Garden Lakes Realty converts former church into ‘affordable’ wedding venue
By Tori Hughes for Hometown Headlines
Chapel Hill Methodist Church came to Garden Lakes Realty to sell the little chapel.
President Mark Brewster said the realty firm started the process by looking at who buys churches, in particular little churches.
“We kind of came to realize that churches either have a lot of money and are expanding and this one is just too small, or they have no money and they couldn’t buy it anyway.”
Brewster said he then thought the best idea would be to designate it as a wedding chapel. In order to do that, a lot of renovation had to take place. It was built in the 1950s. Brewster said very little work had to go into fixing up the sanctuary.
“The chapel itself, we didn’t do a whole lot to it. We painted and put new lighting in there. But, the back portion of it was all cut up into little Sunday school rooms… and then it had two tiny bathrooms.”
To help open the space, the walls between the Sunday school rooms and bathrooms were knocked down to become a kind of large reception hall. Brewster explained the bathrooms were too small and moved to what was once the choir loft and the pastor’s office was renovated into a bridal suite. In the new bridal suite, the outside wall that had just a window was knocked down and doors were put in that open to a back porch which could be used for wedding pictures.
Brewster said he looked at other wedding chapels and other wedding venues in Rome and saw what can be done with pictures. So, he ensured the Chapel at Riverside had some things that would do well for pictures, like the installation of a fence around the perimeter and a swing at the front of the venue.
Once all of the renovations were complete, Brewster began to think about who would best benefit from having a wedding at the Chapel at Riverside. He thought if those people who did not have a large budget needed a place for their wedding, this was the place to do it because the rental fees are low and the revamp of the chapel has made it an ideal place for wedding pictures to be taken.
“So, at the end of the day, they would be married. Two, they would have a great wedding album. Three, they wouldn’t have to spend $25,000.”
Brewster also said many churches do not allow alcohol to be served at wedding receptions, and with many other wedding venues, there can be extra charges to serve alcohol or to use a specific catering business.
The Chapel at Riverside is different.
“We’re trying to make this to where people can customize it to their own liking and not have to get up-charged by us or whatever their venue is for every little thing they do.”
Brewster explained that there are no restrictions when it comes to catering, florists or reception entertainment.
“Nothing goes through us, so you can go get the best deal you can and have your wedding at the lowest price you can get.”
Weddings are not the only events that can be held at the Chapel at Riverside. The venue can be used for private parties and meetings. Overall, Brewster said the main goal is to provide a space for special events for a reasonable price.
“It’s not a place for a huge wedding, but if you’re going to have under 200 people, then I don’t think there’s a place that provides more for the money than this.”
To reserve the chapel for a Saturday event, like a wedding, the rental fee is a flat $1,500. Sunday and Friday reservations are $1,000 and Monday through Thursday rentals are $800 per day.
Brewster said that this venue is unique in itself.
“You can customize it to whatever fits your wants, your desires, your needs, and we’re just not going to restrict or keep somebody from using who they want to use.”
For more information about the Chapel at Riverside, to see pictures of the facility or to make a reservation, visit thechapelatriverside.com.
