Mr Williamsburg, Blogging on Life and Real Estate in Williamsburg and Hampton Roads Virginia

All three are doing boffo box office because their rates are much more affordable than hotels and conference centers, which run well into the thousands for an event. Even William & Mary’s Alumni House can cost $3,000 for a wedding.

Deal likens Legacy Hall more to a small convention center with conference rooms rather than a traditional community hall. At the same time, the design reacted to shortcomings found in York and the Williamsburg.

For example, the Freight Shed offers a gorgeous waterfront view, free summer tent rental and ambience of the 1930s building with exposed brick. However, even the bride has to contend with beach-goers to use the restrooms, as they are public and located in an adjacent building.

“That’s the number one complaint,” said Freight Shed manager Sherman Renfrow. “Nowhere to change.”

At the Community Building in Williamsburg, storage space is limited and the kitchen was an afterthought. Building facilities manager Richard Brown advised Legacy Hall’s architects to plan for more storage.

The weakness at Legacy Hall, however, is parking. Both the Community Building and the Freight Shed have neighboring parking decks.

Parking is still an issue at the Freight Shed, despite three nearby lots. Renfrow said that “Shagging on the Riverwalk” concerts in the summer have become so popular that they render the hall intentionally empty most Friday nights because of a parking shortage.

Despite their quirks and minor drawbacks, all three halls stay full. For weddings and bar mitzvahs, they offer a centralized venue in unique settings.

Generally, they are all managed the same. They each book a year out, but the Community Building raised the bar by allowing online registration that is totally computerized. The walk-up system at Legacy Hall created a snafu recently when a deposit was accepted more than a year out and was honored by county officials.

At the Freight Shed, if someone wants to reserve a slot more than a year out, Renfrow keeps the name on a waiting list for that month and starts calling the first of the month.

The halls reflect a similar seasonal schedule. Spring is typically booked with graduation parties and the wedding season, which lasts through the summer. Meetings tend to dominate autumn, and holiday parties and company parties make up winter bookings.

Each place has a unique appeal, though.

The waterfront makes the Freight Shed attractive. Many couples reserve the nearby gazebo for their wedding. The Freight Shed carries the panache of history, since it was built in 1933 by the National Park Service to support shipping on the York River. In 1952 when the Coleman Bridge was complete, the building was closed and opened a few years later as a post office. It served for almost another 50 years before being moved slightly inland as part of Riverwalk development.

The Community Building lies in the heart of the city Municipal Center, across from the library. Aside from city-sponsored events, most of the patrons have ties to the College of William & Mary, Brown said. It is particular attractive in the winter, where a gas-log fireplace provides a comfy appeal in the stark white interior.  You can reserve it here onlineLegacy Hall offers the convenience of New Town. The hall closes at 11 p.m., but parties often spill over to the Green Leafe Cafe, which stays open until 1 a.m. on weekends and offers a shuttle to neighboring hotels. Event planners sometimes arrange to take fidgety kids to the nearby movie theater.

The popularity of all three sites has led to a parade of repeat customers, all three managers said. But be sure to book early.

To book Legacy Hall click here

To book The Freight Shed in Yorktown VA click here

Williamsburg Community Building Reservations click here