The Sanctuary Event Space

My wife and I got married in October 22'. As we searched for a venue we had a few "must haves" this included, trees and a lot of greenery, a "backyard" feel, and something affordable. When we found the Sanctuary, we were sold. The Sanctuary Event Space is beautiful with huge trees, lots of greenery, and the perfect "cottage home" feel. We had around 45 guests at our wedding and the one compliment we hear all night was how fun, beautiful and unique the venue was. The staff was amazing, communicative, helpful and did everything to help us get what we needed before our wedding day (measurements, vendors, suggestions on setup etc. ) FYI there are so many amenities for your big day, they have table and chairs, they have kitchen supplies and even dishware. The upstairs loft to get ready is perfect for a bridal party (or in our case two). The cottage we used for an entry table and later in the night family member got cozy and chatted inside. The studio we used for the reception as the dance floor and where we cut our cake. We could not imagine a more beautiful venue: just see for yourself! (PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Leah Muse Photography)

Stunning space! The Sanctuary is a serene and beautiful setting for your special day. The outside area where ceremony and dinner typically take place is surrounded by greenery and a beautiful Oak tree. The dance floor is a perfect size for a 60-100 person wedding. The Sanctuary is a great location for out-of-town guests to get to from hotels in Austin. Jessica was great to work with throughout the entire process.

One consideration - The venue cost is appealing. And Sunday weddings there are even less expensive. But keep in mind you have to bring in all the vendors, including linens, tables, chairs, and tent if needed. Rentals like chairs and tables often have a higher delivery fee for Sunday deliveries/setups. In our case we paid $800 for the delivery fees alone on a Sunday! Please note that the Sanctuary does have an option to leave rental items on site overnight if they are neatly stacked at the ceremony site. This Monday pick-up option could reduce the fees for Sunday wedding.

We chose Sanctuary Event Space for our small Lord of the Rings-themed ceremony/reception in May 2018 The moment we stepped over the threshold and saw the massive old oak, the treehouse loft, the intimate and well-maintained grounds, we fell in love.
Sanctuary is close to downtown Austin and South Lamar bars/restaurants, but also completely nestled away into its own little world- the thick canopy cuts down on noise. While parking there isn't great (mostly street parking), it's easily accessible by Uber/Lyft from downtown and nearby hotels. Our wedding was only 45 people, and honestly I wouldn't try to squeeze 150-200 folks in there (as the website suggests this is the max occupancy). Unfortunately Sanctuary is not wheelchair accessible, but older family members with mobility issues didn't have any trouble getting around.
Not only was Sanctuary conveniently located, but it was super reasonably priced compared to other venues in the area! All proceeds from the venue cost go to the Amala Foundation, and it was gratifying to know that we were putting our money towards something meaningful. I definitely recommend shelling out the extra cash to rent the upstairs loft for the bridal suite- it was the perfect place to relax and get away from the insanity of everything on the wedding day. Although we didn't end up going there for our after-party, the Gibson Street Pub and the Highball cocktail bar are both within 1-2 minutes walking distance.
Special thanks to Jessica Ryan of 3 of Cups, who was an outstanding wedding planner. Not only did Jessica work with us on our budget- which was very low- but she hooked us up with the amazing vendors! Sanctuary has a close relationship with a long list of incredible caterers, bartending services, etc. Jessica was 100% organized and on top of every possible issue, and so kind and sincere.
Sanctuary is a magical place and it was an honor to be married there. Thanks Jessica & Amala Foundation, we love you!