How to Elope 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 all of the in and outs of how to elope at Anthony Chapel. We will discuss the process of eloping 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 and elopement 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 elopement day. It’s no 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 elope at Anthony Chapel in no time!

Hours of Coverage/Optimal Time of Day

When thinking about eloping 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 on the weekends. However, they only allow one hour elopement slots on weekdays. This is actually perfect for me as I do photography full time so weekdays are great! During the week, 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. The chapel is super strict with timing and will not go past the contracted start and end times.

One of the best parts about eloping at Anthony Chapel is that you do not need a wedding coordinator for a guest list that has less than 15 people, including the couple and any vendors. For a full, more traditional wedding day. Wedding coordinators are required, so eloping will actually save you money in the long run!

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 elope 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, not just the time of day. 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. This means that the best time of day would be between 3pm and 5pm, or right before sunset if you only book one hour of coverage. The chapel will offer time slots that go all the way to 8pm year round, but in the fall, that would mean a super dark ceremony. I recommend the following booking times: Fall and winter - 2 hours before sunset if possible and then renting a golf cart to travel the gardens for the hour right before sunset. During the summer, booking the 4-5pm slot, then booking the golf cart for 5-6pm to travel throughout the gardens for additional photos.

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!

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. I will always recommend weekdays to avoid large crowds. 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.

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!

Getting Ready Spaces/Places to Eat After

I often get asked about getting ready spaces located in the Hot Springs area. Unfortunately, Garvan doesn’t offer a getting ready space for elopements, but there are several local options that also work perfectly for getting ready photos. Hotel Hale, The Arlington Hotel, The Waters Hot Springs, and Hotel Hot Springs are all super cool options. In some cases, couples want a small, more intimate setting to host a dinner with a handful of family and friends. I’ve done a ton of research and found several restaurants that are local to Hot Springs that offer small party rooms that are perfect for dinner. Vault, Superior Bathhouse Brewery, 501 Prime, and Lost Creek Grill are a few establishments that offer this type of thing.

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, Anthony Chapel 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 elope 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 eloping at Anthony Chapel, let’s chat! Reach out to me HERE and let’s get started with planning your perfect day!