The Academy

An amazing venue for a small wedding. I’d guess it only seats about 200ish before feeling cramped, but everything from the exterior to the stage and ambiance is wonderful. You truly step back in time.

You can FEEL the history when you enter this building. I was told it was originally part of Fort Vancouver and has a military history.
I was a guest at a wedding in the chapel. I was genuinely impressed by the antiquated charm of the chapel. It’s very ornate and well-​lit through the tall windows. I always found it depressing when a wedding is held in a mostly-​empty large church, so I think this venue is great for weddings for 100 to 300 guests.
There is ample parking, but the building itself is confusing. The signage inside the building is poor. (The chapel is on the second floor and the elevator is older than dirt.) We were supposed to go through a reception line but nobody knew which door was the front so people went in all directions and it all fell apart. Oh well.
So, consider having your special day here. You find your own officiant, I believe, so service can be any denomination. Just consider any guests who cannot manage stairs and ask to see the elevator.

The Academy Chapel is one of the most beautiful places on earth! It is seriously breath taking and absolutely mesmerizing when they first open the doors to you and present the chapel for the first time. It is exactly like walking into the past. The intricate details on all the wood work and the care taken to preserve this place is inpeccable.
I was just married there and I can honestly say that I wouldnt have wanted to get married anywhere else. No where else would have measured up to the standard that the Chapel makes for others like it. It might look small at first, but you can actually fit quite a lot of people in there.
I enjoyed working with Vicki there at the chapel. She helped me out a lot, and gave me quite a lot of great advice; which I despretly needed since being a younger bride and all. She was able to answer all of my questions and even suggested references when I needed them to help complete my wedding. Its a for sure thing that you will be taken care of to the fullest here.
The grounds were huge and beautifully manicured always. There were endless spots for the photographer to set up a great shot. You couldnt go wrong standing anywhere. The building-​inside and out-​are absolutely timeless!!!

Looked into this place for wedding plans. No. It not only has the most disgusting blue carpets I’ve ever seen and smelled like death, but it was creepy. I love old things, but this wasn’t like a good ‘Oooooo… Let’s lurk around and find hidden doors and look up all the history in this old building’ creepy, but like negative cold icky feel to it. Like the feeling that there were possibly small children stored in the basement from 1908.
The chapel and Ballroom were small and overall the entire place wasn’t very well taken care of. It has serious potential, but I think the fact that there is office buildings, a stinky little café, and from what I’ve heard a pregnancy resource center in it, I do not suggest this place. Too strange. The last thing I would want on my wedding day is to walk from the Chapel where I was just married to the Ballroom for a reception and pass all the girls standing in line for a free pregnancy test in the hall on the way there. Gross.
The upside of this place; the exterior is appealing if you like old things. The old brick and the windows and vines growing up the walls. Loved that.