Are you looking for a creative wedding venue in Buffalo? Shea’s Buffalo Theatre is an ideal venue for anyone who wants their wedding to have a dash of drama (the good kind!). This 1920s theater is jaw dropping. It’s one of Downtown Buffalo’s architectural and cultural gems. In this blog post, I share everything you want to know about getting married at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre.
Shea’s Buffalo Theatre: A Creative Wedding Venue
When you’re searching for a creative wedding venue, you want something with a really distinctive character. That’s Shea’s Buffalo Theatre for sure! Louis Tiffany (of Tiffany lamps and stained glass fame) designed the theater. It transports you to the Roaring 20s.
Walking into Shea’s, you immediately get the sense that it’s as opulent as anything else Tiffany designed. Red carpets line the marble staircase leading from the lobby to the mezzanine. Gold curtains and gilded-framed oil paintings line the hall. This space is pure elegance.
Because this creative wedding venue is so big (5,300 square feet in the lobbies alone), it can host really large gatherings. Here’s the capacity for each space within the venue:
400 for a seated dinner on stage
800 for a cocktail reception on stage
3,019 for seating in the auditorium
Site fees for a wedding and reception at Shea’s Buffalo start at $2000. Bar service starts at $20 per person. For a 100-person wedding, costs would start at $2200 before catering. Rich’s Catering and Special Events provides all the catering for weddings at Shea’s Buffalo.
Shea’s Buffalo Theatre is a venue with a rich history in the city. Theater magnate Michael Shea opened the theater in 1926. It was a movie theater before it hosted musicians and other performers. In the 1970s, a local nonprofit got the building added to the National Register of Historic Places. Fifty years and $30 million in restoration work later, it hosts musicals, Broadway plays, and weddings.
This wedding venue is great for anyone who wants a very Buffalo wedding. Shea’s Buffalo Theatre is located on Main Street in Downtown. It’s not far from City Hall or the Waterfront. If you want to add a few more photo locations into your day, it would be pretty easy.
Stunning Wedding Photos with a Theatrical Flair
It’s easy to imagine a really grand wedding in this creative wedding venue. You could go vintage and embrace the historic feel of Shea’s. More modern wedding attire looks at home here, too, though. Silky fabrics and beading will make sure you shine even surrounded by all that gold and marble.
Since everything is fully indoors at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre, bad weather won’t cause any last-minute changes to your ceremony or cocktail hour. You and your guests get to enjoy the venue’s interiors from the start to the end of the day.
I love Shea’s Buffalo because this creative wedding venue gives so many opportunities for romantic photos. It’s all beauty and drama, so you can have fun with that in your photos. You and your partner can sweep up the winding staircase. Cuddle on the balcony like Romeo and Juliet. Kiss under the lights of the Art Deco marquee. This venue’s theatrical flair feels like an invitation to be playful and romantic. Let yourself feel like a star.
In addition to cool couples portraits, Shea’s Buffalo Theatre offers opportunities for unique group photos. You can get a mix of fun photos and more editorial images. I love lining a wedding party along the staircase. It’s a nice change of pace from the usual lining everyone up. The changes in height and lines in the architecture make the photo more dynamic.
Your Wedding at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre
Shea’s Buffalo Theatre is such a creative wedding venue. It offers a unique, luxurious backdrop for your celebration. Most of all, it’s unlike any other venue in Buffalo. You get to feel like a star, and your guests have an experience they’ll never forget.
If you’re planning a wedding with a unique flair, I might be the perfect photographer for you! I’m a Buffalo wedding photographer capturing magic moments in fun photos. I’ll be your go-to person on your wedding day. Reach out to me today!
