View Static Version
Loading

Weddings at Old Mission Celebrate your big day at Coeur d'Alene's Old Mission State Park

Wedding Ceremony Policies & Guidelines

The Sacred Heart Mission and surrounding grounds are a perfect setting for a magical, romantic wedding experience. The mission building and grounds provide a beautiful and tranquil location for an intimate wedding or a wedding with a guest list up to 500 people. The Mission, originally built and used by the Coeur d'Alene tribe and Catholic Jesuit missionaries, is available for weddings, regardless of religious backgrounds.

The following guidelines and policies are designed to provide a memorable wedding day experience without disrupting normal park operations and to protect and preserve Idaho’s most treasured historic building. All facilities are located within Coeur d'Alene's Old Mission State Park and are ADA accessible.

Carrico Wedding|Photo by Eternal Grace Photography

Facilities

The Sacred Heart Mission sits atop a small knoll surrounded by beautiful landscapes and romantic vistas on every side that create a serene, picturesque setting year-round. Wedding ceremonies may be held within the Mission, in West Courtyard, or in the open, grassy area below the visitor center. The West Courtyard captures the charm of the landscape with its mature trees, green lawn and scenic vistas and is appropriate for weddings or receptions. The lower open, grassy area boasts a smaller, more secluded and treed area. All areas create a one-of-a-kind historic backdrop for your special day and may be rented separately or together.

Availability

The Mission is open year-round; off hour events may be considered. Please discuss with park management. Weddings and receptions may be scheduled:

Third Week of June – September, events may be scheduled anytime Sunday through Saturday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., except for major holidays, the second weekend in July, August 15th and the weekend prior to and following August 15th.

October – April, events may be scheduled anytime Sunday through Saturday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., except major holidays. **There are no heating facilities within the Mission and only limited parking is available during the winter months when there is snow.

May - Second Week of June, events may be scheduled anytime Sunday through Friday between the hours of 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and Saturday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., except Memorial Day.

Danelle & Kris|Photo by Cory James

Wedding Rehearsals

A wedding rehearsal is included in the wedding option. Rehearsals may be scheduled between the hours of 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. on the day before the ceremony during summer months, provided there are no other scheduled events taking place. One hour will be reserved for the rehearsal and counts as one hour of your total reserved time. Wedding ceremonies have priority over the scheduling of rehearsals. Entrance fees to the park for the rehearsal is included in the wedding fee. Rehearsals during other times of the year need to be coordinated with park management. If a Catholic wedding is planned, please contact the local priest of St. Rita's Parish in Kellogg, Idaho (208) 786-2981. This is a courtesy call to let them know of an event within their parish.

Wedding Options

Please Note: Each option listed below comes with a basic three (3) hour reservable time period for the Mission, West Courtyard, lower grassy area or a combination of both. This time period includes an hour rehearsal and two (2) hours to use for set up, ceremony, teardown and clean-up. The Mission building itself may only be used for a period up to three (3) hours total. The maximum seating capacity for the Mission is 150. Additional time desired or used for the West Courtyard beyond the three (3) hours will be charged at $200.00 per hour. Three (3) hours may be added to the wedding option. Each option includes park admission for all guests, rehearsal admission, set up and use of interior chairs for the Mission, and parking assistance. Use of the park's exterior chairs requires an additional fee.

Fogu Wedding|Photo by Michael Franklin

All weddings need to complete a group use permit. Weddings with guests of 200 or more require special arrangements that include discussion with the park manager and approval from the IDPR state director.

*Additional options available for weddings larger than 200 people. Please contact the Park Manager for more information.

  • Option 1 – $500 This option is designed for a small, intimate, yet beautiful wedding with 25 guests or less.
  • Option 2 - $1,000 This option is designed for a small wedding and reception of 50 guests or less.
  • Option 3 - $2,000 This option is designed for a medium to large gathering with 100 guests or less.
  • Option 4 - $3,500 This option is designed for a large gathering up to 200 guests.

WEDDING BOOKINGS AND CONFIRMATION

Reservations may be made one year in advance and not less than thirty (30) days prior to the wedding. a non-refundable reservation service fee of $25 + tax ($26.50) is due at the time of booking. Full payment of fees must be in place along with a signed agreement and other applicable permits before the reservation is secured. Full payment must be received by the park within 14 days of booking. If the needed information and fees are not paid in full and received within 14 days of booking, the reservation shall be void.

Beth & Justin Wedding

Cancellation Policy

A service fee of $50.00 will be assessed for cancellation of a reservation if the notice is received twenty-one (21) days or more prior to the event. Cancellations received fewer than twenty-one (21) in advance of the scheduled date will result in a service charge of $100.00. If for any reason a cancellation is necessary, the responsible individual shall contact the park manager as soon as possible and the refund of any fees and monies will be discussed and agreed upon.

Access to Site

Wedding party and vendors that need pre and post event access to the site need to coordinate times and dates with park management.

CHANGING AREAS

Portable changing areas such as an RV or luxury loo may be used by the wedding party. K The placement, parking and use must be approved by the park manager before the wedding event.

ELECTRICITY

Electricity is available for limited use inside the mission or outdoors. Prior arrangement for use of electricity must be made before the wedding date. No electricity is available at the lower grassy area.

Beth & Justin Wedding

Music & Dance Floor

All music used during the event should be tasteful, appropriate, and respectful and family friendly. Musicians playing large instruments (such as harps) may use the elevator lift to move their equipment into the Mission. The organs within the Mission are not available for use. Portable CD players or keyboards may be used inside the Mission. Speakers and electrical equipment CANNOT be elevated off the floor or ground and should be clear of walkways. Electrical cords may NOT be taped to the floor. Musicians may rehearse during the wedding rehearsal time. An outside music source may be utilized, but the set-up must be approved prior to the wedding by the park manager. The music volume will be kept at a moderate, respectful level. An outside portable dance floor may be placed for use in the West Courtyard or lower grassy area. Please coordinate requests with park staff and park manager. Park staff may limit or stop music at their discretion due to volume, content, or group behavior.

Photographers/Videographers

If a pre-event showing is desired, a date and time must be scheduled with staff and not interfere with any other park event. Pre-event activities may require additional fees. Flash photography is acceptable before, during and after ceremonies and photo sessions within the Mission. Tripods and free-standing lighting equipment may be used in the Mission. To protect the floor, electrical cords may NOT be taped to the floor or to any surface. Photographers and videographers must request permission to set-up interview locations or places for long-term equipment set-up.

Rental Companies / Vendors/ Caterers/ Concessionaires

Caterers must be self-contained as there is no kitchen and limited water available. Rental companies, vendors, caterers, and concessionaires that need pre and post event access to the site need to coordinate times and dates with park management prior to the wedding date. Rental equipment provided by a rental company, such as chairs, tents, portable changing area, port-a-potties, etc., must be removed the same day or before 9 a.m. the following morning. The park is not responsible for any items left behind by a rental company that become lost or stolen.

Rental companies hired to provide items such as chairs for a wedding ceremony or tables and chairs for the reception and/or other vendors such as caterers, florists, musicians, photographers, etc., may arrive no sooner than two (2) hours prior to the scheduled ceremony start time. The responsible individual must ensure that cleaning and removal of items brought for the event is completed to the satisfaction of park staff. Rental companies / vendors/ caterers/ concessionaires must contact park staff prior to set-up to determine areas to unload and load to avoid vehicles on lawn areas and damage to park features.. The wedding party is responsible for any damage to the park or facilities created by the hired companies. 

Tent & Chair Rentals

Two (2) wedding tents 20’ x 20’ are available from the park. Set up and take down is included in the $250 rental fee for each. The wedding option price includes the use of metal folding chairs for inside the Mission which will be set up by park staff. A limited number of exterior metal folding chairs are available to rent. Fees for exterior chairs include the set up and take down. The wedding party must indicate that the chairs are desired for the event. The park has no tables for wedding use and the wedding party must provide their own. The park picnic tables are not available for use by the wedding party.

Aerial view of the grounds

Trash & GArbage Removal

All trash and garbage must be placed in plastic trash bags and be disposed of properly. The park has THREE (3) large trash receptacles located near the Park Maintenance Area. You may use it to deposit all trash bags. If you have more trash than the receptacle can hold, you MUST carry the trash offsite for disposal. Please ensure the trash container lids are shut securely after depositing your trash so animals do not get into them.

A service charge of $50.00 will be assessed for cancellation of a reservation if notice is received 21 days or more prior to the event. Cancellations received fewer than 21 days in advance of the scheduled date will result in a service charge of $100.00. If for any reason a cancellation is necessary the responsible individual shall contact the park manager as soon as possible and the refund of any fees and monies will be discussed and agreed upon.

Carroll Wedding. Photographer: Paul Andrew Williams