The Cotton Room

Hospital work party and it was the perfect spot

Love the space! Love the natural light!

My son and his fiancée booked The Cotton Room for their wedding to be held on October 11, 2025. Tragically, my son passed away on May 12, 2025, and his fiancée has requested that the contract with the Cotton Room be cancelled and their deposits be refunded due to this unfortunate situation. The Cotton Room has insisted that they “cannot” refund the deposits paid, although they have done nothing to earn the nearly $20,000 that had been paid to them to date. We also requested a meeting with the owners of the venue to discuss the situation and perhaps come up with a solution, however the owners have refused to have a call with us. How can a venue that specializes in the business of love, happiness and weddings have such a cold, cruel and compassionless response to this tragedy that my son’s family, his fiancée and her family are dealing with. I would encourage anyone looking to book The Cotton Room to consider over venues first.

My son and his fiancée booked The Cotton Room for their wedding to be held on October 11, 2025. Tragically, my son passed away on May 12, 2025, and his fiancée has requested that the contract with the Cotton Room be cancelled and their deposits be refunded due to this unfortunate situation. The Cotton Room has insisted that they “cannot” refund the deposits paid, although they have done nothing to earn the nearly $20,000 that had been paid to them to date. We also requested a meeting with the owners of the venue to discuss the situation and perhaps come up with a solution, however the owners have refused to have a call with us.
How can a venue that specializes in the business of love, happiness and weddings have such a cold, cruel and compassionless response to this tragedy that my sons’s family, fiancée and her family are dealing with.
I would encourage anyone looking to book The Cotton Room to consider over venues first.

My daughter had a prom there. She said it was nice and clean and elegant.

Don't book here if you value good communications with your vendor. The owner, Michelle Alfred, has completely ghosted me on concerns raised with her other business in Raleigh.

I was in the building in another section, not the cotton room. I did view the Cotton Room, and it looked like the pictures. If the accommodations and the price are right, I would love to hold an event there.

What a beautiful venue and an amazing team to work with. We had our wedding here in February 2025 and were so glad we did. This venue is amazing because it’s in downtown Durham and close to all the hotels. The space is so beautiful. You don’t need to add much décor because the space is so beautiful on its own. We got so many compliments from our guests on how beautiful the space was. Many of them said it made the whole day more fun. The CR team was wonderful to work with. The food was delicious, even better than the tastings we did. The drinks were amazing. (And we loved having our drink tasting and getting to create some fun specialty drinks.) They sourced a local beer and our favorite New England beer for us to have at the wedding too much was a great treat. The staff made the whole event flow seamlessly, the space was beautiful, and we felt so well cared for. We can’t recommend this venue enough!

The Cotton Room was the perfect venue for our wedding. From the beginning, their communication was easy and timely, making the planning process so much smoother. The quality of their work and the overall value was simply beautiful and romantic and definitely worth the price! Courtney, our coordinator, was incredibly organized and answered all of our questions with patience and care. Their staff was efficient and very kind to us and all of our guests. The space itself is so gorgeous that decorations were a breeze - their all-inclusive experience made wedding planning stress-free. The Cotton Room team knows exactly what they're doing and they execute it flawlessly. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect wedding day.

Came for a company event during the daytime on a weekday. Nice old venue. Parking is a bit of a walk, but at least it was free. Nice and clean inside. I have no idea about pricing.

Magnolia Room is what I used, which was perfect for my event!

Great venue in an old textile mill but the redesign inside looks awesome. Was there for a wedding and the food was some of the best wedding food we've had.

Photographing a wedding at The Cotton Room in Durham, NC, is an extraordinary experience that blends historic charm with modern sophistication. This beautifully restored venue, with its exposed brick walls and stunning chandeliers, offers a setting that feels both grand and intimate.

One of my most cherished moments was capturing a couple's first dance under the vintage chandeliers. The warm, ambient lighting created a romantic atmosphere that made each photograph feel like a timeless piece of art. The large windows allow natural light to flood the space, adding a soft, elegant glow to every shot.

The Cotton Room team stands out for their meticulous attention to detail and unwavering professionalism. Their seamless coordination ensures that everything runs smoothly, allowing me to focus entirely on capturing those genuine, heartfelt moments that define a wedding day.

For any bride seeking a venue that encapsulates elegance and history, The Cotton Room is the perfect choice. Each corner of this venue tells a story, making it an ideal backdrop for creating lifelong memories

I attended a wedding at The Cotton Room. The venue was gorgeous!

Our search for a wedding venue pretty much came to a complete stop once we found the cotton room. The decor was everything we had been looking for. From the exposed brick to the huge windows, the bride and groom suites to the location of the building itself. The space got a ton of natural light which was as perfect for the time of day of our ceremony. It literally had everything we could ask for. The staff were very accommodating and very friendly which made the entire wedding process that much easier for us. Very special thank you’s to Natalie and Melissa for all their hard work. The food was delicious and the drinks were very good too. Our wedding guests raved about both. The wait staff and bartenders went above and beyond not just for me and my wife but for all of our guests and it was very much appreciated. Our wedding day was perfect and The Cotton Room and their staff played a huge part in make that possible. Thank you so much again.