The Church Of The River

Guest capacity

Up to 250 seated guests

About this venue

The Church of the River is an ideal, affordable location for Memphis weddings: a beautiful sanctuary with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the mighty Mississippi River. Or hold your ceremony outdoors, with a view of BOTH Memphis bridges (and their amazing nighttime synchronized LED light shows). Weddings are scheduled on a first come, first serve basis, so please make arrangements well in advance of your desired wedding date. Weddings may be held on Monday through Friday after 4:00 p.m. and on Saturdays. The areas available for weddings are: the Sanctuary, which seats 250; social hall, deck, and patio for receptions; a wing adjacent to the Sanctuary, which includes restrooms and a large room for the bride and her attendants to dress. Our "backyard" and two shaded brick patio areas are available for outdoor ceremonies. First Unitarian Church of Memphis/The Church of the River is a Welcoming Congregation and supports marriage equality. LGBTQ weddings welcome.

Seated guest capacity

  • 250

Venue type

  • Beaches, Waterfront Settings
  • Urban Locations

Venue setting

  • Indoor
  • Outdoor
292 W Virginia Ave, Memphis, TN 38103

Our event spaces

Sanctuary

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Mississippi River.

Our sanctuary features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river. Wooden pews are arranged auditorium-style. Built-in sound system, dimmable lighting, a grand piano.

Guest capacity

Up to 300 Seated

Up to 350 Standing

Square footage

2,966

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony

Guests often feel this space is

“Surprised and delighted”

Room cost

$4000

Mississippi River Room

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Mississippi River.

Our reception space features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Mississippi River, and a wrap-around deck. The kitchen is optimized for outside catering.

Guest capacity

Up to 150 Seated

Up to 150 Standing

Square footage

2,000

Room cost

$6000

Sanctuary

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Mississippi River.

Our sanctuary features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river. Wooden pews are arranged auditorium-style. Built-in sound system, dimmable lighting, a grand piano.

Guest capacity

Up to 300 Seated

Up to 350 Standing

Square footage

2,966

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony

Guests often feel this space is

“Surprised and delighted”

Room cost

$4000

Mississippi River Room

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Mississippi River.

Our reception space features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Mississippi River, and a wrap-around deck. The kitchen is optimized for outside catering.

Guest capacity

Up to 150 Seated

Up to 150 Standing

Square footage

2,000

Room cost

$6000

Available services that can be provided by The Church Of The River

Services & amenities

  • Event coordinator
  • Event rentals
  • Liability insurance
  • Lighting/Sound
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Wifi

Transportation & access

  • Self parking - free

Reviews

Write a review
Rating: 5.0

5.0 out of 5

2 reviews

  • NJ

    Nicole J.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Nov 7

    Fantastic church!

    We had our wedding at The Church Of The River and it was the perfect choice for our big day. From start to finish, the staff made everything simple and stress-free with their helpful approach to communication. They went above and beyond for us—opening early for our timeline and even bringing me water when I wasn't feeling well, which meant so much. The venue itself is stunning with an amazing view that gave us the backdrop we dreamed of, and the affordable pricing made it easy on our budget. Everyone on their team is genuinely kind and it showed in how they treated us and our guests. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better place to get married.

  • SS

    Sarah S.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Nov 7

    Gorgeous Riverside Sanctuary

    The Church of the River felt like the perfect choice for our wedding, and from start to finish, the team's thoughtful communication and attention to detail made planning seamless. Our minister offered gentle guidance while letting us shape the ceremony to reflect our values, which meant everything since my husband was raised Catholic and I had been a longtime member—the church welcomed us without hesitation. The sanctuary itself is breathtaking, with stunning architectural features and views that took our guests' breath away, and our small live band sounded incredible against that backdrop. What moved us most was knowing this sacred space has held our family's love stories across generations: my parents were married here in 1981, and like them, we felt safe celebrating our multi-faith union without fear of judgment. The spacious sanctuary accommodated our large guest list perfectly, and honestly, our guests couldn't stop talking about how stunning the space was. We can't thank the Church of the River enough for creating such a meaningful and beautiful day for us.

Yes.
Yes, we have a small parking lot, and additional free parking is available nearby.
Yes, our facilities are wheel-chair accessible. A switchback sidewalk provides access to the front of the sanctuary.
We accept bookings all year round, on a first-come, first served basis.
We accept bookings all year round, on a first-come, first-served basis.