O'Kelly Chapel

Raw space venue

The venue will provide just the space. You’ll bring in your own caterer and vendors.

Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing

Starting at $1,200 for off-peak dates, and $2,500 for peak dates

Guest capacity

Up to 60 seated guests

About this venue

Tucked behind a picturesque garden center in Southern Durham, NC, O’Kelly Chapel is a one-of-a-kind historic wedding and private event venue. Thoughtfully restored for couples who want their wedding day to feel intimate, meaningful, and connected, the chapel accommodates up to 60 guests. Choose from micro-weddings, elopements, ceremony-only weddings, and private events, with packages starting at $1,200. Our simple, thoughtfully designed packages make planning easier, so you can spend less time worrying about the details and more time enjoying the day. More than 100 years old, O’Kelly Chapel features beautiful Gothic arched windows, historic details, and original character, all surrounded by living gardens, lush houseplants, and a beautifully landscaped lawn. Named for Rev. James O’Kelly, the chapel carries a sense of history and charm you can feel the moment you walk in. Ready to keep your celebration simple and meaningful? Reach out to check availability and book a tour.

Seated guest capacity

  • 1-60

Venue type

  • Farms, Barns, Ranches
  • Parks, Gardens

Venue setting

  • Indoor
  • Outdoor
9245 NC-751, Durham, NC 27713

Our event spaces

The Chapel

Warm, elegant and historic with modern touches- making it the perfect backdrop for any occasion.

Built in the early 1900s, O’Kelly Chapel features restored original pine floors and ceilings, beautiful Gothic arched windows, lush houseplants, an in-house bar, and an optional lounge area—creating a warm and intimate atmosphere for your celebration.

Guest capacity

Up to 60 Seated

Up to 60 Standing

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Cocktail hour, Engagement party, Elopement

Guests often feel this space is

“Warm and cozy”

Room cost

Included in total venue pricing

The Grounds

A dreamy atmosphere with lush greenery complimenting the historic and timeless gothic chapel.

O’Kelly Chapel’s outdoor space features a beautifully landscaped lawn in front of the historic white panned chapel, surrounded by lush gardens and greenery, creating a peaceful and picturesque setting for ceremonies, celebrations, and photos. Situated on the grounds of For Garden’s Sake, the chapel is surrounded by flowering shrubs, mature greenery, and a nearby lake, creating a romantic, natural setting perfect for nature lovers and timeless celebrations.

Guest capacity

60-65 Seated

60-65 Standing

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, After party, Elopement

Guests often feel this space is

“Surprised and delighted”

Room cost

Included in total venue pricing

The Chapel

Warm, elegant and historic with modern touches- making it the perfect backdrop for any occasion.

Built in the early 1900s, O’Kelly Chapel features restored original pine floors and ceilings, beautiful Gothic arched windows, lush houseplants, an in-house bar, and an optional lounge area—creating a warm and intimate atmosphere for your celebration.

Guest capacity

Up to 60 Seated

Up to 60 Standing

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Cocktail hour, Engagement party, Elopement

Guests often feel this space is

“Warm and cozy”

Room cost

Included in total venue pricing

The Grounds

A dreamy atmosphere with lush greenery complimenting the historic and timeless gothic chapel.

O’Kelly Chapel’s outdoor space features a beautifully landscaped lawn in front of the historic white panned chapel, surrounded by lush gardens and greenery, creating a peaceful and picturesque setting for ceremonies, celebrations, and photos. Situated on the grounds of For Garden’s Sake, the chapel is surrounded by flowering shrubs, mature greenery, and a nearby lake, creating a romantic, natural setting perfect for nature lovers and timeless celebrations.

Guest capacity

60-65 Seated

60-65 Standing

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, After party, Elopement

Guests often feel this space is

“Surprised and delighted”

Room cost

Included in total venue pricing

Available services that can be provided by O'Kelly Chapel

Services & amenities

  • Bar services

Transportation & access

  • Self parking - free
  • Wheelchair accessible

Reviews

Write a review
Rating: 5.0

5.0 out of 5

3 reviews

  • NC

    Norberto C.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Sep 17, 2026

    Amazing Experience, Elegant Atmosphere

    We had such an amazing experience having our wedding ceremony here! Everything from start to finish was wonderful, but we especially want to recognize Kortney and Lexie from the events team. They were onsite throughout our ceremony and were incredibly helpful, attentive, and organized. They made everything feel effortless, and we were able to actually enjoy our day without feeling stressed about all the little details. The chapel itself is absolutely gorgeous and made the perfect setting for our ceremony. We also used the outdoor areas around the venue for our wedding photos, and there are so many beautiful spots throughout the property. We really appreciated how accommodating everything was for our less mobile guests as well. The venue was easy for everyone to access, and there was plenty of parking, which was one less thing for us or our guests to have to worry about. Overall, we genuinely could not have asked for a better experience. Between the beautiful venue and the incredible coordination from Kortney and Lexie, our ceremony felt easy, special, and completely stress-free. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make our wedding day so memorable and would absolutely recommend this venue to anyone looking for a beautiful place to get married!

  • AJ

    Alex J.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Jul 31, 2026

    Perfect Historic Micro-Wedding Venue

    We are glad that we've booked O'Kelly Chapel for our wedding, it's everything we wanted for our 50 guest ceremony. We wanted a small stress free and intimate ceremony at a picturesque historic venue, and this venue delivered! All communication from O'Kelly Chapel's team- from inquiry emails, venue tours and recommendations- were friendly and prompt. The venue itself had a wonderful balance of historic features like orginial wood and gothic arches, and modern amentities like on-site bathrooms and in-house bar. It also had a beautiful lawn that gave us options for bridal photos and our ceremony setup. Everything felt organized and stress-free, which let us focus on what mattered. We'd recommend O'Kelly Chapel to any couple looking for a special venue with a team that truly cares.

  • TP

    Toban P.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Jul 30, 2026

    Beautiful event space

    I attended a wedding there in June. It was absolutely stunning. Everything seemed to run very smoothly. I'd definitely consider using this event for my wedding

No, outside alcohol is not permitted. We offer bar service and alcohol packages instead.
Yes, free on-site parking is available at For Garden's Sake.
Peak: spring and fall (roughly April–June and September–November)
Off-peak: summer and winter (roughly July–August and December–March)
Yes, the venue has a handicap-accessible ramp and restrooms.

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