Date of Award

Spring 4-2025

Degree Type

Capstone Project

First Advisor

Dustin Altschul

Second Advisor

Kimberly Buchholz

Abstract

Weddings, as deeply symbolic rituals, often rely heavily on the venue to set the tone and enhance the emotional resonance of the event Yet, the rising cost of wedding venues often excludes couples from lower-to-middle income backgrounds, creating a barrier to access for many. This design project explores the potential of a community-supported greenhouse wedding venue—a model that not only offers affordability through shared community investment but also enhances the symbolic resonance of weddings through its nature-integrated architecture. The design investigates how intentional spatial planning within a greenhouse structure can serve both the practical needs of wedding ceremonies and the deeper symbolic meanings of growth and unity.

Through a multidisciplinary approach, the project examines wedding economies in the United States and across the world, popular wedding venues, the role of food at weddings, and the cultural nuances of weddings with a study on Atlanta, Georgia. By analyzing unity rituals across cultures and envisioning a venue rooted in inclusivity, the research highlights how architecture can re-imagine traditional rituals to be more equitable, community-driven, and culturally expansive.

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