The Courtyard at Historic Dallas Jail: Your Private Outdoor Oasis
We have some exciting news to share: The Courtyard is now available for our couples!
If you've toured the Historic Dallas Jail, you know the magic happens inside those exposed brick walls. But now? We're opening up a whole new dimension to your celebration—a dedicated, private outdoor space that's about to become your new favorite feature.
Introducing: The Courtyard
Tucked away behind our historic building, the Courtyard is your own private outdoor escape. It's intimate without feeling confined, elegant without being fussy, and versatile enough to work for whatever vision you have in mind.
Whether you're dreaming of an outdoor ceremony, a breezy cocktail hour, or dancing under the stars, the Courtyard delivers—and it does it with the same historic character you've come to love about the Jail.
An Outdoor Ceremony Space Unlike Any Other
Let's talk about outdoor ceremonies for a second.
Most venues offer you a lawn with some chairs and call it a day. Or they point you to a gazebo that's seen better days. Or—and this is the worst—they have a "beautiful outdoor space" that's really just a field with no backup plan if it rains.
The Courtyard is different.
Here's what makes it special:
Privacy
This isn't a space where other events are happening simultaneously or where random people can wander through. It's YOUR space for YOUR celebration. Completely private. Completely yours.
Intimacy
The Courtyard is perfectly sized for intimate ceremonies. Your guests aren't spread across a massive lawn where half the people can't see or hear. Everyone feels close, connected, and part of the moment.
Flexibility
Want to get married outdoors and then move inside for the reception? Done. Want cocktail hour outside and everything else inside? Perfect. Want to start inside and move the party outside? Absolutely. The Courtyard and the indoor spaces work together seamlessly.
Backup Plan Built-In
Here's the beauty of having both indoor and outdoor spaces at one venue: weather doesn't have to stress you out. If it rains, we simply move the ceremony inside to our gorgeous indoor space. No scrambling. No backup venue. No stress. Just a slight pivot to Plan B, which is equally beautiful.
Picture This: Your Courtyard Ceremony
Imagine this moment:
The sun is setting, casting that golden-hour glow over the brick walls. Market lights twinkle overhead, even though it's still light out—they're ready for later. Your guests are seated in our vintage chairs, facing a ceremony setup that's uniquely yours.
You walk out into the Courtyard. The outdoor space feels cozy and intimate, but open to the sky. You can hear birds in the background. There's a gentle breeze.
You say your vows surrounded by exposed brick on one side, greenery on another, and the people you love most filling the space between. It's not a stuffy church. It's not a generic garden. It's something in between—historic and natural, intimate and celebratory.
After you're pronounced married, your guests move seamlessly from ceremony to cocktail hour in the same space—no awkward gaps, no waiting around, just an easy flow from one beautiful moment to the next.
That's the magic of the Courtyard.
Cocktail Hour Goals: Champagne Fountain Edition
Okay, we need to talk about one of our favorite Courtyard features: the fountain.
Yes, we have a fountain. And yes, we absolutely use it as a champagne cooler.
Picture this: bottles of champagne chilling in the fountain, ice glistening in the water, glasses ready on a nearby table. Your guests help themselves while mingling in the Courtyard, drinks in hand, laughter echoing off the brick walls.
It's elegant. It's unexpected. It's the kind of detail your guests will talk about for months.
Courtyard cocktail hour hits different when:
The weather is perfect and everyone wants to be outside
You want that easy, breezy vibe between ceremony and reception
Your guests need a moment to mingle before dinner
You want your photographer to capture that golden hour magic
You're serving drinks and apps and want a beautiful backdrop
The Courtyard gives you all of that—plus the flexibility to move inside whenever you're ready.
Dancing Under the Stars (Literally)
Here's something we didn't fully anticipate when we started offering the Courtyard: couples want to dance outside.
And honestly? We get it.
There's something magical about dancing under market lights with the night sky above you. The music floats up into the open air instead of bouncing off walls. The energy feels different—looser, more relaxed, more joyful.
We've had couples do their first dance in the Courtyard. We've had entire receptions move outside once the sun sets and the temperature drops to that perfect evening coolness. We've had guests dancing under the stars long after the official reception ended, not wanting the night to end.
The market lights overhead? They create the most romantic ambiance. Soft, glowing, twinkling—like something out of a dream. Your photographer will love them (trust us, the photos are stunning). Your guests will love them. And you? You'll remember dancing under them for the rest of your life.
How Couples Are Using The Courtyard
Every wedding is different, but here are some of the most popular ways couples are incorporating the Courtyard into their celebrations:
Option 1: Full Outdoor Ceremony + Indoor Reception
Ceremony in the Courtyard under the market lights
Cocktail hour in the Courtyard (champagne fountain moment!)
Reception moves inside for dinner and dancing
Option 2: Indoor Ceremony + Outdoor Cocktail Hour
Ceremony inside in front of our double fireplace
Cocktail hour in the Courtyard while we flip the indoor space for reception
Reception inside with the option to step outside throughout the night
Option 3: Indoor/Outdoor Flow All Night
Ceremony inside or outside (your choice!)
Cocktail hour in the Courtyard
Reception inside
Dancing moves outside later in the evening under the stars
Option 4: Intimate Outdoor Everything
Ceremony in the Courtyard
Dinner setup in the Courtyard (perfect for smaller guest counts)
Dancing under the market lights
Indoor space available for breaks, restrooms, or if weather shifts
The beauty of having both spaces? You're not locked into one or the other. You can use them however makes sense for your celebration.
What's Included with The Courtyard
When you book the Historic Dallas Jail, the Courtyard is included in your rental. You're not paying extra for outdoor access—it's all part of your wedding package.
Here's what the Courtyard comes with: ✓ Private, dedicated outdoor space (not shared with other events) ✓ Market lights strung overhead for ambiance ✓ The fountain (perfect for champagne, florals, or décor) ✓ Lawn area for ceremony seating, cocktail tables, or dancing ✓ Seamless indoor/outdoor flow ✓ Flexibility to use it however you want ✓ Our coordination team managing setup and logistics
You bring your vision, we bring the space and the support to make it happen.
Why The Courtyard Changes Everything
Here's the thing about venue shopping: most places make you choose.
Indoor OR outdoor. Traditional OR unique. Historic OR modern. Formal OR casual.
The Historic Dallas Jail—and especially the Courtyard—lets you have both.
You get the intimacy and character of a historic indoor space AND the fresh-air, open-sky magic of an outdoor celebration. You don't have to compromise. You don't have to pick just one vibe.
The Courtyard gives you:
Flexibility for unpredictable weather
Options for different parts of your day
Beautiful variety in your wedding photos
A breath of fresh air (literally) for your guests
The ability to extend your celebration into the evening outdoors
And all of it happens in one location, with one team coordinating it all, with one seamless flow from start to finish.
Real Weddings in The Courtyard
Since opening the Courtyard to couples, we've seen some incredible celebrations:
Katie and John used the Courtyard for their cocktail hour while we flipped the indoor space for dinner. Guests sipped drinks by the champagne fountain while the couple snuck away for golden hour photos. When they returned, the indoor space was transformed and ready for their reception.
Brooke and Jacob exchanged private vows in the Courtyard before heading to the courthouse for their official ceremony. The outdoor space gave them an intimate moment together, with family watching from the windows, before the day's celebrations began.
Sarah and Mike (names changed for privacy) had their ceremony AND reception in the Courtyard on a perfect September evening. Market lights twinkling, champagne flowing, guests dancing under the stars—it was everything they'd dreamed of.
Every couple uses the Courtyard differently, and that's exactly what we love about it.
Planning Your Courtyard Celebration
If you're reading this and thinking, "Yes, this is exactly what I want," here's what you need to know:
Best seasons for outdoor use: Spring (April-May) and Fall (September-October) offer the most reliably beautiful weather in North Carolina. Summer can be hot, but evening celebrations work beautifully. Winter is unpredictable, so we typically recommend using the Courtyard as a bonus space rather than the primary plan.
Capacity: The Courtyard works best for intimate celebrations (20-80 guests). For ceremony seating, we can comfortably fit up to 80 guests. For cocktail hour, it's perfect for any size group.
Setup options: We can configure the space for ceremony seating, cocktail tables, lounge furniture, dancing, or any combination. Our coordination team will work with you to create the layout that works for your vision.
Backup plan: If weather doesn't cooperate, we simply move everything inside. Our indoor ceremony space is equally beautiful, and the transition is seamless.
Ready to See The Courtyard in Person?
Photos are great, but the Courtyard is one of those spaces you really need to experience.
The way the light filters through the market lights. The privacy of the brick walls surrounding you. The easy flow between indoor and outdoor. The intimate-but-not-cramped feeling. The sense that this space is entirely yours.
Book a tour of the Historic Dallas Jail and we'll show you both the indoor spaces and the Courtyard. You'll get to envision your ceremony, your cocktail hour, your dancing-under-the-stars moment. And you'll see why couples are falling in love with this space.
📧 Contact us to schedule your tour 📍 Historic Dallas Jail | Dallas, NC (30 minutes from Charlotte) 💕 Let's plan your perfect indoor/outdoor celebration
