If you are looking for a wedding venue that is, near downtown Dallas, with great views that don't break the bank, you will want to check out the Orion Ballroom! Located just south of downtown in the Bishop Arts district and on the 15th floor, the 360-degree views of the skyline and everything else in the area is worth the elevator ride. Whether you are looking to have just your reception hosted somewhere, or perhaps both the ceremony and reception, the Orion ballroom can help with both setups. Lots of space at this venue too - with over 8,000 square feet of space, the historic venue with classic vibes can comfortably accommodate up to 300 guests. We were honored to shoot Matt and Monique's big day here, and from that experience, it made it on our list of favorite places to shoot in the DFW metroplex! (It doesn't hurt that they chose some of our photography to be used on their website.)

This venue is set to a backdrop of beautiful views of the horizon and skyline. Talk about a magical moment, being able to watch a gorgeous sunset while saying your "I dos"! Not much else can compare to how romantic this is, nor how stunning your photos will be with such an incredible background, and it's one of our favorite things about this venue. Besides the views, if wedding pictures or videography is one of the things that matter the most to you, the abundance of natural light is a big advantage for wedding events. Harsh light from overhead, fluorescent lights are never super appealing on skin tones, and because of this, most photographers (including us) love to use soft, natural light whenever it is readily available - the Orion has a whole lot of that. The large ceiling to floor windows and open space make the perfect photo op locations for all your photos, from family, to the wedding party, and even portraits of you and your new spouse. White walls and ceilings further drive home this venue's unique ability to benefit from any sunlight available, regardless of it is is a cloudy or sunny day.

Another specialty of this venue is the food, catered by the renowned Chef Douglas Brown and the amazing Beyond the Box Team. Maybe you are looking for a plated dinner? Done. Or you would rather have a buffet dinner? No problem. You can even go with themed dinners complete with display stations. Carving stations, desserts, light night snacks or even brunch - all are possible at the Orion.

The lounge area offers a perfect spot for your guests to enjoy a beautiful cocktail hour. Your guests can sip their favorite drinks and cocktails while waiting for the ceremony or reception to begin. Add in a Dj and maybe some uplights for the walls, and you are now in your own swanky private club.The nice thing about having the ceremony and the reception in the same location is how easy it makes it for the guests. They don't have to fight traffic to get to the next location, which always causes a small percentage of guests to drop off. Many of the guests at Matt and Monique's wedding complimented the ease and streamlined nature of moving between the ceremony and reception spaces. But for the people actually getting married, the process of transitioning between the bridal suites, to the chapel and then to the reception hall was equally painless and seamless. We especially love the gorgeous bridal suite, filled with plenty of vanity space, full-length mirrors and contemporary stylings that make this the perfect spot for you to relax and get ready for that big "I do" moment, not to mention very pretty getting ready photos.

So if you have been looking for a flexible, high-class space, lots of food and drinks options, all combined with stunning views, then the Orion Ballroom could be the perfect space to host your big day!