The Space
The Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences is a beautifully restored, historic wedding venue in downtown Rocky Mount, North Carolina, a fixture of the city since 1903 and once home to the Imperial Tobacco Company. Now one of eastern North Carolina’s premier cultural destinations, the 135,000-square-foot facility offers couples a choice of distinctive settings for weddings and receptions. Pairing genuine historic character with the versatility of a cultural center, the Imperial Centre gives couples a characterful, one-of-a-kind backdrop. That combination of a restored 1903 tobacco factory, 135,000 square feet, and a cultural-center setting makes the Imperial Centre a distinctive Rocky Mount choice. For couples who want a historic, characterful wedding with distinctive settings in a restored downtown landmark in Rocky Mount, the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences is a memorable and unique choice.
Capacity & Layout
The Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences offers a choice of settings across its 135,000-square-foot facility, giving couples genuine flexibility for the ceremony and reception. The beautifully restored former tobacco factory provides characterful event spaces perfect for weddings, receptions, and social events, and its cultural-center setting adds a distinctive, one-of-a-kind atmosphere. That variety lets couples arrange the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception across the venue’s historic spaces, giving the day a natural flow with a genuine indoor weather plan. The restored 1903 architecture gives every part of the celebration a genuinely historic character. That combination of distinctive event settings, a restored historic landmark, and a spacious facility suits weddings of many sizes, keeping the celebration characterful and connected from the ceremony through the last dance in downtown Rocky Mount.
Amenities
The Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences pairs its historic setting with genuine flexibility for couples. Renters meet with the rental coordinator to tour the event spaces and select the settings that fit their vision, and they have the freedom to choose their own catering service, giving couples real control over the celebration. As a cultural destination, the Imperial Centre also offers a genuinely distinctive backdrop rich with local history. The restored 1903 tobacco factory, with its characterful architecture and cultural-center setting, gives photographers a historic, one-of-a-kind range of backdrops. For the entertainment, the enclosed event spaces give a wedding DJ solid structure and controlled acoustics to build sound and lighting into, so the reception fills the space and the dance floor stays lively at a restored historic landmark in downtown Rocky Mount.
Location & Getting There
The Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences sits at 270 Gay Street in downtown Rocky Mount, North Carolina, minutes from US Highway 64 and Interstate 95. That central, accessible location is a genuine advantage for a wedding weekend, since it is easily reached from the Triangle, southern Virginia, and eastern North Carolina, so guests from across the region have a manageable drive, and Raleigh-Durham International Airport is convenient for anyone flying in, while downtown Rocky Mount offers hotels, restaurants, and attractions for out-of-town guests. The location keeps everything convenient and easy to plan around. Yet the venue’s restored 1903 architecture and cultural-center character give the celebration a historic, unique feel once you arrive. That combination of a restored historic landmark with a convenient downtown Rocky Mount location is a big part of what draws couples to the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences.
Why Couples Book Dow Oak Here
You only get one reception at this venue, so it should be run by a team that already knows how to make a room like it work:
- We have actually performed at this venue, so we plan for its sound, layout, and flow instead of guessing on your night
- One team for your DJ and MC, photo booth, and custom lighting, on a single plan and one contract
- Backup DJs scheduled and on call, with your full plan shared across our team
- An online planning portal plus a planning call before the day
- More than 3,000 five-star reviews on The Knot, WeddingWire, and Google
- Transparent pricing with no hidden fees, and just $400 reserves your date
Wedding DJ FAQ
Have you performed at this venue before?
Yes. Every venue in our directory is one we have actually worked, so we already know how to set up, light, and run the room for a wedding, from ceremony sound to the last dance.
How much is a wedding DJ?
Our wedding DJ packages start at $1,500, and just $400 reserves your date. Your final price depends on add-ons like a photo booth, uplighting, or ceremony sound.
Do you provide lighting and a photo booth too?
Yes. One team handles your DJ and MC, color-matched uplighting, and a modern photo booth on a single plan.
What happens if our DJ has an emergency?
We always have trained backup DJs scheduled and on call, with your full plan shared across our team, so someone can step in seamlessly.
How do we book you?
Check your date using the form on this page. We confirm availability, send your pricing, and a $400 deposit reserves your date.
Plan Your Wedding With One Team
Your Wedding, Handled
Check your date in about 30 seconds. We confirm availability and send clear pricing, usually the same day. No call center, no pressure.
Check Your Date Just $400 reserves your date.Check Your Date
Let's get your date on the calendar
Fill out the form and a real member of our team reaches out, usually the same day. No call center, no pressure.
- Backup DJs & photo booths on call 24/7
- Just $400 reserves your date
- Free setup and teardown, every time
★★★★★ Rated 5.0 by 3,000+ couples and hosts
Tell us about your event
Takes about 30 seconds