The Space
The Sanctum occupies a building that used to be the Elks Lodge of Rocky Mount, a lodge that suffered a devastating fire before the property was reimagined as an event center. Solomon and Nedra Maryland purchased the building in October 2020 and took an 11,000 square foot structure with a difficult recent history and turned it into a venue built around several distinct rooms rather than one large hall.
That 11,000 square feet is split into a Ballroom, a Cafe, a Sports Bar, and an Outdoor Pavilion, so a couple booking The Sanctum is really booking access to several different settings under one roof rather than a single undivided room. For a wedding, that layout means a reception can move through spaces, dinner and dancing in the Ballroom, a more casual gathering spot in the Cafe or Sports Bar, without needing to leave the building.
Capacity & Layout
The Ballroom itself measures 2,000 square feet, sized for a wedding reception’s core program, dinner, toasts, and dancing, without being so large that a mid-sized guest list feels lost in it. A separate 1,000 square foot outdoor Pavilion gives a couple an outdoor option for a ceremony or a cocktail hour, distinct from the indoor Ballroom, so the day can move from outside to inside as the program shifts from ceremony to reception.
Because the facility is organized into a Ballroom, Cafe, Sports Bar, and Pavilion rather than one flexible room, a couple planning a wedding here is choosing which of those spaces carries which part of the day: the Pavilion for an outdoor ceremony, the Ballroom for the reception itself, and the Cafe or Sports Bar as a spot for guests to step away from the dance floor without leaving the building entirely.
Amenities
A full-size industrial kitchen is on site, though it is offered exclusively for members, a detail worth confirming directly with The Sanctum when planning catering logistics for a wedding. The venue is ADA compliant, which matters for accessibility across a facility split into multiple rooms rather than one open floor, and it was named Best Birthday Party Venue in Rocky Mount for 2024, a sign of steady local use beyond weddings alone.
Because the property is divided into a Ballroom, Cafe, Sports Bar, and Pavilion, a couple gets more variety of setting within one booking than a typical single-room banquet hall offers, useful for a wedding weekend that includes a rehearsal dinner or a smaller gathering the day before, without needing to book a second location entirely.
Location & Getting There
The Sanctum sits in Rocky Mount, NC, in a building whose Elks Lodge history and recovery from a fire are part of the property’s identity, not hidden behind a fresh facade. For a couple who values a venue with a real backstory rather than a new-build banquet hall, that history is part of what The Sanctum offers alongside its four distinct event spaces.
We’ve worked an event in this room, and the split between an indoor Ballroom and an outdoor Pavilion is what matters most for sound: the enclosed 2,000 square foot Ballroom holds and reflects a DJ setup differently than the open-air Pavilion, so which space is used for dancing versus a ceremony changes how a sound system needs to be positioned and leveled for the room.
Why Couples Book Dow Oak Here
You only get one reception at this venue, so it should be run by a team that already knows how to make a room like it work:
- We have actually performed at this venue, so we plan for its sound, layout, and flow instead of guessing on your night
- One team for your DJ and MC, photo booth, and custom lighting, on a single plan and one contract
- Backup DJs scheduled and on call, with your full plan shared across our team
- An online planning portal plus a planning call before the day
- More than 3,000 five-star reviews on The Knot, WeddingWire, and Google
- Transparent pricing with no hidden fees, and just $400 reserves your date
Wedding DJ FAQ
Have you performed at this venue before?
Yes. Every venue in our directory is one we have actually worked, so we already know how to set up, light, and run the room for a wedding, from ceremony sound to the last dance.
How much is a wedding DJ?
Your price depends on your date, your area, and add-ons like a photo booth, uplighting, or ceremony sound. Pick your date on our pricing page and you will see your exact price, and just $400 reserves your date.
Do you provide lighting and a photo booth too?
Yes. One team handles your DJ and MC, color-matched uplighting, and a modern photo booth on a single plan.
What happens if our DJ has an emergency?
We always have trained backup DJs scheduled and on call, with your full plan shared across our team, so someone can step in seamlessly.
How do we book you?
Check your date using the form on this page. We confirm availability, send your pricing, and a $400 retainer reserves your date.
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- Backup DJs & photo booths on call 24/7
- Just $400 reserves your date
- Free setup and teardown, every time
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