Spice things up with these steamy flicks.
Updated Oct 14, 2024The Most Stunning Church Wedding Venues Across the US
Because getting married in a place of worship is a tale as old as time.
For many, a wedding is more than a civil marriage—it's an important milestone rooted in faith and religious beliefs. While there is no right way to have a wedding, your wedding day should be a reflection of who you are. If your faith is a big part of your life, a church wedding venue is likely an ideal option for you.
If so, we're here to help you find the most beautiful church to host a special part of your most special day: your ceremony. It's no secret that there are churches everywhere, but across the United States, there are some standout options—temple wedding venues, nondenominational wedding chapels, historic venues—that you can reserve for your dream wedding celebration. Check out 19 of our favorite church wedding venues below, and find even more options on The Knot Vendor Marketplace.
Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palo Verdes, California
Southern California's Wayfarers Chapel puts a unique—and absolutely gorgeous—spin on a wedding chapel. The Swedenborgian church was designed by Lloyd Wright and completed in 1951, and it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The glass structure is surrounded by towering redwood trees and looks out on the forest and the Pacific Ocean. The lowdown on your wedding ceremony at Wayfarers is this: You have a two-hour rental period, and all photos must be taken within this time frame. Chapel ministers officiate all ceremonies, and while the facility follows the Swedenborgian church's view of marriage, your minister will work with you to tailor your service to your religious/spiritual beliefs.
FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT
St. Paul's Chapel at Columbia University in New York, New York
Built in 1904 and established as a historic landmark in 1966, St. Paul's Chapel at Columbia University is awe-inspiring. The interior domes, vaults, stained glass windows and bronze chandeliers are breathtaking. (The central dome is 91 feet tall.) For your wedding ceremony, the Chapel can accommodate up to 400 guests on the main floor and expand up to 610 guests if the balconies are used. While there are strict rules regarding decorations, the site is so architecturally beautiful that you won't be missing out. St. Paul's welcomes diversity and can accommodate traditional, secular, interfaith, same-sex, non-religious, civil and spiritual weddings.
Scottish Rite Cathedral in Indianaopolis, Indiana
Many church wedding venues in the US are available for ceremonies only, but the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Indianapolis can host both your ceremony and reception in equally beautiful spaces. The Tudor Gothic 1929 structure features stunning architectural details like stained glass and marble, and six rooms where you can host your events. The theater is ideal for the grandest of ceremonies and the Grand Hall offers a breathtaking space for receptions. This venue can host events for over 1,000 guests so don't skimp on the guest list. And with catering handled in house, your planning process will be stress-free.
Graceland's Chapel in the Woods in Memphis, Tennessee
If "Love Me Tender" is a must-play on your wedding playlist, then this venue is worth a look. Yes, you can actually get married at Elvis Presley's Graceland! This secluded Chapel in the Woods features ample rustic charm, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the historic forest around Graceland and room for up to 100 guests. Ceremony packages are available (including an officiant!), and you can host your reception in one of the many indoor or outdoor spaces on the Graceland Campus, too.
Felicity Church in New Orleans, Louisiana
Another member of the Best of Weddings Hall of Fame, New Orleans' Felicity Church puts an industrial-chic spin on a church wedding venue. The historical (it dates back to 1888), nondenominational church wants you to "come as you are, love as you will and write your own story." The church was restored after Hurricane Katrina, and the resulting event space can accommodate both your ceremony and reception. The trendy interior features brick walls, exposed beams, soaring stained glass windows and a loft. For your ceremony, Felicity Church's wedding package includes a getting-ready suite, 14 pews in the sanctuary, two pews in the loft, 90 wooden folding chairs and a day-of coordinator.
First Congregational Church in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles' First Congregational Church is palatial, a cathedral-style neo-Gothic building with the world's largest, oldest working pipe organ. Founded in 1867, it occupies 157,000 square feet, and its tower soars to 157 feet. The sanctuary where you'll say "I do" was modeled after the cathedrals of France and England. Ceremony packages include three hours of event time (setup, ceremony, photos and cleanup), a venue supervisor, a minister who can be your officiant, an organist, a one-hour rehearsal, two wedding suites, an audio technician and microphones, a unity candle stand, candelabra stands, candles, a gift table, a kneeling bench, an easel and communion tables. The church also has indoor and outdoor wedding venues available for your reception.
Masonic Temple in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit's Masonic Temple is a regal temple wedding venue. Built in 1920 and completed in 1926, the venue is equipped with three theaters, a shrine, a chapel, eight lodge rooms, two ballrooms and many other spaces, making it a luxurious option for both wedding ceremonies and receptions. The chapel is a smaller-scale replica of the Westminster Abbey, and the impressive space, decorated with stained glass windows, an arched ceiling and chandeliers, can hold up to 400. Your reception will likely take place in the Crystal Ballroom, a 10,574-square-foot ballroom with an open floor plan, Italian decor and pretty chandeliers.
Christ Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Christ Church in Philadelphia is exquisite and steeped in American history. The self-described "birthplace of the American Episcopal Church," the historic church was built in 1695 and hosted notable Americans such as George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross, John Penn and many others. The church is available for weddings to both parishioners and nonmembers, including LGBT couples. Highlights inside Christ Church include a pipe organ, 18th-century glass windows and a chandelier; outside there are gardens and pealing bells. Plus, as an official component of Philadelphia's Independence National Historical Park, the church is just one of many historical sites to take in during your wedding weekend.
Arlington Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts
Host your Boston wedding ceremony at Arlington Street Church, and we promise you won't be disappointed. Welcoming couples of all beliefs, orientations and identities, the church can accommodate weddings of all sizes via its large sanctuary and smaller chapel. Arlington Street Church dates back to 1729 and, over time, has become home to many beautiful pieces of artwork, including 16 windows by famous glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany that were installed between 1899 and 1929. These windows are a beautiful complement to the Basilica-style interior. Highlights of the sanctuary include 62-foot vaulted ceilings, excellent acoustics and a historic Aeolian-Skinner organ.
Knowles Memorial Chapel at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida
Rollins College's Knowles Memorial Chapel is a dream. Special interior elements include the Window of Wisdom, a beautiful circular stained glass window located over the chapel's rear gallery, and the Great Organ, which has undergone several updates over the past century while maintaining its original 1932 pipes. There are some criteria for your big day here: You must be either a graduate of Rollins College, a full-time student, a faculty or staff member, a child of a graduate or faculty/staff member, or you can wed here without affiliation so long as you book the Rice Family Pavilion for a rehearsal dinner, reception or farewell brunch. Originally built in 1942, the Rice Family Pavilion has been repurposed as a banquet hall location.
FOR YOU
North Hollywood First United Methodist Church in North Hollywood, California
North Hollywood First United Methodist Church is another delightfully decorated church providing many superb options for your wedding day. The New England-style building has a stain-glass-filled sanctuary for up to 400 guests, a chapel seating 70 and a fountain courtyard for those desiring an outdoor ceremony. Your rental at North Hollywood First United Methodist Church is all-inclusive and provides five hours of access to the church, a getting-ready room, a kneeling bench, a unity candelabra, a wedding director, two assistants and a pianist/organist. The venue can also provide a pastor to officiate your ceremony for an additional fee.
Unity Temple in Oak Park, Illinois
Unity Temple in Illinois is a unique temple wedding venue designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. As explained by Unity Temple, Wright's early 20th-century cubist design "broke nearly every existing rule and convention for American and European religious architecture." Today, the design continues to be eye-catching—an unexpected place of worship. Your sanctuary wedding here is suited for 300-plus guests. You also have options for an on-site wedding reception: There's a second indoor space that can accommodate up to 120 for a seated dinner or 150 for a cocktail event. Plus, you can hold an outdoor cocktail hour on one of the terraces.
Gruene Estate in New Braunfels, Texas
The open-air chapel at Gruene Estate is Insta-worthy A.F. (Seriously, your wedding photos here will be next level.) Located on over 17 acres of Texas Hill Country, it's a breathtaking structure located on a breathtaking property. The chapel is original to the property and brings in so much natural light through its openings and understated stained glass windows. Not to mention, the sprawling property provides so much in addition to this dreamy ceremony site; your event also includes an open-air pavilion, antique chandeliers, corn hole and yard games, a large fire pit with Adirondack chairs, rustic farm tables and chairs, a vintage lounge area, on-site housing accommodations and then some. You'll find everything you need—and more—at Gruene Estate.
The Unitarian Church of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina
The Unitarian Church of Charleston is a historic landmark dating back to 1787 and the oldest Unitarian church in the South. It's withstood the test of time, surviving two wars, six hurricanes, two fires and an earthquake. Welcoming locals, out-of-towners, LGBTQ couples, faith and non-faith backgrounds and large and small groups, the church is a great wedding destination for everyone. The sanctuary has desirable church characteristics—stained glass windows, an intricately designed vaulted ceiling. There is also a lush churchyard that can be utilized for intimate gatherings and Gage Hall, a reception space that can hold up to 100. What else? The church is a registered "green" sanctuary, with green policies for things like recycling and composting.
St. Bartholomew's Church in New York, New York
St. Bartholomew's Church in New York looks like it belongs in a Harry Potter movie—that's how stunning it is. Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2016, the church has quite the history. The parish moved into the building it calls home today in 1918. That building was constructed in Romanesque style, while its interior was decorated in Byzantine style. To host a wedding here, at least three months' notice is required, at least one partner must be a baptized Christian, and you must partake in premarital counseling. There are several other requirements for aspects such as florals, photography, music, decor and your service itself.
Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church in Beverly Hills, California
The Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church is on California's buzzed-about Rodeo Drive. The building has been around since 1926, with renovations in 1945 adding a chapel, a lounge and a fellowship hall. Like other beloved church locations, it has a sanctuary in which you can host your wedding ceremony, as well as a chancel. Highlights of the sanctuary include 12 stained glass windows, dark wood furnishings, a 106-foot-long center aisle, a Moeller pipe organ, a Blüthner grand piano and a Neupert harpsichord. For intimate weddings, you can utilize the chancel (an area at the front of the church used by the choir) for a ceremony with up to 30 guests.
St. Anne's Chapel at Villa Academy in Seattle, Washington
St. Anne's Chapel at Villa Academy is a vintage 1920s chapel situated on 31 acres. What's to love here? Well, the interior is picturesque as is, thanks to stained glass windows, intricate stonework, an arched ceiling and religious decor and fixtures. Your wedding is scheduled for four and a half hours, which allows for plenty of time for photos, floral setup, your ceremony and cleanup. Peak season rates top out at $1,250, with a Villa Academy alumni rate of $1,000. Off-season rates are more affordable, with a $1,000 regular rate and a rate of $880 for alumni.
Agora Grand Event Center in Lewiston, Maine
Agora Grand Event Center is another royal church wedding venue—this time, in Maine. The castle wedding venue started out as a 19th-century neo-Gothic church hand-built in 1890. The Reception Hall is the showstopper at Agora Grand; it features columns, a 55-foot ceiling, a stained glass window and a bar created from a pipe organ. There is also a traditional chapel on site that can seat up to 200 guests for your wedding ceremony. Another one-of-a-kind aspect of this venue is the Royal Tower honeymoon suite. It's located under the steeple inside Maine's tallest tower, has large stained windows, provides private access to the balcony lounge and features a bathroom complete with a whirlpool tub.
Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas
If you're holding a wedding reception in Dallas, Lovers Lane United Methodist Church is a wonderful church event venue for your nuptials. This church welcomes everyone and features several indoor and outdoor spaces that can accommodate both large and intimate weddings. The Wesley Chapel is particularly eye-catching because it is embellished with floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows. Another lovely on-site option is the Shipp Chapel, a larger space with pew seating in which a pipe organ is the showstopper. In preparation for your big day, Lovers Lane will also provide you with an experienced coordinator to assist with your wedding planning needs.
