Sawtooth Meditation Chapel is arguably the best spot to get married in Stanley, Idaho. After shooting weddings at this location and gathering everything there is to know about it, we’ll help you decide if it’s the right spot for you and your partner to get hitched in Stanley.
Location
The Sawtooth Meditation Chapel is located right in the heart of Stanley, so it makes for a great option if you’re looking to have your ceremony close to town. This also makes it easy to get ready wherever you’re staying in Stanley and then hop over quickly for the ceremony.
LOOKING FOR A PHOTO/VIDEO TEAM FOR YOUR WEDDING? WE’RE MATT AND LAUREN AND WE SHOOT WEDDINGS IN IDAHO AND WYOMING
Sawtooth Meditation Chapel Wedding Cost
Deciding on the meditation chapel as your ceremony location definitely isn’t going to break the bank. During the peak season (May 5th – October 15th), the cost is $900. In the shoulder season (October 15th – May 5th), the cost is $600. These prices include 3 hours maximum, and extra hours cost $230 per hour. Thanks to the pretty low cost of securing the venue, you’re able to allow more budget for travel, lodging, and your vendors like photographers/videographers, hair, makeup, and your dress/suit. Saturdays do book up pretty far in advance so make sure you stay on top of your scheduling and try to book it as soon as you can. HERE’S a link to the booking calendar to check for availability of the chapel. Keep in mind that having your wedding on a weekday or a Sunday will make for much greater chances of open availability.
Since the Sawtooth Meditation Chapel does not allow receptions, we highly recommend having your reception at Pioneer Park which is right next to the chapel. Booking Pioneer Park for your reception will only cost you $350 as of 2023, and there’s plenty of room to have a nicely sized reception. There’s also a nice covered area to put food and drinks under.
You could also decide to have a small celebration/reception wherever your lodging is if they allow it. HERE’S a link to an example of an airbnb location that has allowed one of our couples to have their post-ceremony gathering at the airbnb. When you’re booking your lodging speak with the owner of wherever you’re booking to see if this is something that is possible. If that’s not an option, Pioneer Park is definitely a stellar choice for your reception. There are also at least two restaurants in town that we know of that host receptions, these being the STANLEY SUPPER CLUB and MOUNTAIN VILLAGE RESORT (The Stanley Supper Club is absolutely delicious and our favorite restaurant in Stanley!!).
Other Things to Note
If you’re having your wedding at the Sawtooth Meditation Chapel in the summer or fall we highly recommend having your ceremony outside on the lawn. The inside of the chapel has limited space and lighting is sometimes not ideal for photo and video. The only scenarios where we would recommend using the indoor space for your ceremony are: if there’s crummy weather on the day of your ceremony, if you’re getting married in the winter months and it’s extremely cold outside, or if you prefer the indoor chapel feel for your wedding and have a pretty small group. The lawn area is perfect for ceremonies and it’s absolutely gorgeous out there in the summer or fall with the Sawtooth Mountain backdrop and the fresh air.
As we said, with the chapel being so close to the center of town it’s a great idea for everyone (including the bride and the groom) to get ready wherever you’re staying and then drive over for the ceremony. There’s limited room for everyone to get ready in the chapel itself so it’s best to do it in the comfort of wherever your lodging ends up being.
Pro’s and Con’s of the Sawtooth Meditation Chapel
Pro’s:
- A gorgeous Sawtooth Mountain backdrop
- Fits into budgets spectacularly
- Possible to have both a small and intimate wedding or a larger wedding
- Super close to the rest of Stanley
- Makes for beautiful photos and videos
Con’s:
- Weekends book up quickly
- The weather can be very cold and variable after October
The pro’s certainly outweigh the con’s, and we have nothing bad to say about the Sawtooth Meditation Chapel. We love capturing weddings here because the backdrop is stunning and Stanley is a lovely place. There’s also tons to do in the Stanley area so you and your families will have lots to explore while you’re there. We absolutely love Stanley, and if you’re having any hesitations about having your wedding in Stanley we can say without a doubt that it’s a great idea.
Summary
| Location | 2 minute drive from the middle of Stanley |
| Pricing | $1000+ |
| Highlights | Stunning view of the Sawtooth Mountains, Intimate, Lower cost than a large venue |
HEY! WE'RE LAUREN AND MATT, A JACKSON HOLE ELOPEMENT AND WEDDING PHOTO + VIDEO TEAM
LEARN MORE
ABOUT US
CONTACT US
[…] photos seen above decided to do, and the Meditation Chapel is another great spot for ceremonies. Check out our in-depth guide on the Meditation Chapel for more […]