If you've started pricing wedding venues around Oklahoma City, you already know the sticker shock is real. Many venues charge thousands of dollars just for the room — before food, before rentals, before a single photo is taken.
So when we find a spot that is beautiful, historic, full of character, and genuinely affordable, we want every couple to know about it. Let us introduce you to one of our favorite hidden gems: the Upper Deck at Freeman's in downtown El Reno.
Meet Freeman's: Homestyle Cooking in a Downtown Landmark
Freeman's sits at 117 S. Bickford Avenue in the heart of downtown El Reno, about 30 minutes west of Oklahoma City. Owners Mike and Janice Freeman — longtime El Reno locals — opened the restaurant in 2025 inside the old 1930s J.C. Penney building, and they have filled it with history, hospitality, and homestyle cooking.
The menu is built on recipes handed down through the Freeman family, from Nana and Mamaw's kitchens to the family cookbook. We're talking chicken fried steak, Freeman's Family Meatloaf, their famous "Sorta-Mashed" potatoes, a fresh salad bar, and desserts worth saving room for. It is the kind of food your guests will actually talk about on the drive home.
As a husband-and-wife photography and videography team, we notice spaces. Freeman's has the things cameras love: warm hardwood floors, pressed tin ceilings, glowing chandeliers, and decades of character you simply cannot fake with a rental hall.
The Upper Deck: A Private Reception Space for $125
Here is the part that makes Freeman's such a find. Upstairs, overlooking the main dining room, is the Upper Deck — a private mezzanine event space you can rent for $125 for five hours. It seats about 49 guests, which makes it just right for an intimate wedding reception, a rehearsal dinner, or a bridal shower.
Think about what that means for your budget. A five-hour reception rental for $125 leaves room in the budget for the things couples usually have to cut — great food, beautiful flowers, and photography and film that preserve the day for the rest of your lives.
The space itself needs very little decorating. The pressed tin ceiling, hardwood floors, wooden railings, and wall of windows do the heavy lifting. Long tables and chairs are already in place, and the balcony overlook gives your reception a warm, gathered feeling — everyone you love, all in one beautiful room. For photos, that overlook is gold: we can capture your whole reception from above, plus all the candid laughter in between.
And because the Upper Deck is inside a full-service restaurant, your reception food can come straight from the Freeman's kitchen — no outside caterer to coordinate, no delivery timing to stress over. Just ask Mike about menu options for your group when you book.
Want the whole restaurant? If your guest list outgrows the Upper Deck, ask Mike about renting out the entire restaurant. He told us he has never actually been asked that before — but he would be happy to talk with you and put together a quote for a full-restaurant event. It never hurts to ask, and at Freeman's, the answer might surprise you.
Not Just for Weddings
The Upper Deck has quickly become one of El Reno's gathering places. The restaurant hosts community events like the El Reno High School PUSH Benefit Night supporting EHS Leadership, and the space works just as well for:
Wedding receptions (up to about 49 guests)
Rehearsal dinners
Bridal and baby showers
Anniversary and birthday parties
Family and class reunions
Fundraisers and community banquets
If your guest list is around 50 or fewer, this is one of the most affordable event spaces in the Oklahoma City area — full stop.
The Building Your Guests Will Remember
Part of the charm is where you are standing. The J.C. Penney building has anchored Bickford Avenue since the 1930s, and the Freemans kept its soul intact — reclaimed wood from the original store, historic photos of El Reno on the walls, and the original J.C. Penney Co. sign still watching over the dining room. Your grandparents may have shopped in this very building. That kind of story makes a reception feel rooted, and it gives your photos a backdrop with real Oklahoma history in it.
Downtown El Reno also photographs beautifully — brick storefronts and small-town charm, all within a short walk for portraits before or after your reception.
How to Book the Upper Deck at Freeman's
Ready to check your date? Reach out to Freeman's directly:
Point of contact: Mike Freeman, owner — he is happy to help you plan your event. Call or text him at (405) 473-3081
Restaurant: (405) 854-3287
Email: info@freemans-eats.com
Address: 117 S. Bickford Ave, El Reno, OK 73036
Website: freemans-eats.com
Hours: Open Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays). Lunch and dinner served daily.
We recommend booking early — at $125 for five hours, word about this space is getting out fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to rent the Upper Deck at Freeman's in El Reno?
The Upper Deck rents for $125 for five hours, making it one of the most affordable wedding reception and event spaces near Oklahoma City.
How many guests does the Upper Deck at Freeman's seat?
The Upper Deck seats about 49 guests, ideal for intimate wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, showers, reunions, and parties.
Where is Freeman's located?
Freeman's is at 117 S. Bickford Ave, El Reno, OK 73036, in the historic 1930s J.C. Penney building in downtown El Reno — roughly 30 minutes west of Oklahoma City.
Who do I contact to book an event at Freeman's?
Contact owner Mike Freeman directly at (405) 473-3081, call the restaurant at (405) 854-3287, or email info@freemans-eats.com.
Can you rent the entire Freeman's restaurant for a bigger wedding or event?
There is no standard buyout price — owner Mike Freeman says no one has asked before — but he is happy to talk with you and give you a custom quote. Call him at (405) 473-3081.
Can Freeman's provide the food for our reception?
Yes — Freeman's is a full-service restaurant known for homestyle comfort food, including chicken fried steak, family meatloaf, and a fresh salad bar. Ask Mike about menu options when you book your date.
Let's Capture Your Day
We are Rob and Ciara Jacobs of Everything Photo & Film, a Christian husband-and-wife team serving couples across Oklahoma City, Edmond, El Reno, and beyond. We believe your wedding should be about the covenant you're making and the people you love — not about going into debt for a venue. Spaces like the Upper Deck at Freeman's prove you can celebrate beautifully on a real-life budget.
If you're planning a wedding or reception in the El Reno area, we would be honored to photograph and film it. Get your instant quote today, and let's talk about your day.
Freeman's is located at 117 S. Bickford Ave, El Reno, OK 73036. To rent the Upper Deck for your wedding reception or event, call owner Mike Freeman at (405) 473-3081.
