There are a lot of awesome options for gorgeous wedding venues within a half hour or so drive of Winnipeg…but most of those require a few more logistics than the convenience of a city wedding (you can find my top 5 best wedding venues in Manitoba here!). But, most of the wedding venue options within Winnipeg are hotel ballrooms - and while there’s nothing wrong with a hotel ballroom, I find that most of my clients are looking for something that’s a bit more interesting and less “ballroom.” So, here’s a roundup of my Top 5 Favourite Unique Wedding Venues in downtown Winnipeg!

SMITH Restaurant

First of all, I LOVE restaurant weddings - and SMITH is at the top of my list. Located on the main floor of the Inn at the Forks and recently renovated, it’s a really gorgeous and unique option for a wedding. I love the idea of seating your guests throughout the restaurant, and if you haven’t eaten there before, the menu is PHENOMENAL. If you have a smaller guest list, you can seat all of your guests in the main space, but there’s also a large solarium, and the lounge typically doubles as the dance floor area.

Eckhardt Hall at the WAG

I LOVE Eckhardt Hall, on the main floor at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. It’s not a new space or a hidden treasure by any means, but that doesn’t stop me from loving it. It’s just such a cool venue! Your guests will walk into the WAG and enter right into Eckhardt Hall. The natural stone floors and walls are neutral and have a lot of Manitoba character, the ceilings are incredibly high, and you might get lucky with a very cool art installation or paintings hung on the walls. I also love their rooftop, which is such a great place for your wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, etc.

View this entire, colourful wedding here! | For another look at weddings at the WAG, check out this modern rooftop wedding!

HUT K

Hut K is technically a furniture store, but they have a gallery space at the back that can be rented for smaller weddings and events - and it’s pretty cool! It lacks some of the amenities of a traditional wedding venue, so I recommend hiring at least a day-of wedding coordinator if you book your wedding here, but it makes up for this with style factor. White walls, open ceilings (AKA your florist can have fun with hanging floral installations!), and a long, rectangular shape make this a really unique space. You can’t seat a massive amount of people (I think it’s around 100 for a comfortably seated dinner) but if you’re going for a cocktail style reception, you can host up to 200 people.

{Updated for 2021: Sadly, Hut K is no longer in this space, and this space is no longer available for weddings!}

Alloway Hall at the Manitoba Museum

Alloway Hall at the Manitoba Museum is a surprisingly large, newer space (it was opened in 2017) and it makes for a pretty great wedding space - if you can get in. Because it is primarily a museum, available wedding dates are slim as their priority is always exhibits, and rightfully so. But if you can squeak in a wedding date when they aren’t booked with an exhibit, you can do some pretty cool things design-wise. Here’s what I love about Alloway Hall:
-it fits a LOT of people - up to 600!
-it features tall ceilings, white walls, and dark floors with a gallery-style vibe, so it’s a great blank canvas for different styles
-one wall is entirely windows, with a gorgeous view of the Steinkopf Gardens between the museum and the Concert Hall
-built-in lighting options!

Canadian Human Rights Museum

It’s nothing new to say that the Human Rights Museum is a great place for a wedding, and I suppose because it’s been popular for a few years now, it may not exactly be considered “unique.” But what I love is the different spaces that are available that you may not have thought of before. Buhler Hall is where most people host their receptions - it fits a lot of people well, but it’s really dark. There are, however, other spaces - I’m particularly excited for a wedding next summer where the reception is being held in the Garden of Contemplation (where a lot of couples will host their ceremonies). It’s open and airy, with beautiful light and is just a really unique setting.

Check out another Human Rights Museum wedding here!

Updated for 2021 :

Cloakroom Wellness

Cloakroom Wellness checks SO many boxes for an intimate space. It’s such a unique combination of clean and minimalist with historic industrial. It’s not huge, but if you’re hoping for a smaller wedding, I think it would ideal for about 75 guests or under, still with enough space for a sit down dinner. It would also be a great option for an indoor ceremony if you have a larger guest list for your reception elsewhere!

Some of the best features are the floor to ceiling windows, both clean white walls and vintage brick walls, and original hardwood floors. The room is a 1.5 story walk-up from street level, so do keep that in mind!

Manitoba Club

How the heck did I miss Manitoba Club when I first made this list? It’s one of my favourite venues in Winnipeg. Now here’s the thing — the Grand Ballroom and the Oak Room are two absolutely stunning rooms, with a very old-world quality that lends an elegant, traditional atmosphere, but the thing that I love the MOST about Manitoba Club is actually their outdoor space, the Bonnycastle Garden! Just take a look at this — it’s perfect for intimate wedding receptions, an outdoor wedding ceremony, or even your cocktails and dancing!

Check out more that I’ve done at Manitoba Club here! | See their indoor spaces here!

Kitchen Sync

Another interesting space in downtown Winnipeg is Kitchen Sync! This is also on the smaller side, seating a max of 80 people, but has an open commercial kitchen so you can work with your caterer to create a really unique culinary experience for your guests to enjoy.

The venue is on the basement level, so there is a short flight of stairs, but is otherwise easily accessible with plenty of surface and parkade parking lots in the neighbourhood. One of the gorgeous features of the room is the stone walls and the dark wood pillars — it creates a moody, dramatic vibe that is just untouchable!

Honourable Mentions: Hotel Fort Garry and The Kingshead Pub

Okay, I know the whole point of this post was to highlight unique, non-hotel wedding venues in downtown Winnipeg, and the Hotel Fort Garry has been hosting weddings in their ballrooms for over 100 years already. BUT it’s still one of my favourite wedding venues in downtown Winnipeg, and in particular, the Provencher Room (seen above). If you want your wedding to feel classic and elegant, there’s no better option for you. The benefits of being able to get ready in one of their suites, visit the spa, and simplify your out-of-town guests’ stay are obvious as well!

See more from this gorgeous, flower-filled wedding here!

I also did a wedding reception this fall at the Kingshead Pub! They have SUCH delish food and a cool atmosphere, so if you’re looking for something more laid-back with a hangout type of vibe, this could be a really good option for you. For this wedding, the entire second floor was rented (so you would have your own bar, your own bathrooms, your own dance floor, etc) and then it opened to the general public around midnight.
Photos below by Brenna Faris

Looking for a Wedding Floral and Event Designer in Winnipeg?

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