The Sanctuary Arts Centre

The Sanctuary Arts Centre gives a Dartmouth wedding a setting with history, height and a little creative drama. The century-old former sanctuary is now an arts venue, but weddings remain part of its rental offering, with dedicated wedding rates and several spaces couples can use.

The main Sanctuary Hall features a tall acoustic dome and a 642-square-foot stage, while the Annex adds more than 1,000 square feet of hardwood space. A lower hall provides another 2,000 square feet, and sound, stage lighting and other equipment can be incorporated depending on the celebration.

What makes the venue romantic is that it was never designed to feel like a hotel ballroom. The architecture already has presence. A ceremony beneath the dome can feel intimate and dramatic at once, while the stage and arts-centre character give the reception room to become something creative.

For one day, a place built for performance turns its attention toward the couple, and their story becomes the reason everyone is in the room.

• Gardens and grounds
• Accessible