About this vendor
Located in Lexington, KY, 903 Venues is a charming collection of industrial-style wedding venue spaces. The Grand Reserve, home to the historic Wm. Tarr Distillery, and the art deco-inspired Speakeasy sit next to each other in the heart of downtown Lexington. Megson Farms welcomes you for an outdoor wedding experience just a 15-minute drive out of town. An impeccable balance of rustic chic and retro glam, 903 Venues invites couples to tie the knot in style.
Founder and owner Jill Bakehorn set up 903 Venues shortly after graduating from Clemson in 1991. In 2020 she was inspired to revive the Grand Reserve’s stunning red brick and barrel stave Wm. Tarr bourbon distillery, which dates back to 1865. Due to Jill’s visionary thinking, couples can now enjoy an authentic bourbon tasting in the Grand Reserve reception area with up to 800 guests. You can use The Speakeasy, their smallest venue, in conjunction with the Grand Reserve as a sumptuous buffet space or separately for more intimate receptions. With its dark-toned walls and maximalist interiors, including a baby grand piano and custom-built bar, The Speakeasy is ideal for ambient cocktail hours. It can host up to 300 people. For an open-air ceremony and reception extravaganza with up to 900 guests, look no further than Megson Farms. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Kentucky landscape, you can say your vows at this venue among some of the world's rarest horses and party all night under the stars.
The efficient and experienced planners, caterers, and service staff at 903 Venues will work with you from start to finish to make your wedding as seamless and stress-free as possible. The planning team will manage communication between external and internal vendors. They also provide soft furnishings, floral design, décor, and a novelty photo booth. The catering team offers a yummy selection of cakes and desserts to contrast their various savory options. The service team looks after the setup and breakdown of events. With the support of 903 Venues’ friendly professionals, all you’ll need to worry about is showing up and having the time of your life.
Amenities + details
Ceremony Area
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Business Attributes
- Woman-owned Business
Settings
- Historic Venue
- Industrial & Warehouse
Venue Service Offerings
- Bar & Drinks
- Cakes & Desserts
- Food & Catering
- Planning
- Rentals & Equipment
- Service Staff
Reviews
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4.2
out of 5.06 reviews
Like many couples attempting to get married in 2020, we were met with many challenges when it came to tying the knot! We were originally planning to get married in 2020 when the sp...
ace was still The Grand Reserve, and were forced to push back our celebration to 2021. We opted to get married at a small ceremony in South Carolina and have a vow renewal a year later at the Grand Reserve, now 903 Venues, as we already had our deposits down from 2020. Jill the owner did a great job taking over as our main point of contact, as our previous contact had departed the company in the midst of the pandemic. Our celebration was a little unorthodox and a bit less formal than would be an actual wedding ceremony, and I give the staff a ton of credit for giving us exactly what we wanted. My wife wanted a more boho feel to the ceremony, the event space, and specifically our Romeo+Juliet table at dinner. The ideas and decorations were spot on. Prior to the ceremony they took us to their storage room where they had more decorations than imaginable. They will definitely be able to provide you with exactly what YOU may be looking for. Communication prior to the event, the day-of, and post-event were always prompt and polite. The food and beverage exceeded our expectations! As we were sort of in the in-between period coming out of the pandemic and now, there wasn’t a set of specific menu options, so the staff took our idea and ran with it. We had passed apps consisting of caprese shooters, sweet corn & crab fritters, and gourmet mini hot brown. We elected for buffet style with a pasta bar with spinach and goat cheese ravioli, home made meatballs, beef tenderloin, ceasar salad, and various breads. The feedback from our guests was also very positive on the food quality. The bar was fully stocked with beer, wine, and various liquors and specifically several bourbons at my request! We each had a themed cocktail they prepared for us as well. A mint julep for the groom, and a tequila based concoction for the bride. They provided a stage for our band and had excellent sound equipment. Our day of coordinator did a great job blending in but also being there when we needed something from her. She did all of the communication with our various third party vendors, which allowed us to relax and enjoy our day. All in all I would absolutely recommend selecting 903 venues and their staff to anyone considering selecting this space and team for their upcoming event!
I'm not sure what has happened but we are beyond disappointed.we met with a woman a year or so ago that totally won us over. We fell in love with the venue and services to be offer...
ed. We were finally in w place to solidify plans due to covid and the woman we initially made plans with no longer works there. We were a bit uneasy about moving forward but decided that we were already emotionally invested in the venue so we decided to move forward. Unfortunately a complete breakdown in communication and non existent customer service has forced us to seek out other venues and further complicate our planning. Weeks of unreturned calls, emails, and ignoring requests to send quotes has left us beyond disappointed. Hopefully others don't have the same experience.
The Grand Reserve was the perfect place for our reception. It was spacious enough for our 200 guests and 9-piece band without feeling too empty or too cramped. The amenities prov...
ided by the venue made our day go on without a hitch as we really wanted to limit as much family/friend involvement in getting the place ready. There is not a single thing that we would change about our special day, and we highly recommend any of the venues provided by The Grand Reserve!
The Barrel House Gardens and Grand Reserve were amazing! I chose to have my entire event there, rehearsal, ceremony, and reception. They were very helpful and answered all my que...
stions as the big day approached. They made sure things were done right. The food was amazing and the staff were wonderful! I, my family, and my guests had an amazing time!
As the title says, it is a grand place! We had ~160 guests. The venue is outstanding--bar from floor to ceiling, and it's all-in-one stop shop: DJ (amazing), food/drink (tasty), de...
corations, photo booth, setup/tear down...A bit pricy, but it's well worth the penny when you realize how the vendor takes care of you. Catering worked with me for a special menu (not everything is online, you can make requests!) the owner was super laid-back and the day-of planner (should you choose to hire) was splendid! Could not have asked for a better place--roomy and fun! Plus, there's a nice sized garden across the street which made for a lovely ceremony spot! If it rains, the Grand Reserve is large enough for a Plan B! ;)
The Grand Reserve is a perfect place for any kind of reception/party. The staff and owner went beyond my expectations to make sure my special day was perfect. Kelly was easy to get...
in touch with and answered all questions I had. She remained calm during my freak outs, which in turn made me relax and remember to enjoy the moment.
Contact
903 Manchester St, Lexington, KY
