The Sanctuary RI

All-inclusive venue

The venue takes care of it all - food and beverage, rentals, the works!

Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing

Starting at $15,000 for off-peak dates, and $20,000 for peak dates

Guest capacity

Up to 300 seated guests

About this venue

Nestled in a beautifully restored former church, The Sanctuary RI combines historic elegance with modern charm. The venue boasts stunning original stained glass and a serene, intimate atmosphere. Guests are often impressed by the exceptional service and the breathtaking views of the East River, making it an ideal setting for any special event. The landscaped patio provides a perfect space for cocktail hours, while private rooms offer cozy settings for more intimate gatherings. This venue's flexibility and attention to detail ensure a memorable experience for all occasions.

Best of Zola 2026
Best of Zola 2025

Seated guest capacity

  • 50-300

Venue type

  • Beaches, Waterfront Settings
  • Historic Estates, Mansions

Venue setting

  • Covered Outdoor
  • Indoor
  • Outdoor
851 Main St, New York, NY 10044

Our event spaces

The Sanctuary

Historic converted premises to fit your each and every need.

Complete with brand new HVAC, a built out bar, and a stage.

Guest capacity

100-200 Seated

200-300 Standing

Square footage

2,000

Room cost

Included in total venue pricing

The Terrace

Beautiful fully paved and built-out exterior space. 2400 Sq Ft all-weather tent included.

Our 4000 Square Foot Terrace serves as the perfect space for receptions. Sweeping views of the East River and Manhattan’s Upper East Side, your guests will be mesmerized watching the waterfront activity as they enjoy one of our signature cocktails. This space accommodates up to 250 people seated or 400 people standing (with High-Top tables). The Terrace features one of two sculptures by the world-renowned artist, Don Gummer. The Terrace has a dedicated marble bar.

Guest capacity

250-300 Seated

400-600 Standing

Square footage

5,000

Ideal for

Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Wedding shower, Welcome party, Farewell brunch, Cocktail hour, Engagement party, After party, Other

Room cost

Included in total venue pricing

The Patio

The front yard

Our front yard has been converted to a landscaped and manicured space. Featuring our second Don Gummer sculpture and over 75 feet of East River waterfront, this is the space to impress your guests during cocktail hour or for a more intimate event. With immediate access to The Sanctuary & its bar your guests will enjoy mingling & walking the space throughout your entire event.

Guest capacity

200-300 Seated

400-500 Standing

Square footage

3,000

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Wedding shower, Cocktail hour, Engagement party, Other

Room cost

Included in total venue pricing

Private Room 1

One of our three private rooms on the second floor of the attached abode.

To be used as you please -- whether as green room for a shoot, private room for downtime and storage, or a bedroom. Each room comes with a pull out couch featuring a full sized Queen bed.

Guest capacity

5-10 Seated

10-15 Standing

Square footage

180

Room cost

Included in total venue pricing

Private Room 2

One of our three private rooms on the second floor of the attached abode.

To be used as you please -- whether as green room for a shoot, private room for downtime and storage, or a bedroom. Each room comes with a pull out couch featuring a full sized Queen bed.

Guest capacity

5-10 Seated

10-15 Standing

Square footage

200

Room cost

Included in total venue pricing

Private Room 3

One of our three private rooms on the second floor of the attached abode.

To be used as you please -- whether as green room for a shoot, private room for downtime and storage, or a bedroom. Each room comes with a pull out couch featuring a full sized Queen bed.

Guest capacity

5-10 Seated

10-15 Standing

Square footage

130

Room cost

Included in total venue pricing

The Sanctuary

Historic converted premises to fit your each and every need.

Complete with brand new HVAC, a built out bar, and a stage.

Guest capacity

100-200 Seated

200-300 Standing

Square footage

2,000

Room cost

Included in total venue pricing

Available services that can be provided by The Sanctuary RI

Services & amenities

  • Bar services
  • Catering services
  • Clean up
  • Dance floor
  • Dressing room / Bridal Suite
  • Event coordinator
  • Event rentals
  • Event staff
  • Liability insurance
  • Lighting/Sound
  • On-site accommodations
  • Pet friendly
  • Service staff
  • Set up
  • Transportation
  • Wedding cake services
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Wifi

Reviews

Write a review

4.8 out of 5

40 reviews

Write a review

  • Best venue and team hands down!!

    •Verified review
    •Mayroby R.•Feb 22

    Let me start off by saying that I don’t typically leave reviews, but I needed to leave one for this amazing team and venue! We just had our wedding there this February, and WOW!!!!! I cannot say enough good things about this venue. We were looking for a venue that was affordable and willing to work with us and we came across this hidden gem. I wanted an enchanted romantic candle lit wedding and this was the perfect place for it. The chapel is connected to the tented area, which is breathtaking. They have a beautiful suite on site where my bridal party and us were able to get ready in. They had pastries, coffee, and more ready for us while we were getting ready which I thought was such a beautiful touch. Arthur and Kat were extremely responsive from start to finish. They answered any questions that we had and were so attentive to everything! As a bride, I had some anxiety leading up to the day of but their prompt responses gave me piece of mind. The day of the wedding their whole team was on it either setting everything up. It made the experience stress free and they made our vision come to life - it exceeded our expectations by far! Our family and friends couldn’t believe how calm I was the day of the wedding and I kept telling the it’s bc they LITERALLY have the best team. I honestly can’t believe anything less than a 5 star review for this place if I’m honest. All of my guests kept raving about how attentive the staff was and how it was THE BEST service they’ve ever had at a wedding. If any one is in doubt about booking them for your wedding, don’t be! This is the perfect place and has the best team to host your wedding! All in all if we had to choose again, we’d choose The Sanctuary in a heartbeat! Do yourself a favor and give them a chance. You will not be disappointed! The sanctuary team has become family to us and for that we will always be eternally grateful to them!

  • Wedding at The Sanctuary

    •Verified review
    •Maggie B.•Nov 23, 2025

    We absolutely loved our wedding at The Sanctuary! We initially worked with Amelia and then with Arthur and Kat towards the end of our planning process. Every contact at The Sanctuary was very responsive and accommodating. We loved the space, especially having multiple different areas for guests to enjoy (the chapel for dancing/desserts, the tent for dinner/conversation, and the outdoor patio for smores!) and the beautiful NYC skyline in the background. The bridal suite where we all got ready was spacious and comfortable. I was a little nervous about the temperature in the tent during a November wedding, but it was very comfortable! We will always be grateful to The Sanctuary for our beautiful wedding!

  • Fantastic venue, value, and service!

    •Verified review
    •Molly L.•Nov 16, 2025

    My husband and I got married at The Sanctuary last weekend and had the time of our lives! We fell in love with the venue early on in our search and were shocked by how affordable it was for NYC given all that it included. From the large bridal suite (really, house!) to the quality food and the fire pit, we were blown away by it all. They were able to accommodate everything we asked for, including having our dog participate in the ceremony and having enough coupe glasses for our signature drink. I’m not sure I heard “no” once from Arthur and his team! Truly incredible service. All of our guests raved about how cool the venue was. It has a funky, nontraditional vibe while also providing everything that a traditional wedding venue offers. And oh boy were they attentive during the event. Every time my glass was empty, it seemed Arthur or another member of the team handed me a fresh glass. Our package included a lot of extras (DJ, cake, late-night pizza), which just added to the incredible value. Thank you SO much Sanctuary team for making our wedding an incredible night!

  • An Amazing Experience

    •Verified review
    •Jill K.•Nov 2, 2025

    We had an amazing experience working with The Sanctuary. We could not believe how accommodating the team was in making our dream day come to life. Each step along the way felt luxurious, from the glass of wine we enjoyed as we toured the venue, to delicious food tastings, to the attention and care we received on the day of the wedding as we got ready in the comfortable adjoining house. We loved the that there were separate spaces for the celebration each more beautiful than the last. We ceremony on the pier over looking the Manhattan skyline was absolutely the stunning. The outdoor patio with a firepit for making late night s'mores was a lovely touch. The indoor chapel area with the beautiful bar and lively dancefloor was a hit as was the tented dinner and bar areas. The staff was accommodating and experienced and made our day feel effortless. We highly recommend.

Real couples who got married at The Sanctuary RI

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