Mavris Art & Event Center

My husband and I cannot say enough about the Mavris. From the time we contacted them for a tour all the way through to the days after our wedding, they were a class act. The venue itself is absolutely gorgeous and photographs very well. The staff is incredible. Ellie was our designer and she was even better than we could have imagined. She helped us through all the little bumps in the road that naturally occur during wedding planning and even helped us secure a piano for the first floor when it looked like it might not be possible! John also played a major roll in making our wedding everything we wanted it to be, he was incredible. The food was amazing and the service was impeccable. I’m pretty sure all 170 guests were served each plate in less than 3 minutes. I promise you it is worth every single penny. Our guests have been raving about the the wedding and how it was one of the best, most beautiful weddings they have ever been to! Thank you Mavris and staff for making our special day PERFECT in every way.

I can’t stop gushing about this place. Mavris is simultaneously rustic, modern, urban, elegant, and traditional. If you’re driving south on East Street, you would miss it tucked in the corner on your left past the heliport, but it is a hidden gem!
The first floor is a lobby area with large couches and a chandelier. You’ll find a coat check and men/​women bathrooms as well. Head upstairs (wheelchair friendly with elevator access to all three floors!) to a large rustic-​feeling room with hardwoods galore. I attended a sorority formal here and it easily accommodated 200+ guests spread amongst the dance floor and tables.
Oh, and did I mention there is an incredible patio lawn on the second floor (the «garden terrace») with a panoramic view of the Indy skyline? Feels like a posh backyard, and with the string lights hung up, it’s über charming. You kinda forget you’re in an urban jungle (until you see a helicopter land — might be noisy).
I knew I was in a fancy venue when I saw the women’s bathroom and bridal room. Did Aubrey Hepburn get ready in here? Picture a classy, department store boutique furniture with light pink walls and a gallery of images from past events. This would be an incredible choice for a wedding venue!
Many thanks to the kind and attentive staff for a wonderful evening! I’m hoping I get to attend an event at Mavris again soon!

Rustic in the city for your special event needs. Although, not perfection.
In case you are scoping the downtown Indy scene for a wedding, bar/​bat mitzvah, corporate event, furry convention… whatever… this place deserves a look.
The reasons why are the great views of downtown, the rustic interior (think wooden rafters, exposed brick walls and hardwood floors throughout), friendly staff, and multiple party set-​up options.
The building is three levels, connected by stairs and an elevator. A rooftop patio and a garden are space options in warmer months. The wedding I attended last Friday had access to all areas. Guests were first ushered to the third floor for cocktails (really beautiful old fashioned looking bar) and the second floor for dinner and dancing.
The interior of the Mavris screams… romance! I see why so many people chose it for their weddings and wedding receptions. There’s a large ladies bathroom with an attached dressing room that is perfect for the bridal party’s primping needs. It’s equipped with dressing mirrors and lights, a few comfy seating options and a bar for serving drinks. The bathroom stalls in the ladies’ are ginormous!
Each staff member I encountered (I encountered quite a bit as I was a bridesmaid) was helpful. At one point late in the night the bride requested that the heat be turned down. Request met immediately. In all the wedding ran smoothly without the use of an outside wedding coordinator (I’m assuming the schedule was watched by Mavris mostly).
Now to the reasons why I am not issuing a five star rating:
1. The noise situation. The building is literally right next to active train tracks and in close proximity to a heli-​port. I’m assuming that the Mavris knows the train schedule… but the heli-​port likely not. Nothing says romantic garden wedding quite like the swooshing of blades above!
2. The sub-​par food for the price. I know how much my bride friend paid per plate, and honestly for that amount I could have had a meal plus wine and dessert from the best of the best restaurants in Indy (think Cerulean or Recess)! Although I thought my steak was good, it didn’t blow me out of the water. Salad, average and boring, but I get you have to cater to many tastes and can’t really make it edgy. Late night nosh of mini hamburgers, mac & cheese and fried mini corndogs… not edible. The corn dog was fried to a crisp. The hamburger patty had zero flavor, and was sandwich between something that resembled a breakfast biscuit. I realize I’m a bit of a food snob, but isn’t this Mavris place kind of catering to us snobby folk??? I felt terrible for my friend, but I hope she realizes that her wedding was absolutely amazing even if they had served us Chef Boyardee. Plus no one after a few months even remembers the food… only the moments of dancing to the Electric Slide, or when the bridal bouquet toss made impact with a video projector (that actually did happen, she’s got good aim!).
3. Bathroom doors in the ladies’ are a bit wonky… hard to latch shut. I can only imagine how drunk people handled that situation.
4. I’ve saved the best for last… PARKING IS A NIGHTMARE. Dear, Mavris… where the hell do you park??? Did I totally miss something… like you use Lilly or another nearby business’ parking lot after hours? When I arrived at lunch on Friday to prep for the wedding I parked by the Milano Inn. Not a terrible walk, but I’m in a dress and heels. And goodness knows where the other 160+ guests parked without getting towed from a private lot. Street parking nearby isn’t plentiful! Mavris, please, please correct me if there’s an option that I missed… like valet.
I’m sure to many the Mavris is a five star option just on ambiance alone, but events are expensive and you should have all the facts.
And for me I really like an ‘edgy salad’ just before I kick up my heels to the Cupid Shuffle.

Very cool place for a work party, college social event, or other large get togethers. The facility is nice and can be set up with a bar, dance floor, and gathering area for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. A great place for a holiday party :)

Everyone says this place is slick and stylish and polished, and everyone would be right.
The Mavris looks great and it doesn’t appear as though it’s trying too hard. It also sits smack next to a very active downtown rail line – and, while this could be a liability, the passing trains almost become part of the culture, so that cheerfully soused patrons can wave at the engineers as they slowly pass by, and who knows: they might even blow their whistle! If you take the small point of convergence between hipsters and yuppies on a Venn diagram, you have The Mavris. A perfect venue for a wedding reception, after the exchange of vows between aforementioned yupsters.
So why can’t it get a higher review? It has much to do with the demeanor of the owner himself. While Mr. Mavris certainly has an eye for aesthetics and knows exactly how to get the important details right, his presence could be a little overbearing at the event… particularly if his eyes behold an inordinately high quotient of young female flesh. It kills me to single out individuals in a review, but our friend Mavris kicked back a few at the reception I attended… and proceeded to hit on my cousin, who was probably close to one-​third his age. He wouldn’t let up, tried to lure her into his private apartment (attached to the event space), and the fact that he was drinking as well made it only worse. It made my cousin profoundly uncomfortable – surprise surprise! – and seriously made us reconsider whether we would ever use Mavris Art & Event Center again as a venue, despite all the positives.
Okay, it’s still a fantastic space. But, in the words of the immortal Antoine Dodson: «Hide your kids, hide your wife and hide ur husband, cuz they rapin everybody out here!»

This is for the cool in you.
I had the opportunity to visit the Mavris Art & Event Center during the launch of Gusto, which is an app which manages your email and social media accounts. (Great event, by the way; Kudos to Verge Indy & Gusto)
The Mavris is an extremely cool place. It’s a combination of hardwood floors, ambient lighting, exposed duct work, and awesomeness. I work as an event planner, and I spent almost the entire time that I was there envisioning events which I could host in the space. This would be the perfect place for a «hipster» wedding, or a truly epic 30^th birthday celebration. I could also see an awesome «house party» happening here.
With both indoor and outdoor space, the Mavris works for all seasons. I’m looking forward to visiting again during warmer weather so that I can enjoy the outside spaces more. My only objection is that the space is very sparse, so it would take some doing to dress it up as anything other than what it is. Also, the facility does not have tables/​chairs available, so you’ll have to rent all of your event necessities.
I would recommend the Mavris if you have a large budget and a larger imagination.

Two dear friends got married here and I couldn’t have been more impressed with the venue. The venue is gorgeous and extremely well laid out and maintained. Everyone knew their jobs perfectly and they made you feel very at home. I believe there are multiple venue rooms here, and the wedding was taking place on the top floor. The top floor had a beautiful view of Indianapolis skyline with big windows and little distraction (besides the helicopter takeoff pad across the street).
There was plenty of space here and I didn’t feel cramped or uncomfortable at all. After the ceremony ended, we went to the second floor for cocktails and chatter until the wedding party did their duties. The bar was easily available and there were plenty of tables for lingering. There is an outside balcony out back complete with decoration, a canopy/​trellis structure, and lots of tables/​chairs. They allow people to smoke out on this balcony and even provide ashtrays to support your bad habits. Below the balcony is a beautiful garden, which I was later able to go out to. The reception took place on the floor below that, which included beautiful tables, plenty of space for dancing and mingling, a large bar, as well as anything else you could possibly imagine. Everything about this place was great. Two great people got married and picked a really great place to seal their eternal deal. Congratulations, Scott and Qing!

Wonderful wedding and reception. Only ‘issue’ was the tain coming by, like ten feet from us! No issue getting a cab back downtown.

I’ve been to several weddings here, and I’m always impressed with how unique the space takes to the specific event. The blend of modern metal and rustic wood makes it a wonderful blank canvas for any event.

Came here for a family friends wedding, full service dinner and reception. Excellent venue, 3 stories (I believe) of venue space. Great mood lighting which I’m sure is customizable. Exposed brick walls and wood framed structure. The wedding was actually held outside in a nicely fenced grassy area looking up to a medium sized wood deck/​stage. Dinner was excellent. Seared scallops, filet, & mac’n cheese. I’m not sure if it was catered or prepared in house. Overall, I thought this was a great place. Hopefully i’ll visit this place again for some other type of event!

Amazing venue!

I’ve been here a couple of times. Once for a wedding 6 years ago, and then again this summer for a Unilocal event. And now I’m planning a fundraising event there for this February (~500 people).
The ambiance here is nothing like anything I’ve seen in Indy. It’s absolutely beautiful, 3 floors, patios and an outdoor area. Exposed brick (which I love), exposed wood beams, perfect lighting, extremely clean bathrooms (be honest, that can be a deal-​breaker, right?) and very friendly staff.
If you haven’t been to this venue, you need to go. It’s beautiful and doesn’t get the respect it deserves for Indy’s main events.

My friend held her wedding here recently and we were mightily impressed with the venue. From top to bottom the place was gorgeous with wide planked floors, subtle lighting, a great dance floor and exposed brick.
I was surprised to find such a cool space as it’s relatively non descript outside. Three stories — the first was a kind of receiving area, the second was a place for cocktailing and chatting and the third was where we had dinner. I can see how this place could be anything you wanted it to be with cool art to boot.
The one odd thing — and I dont know if this was venue staff or hired in – was the bar staff. They were adamant (and I mean adamant) that no drinks be served before 6pm or served between cocktail hour and meals. I walked up at 5:57p to inquire about said beverage and was told that I would have to wait until 6pm. Same happened after they announced dinner. «No cocktails for you!» said in the soup nazi voice. Since we all ended up sitting cocktail-​less at our table, assuming wine or similar would be poured, it was kind of a fail.
Gorgeous wedding, my friend was a fabulous bride and we had a kickass time. Except for the weird cocktail deal. But since I made up for it in spades, I suppose it doesnt matter THAT much.

Incredible venue. Open ceilings, three stories, balconies overlooking the city, fireplace, wood floors — I’m in love — which is probably why this place is a hot spot for weddings/​reception. You could drive right by Mavris and not even know what it is – but definitely worth checking out.

Not only did I claim this venue to be the location of my future wedding, I did it within the first 5 minutes of exploring the building. This three story arts center is amazingly beautiful. Every floor has a different surprise, to include a second story outside patio & garden and a rooftop lounge. No event would be complete without the Marvis Art & Event Center as its venue. Not only is the inside very rugged, urban, and modern, but the views from upstairs are incredible. Love it!

This is beautiful space. My friends wedding was held here and it was gorgeous. Everyone had a great time and the atmosphere felt amazing

Beautifu historic ambiance. The three levels and patios are a spacious enough for very large events. The «roof top» patio has comfortable seating as well as a marvelous view. The hardwood floors, the exposed brick, the lighting are all I would like to have for a personal event. Not what I’d expect for an area saturated with renovations.
I did not have the opportunity to get the full flavor of all the amenities. It is great that there is not only stairs but a spacious elevator, plenty of lounges, fully equipped with not only full size mirrors, hand towels, and mints.
I’d recommend this center for weddings as well as corporate events for the simple reason there is so much room for groups as well as smaller areas for conversation.
Having parking available close by is also a real plus.

What a beautiful space! Shiny hardwoods, a great outdoor patio (with 3 or 4 deck spaces), and a lovely lawn make for a great venue for any kind of event. There are three floors, the 2^nd being the largest unbroken space. It’s definitely got verve and I could it being anything from upscale and elegant, to rustic and countrified. Lots of charm and great management, too.
The only drawback is the proximity of the helicopter landing pad and train tracks. I could see the noise of those two vehicles interfering with a lovely garden party or wedding, so be aware of that.
I highly recommend!

Beautiful location, great staff, lovely venue.
I attended a close friend’s wedding and reception here and got to wander around beforehand a little while (as I searched for my husband the groomsman). It’s three stories, a very functional and beautiful space — highly polished wood floors, exposed ceilings, sparkly lights and a warm glow to the whole place. There’s a great little side room on the first floor the groomsmen were using, with leather couches, a dart board, foosball table and large TV.
We were primarily on the second and third floors for the ceremony and then reception. Bathrooms were easy to find and well-​stocked, plenty of places to sit if you wanted to but also a wide-​open dance floor to boogie. The staff was excellent, although during the cocktail hour I think they could have used a third bartender — we waited a good 20 minutes in line, and it wasn’t *that* big of a wedding … maybe had a few of the signature drinks already prepared. In any case, everything went pretty smoothly, the food was delicious, the drinks were great, and we partied the night away.
There are a lot of stairs, but also an elevator for the less-​mobile. Also good if you are in heels because the stairs are a bit slippery.
One note on location — it’s very close to downtown and there is parking, but for formal guests in heels and dressy clothes you might not want to walk the six-​eight blocks from most of the downtown hotels. If you’re having a wedding here I recommend shuttles or drivers doing a loop (which is what this wedding did).

The first time I attended an event at The Mavris building, I immediately fell in love with this venue. It happened to be the 4^th of July and it just happened to be a perfect place to see all the fireworks. Building is set just southeast of downtown, and you have full line of site to the downtown skyline.
The first floor resembles an art gallery, but it is such a functional space that it can be used for just about anything. I’ve seen pool tables brought in, DJ booths, artwork and stages set up. The high beamed ceilings and the beautiful wood flooring throughout give any event held there instant credibility. The view is great and depending whether you’re on the second or third floor, the view just gets better and better the higher you go.
This was definitely on my short list for wedding venues and the wedding planner you work with over there was very thorough. I always look forward to seeing John Mavris when I go in as he is a really personable guy and generally in attendance at the venue.
The pictures right now don’t do the venue justice. This place is DEFINITELY a place you have to go to if you get the chance.