Perkins Chapel

dings and bridal portraits at Perkins, and I always love what a classic and elegant space it is to get married in. Plus, being located on SMU provides so many beautiful spots for portraits!! — Sami Kathryn Photography

t of the beautiful Southern Methodist University campus, Perkins Chapel has been welcoming couples since 1951 and remains one of the city's most sought-after ceremony venues. Its classic white exterior, elegant Georgian architecture, and beautifully maintained grounds create a setting that feels timeless, graceful, and unmistakably special. What I especially appreciate is the balance the chapel strikes between intimacy and grandeur. The sanctuary possesses the beauty and dignity of a historic church while remaining warm and inviting for family and friends. The result is a ceremony setting that feels significant without feeling overwhelming, allowing the focus to remain where it belongs: on the couple and the commitment they are making to one another. From a ceremony standpoint, Perkins Chapel offers many of the qualities couples seek when imagining a traditional wedding. The soaring interior, beautiful architectural details, and magnificent organ create an atmosphere of reverence and celebration. There is something uniquely moving about hearing wedding music fill a space that has hosted generations of Dallas weddings and become part of so many family stories. I also appreciate the chapel's location. Situated on the SMU campus and surrounded by some of Dallas's most beautiful neighborhoods, hotels, and reception venues, it serves as a wonderful starting point for a wedding day while remaining easily accessible for guests coming from throughout the Metroplex. Perhaps most importantly, Perkins Chapel welcomes couples from a wide range of backgrounds and traditions, including those who choose to bring their own clergy. As someone who specializes in interfaith weddings, I particularly value venues that understand the importance of creating a welcoming and meaningful experience for every couple. For couples seeking a ceremony venue that combines historic beauty, timeless architecture, rich Dallas tradition, and an atmosphere of genuine significance, I am delighted to recommend Perkins Chapel. It is one of those rare places where every wedding feels connected to something larger while remaining deeply personal.

rsal time the day before and 3 hours the day of your wedding. Nothing else. No staff, no coordinator, no one. At our rehearsal, we met a very unhappy “assistant” named Jeffery (who claimed he wasn't even an assistant, he was there to strictly help coordinate "sound" - however, he had no problem bossing us around otherwise). I was confused by his presence because he was never included on any prior email/communication nor was he involved in any of the plans. He was never introduced to me until that evening at the rehearsal. When I first met him, he rudely shook my hand and aggressively told me that we had to vacate the premises at 6 (the ceremony was at 5) because they had another wedding right after ours. Those were literally the first words out of his mouth, he didn't congratulate us, he was not friendly, it was the first face-to-face interaction with anyone from SMU and it was incredibly off-putting. Over the rehearsal hour, we were told we would not be provided unity candles (after having that confirmed to us via email), we would not be provided with ANY help on the day of, and after many condescending remarks made by Jeffery, his patronizing questions and clear irritation by our presence, we argued our way through the “details” of my big day. Mind you, we had no vendors who needed chapel access, we had under 100 guests, no ring bearers, no musicians, it was very straightforward. There was no reason for his negative attitude or downright dismissal of us. Jeffrey couldn't be bothered to show us anything or leave his chair for that matter, except when he went to go make a call about "the worst couple he's ever had to deal with" (us). He never showed us where anything was (the bridal suite, groom's room, nothing) we had to go exploring on our own, which is fine, but for the cost of the venue I expected more. Prior to our wedding week, I was passed off from one lady named Chelsea to a woman named Danica. Danica was very nice over email when she responded but was unhelpful the day/weekend of as she was non-responsive. I am incredibly disappointed by the entire experience, especially since the cost of being there was astronomical. Anyway, rant over.