Wedding policies
Affiliation Categories
Direct Affiliation: The bride, groom or one of their parents must be a current, full-time faculty member, staff member, student or alum of Washington University.
Sponsored Affiliation: The bride or groom must be related to a current full-time faculty member, staff member or alum of Washington University or must be sponsored by a current, full-time faculty member, staff member or alum of Washington University.
No Affiliation: Neither the bride nor groom is related to a current full-time faculty member, staff member, student or alum of Washington University nor are they sponsored by a current, full-time faculty member, staff member or alum of Washington University
Booking Policies
Direct Affiliation: Weddings are booked no more than one year prior to the date of the wedding. Applications (attached) are accepted no more than 14 months prior to the requested wedding date and will be logged by the date and time received. The first day of the month, one year prior to the requested date, Event Services will begin booking the wedding applications.
Weddings are booked in the order the applications are received. Receipt of an application does not guarantee the requested date.
Sponsored Affiliation: Weddings are booked no more than 10 months prior to the date of the wedding. Applications (attached) are accepted no more than 10 months prior to the requested wedding date and will be logged by the date and time received. Weddings are booked in the order the applications are received. Receipt of an application does not guarantee the requested date.
No Affiliation: Weddings are booked no more than 6 months prior to the date of the wedding, Applications (attached) are accepted no more than 6 months prior to the requested wedding date and will be logged by the date and time received. Weddings are booked in the order the applications are received. Receipt of an application does not guarantee the requested date.
A wedding is considered booked only when the applicant receives a written confirmation from Event Services.
In general, weddings may be held Saturday or Sunday, morning, afternoon or evening and are booked by sessions. Session times for each day are as follows.
Saturdays and Sundays: 9 a.m. - noon, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., or 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Due to multiple events held in Graham Chapel, all days and times are subject to availability.
Please note that session times include setup and teardown for all wedding activities, including florists, musicians, receiving lines, etc. It is imperative that all decorations and floral arrangements are removed by the end of the session time. We recommend that you not schedule your ceremony within the first hour of your session (e.g. between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. if using the 9:00 a.m. - noon session), or within the last hour of your session (e.g. between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. if using the 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. session).
Wedding session times can be extended for an additional charge, three months or less prior to your wedding, provided there are no other weddings or events booked immediately before or after your confirmed wedding session. The Event Services Office must receive any changes in writing made to the original application.
Graham Chapel is not available for weddings or rehearsals on the following days: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Rehearsal Information
Each wedding session is given a one-hour rehearsal the Thursday or Friday prior to the wedding, excluding the above listed holidays. Rehearsal times are typically 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., or 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Days and times are subject to availability. Please include the request for the wedding rehearsal on the application.
Site Visit/Wedding Tour
Couples are welcome to visit the Chapel once before booking and twice after receipt of confirmation in order to finalize wedding plans. Due to the tight schedule of the Chapel, couples must schedule these visits in advance with Event Services. If more than one site visit/wedding tour is needed for any wedding, additional site visits may be scheduled at a rate of $100 per hour with a one-hour minimum.
Rental Fees and Policies
Rental fees for weddings in the Chapel are $950 for a 3-hour session. Please note the one-hour rehearsal is included in this fee. The entire rental fee is due upon receipt of your written reservation confirmation. Additional time may be added to the wedding rehearsal and/or session three months or less prior to your wedding, only if the Chapel calendar permits. The charge for the extended time is $100 per hour with a one-hour minimum. Requests for more than one hour will require booking another timeslot at the regular rate of $950.00.
Payment should be made by check or money order, payable to: Washington University in St. Louis. Please include your confirmation number on the check or money order. Credit cards are not accepted. Your canceled check serves as your receipt.
Cancellations
Event Services must receive cancellations in writing. Cancellations made one year to six months prior will be refunded $875 of the initial payment. Cancellations made within six months or less will receive a refund of $475, 50% of the total rental fee. Event Services reserves the right to cancel any wedding that has an outstanding balance 60 days prior to the wedding session.
Chapel Amenities
The following items are available for use at no additional charge. Please indicate on the application any items to be used. Final decisions will be made at the rehearsal.
Two candelabras -- each holds five candles (provided)
One unity candle holder that holds two taper candles and a large unity candle (unity candle and tapers are not provided)
Two tall pedestal tables (approx. 3 feet tall)
Two short pedestal tables (approx. 2.5 feet tall)
Two pedestal podiums
One set of double kneelers
Two over-pew tables (approx. 3-foot square)
Chairs
House sound system with microphones, cassette player and CD player (Due to technical constraints, instruments and outside audio equipment may not be plugged into the house sound system.)
Event Management
An Event Coordinator will work with each client from receipt of the application throughout the rehearsal and ceremony, and will act as liaison between client and all service providers to ensure a quality experience.
Music
The chapel organ is available for weddings. The University organist, William "Pat" Partridge is the exclusive organist for the chapel. The current fee for his services is $225. Please contact him at the following phone number for information and scheduling.
Christ Church Cathedral 231-3454 (Monday -- Friday) or fax at 231-3142
The chapel piano is available for weddings. Use of the piano must be requested through the Event Services Department by contacting the Wedding Event Coordinator, who can be reached at 314/935-5234. There is a required $100 charge for using the piano. Couples may choose to hire other musicians, including pianist, string quartet, vocalist, guitarist, etc.
The wedding couple may choose to hire other musicians, including pianist, string quartet, vocalist, guitarist, etc.
Clergy
As Graham Memorial Chapel is a non-denominational Chapel, the wedding party chooses the clergy. Event Services does not recommend specific clergy; however, a contact sheet for the Washington University Interfaith Campus Ministry Association is available from the Event Services Office upon request.
Catholic Weddings
Catholic wedding ceremonies require special permission from the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Please contact the Archdiocese directly or contact the Catholic Student Center at Washington University at 314/935-9191.
General Information
Graham Memorial Chapel seats 785 people. The main level contains 27 rows of pews on either side of the aisle. The first row on both sides is a half row. Each full row seats approximately 11 people for a total of 589 seats on the floor. The middle aisle is 42 inches wide and 105 feet long. The balcony seats 196 people in individual padded chairs.
A second entrance and elevator is located on the north side of Graham Chapel. Restrooms are located on the lower level of the Chapel and can be accessed by the elevator and by stairs located on the northwest end of the Chapel and the stairs off the elevator lobby.
The Green Room is located off the northeast corner of the Chapel and accesses the stage and the main level through narrow hallways. The Green Room may be used for the groom party and the clergy. A private restroom is located just inside the Green Room.
Bride's Dressing Room
The closest and most private Bride's Dressing Room is located in the Campus Y, which is located on the lower level on the eastern side of Umrath Hall. Arrangements to use the facility should be made directly with the Campus Y at 935-5010. The Campus Y charges $40 per hour.
An alternative to the Campus Y is the basement of the Chapel, which has a large restroom with mirrors.
Additional Policies
Smoking is not allowed.
The only candles allowed are the unity candle and those in the candelabras.
Food and beverages are prohibited in the Chapel.
Nothing may be affixed to any wood surface, including pews, by using putty, wire, tacks, staples, tape or any material that will harm the wood finish.
Aisle runners are allowed, but must be secured to the floor with low-residue tape. Only silk petals or paper petals may be scattered on the runner or floor.
The following activities are not allowed on University property.
1) Throwing of rice, bird seed, flower petals, or confetti
2) Releasing of balloons
3) Posting of signs on trees, lampposts, fences, buildings, street signs or other structures.