★★★★★
“The Elia was truly the wedding venue of our dreams. From the moment we arrived, the Elia team made us feel so welcomed and taken care of. "
- Lauren, 2026 Bride
Wilmington's venue for effortless planning and exquisite celebrations
Wilmington's only all-inclusive wedding venue. Original brick. Art Deco ceilings. A custom-built bar. Every detail designed by a wedding planner with a decade of experience, and cared for by a hospitality-led team with a true heart for service.
Welcome to The Elia - where your wedding day feels effortless, from your very first tour to your last dance.
Wilmington's venue for effortless planning and exquisite celebrations
Wilmington's only all-inclusive wedding venue. Original brick. Art Deco ceilings. A custom-built bar. Every detail designed by a wedding planner with a decade of experience, and cared for by a hospitality-led team with a true heart for service.
Welcome to The Elia - where your wedding day feels effortless, from your very first tour to your last dance.
TWO WAYS TO SAY
"I DO"
All-Inclusive Package
For the couple who wants the planning taken off their hands.
Starting at $19,000, our all-inclusive package brings together wedding planning, catering, bar service, DJ, rentals, and decor - coordinated by our expert team.
A La Carte
For the couple who wants more flexibility for their dream wedding.
Starting at $4,000, our venue-only rental includes tables, chairs, and linens. Giving you the perfect foundation to customize your wedding day.
"Cannot say enough how attentive and professional the staff at the Elia is! The day went even better than I could have expected. I (the bride) did not have to do anything besides get ready the morning of, I felt no stress.
Even throughout the planning my process, the team handled almost everything. Doing the package was the best way to stay on budget.
Highly recommend the team/venue if you are looking for a wedding venue in downtown Wilmington!"
-Brittany, 2026 Bride
WHAT SETS US APART
HISTORIC CHARM MEETS MODERN ELEGANCE
Our venue is rich in character and gives each wedding a timeless and elegant feel before a single flower is brought in. Keep it simple, or transform it completely. The space will adapt seamlessly to your vision.
Located in the heart of downtown wilmington
Set in the heart of Downtown Wilmington, The Elia puts your guests walking distance from hotels, restaurants, bars, and the Riverwalk. Beautiful backdrops are just around the corner for your romantic wedding portraits.
A heart for service
From a personalized welcome to ongoing guidance from our expert team, you're never alone in your wedding planning. And on the day itself, our venue team is coordinating every detail so you don't have to.
no need to woRry about Weather
Fully indoor and temperature-controlled, so there's no rain plan, no tent rental, and no watching the forecast the week of your wedding.
AND NOT ONLY IS OUR
VENUE STUNNING
We also pride ourselves on the exceptional hospitality and care that we extend to our couples throughout their planning process and on the day itself.
Click below to learn more about booking your big day with us.
Built by a wedding planner. Named for her mother who inspired her love of hosting.
OUR story
Owner Brittanie Pate spent nearly a decade as a wedding planner before she opened The Elia, and that experience shows in every detail: where the bar sits, how the room flips, how a getting-ready suite should actually work on a wedding morning.
A once-overlooked downtown office space became something else entirely. The original walls and ceilings were preserved, a custom bar was built in, and an open floor plan was designed around how a wedding day really moves: getting ready, ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, and one last celebratory exit.
The venue carries the name of Brittanie's mother, Elia - a woman whose life was defined by hosting, loving, and serving others. That same passion for hospitality is the driving force behind our venue. And we promise you'll feel it as soon as you walk through our doors.
Our All Inclusive Wedding Package includes:
Wedding Planning + Day of Wedding Coordinator
1 Hour Ceremony Rehearsal the day before the wedding
Full-day rental from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Two Private Getting Ready Suites
All guests are greeted with a glass of champagne upon arrival
Modern and Timeless Ceremony Decor
Ceremony, Cocktail Hour & Reception Music by Active DJ
4 Hour Beer and Wine Bar with Bartender Services
Passed and Stationed Appetizers for Cocktail Hour
Buffet-style dinner designed to delight every guest, complemented by attentive, full-service wait staff
Cohesive China and flatware offerings
Curated reception decor with design elements to elevate
Beautifully styled lounge area
Cocktail Tables and Guest Tables
Carmel Bentwood Chairs
And more! Inquire below for more information about our all inclusive package.
VENUE RENTAL PACKAGE
Our A La Carte Option Includes:
Full-Day Venue Rental from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, including access to two private getting-ready suites
Venue Director onsite throughout your event to support operations
Carmel Bentwood Chairs
Cocktail tables
Reception tables
In-house lounge furniture and accent pillows
Premium White or Ivory Linens for guest tables and cocktail tables
White Ceiling Draping
Setup and Breakdown of all in-house items
In-House Bar Packages available starting at $30 per person
For the complete list of inclusions, inquire with our team below.
INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT OUR MICRO WEDDING PACKAGE?
We offer an elopement-style package for couples who wish to have a more intimate wedding celebration.
Contact our team for more details about this offering.
HEAR FROM
OUR COUPLES
"The Elia was the perfect wedding venue for our recent spring wedding. The professionalism and customer service from the team was top notch from the day we requested to set up a tour.
Everything was so clearly laid out with their packages it made it extremely easy to budget and more importantly stick to the budget. We went with the all inclusive package The Elia offered and it was by far the best decision we made throughout the planning process.
I could not thank The Elia team enough for making our wedding so special!"
- Kimberly, 2026 Bride
"We got married at The Elia and honestly could not have picked a better venue.
From start to finish, everything was seamless. The space itself is beautiful and speaks for itself, but what really made the difference was the team. Every single person we interacted with was helpful, responsive, and genuinely cared about making our day special.
We put a lot of thought into the details of our wedding, and The Elia executed everything exactly how we envisioned it. If you’re considering this venue, do it."
- Chase, 2026 Groom
"One of the biggest reasons we chose this venue was the all-inclusive package, and it ended up being one of the best decisions we made throughout the entire planning process.
Having so much already coordinated for us made wedding planning feel significantly less stressful, while still ending up with such a beautiful and personalized day.
The entire team was so helpful, organized, and easy to work with from start to finish. Everything came together seamlessly, and we truly felt taken care of every step of the way."
-Lauren, 2026 Bride
IS THE ELIA
THE IDEAL SETTING FOR YOUR SPECIAL DAY?
*You want to have a wedding in the heart of downtown Wilmington, with a timeless and elegant feel.
*You're planning a celebration of anywhere from 20 to 175 guests.
*You're looking for a venue that already has character and does not require extensive decor to feel complete.
*You want an indoor, temperature-controlled celebration without the need for a rain plan or added tent expense.
*You want to work with a team of wedding planning experts with a heart for service.
*You want to enjoy each moment of your wedding day and not be stressed about the logistics.
After all, this is a once-in-a-lifetime event!
Does this sound like you?
MEET THE TEAM
Brittanie Pate
Owner & Creative Director
Amy Brinkley
Executive Director
Catherine Sugden
Director of Sales & Marketing
Justin Pate
Venue Operations Manager
Juliana Baeder
Director of Guest Experience
Justin Pate
Venue Operations Manager
Juliana Baeder
Director of Guest Experience
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do you have outdoor event spaces?
The Elia does not have outdoor event spaces. However, our venue is conveniently located only one block from the riverfront and steps from downtown Wilmington, with countless historic or water backdrops available for portraits.
Our indoor venue is temperature controlled and protects your celebration from excessive heat, cold, or rain, eliminating the need for a backup plan or costly tent rental.
How does the ceremony-to-reception room flip work, and how long does it take?
The ceremony-to-reception room flip generally takes about 45 minutes, depending on the guest count and additional design needs. Much of the reception setup is staged in advance. During the flip, guests enjoy cocktail hour in the front bar area, and the photographer has time to capture reception details and the couple's room reveal before the guests enter.
This room flip can be discussed with the team in greater detail during in-person tours.
What standard vendors are NOT included in the All Inclusive Package?
Couples will still need to secure a minister/officiant, photographer or videographer, and a beauty vendor for their wedding day. Beyond these essentials, many couples choose to hire additional vendors to personalize their celebration.
To make this process easier, we provide an exclusive, curated list of our favorite Wilmington wedding vendors—professionals we trust and collaborate with consistently—to help couples find the perfect team for their vision.
Do we need to hire a wedding coordinator?
No! With our All-Inclusive Wedding Package, your dedicated wedding coordinator is already included, ensuring a seamless and stress-free planning experience. Wedding planning officially begins 8 weeks prior to your big day, giving you expert guidance and support during the most important final stages of preparation so that every detail is perfectly executed.
What hotels are located near The Elia?
There are a variety of Hotels located within walking distance from The Elia. Here are some of our favorites:
The Hotel Ballast
The Cove - Riverwalk Villas
Courtyard By Marriott Downtown
Embassy Suites
Hampton Inn Wilmington Downtown
Where can my guests park?
We've listed some options below:
River Place Parking Lot (14 Grace St, Wilmington, NC 28401) - 1 Block away
Water Street Parking Deck (210 N Water St, Wilmington, NC 28401) - 1 block away
The local hotels offer onsite parking as well
Designated parking spots can be reserved in front of The Elia
Street Parking all around the venue
Do you have options for small weddings?
Yes, we offer all inclusive micro weddings at the Elia! These include everything you need for a beautiful smaller celebration, on select dates.
Please contact our team for more information about these offerings.
Is the menu customizable and will we be able to do a tasting?
Yes, the all-inclusive package includes a delicious buffet-style dinner provided by one of Wilmington’s premier catering companies, offering a thoughtfully curated menu designed to impress your guests. From there, you have the flexibility to fully customize your dining experience by adding additional menu selections or upgrading to elevated options such as chef-attended stations or a plated dinner service.
To ensure every detail reflects your vision and taste, you’ll also have the opportunity to schedule a tasting with our caterer, allowing you to explore menu options and refine your selections.
Can we upgrade our bar package to offer liquor for our guests?
Absolutely! Couples have the option to upgrade their bar services at any time to create the perfect beverage experience for their celebration.
Options include:
4 or 5 Hours of Beer & Wine + 2 Signature Cocktails
4 or 5 Hours of House Full Bar
4 or 5 Hours of Premium Full Bar
Our All-Inclusive Wedding Package already includes the standard 4-hour Beer & Wine Bar. All bar services come complete with professional bartenders and premium glassware, ensuring a polished and seamless experience for you and your guests.
Powered by LeadLock