The Ultimate Guide on How to Get Married at Anthony Chapel in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Anthony Chapel, nestled deep in the woods of Garvan Gardens in Hot Springs, Arkansas, is the perfect place for any intimate wedding or elopement. Within this blog, we will dive into the in and outs of how to get married at Anthony Chapel, whether you want to elope or have a larger wedding. We will discuss the process of getting married at this iconic location, as well as some tricks of the trade that I’ve learned over the last several years of being a wedding photographer and working at this stunning spot.

With 4.5 miles of wooded shoreline that stretches across much of Garland County, Garvan Gardens offers a wide variety of photo locations that make for the perfect background on any couple’s wedding day. It’s not secret as to why so many couples travel from all over to get married at Anthony Chapel. From the stunning architecture of the Chapel itself, to the vast surroundings that offer so much diversity, this location is sure to be unlike any you’ve seen before.

So, sit back, relax, and take your time scrolling through all of the information that’s shared below. With my help, you will learn how to get married at Anthony Chapel in no time!

Hours of Coverage/Optimal Time of Day

When thinking about getting married at Anthony Chapel, the most important thing to consider deals with timing. The Chapel itself requires you to book a minimum of two hours of coverage. You can spend both hours inside the chapel for your ceremony or photos, or use the outside area for additional photos. It is super important to note that once your hours of coverage are concluded, the chapel staff WILL NOT let you continue to take photos inside. They are super strict with this rule. The chapel and the gardens in general are a public space, which means that people visiting the gardens are allowed to walk inside the chapel or stand outside once your time limit is up! If you decide to have a larger wedding, it is vital to stress to your wedding party, family, and guests the importance of sticking to a timeline! To reiterate, the chapel is super strict with timing and will not go past the contracted start and end times.

Hiring a wedding planner is another must for getting married at Anthony Chapel if you opt for 3 hours or more of coverage. Not only does the venue itself require a planner that holds a one million dollar insurance policy at least, but wedding planners also help keep things on track to avoid losing any time. Wedding planners are super helpful for my job, too. They work to keep things moving so that I can focus on being creative and taking bomb photos! (I have some amazing wedding planners linked below)!

The chapel also tends to book events back-to-back, which makes things even more stringent when it comes to photos. I cannot stress this point enough. Once your allotted time is over, you will be made to leave. However, during the timeframe that you’ve booked with the chapel, the staff does have security guards out front to make sure that anyone touring the gardens who aren’t a part of the wedding, do not enter the area. This is a huge perk to booking with them!

This brings me to my next point: what is the best time of day to get married at Anthony Chapel? When thinking about your ceremony time of day, it is super important to think about the time of year you’re getting married. Consider daylight savings. In the summer, you will be able to book a later timeframe if you prefer. However, the opposite is the case in the fall when the sun sets around 5pm, which means that the best time of day would be between 3pm and 5pm, assuming you would only want to book two hours. The chapel still will offer time slots that go all the way to 8pm year round, but in the fall, that would mean a super dark ceremony. Picking an optimal time of day is crucial when eloping at Anthony Chapel! Lucky for you, I’m an expert on photographing weddings there and can easily help you decide on the most ideal time of day for you!

Pro tip: Check out the Chapel’s calendar HERE to see their availability!

Inclement Weather/Renting a Golf Cart

I get a lot of questions regarding the potential threat of inclement weather. In the case of Anthony Chapel, you would get married and take photos inside. If you wanted photos outside, we could still make that happen, even with a little rain! There is so much foliage that covers the gardens, so it’s pretty easy to stay dry even if it’s raining. Another great thing about getting married at Anthony Chapel is the fact that you can rent a golf cart (that also comes with a driver) to escort you throughout the park for additional photos. I advise all of my couples to rent a golf cart! With over 4.5 miles of area to cover, it would take hours to walk it all on foot, especially in heels. Renting a golf cart ensures that you get to take photos at various spots and allows you to save lots of time in the process. Quite often, couples have ideas of other locations within the gardens where they’d like to have photos made. The Koi Pond, Treehouse, and Overlook are just a few popular spots, all of which would take hours to get to by walking. Renting a golf cart gives us more time for photos and saves you lots of blisters on your feet!

Weekday vs. Weekend

Another question that I get asked a lot from inquiring couples deals with the best day of the week to get married. Lots of couples anticipate eloping or having a larger wedding on the weekends since that’s when most guests can get off work. However, in my experience, weekends are also when the gardens are the most crowded. Remember, Garvan Gardens is a public setting, and people come from all over to see Anthony Chapel, specifically. It will always be my recommendation to get married on a weekday to avoid the crowds. Weekdays definitely offer a much more intimate experience both inside the chapel and among other photo locations in the gardens, too.

Reception and Getting Ready Spaces

One of the perks of getting married at Anthony Chapel is having the ability to use their outdoor gazebo for your reception. However, if you’d like to keep everything inside, then hosting a reception elsewhere may be the better option. Lucky for you, Hot Springs actually has lots of really cool reception spaces, each offering their own unique vibe. Some of my favorites definitely include Crystal Ridge Distillery, The Barn at Lost Creek, and the Arlington Hotel. With the moody weather of Arkansas, having an indoor reception may not be such a bad idea!

Another perk to having an indoor reception is the fact that lots of reception spaces also work as getting ready spaces. When booking Anthony Chapel, you do have the option of adding on two getting ready quarters, one for the guys and one for the girls. However, in my experience, the lighting isn’t very forgiving in the getting ready areas at Garvan. I typically encourage my couples to book a reception venue that could also serve as a getting ready space. Lots of the ones that I previously mentioned are within 20 minutes of the Chapel and offer much more space and better lighting for the getting ready portion of the day.

Friendly Reminders

To sum up, getting married at Anthony Chapel definitely has its perks! There are definitely some key components to consider though, which I’ve outlined for you below

Timing - Remember, Garvan Gardens is super strict with the timeframe allotted in your wedding contract. Staying on track ensures you have a stress-free day!
Garvan Gardens is a public place, so don’t feel discouraged if you see others enjoying the park, too. Luckily, chapel staff will ensure that no one interrupts your special day!
Connecting with your vendors - This one is HUGE. It’s so very important to feel a connection with ALL of your wedding vendors. After all, you will spend such a large part of your day with your vendors, so feeling comfortable with them is vital!
The beauty of the chapel does all o f the decorating for you, so outside decor isn’t really needed.
Remember, Anthony Chapel allows you to host an array of events! You can elope with just the two of you, host an intimate gathering with a handful of guests, or have a larger scale event. The chapel can accommodate any of these options, so it’s important to stay true to what YOU want for your day!

Learning how to get married at Anthony Chapel may seem like an overwhelming task, but utilizing the info outlined above will ensure that you have a stress-free experience! If you’re interested in getting married at Anthony Chapel, let’s chat! Reach out to me HERE and let’s get started planning your perfect day!

I’ve taken the liberty to include various wedding vendors that I have experience working with to help take the workload off of you! I’ve done the research so that you don’t have to!

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