Weddings in the 
Princeton University Chapel
 

Schedule    Officiant   Rehearsals    Music for your wedding    Photography    
Candles, Flowers, etc.    Access to the University    Fees

Schedule

There are no exceptions to the following schedule:

Saturday wedding times are:

 Service from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. 
(You will have access to the Chapel to prepare for your service at 11:00 a.m.)

Service from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
(You will have access to the Chapel to prepare for your service at 2:00 p.m.)
*Sunday wedding times are: Service from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 
(You will have access to the Chapel to prepare for your service at 12:00 p.m.)

*Please note, Sunday weddings are available in June, July and August only.

The wedding must begin at its scheduled time and must not exceed its one-hour time allotment.

Officiants

Couples may choose a clergyperson or public official to conduct the service.

The Dean and Associate Deans of the Chapel are available to officiate at weddings, as their schedules permit. In order to arrange for this, the couple must contact Liz Powers 609-258-3048 at least seven months in advance of the wedding date (or immediately, if  the date is less than seven months from the time of scheduling). Ms. Powers will direct the couple to one of the Deans. It is the responsibility of the couple to apply to the Dean by letter no less than six months before the scheduled date of the wedding. (This letter should state the reason for the request, and should include contact information, including telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.) 

ROMAN CATHOLICS must submit a written request to Father Thomas J. Mullelly at the Aquinas Institute at least six months prior to the marriage for further instructions.  The Aquinas Institute is located at 65 Stockton St., Princeton, NJ  08540.  Since diocesan guidelines regarding the location of wedding ceremonies apply, Roman catholic couples should not assume that permission to be married in the Chapel will be granted.

EPISCOPALIANS using a minister from outside the campus must inform the Chaplain of the Episcopal Church at Princeton, The Revd Peter A. French, at least six months prior to the marriage. The Episcopal Church at Princeton University, 53 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540.

 We ask that your officiant contact Dean Deborah Blanks (609-258-3621) as soon as possible by phone, so that we can answer any questions he or she may have, and convey basic information about the chapel policies and procedures. We need you to pass this request on to your officiant, and thank you in advance for doing so as soon as possible.

 

Rehearsals

The times for rehearsals on Friday evening are 5:00 to 5:45 p.m. or 6:00 to 6:45 p.m. 
If your wedding is on a Sunday, the rehearsal is on Saturday evening at 5:00 to 5:45 p.m.

 
  • The rehearsal must begin at its scheduled time and cannot exceed its 45 time allotment.

  • The officiant (or wedding coordinator, if you have hired one) is responsible for organizing and running the rehearsal
 
  • Only the participants in the wedding, including immediate family, are permitted at the rehearsal.
     
 
  • Wedding programs and unity candles should be brought to the rehearsal.
     
 
  • If the rehearsal is delayed for 30 minutes, the rehearsal is cancelled.
     
 
  • The marriage license should be brought to the rehearsal.

You must apply for your marriage license within thirty days of the date of your wedding.  You may do so at the Office of Public Health in the bride's hometown (if she is a resident of New Jersey), or here in Princeton Borough at 1 Monument Drive, Princeton, NJ  (609-497-7608).

Music for your wedding

Organ Music

 
  • All music for your wedding in the Princeton University Chapel is arranged under the direction of Eric Plutz, University Organist whose authority is final. 

 
 
  • The University Organist,  or one of the Organ Scholars will play for your wedding.  Guest organists are not permitted.  The University Organist will assign an organist for your wedding at least eight weeks prior to your wedding date.  Couples may then contact the assigned organist to select music.  The organist will assist you in planning your music and will be present at the rehearsal as well as the wedding.

 

  • The organist for your wedding (Mr. Plutz or one of the Organ Scholars) will play for 15 minutes prior to the start time, as your guests arrive.  You can allow the organist to choose this music or assist in choosing the music yourself.  The organist will play until he/she is signaled to begin the procession(s) and will continue to play prelude music until 15 minutes after the designated start time.  If the procession(s) have not begun by 15 minutes after the designated start time, the organist will stop playing the prelude music.  When signaled to begin the procession(s), the organist will resume by playing the chosen music at that time.
     
 
  • All processionals and recessionals must be selected from an offered musical list.  These pieces were selected from specific use in the Princeton University Chapel considering the magnificent Skinner/Mander organ, acoustics and the capacity to  shorten or lengthen the piece to the size and speed of the wedding procession.
     
  If it is your desire not to have organ music at your wedding please contact Eric Plutz no later than eight weeks prior to your wedding date.

Singers and Instrumentalists

 
  • All singers and instrumentalists must be booked through the University organist.  Guest singers and instrumentalists are not permitted.  The Princeton University Chapel can recommend a number of excellent singers and instrumentalists for your wedding.  All voice ranges and many instrumental combinations are available including brass, strings and harp.
     
 
  • Additional charges will be incurred for music involving extraordinary rehearsal time for the organist and/or singer/instrumentalists.

Photography

Please have your photographer and your video photographer check in with the Chapel Wedding Coordinator upon arrival.

 
  • Photographers and/or video photographers are not allowed in the aisle during the processional; however, the recessional may be photographed from the aisle.
     
 
  • Flash photography is NOT permitted during the wedding ceremony.
     
 
  • Flash photography is permitted during the processional and recessional only.
     
 
  • The video photographer must place a tripod in an unobtrusive vantage point and remain still throughout the ceremony.

Candles, Flowers, etc.

 
  • Two floral arrangements are allowed in the front of the sanctuary.  You may coordinate with other couples being married on the same day to share in the expense of the flowers.
     
 
  • Two candles on the altar are allowed.  Special arrangements may be made for a Unity candle.
     
 
  • Decorating any part of the interior or exterior of the Chapel is prohibited.  Aisle runners are prohibited.
     
 
  • Nothing may be thrown in or near the Chapel before, during or after the ceremony, i.e. rice, birdseed, flower petals, etc.  Bubbles are permitted outdoors only.
     
 
  • No refreshments are permitted in or near the Chapel before, during or after the wedding ceremony.
     
 
  • No receiving lines are permitted in the Chapel.

Access to the University

 
  • The only entrance to the University open on weekends is Faculty Road.
     
 
  • There are often University and community events which may make access to the Campus and parking in town difficult.  Please check the Public Events Calendar on the University website for current events.
     
 

 

Fees

 
Standard fee:  $2025
Included in this amount is the chapel use fee plus the services of a wedding staff that consists of a wedding monitor, sexton and organist.  The wedding staff will be present at the rehearsal and the wedding ceremony.  
 
Additional fees:
 
Dean: $500
Officiant other than Deans                 Please make your own arrangements
Sound Engineer: $215 for Saturday weddings and  $285 for Sunday weddings
                      (If you will be using the Chapel sound system, a sound engineer must be present)
                   

Instrumentalist/soloist: $275 (optional)  

The Office of Religious Life may find it necessary to make changes to this policy.

 

Princeton University Office of Religious Life
Web Comments: orl@princeton.edu, Last Updated: March 28, 2005