at the Athenaeum in September 2022 and had a wonderful experience! It is such a beautiful setting. We used the gorgeous back courtyard for our cocktail hour at sunset and it felt truly magical. The staff are wonderful to work with and it is in the heart of Old Town near hotels, shops and restaurants which is perfect if you have a lot of guests flying in like we did. The art adds a fun, modern element and we loved the artists featured the month of our wedding. We are so happy we chose the Athenaeum - highly recommend!

Great choice for wedding venue. I captured many beautiful pictures there last month. It has a small secret garden outdoor and gorgeous paintings indoor. - Villa Li Photography

Pretty open gallery. There were arts on display that were kind of like scrap collage. They rotate exhibits so could be entirely different when you go.

Small art gallery that also serves as venue for small scale weddings. Currently displaying Art Optimism: Focus on Climate Change and Sustainability. This historic building was opened in 1851 as the Bank of the Old Dominion. It is an example of Greek Revival architecture.