Cat and Sissy’s Akademia Brewing wedding started with a single request: a rainbow smoke bomb photo with their entire wedding party. That request told me everything I needed to know about who they are — and about why this venue was the perfect fit for them.
Cat & Sissy
Cat and Sissy love local breweries. So when it came time to choose a wedding venue in Athens, Akademia wasn’t a compromise or a logistical decision — it was just obviously right. They built a day around what actually matters to them: their community, their son Isaiah, good beer, and a lot of dancing.
Isaiah was part of the entire day, from prep through reception. That was intentional — and it showed. Some of my favorite frames from this wedding are of the three of them together.
Before the ceremony, Cat and Sissy prepped separately at a nearby Athens Airbnb — Sissy upstairs, Cat downstairs — which meant they each had their own space and their own energy going into the day, and a proper moment when they finally came together. The wedding party moved between both, which kept things loose and fun from the very start.
About Akademia Brewing Company
Akademia Brewing Company is a full-service brewpub at 150 Crane Dr in Athens, Georgia, open for lunch and dinner. The name is an homage to the Greek roots of Athens and the educational heritage of the University of Georgia — and that theme runs through everything, from the beer names to the artwork on the walls.
For events, Akademia offers private event spaces or full brewery rental, in-house catering, house-brewed beer, specialty cocktails, and a varied selection of wines. Their event staff is trained to handle weddings, corporate events, and everything in between, with full event customization available.
The murals are worth mentioning on their own. The walls feature large-scale takes on Greek mythology — striking, colorful, and genuinely unlike anything you’ll find at a standard wedding venue. They made for some of the best portrait backdrops of the day.
Ceremony & Reception Spaces at Akademia Brewing
Akademia offers several event configurations depending on the size and feel of your wedding:
The Symposium is the private indoor event space, with a separate entrance from the main brewpub. It comes equipped with tables, chairs, linens, decorations, a stage, projector and screen, and premium sound with Bluetooth capabilities. Cat and Sissy held their ceremony and reception here. The stage gave the ceremony real presence, and the sound system handled everything from vows to their dance floor playlist without a hitch.
Outdoor spaces include a covered patio, an open biergarten, and the gravel area — which is where we did the smoke bomb photos after the reception wound down. The back patio has a great vibe, with palm trees that photograph beautifully and enough open space to let a wedding party really spread out.
Full facility rental is also available for couples who want to take over the entire space.
Note: Akademia’s pricing and capacity details are best confirmed directly with their events team, as figures vary by space and season. The outdoor patio and biergarten rental has been listed starting around $1,000–$2,000 per event on third-party listings, but reach out to Akademia directly for current pricing.
Catering at Akademia Brewing
One of the biggest practical advantages of Akademia as a wedding venue is that catering is handled in-house. Their team offers a menu inspired by seasonal ingredients, paired with their house-brewed beer, specialty cocktails, and wine. Catering is served buffet style, with couples selecting two to four items from each category — appetizers, entrees, and sides — for their guests.
For Cat and Sissy, this was a genuine selling point. Not having to coordinate a separate caterer simplified the day significantly and kept the focus where it belonged.
Photography Opportunities at Akademia Brewing
This venue photographs well in ways that most brewery spaces don’t. A few highlights:
The murals. The Greek mythology artwork throughout the space gives you bold, graphic backdrops that hold up in photos. We used them during the ceremony and came back to them for portraits — they never got old.
The gravel area and back patio. This is where the smoke bomb rainbow happened, and it delivered. The palm trees, the open space, the texture of the gravel — it all comes together into a backdrop that feels specific and alive rather than generic.
The neighborhood. Akademia sits on the west side of Athens, and the surrounding area has its own character worth exploring if your timeline allows. It’s not the downtown Square, which means you’re more likely to have space to work without crowds.
Indoor light. The Symposium’s interior is warm and contained — good conditions for the kind of candid reception coverage that actually tells the story of a night.
FAQs About Akademia Brewing Weddings in Athens, GA
Is Akademia Brewing a good wedding venue? For the right couple, yes. It’s best suited for couples who want something with personality — a space that feels like them rather than a blank-slate ballroom. The in-house food and drink, the murals, the multiple outdoor areas, and the brewpub atmosphere make it a strong choice for couples who’d rather get married somewhere with character.
How many guests can Akademia Brewing accommodate for a wedding? Total venue capacity is listed at up to 400 guests. Space configurations vary — contact Akademia’s events team directly for capacity details specific to the Symposium or the outdoor spaces.
Does Akademia Brewing do their own catering for weddings? Yes. In-house catering is available and includes food and drink options — beer, cocktails, and wine included. The catering menu for events differs from the regular brewpub menu, so request event-specific options when you reach out.
Can you use the outdoor spaces for a wedding at Akademia? Yes — the covered patio, biergarten, and gravel area are all available for event rental, either as standalone spaces or as part of a full facility booking. The back patio in particular is a strong photography location.
Where is Akademia Brewing located in Athens? Akademia Brewing Company is at 150 Crane Dr, Athens, GA 30606. It’s on the west side of Athens, a few minutes from downtown.
Do you photograph weddings at Akademia Brewing? Yes — and I’d love to do it again. If you’re planning an Akademia Brewing wedding and looking for a documentary photographer who knows the space, get in touch.
Ready to Book Your Akademia Brewing Wedding Photographer?
Cat and Sissy’s day was exactly what a wedding should be — full of the people they love, the things they love, and not a single moment that felt performed. If you’re planning a wedding at Akademia Brewing in Athens and looking for a photographer who’ll document it the same way, get in touch here. I’d love to be your Akademia Brewing wedding photographer.
