St Brigid's Centre for the Arts

Few places hold light and history quite like a former church. At Saint Brigid's Centre for the Arts, heritage protection means the original artwork and décor of the sanctuary remain, giving a wedding a setting full of character.

Saint Brigid's is located on St. Patrick Street in Ottawa and is home to an Irish cultural centre, a pub and a gallery alongside its event spaces.

The Church Concert Hall is the original sanctuary of Saint Brigid's church, complete with its pews. In recent years it has been used for wedding ceremonies, private receptions and concerts. It covers approximately 4,500 square feet, has a stage at the altar and a capacity of 699.

The hall has stage lighting, a basic sound system and bar service, and it is wheelchair accessible by a side door ramp from the back parking lot.

Receptions can move downstairs to the Kildare Room, which has repointed original stone walls, gallery lighting and renovated washrooms. It seats about 170 guests for a banquet, 200 in theatre style or 258 standing, and it is ideal for wedding receptions, banquets and private parties.

The Kildare Room has its own entrance on Cumberland Street, a stage with lighting, a projector screen and a sound system. It is wheelchair accessible, and tables, chairs and bar service are available.

Having the ceremony upstairs and the reception below means guests can stay in one remarkable building from the first vows to the last dance.

For couples who are drawn to history, stone walls and a little artistic spirit, Saint Brigid's Centre for the Arts offers a wedding setting that feels unlike anywhere else in Ottawa.