The number one question we field as wedding photographers in Stanislaus County is “where can we get married that doesn’t cost a ton of money?” We went sifting through our archives to find our favorite budget-friendly venues in the Modesto area. To the best of our knowledge, all of these places cost less than $2000 to rent, with some clocking in at much less than that. Here they are, in no particular order:

Janet’s Flowers and Wedding Chapel in Modesto

If you’re looking for something intimate and affordable in downtown Modesto, you’re not going to find a better value than Janet’s Flowers, a sweet garden wedding chapel on G Street. For $1300, they’ll provide you with ceremony and reception space as well as a minister, on-site coordinator and flowers. They have several smaller packages for couples who only need an elopement ceremony space or who would like a smaller “Drinks and Dessert” reception. They’re also very upfront with pricing - you can find all the details here.

McHenry Mansion in Modesto

The McHenry Mansion may be a landmark that everyone knows but not everyone realizes it’s available to rent. The historic Victorian home is closed on Saturdays for events at a surprisingly affordable price - according to the City website, it costs $1,034.00 to rent it for 5 hours and an additional $97 for each additional half hour. Some event spaces require you to work with approved vendors, but the McHenry Mansion allows you free choice of your own caterer, which can help keep costs down. The rental fee covers the whole mansion, so the couple can get ready in the vintage rooms upstairs before the wedding and party in the garden, which can accommodate up to 200 people, during the ceremony and reception.

The Carnegie Arts Center in Turlock

The Carnegie Arts Center is a gem of an old building in the heart of downtown Turlock. It has several rooms that brides and grooms can rent out for their ceremony, reception, or both - the one pictured here took place in the Gemperle gallery, which costs $1750 to rent for 10 hours. Now an art gallery, the Carnegie building used to be an old public library, so the architecture is on point and there’s a lot of exposed brick, natural light and glossy wood floors. It’s a stunning space that looks expensive while still staying within a more modest budget.

Private Residence

It may seem like a cop-out to add this one, but some of the most beautiful weddings we’ve shot have been private residences - often a family friend’s barn or business, but sometimes in a beautiful backyard. This choice can come with hidden fees (most venues provide tables, chairs and linens but if you go with this option, you obviously have to rent them yourself), but the possibilities are truly endless. We’ve included a few private residence favorites here, including a tree nursery, a family friend’s barn and two backyard weddings. You’d never know these weren’t professional event spaces.