Wedding Policy

Policy

The College extends the privilege of using the Chapel to the following members of the Mount Holyoke College community: faculty, staff, students, alumnae and their immediate families, i.e. mother, father, daughter, son, sister, and brother. The spaces available for weddings are the main chapel, Abbey Memorial Chapel, which seats 900 people and has the Fiske and Skinner Organs as well as a built in sound system, and the adjacent small chapel, Abbey Interfaith Sanctuary, which holds up to 65 people and has a small console piano.  Please read all of the accompanying pages so that you fully understand the procedures and policies governing your use of the MHC Abbey Memorial Chapel and/or Abbey Interfaith Sanctuary for your wedding.

Use of the Facilities

If the Bride and Groom wishes to have pictures taken anywhere else on campus other than the Chapel or Chapel Garden, reservations must be made with the Event Services Department, 413-538-2333.  Please also consider Willits Hallowell for your reception, 413-538-2220.

Absolutely No Vehicles, including limousines, floral delivery trucks or any personal vehicles may drive or park on the sidewalk leading up to the Chapel doors for any reason whatsoever.  Please ask your limousine driver to only enter and exit through the driveway located directly to the left of the chapel when assisting the wedding party.  The Driver may stop at the sidewalk along side the Chapel to drop off and pick up the wedding party.  Floral delivery trucks may stop at the sidewalk along side the Chapel long enough to deliver the flowers.  Any vehicles that are driven onto the walkways may be ticketed by Public Safety and the Person Responsible for Payment agrees to pay all fines.

Guest Parking is located across the street from the main gate (Rt. 116, Newton Street).  Guests may park in any “Faculty/Staff” parking space.  The Bride and Groom are responsible for communicating College parking policy to all of their guests.

The Bride and Groom may provide bottled water for wedding party participants.  Water bottles must be removed from the chapel and properly disposed of.

No furnishings or ornaments in the Chapel or Interfaith Sanctuary may be covered removed without prior consultation with the Chapel Sexton, Rob Masse, 413-536-6277.  Also any special ritual needs for the various traditions should be discussed with the officiator and cleared through the Chapel Sexton.

Floral decorations are restricted to the chancel, pews and tables in the vestibule.  Any bows or flowers must be attached to the pews by a bracket available through most florists.  The florist may enter the chapel one hour before the wedding start time to decorate and or deliver the flowers.  Any damage to the pews or any other part of the chapel will be charged to the Person Responsible for Payment.

Aisle runners are prohibited and will be removed.

No rice, confetti, flower petals, or birdseed, etc. shall be thrown in or around the chapel or anywhere on campus.  The Person Responsible for Payment will be charged for the cost of cleaning up any rice, confetti, flower petals or birdseed, etc. at a minimum of $100.

The College will only provide altar candles normally used in Abbey Chapel.  The Bride and Groom must provide any additional candles.  Aisle candles, free-standing or attached to pew holders are prohibited and will be removed at the expense of the Person In Charge of Payment. Placement and quantity of candles are subject to the approval of the Sexton.

Smoking or alcohol use is prohibited any where in the Chapel building or the Chapel Garden.  If alcohol is brought into the Chapel, the Sexton will call the MHC Public Safety Officer to remove it.

Cancellation

The College reserves the right to cancel this agreement at any time and for any reason or no reason.  If the College cancels, the Fee and any security deposit will be returned, without interest.  The College will make a reasonable effort to provide as much advance notice in the event of a cancellation and to offer alternate dates and/or times to accommodate the Bride and Groom.