The Village Event Centre

At The Village Event Centre, a wedding takes place in a beautifully restored church, under high vaulted ceilings with the evening ending beneath fairy lights in the garden.

The venue is a converted church about 70 years old, tucked into a lifestyle centre in Calgary's Brentwood area, near Crowchild Trail and roughly 15 minutes from downtown. It was designed, built and is cared for by the Smuszko and Popplestone families.

Inside, natural wood ceilings and clean white walls give the sanctuary a simple, timeless look, and the acoustics are superb. About 4,000 square feet seats 250 for a ceremony or 200 at tables for a reception, with a 750-square-foot stage and a Yamaha grand piano.

Out back, a south-facing yard of about 3,000 square feet catches the sun all day and lights up with patio lights and fairy lights after sunset. Below the main hall, a private suite with mirrors and seating gives the couple a quiet place to get ready.

Each wedding rental includes the day before for setup and the wedding day itself until late night, along with a venue manager who works with the caterer, photographer and DJ beforehand and stays through the last dance. Tables, chairs, a sound system, microphone, projector and a bar are all included.

Couples choose their own caterer, who has a dedicated plating room, and can bring their own alcohol with no corkage fees. Tear-down is handled by the venue.

For couples who picture vows in a sunlit old church and a party that drifts out to a glowing backyard, The Village Event Centre offers a wedding with vintage charm close to the city.