Arkansas Wedding Venue | Thorncrown Chapel

Thorncrown Chapel is one of three glass chapels in Arkansas. It’s located in the Northwestern part of the state, in Eureka Springs. This is a quirky tourist town full of great food, shops, and things to do. The chapel is very well known and was seen on the reality tv show 19 Kids and Counting, when one of the Duggars got engaged here. It’s a top spot in Arkansas for weddings and elopements. The city of Eureka Springs is also a great spot to enjoy your honeymoon!

Read on to learn everything you need to know about planning an elopement or wedding at Thorncrown Chapel.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Hire A Photographer Familiar With The Space

Hiring a photographer that has worked at Thorncrown Chapel and is familiar with navigating Eureka Springs can be beneficial for you. There’s lots of beautiful hidden gems near the venue for portraits after the ceremony, and plentiful of must-have eats, shops, and activities to do while in town. The lighting inside the chapel can sometimes be tricky to work with (depending on lighting conditions outside), so having someone there to document your day that is accustomed to difficult lighting scenarios can greatly work in your favor. I shoot at Thorncrown Chapel and her sister chapels multiple times a year, and have been doing so for the last several years. I’d love to go over logistics with you about getting married there!

Let’s Plan Your Dream Day!

A bride and groom lean in for a kiss outside of the Thorncrown Chapel wedding venue in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

About Thorncrown Chapel

Thorncrown Chapel can seat 100 guests on blue-colored pews. While you’re in the chapel, you’ll be able to enjoy stunning views of the cool-toned beams that make up Thorncrown, and of the trees that surround the building, all while under the comfort of a temperature controlled space. There is a piano available in the chapel, if you’d like to hire a musician to play for your event. It’s a perfect venue if you want to feel in nature during a winter or summer date, but don’t want to freeze or sweat during your ceremony, or if you just want a safe environment where you don’t have to worry about rain and storms.

Getting Ready Space: There is only a changing space available here, so you will need to get ready at another location.

Reception Space: There is not a reception hall here, so you will have to rent another space if you plan on a reception to follow.

The Cost

The cost can vary by how many hours you want to reserve the chapel, if you have guests, and what day you want to book. A minister and chapel host are included in all packages. A Pricing Guide that breaks down details is on the Thorncrown Chapel website, which you can find here.

Elopements (Couple + Photographer ONLY, 1-Hour Rental): Starts at $595. Details:

  • 1-hour rental of chapel
  • Minister and chapel host included
  • Access to changing space
  • Sound person NOT included
  • Mondays through Thursdays only

Weddings + Elopements W/Guests: The cost will range from $1095 to $1695, depending on if you want a 1.5-hour rental or 2-hour rental, and which day you want to book. You can review the link above for a breakdown of each option. All packages with guests include the following:

  • Minister and chapel host
  • Access to changing space
  • Sound person

*You can add on an extra day for a 1-Hour rehearsal for $595.

(Images Above: Nearby Scenic Area)

When to Get Married at Thorncrown Chapel

You can comfortably get married at Thorncrown Chapel any time of year, since the chapel is temperature controlled. Since the chapel is see-through and you might go outside for portraits, it’s still wise to pick a time of year where you like the foliage and can handle the temps for at least short periods of time, though!

Foliage: Around mid November through early March, the trees will be bare. Usually by mid to late March the green is back in the trees. By mid to late October, fall colors will settle in, but they usually don’t last more than a few weeks. Most of the leaves will fall off by mid November.

Temperatures: Unless you plan on having an outdoor reception, or plan on taking photos outdoors for a long period of time, the temperature won’t hold importance since the building is temperature controlled. Temps can get hot and humid, in the 90s to 110s, early May to early October. If you have a health condition that makes the heat difficult for you, or you don’t want to be sweaty, this is important to keep in mind. Arkansas winter can be all over the place, temperature wise. Typically we have temps sitting in the 40s and 50s for most of the season, but we can see temps in the 30s and sometimes freezing around January. It can be in the 60s/70s in early December and late February. Other times of the year, the temperatures are generally comfortable in the upper 60s to low 80s.

Tourist Season: If you plan to make the most of your time in Eureka Springs, you’ll want to explore downtown and all of the shops, restaurants, and attractions. Some businesses will be closed in the winter months for off-season, so plan accordingly and check the availability of the places on your to-do list so you don’t miss out!

When to Book Your Vendors

October/November and late March through early May are generally the most booked months of the year, which means these months book out the fastest. No matter the month you want to book, it doesn’t hurt to reach out to vendors as soon as you’re ready to start planning, though. Most wedding vendors only open their availability a year to a year and a half out. There’s no rush to book if you need more time planning and saving, just do be aware that the shorter notice a vendor has, the less likely they are to be available still, so you may not be able to book your priority vendors if they’re already booked for your date.

(Images Above: Crescent Hotel & Spa)

Where to Get Ready + Reception Venues

Since Thorncrown only has a changing space, you’ll need to get ready off-site at either your home (if you live local), at a short-term rental (if you’re not hosting a reception after), or at an event venue with a getting ready space. Eureka Springs is a popular tourist town, so there are loads of great accommodation options in the area. This is a very quirky and artsy town, which means there’s so many unique places you can stay, like treehouses and hobbit caves! It’s also a very cozy town, so there’s plenty of comfy B&Bs and other homey options. If you want something more private and isolated, check Airbnb/Vrbo for cabins and other unique stays in the area, otherwise you can get a room at one of several great hotels.

Accommodations/Getting Ready Spaces Nearby:

  • Crescent Hotel & Spa
  • Basin Park Hotel
  • Best Western Inn of the Ozarks
  • Vrbo/Airbnb

Reception Venues Nearby:

  • Crescent Hotel
  • Basin Park Hotel
  • Best Western Inn of the Ozarks
  • The Melonlight Ballroom

Where to Eat

If you don’t plan on having a reception to follow, but you do want to go out to dinner with your small number of attending guests, or just your spouse, check out these places in town:

  • Ermilio’s (Italian)
  • Local Flavor (American Cuisine; great brunch place!)
  • SkyBar Gourmet Pizza (located at Crescent Hotel)
  • Rowdy Beaver Tavern (casual steak house)
  • The Rockin’ Pig (BBQ & more)

Honeymooning in Eureka Springs

If you plan on staying in the area for your honeymoon, Eureka Springs has plenty of things to do! This is my favorite getaway destination within Arkansas. The food is great, the shops are fun to check out in downtown, there’s ghost tours and historical tours, natural springs to see, and you can even go to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge to see tigers! A lot of the places to stay have jacuzzis, and some of the hotels have spas. There’s plenty of beautiful sights to see here, and it’s just a fun place to spend a few days.

Final Notes

Thorncrown Chapel is one of the most beautiful venues Arkansas has to offer, and located in a great honeymoon spot. This is a perfect venue if you want one of the best that Arkansas has to offer. Reach out to the chapel to inquiry about reserving it for your special day!

If you’re still considering the other two glass chapels Arkansas has to offer, you can read some info about them at Glass Chapels in Arkansas.

Still trying to decide between a big wedding celebration or an intimate elopement? Learn all of the pros and cons of both: How to Choose between Eloping or Having a Wedding

If you’re ready to make your date official and need a photographer then I’d love to chat with you!

Let’s Plan Your Dream Day!

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