About this vendor
Nestled in the heart of Gahanna, Ohio, The Gahanna Sanctuary stands as a beacon of affordability and charm. Celebrating over 129 years of history. Recently renovated in 2024, our historic venue now features an expanded event space capable of accommodating up to 280 people. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1987, we boast a unique ambiance highlighted by Tudor stained-glass windows and enchanting bistro string lights. Situated near the picturesque Creekside area, ideal for capturing timeless memories, we provide ample free parking and easy access to major routes like I-270, Easton Town Center, and The John Glenn Columbus International Airport.
Beyond its allure for weekend weddings and receptions, The Gahanna Sanctuary extends its appeal to business and trade groups seeking cost-effective solutions. Renting our versatile spaces, such as Sanctuary Hall or the Gallery, during the week offers unmatched value, complete with ample parking and proximity to major Columbus arteries like I-270 and 670.
Discover a venue that marries affordability with history, offering a backdrop for unforgettable moments and seamless gatherings.
Amenities + details
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Covered Outdoors Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Ceremony Types
- Civil Union
- Commitment Ceremony
- Elopement
- Interfaith Ceremony
- Non-Religious Ceremony
- Religious Ceremony
Settings
- Ballroom
- Historic Venue
- Park
- Religious Setting
- Church
Venue Service Offerings
- Food & Catering
- Rentals & Equipment
Awards and Affiliations
2011 'Best of Weddings'
Best of Weddings
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Reviews
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4.6
out of 5.039 reviews
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 4
From the moment my now-husband and I saw the Sanctuary, we knew we wanted to have our wedding ceremony here. It is quaint, simple, and absolutely gorgeous! The stained glass…incred...
ible. We did not really have to plan for much of any ceremony decor because the beauty of the space speaks for itself. The bridal suite was also amazing! I had a large wedding party and there was plenty of space, natural light, mirrors, etc. for everyone to get ready. The price was fantastic as well; We booked the entire space for ten hours for under $2500. Becky was excellent to work with and accommodating with any changes/questions we had.
The only couple suggestions I have is better communication with staff during scheduled events and flowerbed maintenance. When we arrived for our rehearsal, the doors were all locked and our contract didn’t include a code to get in; Luckily, the door had accidentally been left open so we could get in. I couldn’t get ahold of anyone until the rehearsal was almost over to get a code for the next day, but the man I talked to was very kind and provided me with the info we needed. During the wedding day, someone had shut the door to the bridal suite and we didn’t have a code to get into that room either…could’ve easily been a disaster since all of our dresses were in there. Thankfully, my wedding coordinator had done a previous wedding there and had the code written down in an old document on her phone. I think it would have been helpful to have a “Sanctuary Information Sheet” after the contract was signed with all important details written down so renters aren’t dependent on trying to get ahold of someone in a crisis. Regarding the flowerbeds, they were full of weeds and we didn’t realize it until we got our pictures back…unfortunate because we can’t use a lot of our outdoor pictures as a result. But we still got plenty of beautiful shots inside, so not detrimental.
All in all, we were very pleased with our experience at the Gahanna Sanctuary and will forever cherish our marriage beginning in this lovely space.
Absolutely gorgeous and the lady who helped us/gave us the tour was very kind and helpful. Would 100% recommend.
This venue was absolutely perfect!!! The stained glass was such a beautiful backdrop for our ceremony. I cannot say enough about how gorgeous the venue is, the pictures almost don’...
t do it justice. It is a very DIY venue, which was a primary reason I went with it! I was able to have the specific vendors I wanted and decorate the day before exactly how I wanted it. They always responded within a day and were very helpful answering any questions I had. Above and beyond helpful!
The venue was fantastic for our wedding. They are undergoing renovations outside and luckily it was in a good space for our day. The bridal party got ready in the big secondary ro...
om and the groomsmen used the traditional "bridal suite". John handled the setup and everything based on our groundplan we sent and it was absolutely perfect. Because no one booked the space for the day before we were able to drop off supplies ahead of time. John was reachable day of by phone if needed but honestly it was super easy to get in and get out. Plus the other vendors I was working with were super familiar with the space.
This review and number of stars is solely based on the previous pricing. We had our wedding here in the last year, and had signed a contract before pricing went up. It was a nice v...
enue with a lot of the supplies needed (tables, chairs, kitchen) and was great for a DIY wedding. I will second what another person has posted, they gave a tour to another bride/family on my wedding day during the hours I had rented out the entire venue, and they did not even let me know they were doing that. They also did not know what time my ceremony was, so this tour could have potentially happened during my wedding (thankfully it didn’t). It appears the pricing has substantially increased in the last few months, and I cannot say I would have gone with this venue with the pricing I’m seeing now.
This is a beautiful venue that is worth looking at. The team at the Sanctuary really does try to make you feel special while you are going through booking. This space is great for ...
couples who wish to do things their own way. The sanctuary provides tables and chairs; they have made gorgeous renovations to this 120+ year old building that gives it a certain charm. The stained glass windows are a breathtaking photo backdrop no matter the time of day or season your wedding is in. I am very thankful that we found this space and held our event here. The lit bell tower is a gorgeous change and was heavily commented on and mentioned by our guests.
I'd give this place more stars, but the way I was treated by management a few DAYS before my wedding was ridiculous. We signed our contract under the old management, and didn't hav...
e any problems at all until days before the wedding. The venue was suppose to be completely ours to use. We paid over a grand to have the entire place to ourselves for our wedding. Well, days before our wedding I was informed that Teena had a few tours she was going to give ON MY WEDDING DAY. Like, possibly during the wedding as she never knew what time my wedding was going to happen. After telling her that wasn't okay with us, she became rude saying that "every other bride is kind enough to let me give tours during the day". Well, don't you think you should at least ask, or let us know that this was going to happen? Nowhere in our contract did it say that, in fact it says you rent the place exclusively for you to use... But she twisted that around to say that it says WE can't do business there... But you can? Give tours on your own dime, not on mine. I was shocked that she thought this was okay. Then after emailing, Gahanna Sanctuary Facebook out a post up about how not to be a bridezilla... Laughable. Yes the place is beautiful, but not very clean at all. There was moldy food in the refrigerator and stuff spilled all in the deep freeze. The bathrooms weren't great either and could use a cleaning. There is no air flow to the bridal suite or where the men got ready.
Other than that... It was okay. I'm not trying to bash the place, it wasn't terrible. Just be warned that you might get unexpected visitors during your big day.
I couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere more beautiful than the Gahanna Sanctuary. We booked under the old management and got married under the new management — I initially had...
some concerns with the switch, but they were immediately washed away. Teena does an amazing job of communication, and there is no doubt that the venue is insanely gorgeous. It is spacious, versatile and at least 10 people asked me “how did you find this place‽”
In the 96 degree heat, we had some concerns about the air conditioning, but it held up perfectly.
The only 2 things I could possibly mention are the broken stair in the front — would recommend preparing a sign to go overtop of it to avoid any falls! Additionally, the brides room does not get any air conditioning so if you plan to get ready at the venue, I’d suggest bringing some box fans!
Otherwise, The Gahanna Sanctuary is absolutely flawless in every way. We could not be happier to have it as the backdrop to the first day of our forever!
After a rocky start to our wedding planning, Gahanna Sanctuary (and Teena, their new director) really helped to make it right! We loved the flexibility of Gahanna Sanctuary and bei...
ng able to make our own choices for our wedding. They have recently done a lot of updates to the venue that really help it to shine- new carpet, fresh paint, repairs. We loved having our wedding there!
I loved this place the moment I walked in! Having the place be completely mine for a day. The bridal suite is beautiful-- I love the upgrade they did!
We had our wedding at the Olde Gahanna Sanctuary on 9/22/2018. It was absolutely gorgeous! The building has an old charm about it that cannot be duplicated in newer structures. It...
was a perfect size for 150 guests, the cost for value was unbeatable, and the location was fabulous with plenty of parking. I received a lot of compliments about the décor/venue.
We loved this venue so much! It's truly a DIY venue - you're paying for the space, plus tables and chairs. I found it super convenient to be able to pick any caterer I wanted and p...
urchase and bring in our own alcohol - but if you're looking for something all-inclusive, this is not it. The stained glass windows are gorgeous, especially when the sun starts to set. I recommend visiting first to get a feel for the venue - they have open houses every Thursday and can answer any questions you have!
Great venue! Great people! Highly recommend!
We loved having our wedding at the Sanctuary. The staff was so nice, the building has so much natural beauty that we didn't have to do more than table decorations, it was affordabl...
e (we had both the ceremony and reception there), and it was centrally located for us and the majority of our guests. Our only suggestion is to pay them for clean up (they will take out the trash and such for a small fee). That would have saved some headache at the end of the night.
Phenomenal!
We used the sanctuary for a full weekend rental Friday- Saturday.
We were able to have our rehearsal and rehearsal dinner there The space is all yours for the time a...
nd we had hardly any restrictions! We only used the space for our ceremony and it was perfect. We were able to set up on Friday, host our dinner, walk down the street to pigskin. Then Saturday morning the girls were able to hang out in the large back room where hair and makeup was done, and provide plenty of food and drinks while we were pampered for the day. The ceremony space is beautiful! It looks like a church without being an active church.
Once the ceremony was over were able to leave everything set up- we paid a very nominal fee for clean up.
Excellent communication, ease of use, flexibility and stunning photos!
Was just okay and didn't seem worth the cost. Parking situation was terrible. My grandma accidentally parked next door at the restaurant and a guy came out and yelled at her. Sh...
e was so upset she was almost crying and just wanted to go home. Also smelled musty and felt drafty. I'd definitely check out the parking on a fri or sat night before committing. Wouldn't recommend or rent again.
Our wedding was absolutely beautiful at the Olde Gahanna Sanctuary, however there were some issues. The facility needs painted inside really bad, water stains on the walls, paint c...
hipped, dirty carpet. It smelled so bad we had to put airfreshner everywhere and spray frabreze. No extra storage for tables/chairs so that there is room for the bride or groom to get ready. There also were NO EXTRA TRASH BAGS left for cleanup or extra toilet paper. We paid for the clean up service and they tried to keep our deposit. They are very vague on the clean up service that you pay extra for. Poor customer service.
There is much room needed for improvements!
The venue was gorgeous, absolutely perfect for our needs. It accommodated our 200 guests comfortably and allowed us to set up what we needed too with out feeling cramped. The venue...
offered us the ability to book for 2 full days, allowing us to decorate and prepare on our own time, without feeling panicked or rushed.
everything about this place is amazing! the price, the size, the location, the parking, the intamacy, the way it looks in pictures with the gorgeous stained glass ,everything was p...
erfect and so easy to book and access for planning before the wedding.
This venue was beautiful and provided great value for the money spent. We got the venue for both days and it was well worth it. The Stained Glass Windows provided a nice touch to...
the venue and the need for decorations was greatly reduced thanks to the way that this venue is normally set up.
This venue was perfect for the price and location. it was quaint and beautiful and just perfect! We got married on a Friday which made the venue cost cheaper than a Saturday weddin...
g. We had both the ceremony and recpetion here. Both turned out beautifully. I am in love with this place and its big stained glass windows. This place used to be an old lutheran church, now its just the sanctuary. We had our pictures taken at creekside (we walked about a block or 2 to our photo area with bridges and woods and brick walkways!) There is PLENTY of parking for your guests with the public parking lot next to the venue, the garage and street parking. All free! Also hotels close by (2-3 miles away). This place didn't require an extensive amount of decorating because it already had its own vintage-like atmosphere!
The sanctuary provided 250 chairs and I think 30 tables which fit up to 10 guests per table. Seriously. If you are looking for a venue that doesn't break the bank (some places are $3000 just to rent out for 10 hours yuck!!) and is absoluetly gorgeous then check the sanctuary out! Every Thursday from 6:30 to 8pm you can walk in during their open house and check it out! Thats also when they do their reservations, so if you know you like the place get there as early as possible to get your date reserved!
The Olde Gahanna Sanctuary is gorgeous and so close to the Creekside. Christy was wonderful to work with. I love that the venue has open houses on Thursday nights because we coul...
d keep coming back to work on our visions! Christy was able to give us ideas on using the Sanctuary for the ceremony and reception. She was always professional and friendly. The Sanctuary provided enough space for everything we wanted. It has a huge dance floor, which was a must with our friends and family!! The stained glass windows and setup of the Sanctuary created a beautiful backdrop for our wedding! We were able to setup on Friday which was incredibly helpful too! I'm so glad we used the Sanctuary! It was absolutely perfect!!
very spacious happy with multiple room usage for the price
Perfect location, huge building, good price, and you can bring in your own catering and alcohol.
I wanted a small wedding and wanted everything to be held in one location. The Olde Gahanna Sanctuary was perfect. All my friends and relatives lived so close. The price was rig...
ht and was a very beautiful venue for the pictures! A couple downsides were: It did smelled a little musty (It is an old building), the bathrooms were so small, especially for having a wedding dress on, you had to clean it after the reception (It really needed cleaned before, too!) They kept my deposit, not sure why...
All and all, it was very nice for my small wedding of about 75 total people and 1 dog! Very dog friendly! Not sure how it can fit 150+ people in there, but I have heard they have. Location is great, the price is great, and the venue is very beautiful!
The Old Gahanna Sanctuary use to be a church and features an amazing main room with stained glass windows that add an elegant look. You can use whichever caterer you choose. The ...
staff is super helpful and they have open houses every Thursday where you can look through the venue and get answers to any questions. My wedding was beautiful because of the Sanctuary!
This old building truly speaks for itself and needs minimal decoration. The stained glass windows are stunning. Be aware that you're only renting the facility; they don't offer cat...
ering or any other services. But there's an adequate kitchen and pretty grounds, along with the breathtaking main room and a second large room (which we used to set up our buffet). We were very, very pleased that we chose the Sanctuary as our venue. Tip: to be able to use the main room for both ceremony & reception without going through a tear-down and set-up in between, we decorated the main sanctuary as a kind of dinner club environment, with most guests seated at their dinner tables for the ceremony. Our guests loved it and said it was one of the most comfortable and inviting weddings they'd been to!
It was a perfect location everyone in the wedding party showed up that morning to set-up and decorate so it turned out perfect!!
I had my wedding at the Olde Gahanna Sanctuary and loved it! The cost is excellent and the location is ideal. We were able to get our pictures at Gahanna Creekside - which is beaut...
iful. The Sanctuary has an old charm and is so beautiful. We loved this venue!
Christy at the Olde Gahanna Sanctuary was wonderful to work with - she was always very helpful and responsive! The back room where the cocktail hour was became unbearably hot despi...
te the AC (I got married in early July), so try to plan for an alternate option if you're having a summer wedding! Also, some of the ceiling/paint was falling down in the back room/appetizer area. We didn't know about this until the night before and there was nothing we could do about it. Other than that, the venue was great and gives you lots of options - you can use whatever caterer you want, bring your own alcohol and the offer a clean-up service for an additional fee.
We had a great experience here. You can use whatever caterer you want, provide your own alcohol, and it's a great price!
I went to visit about 15 possible venues. I fell in love with the Olde Gahanna Sanctuary. For a great price we had access to the building from 7am to 12 midnight. You can bring you...
r own alcohol and caterer. My only issue is that the patio was being replaced so we were unable to use that space. That shouldn't be an issue for any other brides.
The Olde Gahanna Sanctuary was an absolutely beautiful venue to hold our reception. Our guests loved the look and feel of that classic, stained glass windows appeal. It was large e...
nough to accommodate any size with a small budget. We loved having the opportunity to decorate to our taste, have our own selected caterer and the ability to bring in our own alcohol.
We only ran into one minor issue with the venue and that was the handicap accessibility. We didn’t even think/realize that one of our guests had a wheelchair. They venue had a ramp entrance, however no wheelchair accessible restroom in the ladies room. Our work around was booting the men and using that one.
Overall we give this place a 9 out of 10!! We would recommend the Olde Gahanna Sanctuary again and again, and would select it again if we did it all over again!
We had both our wedding and reception at the Olde Gahanna Sanctuary. It was perfect. Set up all the chairs and decorated for the ceremony on one side. Put the curtain down and h...
ad all the tables for the reception ready to go. While we got our pictures taken, the reception was set up and ready to go when we got back. We did a potluck for food (and as our gifts) and the back room was big enough for all the food and also to set up for portrait pictures. It was absolutely perfect! Would recommend it to anyone. Awesome price with everything you need for a wedding!
I love the Sanctuary! It is so beautiful inside and out. It just the right size for our 175 guests (though I wouldn't recommend much more than that!) It was very affordable to rent...
, and to add to the savings, we were able to bring any caterer we wanted, and bring in our own booze! Plus, there is tons of free parking. Some parts of the building could be kept up better - for example, there were a few small breaks in the stained glass windows. However, when we had the place filled with tables and decorations and friends and family, no one noticed. It was worth the great price!
We used the Gahanna Sanctuary for our wedding reception. It was great! The staff was very helpful. We rented the Sanctuary for Friday and Saturday so we could decorate Friday. I wo...
uld definitely recommend this location - the building is beautiful and you can save a lot of money by bringing in your own food and alcohol.
We held the ceremony and the reception at the same site. We were able to bring in our own caterer and alcohol. It was inexpensive and a beautiful setting. It is an old church, s...
o it is not just a 'regular' reception hall. It turned out perfect, and many of the guests loved the venue.;You have to clean up after the reception. We ended up paying the women who worked there $80.oo to do it. WELL WORTH THE $$$! We also rented chairs becuase their chairs were just old metal folding chairs. Some of their tables weren't in the best shape either. Restrooms left a little to be desired but were clean.
The site was an old church qith beautiful stained glass windows and a huge dance floor.;Small bathrooms and limited parking spaes
Dance Floor, White chairs, kitchen;musty smell
Contact
82 North High Street, Gahanna, OH | Central Ohio
The Gahanna Sanctuary