Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Nestled along the beautiful sandy beaches of the Tchefuncte River, The Rivers Retreat is the perfect destination for your dream wedding! When you reserve our venue, it is for an extended period of time, usually a full weekend ( Thurs-Sun) or a Fri or Sat night. Our covered, screened pavilion can accommodate up to 250 guests and is breathtakingly beautiful. . It has huge vaulted ceilings and an enormous fireplace. You will also have full use of our banquet room which is attached to a large, fully equipped commercial kitchen. You and your closest guests and family will stay in our 10, well-appointed cottages that can accommodate up to 50 people. Tables and dining chairs are provided for the banquet room. Tables are provided for the pavilion, and Chivari dining chairs are available for rental for a small additional fee.
The Rivers Retreat does not provide food or beverages, so you can either bring in your own food, hire your own caterer, or we do have caterers that have done a great Job in the past and that are highly recommended. Our kitchen is fully equipped and has everything that you would need to prepare and serve food.
Most guests have their rehearsal dinner on a Thursday or Friday night, and their wedding on Saturday. We take pride in making sure that your wedding is absolutely perfect and just the way you want it. You are able to celebrate as late as you want, and many weddings have partied well into the early morning hours. If your wedding is in the late spring or summer, you will have access to our massive swimming pool, which is perfect for a pool party or luau.
The consistent complement that we receive is that people appreciate the fact that we are so easy to get along with and that no reasonable request will be denied. If you want an amazing place where you and your family and friends can spend the whole weekend together and celebrate the most important day of your lives, then call and let us schedule a tour!
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Pricing details
Starting prices
Reception:
$10,000
Ceremony:
Contact for price
Bar services:
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Catering:
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Starting prices don't include service fees, taxes, gratuity, and rental fees. Guest count and seasonality may also affect prices.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
Indoor Event Space
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Guest Capacity
300+
Settings
Backyard
Barn
Farm & Ranch
Beach
Waterfront
Garden
Historic Venue
Trees
Venue Service Offerings
Destination Weddings
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Availability
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.0
14 reviews
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
The Rivers Retreat center, run by Marcus, receives glowing reviews from multiple guests praising the accommodating owner, the unique atmosphere, and the flexibility to personalize wedding events. Reviewers mention the convenience of having the venue for the entire weekend, allowing ample time for setup and celebrations. The property's beauty, amenities, and pet-friendly policy are highlighted, and the dedicated service from Marcus, along with his professionalism, are repeatedly commended. The ability to bring in personal vendors and the peaceful, private setting make it a highly recommended choice for those seeking a memorable and picturesque wedding experience.
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brittany b
5.0
4/09/2024
Oh my goodness I don’t even know where to start. From day one Marcus has been SO helpful and accommodating and just amazing. Me & my husband are both from split families… this beautiful venue allowed all 4 of our families to spend the entire weekend together and it was just heartwarming. I really can’t recommend Marcus’s venue enough. We will cherish the past weekend for the rest of our lives!!!!
Tori N
5.0
11/12/2023
We had a wonderful reception at the River’s Retreat! It was magical! Marcus was wonderful to work with. The cottages were perfect to stay late and end the night at the retreat! The location for many of our families was great! We had a fire in the fireplace and ended the night with another in the fire pit! We started with a cocktail hour in the Community Hall! It was the perfect space for it! The caterer was Nonna Randazzo. Everyone enjoyed the food! Marcus recommended the bartenders Ron & Barbara Hebert. They were great to work with as well! The pavilion was perfect for the band to setup with enough electrical outlets and space! With a large dance floor in front of the band! We had an LSU game playing under a tent on the lawn! I highly recommend The River’s Retreat! I wanted to add that they are pet friendly! We were able to bring three of our large trained dogs with us!
Any questions?
Amy B
5.0
3/09/2023
I will recommend The Rivers Retreat Center until I turn blue in the face! We loved absolutely EVERYTHING about the venue! Marcus (the owner) was very accommodating, and I don't believe he told me "no" ever, for any request or question I had. I loved that we were able to have the venue Thursday morning - Sunday morning. It gave us plenty of time to set up and have a rehearsal without feeling like we were rushed to get it all done. There was a place for everyone setting up to sleep and have their own personal space when they needed it. It was a perfect weekend, at the perfect venue, marrying my perfect man! If you are looking for a venue to accommodate many, and be able to leisurely get things done, this is the place to do it! I can't recommend this place enough!
Rebecca G
5.0
10/17/2022
We can’t express enough how amazing this venue was. There is absolutely nothing like it and it really made our wedding experience everything we dreamed of. Marcus was AMAZING and was there whenever we needed it with solutions and guidance. He was very professional and open to all of our ideas. Our family and friends stayed with us the entire weekend and the time we got to spend together because of this outstanding venue was so special and meant everything to us. We would love to come back and be able to utilize the venue again for other events as well. Our wedding was truly an amazing and memorable adventure because of this unique venue.
Haley C
5.0
9/11/2022
We loved this place! It was the perfect spot for all of our family to stay, especially because of how much family we had coming from out of state! They have just about everything and anything you could need and are all so helpful and nice! Couldn’t have had a more perfect place!
Teresa V
5.0
8/21/2022
We can't say enough about this the quality of service and the experience we had when renting this reception venue! Marcus is a true professional and made himself available to us at all times, making sure that we had the most easy-going and enjoyable time possible leading up to our wedding day. We rented out the entire property for the weekend of our wedding, and it was worth every penny because all its amenities were thoroughly enjoyed by all of the guests and wedding party who stayed there.
If you want a venue that is outside-the-box, peaceful and private, gorgeous and fun, look no further than the Rivers. The owner, Marcus, will always look out for your best interests as you plan, and he will be around on your special day to make sure that you never have to worry about a thing. We are forever grateful for his help and expertise! - Teresa & Andrew
Bridget Z
5.0
5/26/2022
We loved having our wedding at the Rivers Retreat and could not recommend it more! The property is beautiful and completely customizable to your own style! We could do any decorations we wanted and Marcus was able to accommodate all of our many requests! We rented the property for the full weekend, so we were able to use the various rooms for our rehearsal dinner, getting ready for the wedding, the ceremony, and reception! It was an absolute blast and so convenient to have everything all at one place. We made the best memories staying on the property for the full weekend with all of our friends and family! Marcus was very easy to work with and made sure we had everything we needed and more!
Jamie and Benjamin M
5.0
12/03/2021
If you’re looking for a beautiful, serene, intimate venue with a touch of history, then look no further than The Rivers Retreat and the fact that it’s local, is the icing on the cake. The ambiance of the property is what sold us on the spot. Marcus immediately accommodated my fiancé and I while planning our wedding; even after having to reschedule due to COVID. We enjoyed having the ability to bring in our own caterer, our own vendors and more importantly have all our family stay on the property the weekend of our wedding. Everything we asked of Marcus, he fullflilled our requests and then some. We felt like we were in another city yet we were in our hometown. The cabins, dining hall, pavilion, everything was perfect and ready for our wedding weekend. We could not have asked for a better venue, a better atmosphere to host our long awaited day.
Stephen M
5.0
3/14/2021
We held our daughter's wedding at the venue last weekend and were very impressed with Marcus's willingness to work with us on such short notice. He was available the whole weekend and worked non-stop to make sure everything went smoothly.
We used the whole facility from cabins to dining hall as well as the pavilion for the wedding. We turned a one day event into a wedding weekend that will not soon be forgotten.
Thanks Marcus for making this a truly beautiful and memorable experience.
Stephen & Michelle
Thomas C
5.0
9/29/2020
I had a wedding reception here. The place was great! The price was excellent compared to other places. The thing I liked the most was that it was in the country and had a real private and romantic setting. Plus it was clean and tidy. I would strongly recommend this place to anyone interested in booking for a wedding, party, baby shower, retreat or any special event. Plus the staff was very accommodating.
Jennifer K
5.0
9/22/2020
Working with this venue has been just what I wanted in my wedding venue. They are responsible and responsive, with great details to maintaining the property and linens etc., but they are also laid back enough to allow my own personal vision of my wedding take shape. We're planning on spending the whole weekend to have the rehearsal dinner, bridal luncheon, wedding prep, and lengthy wedding reception with no time limit, all in one place. As we transition into fall I am excited to have smores on the bonfire and relax in this serene environment. Would highly recommend!
Sharon D
5.0
9/15/2020
I recently held my daughters wedding at The Rivers Retreat in Covington, La. We were able to spend four days prior to the ceremony enjoying the beautiful property. It gave us ample time to decorate as well as having access to the cabins in which the bridal party and grooms party were able to enjoy. The dining hall is beautiful and we had access to a top notch kitchen where the caterer had access to several days before the event. We were also able to have rehearsal dinner there as well. It’s a wonderful place for big events. It has a gorgeous enclosed pavilion with a beautiful brick fireplace that was used as a focal point for the ceremony. All in all it was way beyond our expectations. I would definitely recommend this venue. The owner was very accommodating and was eager to please. Top notch!!
Holly R
5.0
7/28/2020
I stayed at this venue for a family reunion, and it was an utter pleasure. The cabins are spotless and incredibly convenient. It looked like they were just renovated and very tastefully so. There was an enormous pool on the premises and a beautiful river for kayaking right on the property. Everyone had their little house with all necessary amenities and privacy, and yet there were many common areas for us to gather and celebrate. The kitchen is equipped with everything your party may need and the pavilion is ideal for a formal celebration of any kind. I feel like you get a lot for your money and I'm hoping to book The Rivers retreat for our wedding in the Fall or 2021. I can't recommend this place enough!
John P
5.0
7/27/2020
My wife and I were married on July, 11th and we couldn’t be happier! We’ve spent a lot of time on this property and we love the advantage of being in both an open and private atmosphere. All the buildings and greenery are kept looking beautiful and we couldn’t think any better of any other place to celebrate a special day!
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