The historic Cole Memorial Chapel on the Wheaton College campus is a breathtaking location available to Wheaton alumni, staff, and faculty for their weddings. Built in 1917 this award-winning space boasts an eighty-eight foot long center aisle, perfect for making a grand entrance.
Ceremonies can be booked when the students are not in session and will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Having our wedding at Wheaton really made a special day extra-special. The campus is just beautiful!”
Frequently Asked Questions About Wheaton College Weddings
The Chapel is a blank canvas. Pew bows and altar flowers are a lovely addition to the two pew-ter candelabras already in the Chapel. We do not allow flower petals to be dropped. We also ask that nothing be taped, nailed or tacked to any of the walls or pews. Remember to assign a family member or friend to arrange decorations. Check with your event coordinator to see if decorations and be put up at the rehearsal.
Length: 6 feet
Height: 3 feet
Width: 30 inches
The center aisle is 88 feet long—the runner should be 100 feet long. When using a runner please remember to incorporate pulling out the runner prior to the brides procession.
A Wheaton Event Coordinator will be onsite the day of your wedding. The job of the coordinator is to ensure that your Chapel “check list” has been fulfilled and the facilities are in top notch condition for your event. The coordinator will not be available to assist in the musical aspect or direct the ceremony and/or rehearsal.
Not necessarily. Often times a florist will come and leave the flowers and move to the next wedding. If your florist will not be in attendance to “pin” groomsmen and any other guests that will be wearing a corsage or boutonniere, make sure to assign someone who knows your guests to be responsible for them such as a family friend or spouse of the bridal party.
You have the ability to coordinate the arrival times of the groomsmen and bridal party to avoid this. Often times the groomsmen arrive early to greet your guests. There is a small first-floor hallway area that the bridal party can wait prior to the ceremony or arrive at the exact time of the ceremony
No. The Chapel front door area can not accommodate limos. Transportation details can be discussed further based on needs.
If you plan on having a receiving line outside of the Chapel, we ask that you do so with some distance from the doors of the Chapel to allow your guests to exit. Having the receiving line right at the door leaves your guests waiting inside.
The Chapel has a beautiful old organ that is often utilized for weddings and we will provide you with a preferred organist list. There is also a piano and a cd player in the Chapel. Make sure that you have secured and addressed all of your musical needs at least one month prior to your wedding. If necessary, the chapel can be made available for rehearsal. If you are utilizing the cd player make sure to have someone available to operate it.
Your guests can park in parking lot #2 located on Rte 123 across from the pond.
At this time, we do not have a location for wedding receptions.
Yes. Assign a family member or friend to remove pew bows, altar candles and any flowers from the Chapel prior to departure.
Yes. The Chapel Sanctuary is handicap accessible, however the restrooms are in the basement and only accessible by stairs or using the back entrance to the Chapel. Upon request restrooms may be utilized in a nearby building.