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Weddings at Trinity College

Please review the information below before contacting the Office of Events and Campus Operations about having a wedding at Trinity College.  

The Chapel

  • Ceremonies are held on Saturdays; rehearsals are held on Friday evenings (5:00-6:00 p.m.).
  • All ceremonies in the Chapel must be religious ceremonies.
  • The Chapel holds approximately 300 people.
  • The Chapel is not air conditioned.
    Please note: July and August can be very hot.
  • There are no dressing rooms in the Chapel.
  • Although the Chapel itself is accessible to individuals with mobility issues, there are no accessible restrooms in the building.
  • Any rearrangement of Chapel furnishings must be approved by the Events and Campus Operations Office in conjunction with the Chapel and may incur additional fees.

 Clergy

  • All ceremonies in the Chapel must be religious ceremonies.
  • Weddings conducted by the College Chaplain follow The Episcopal Book of Common Prayer.
  • Visiting clergy are welcome but permission must be obtained in advance from the College chaplain. They must be ordained by the denomination and licensed by the State of Connecticut.

 Music

  • Once the wedding date is confirmed by the Events and Campus Operations Office, the couple must reach out to the Christopher Houlihan, John Rose College Organist-and-Directorship Distinguished Chair of Chapel Music, who coordinates all music in the Chapel and makes all arrangements related to the Trinity College Organ.

Photography
Several restrictions apply to photography before/during/after the ceremony:

  • Natural light only; no flashbulbs or spotlighting are permitted.
  • Advanced approval is required for videotaping.
  • Photographers may not occupy the main aisle, chancel, or sanctuary during the  ceremony.
  • Photographers should speak with the officiant prior to the ceremony.
  • There are moments during the ceremony when an officiant may require a photographer to refrain from taking photographs.
  • The North and South Cloister along with the Funston Garden are available for exterior photos.
    Please note: the Main Quad could have college events occurring along with athletic competitions in the fall, later winter, and spring.

Decor

  • Runners, paper or cloth, are not used.
  • College policy prohibits throwing materials (e.g. rice, confetti, birdseed, rose petals, balloons) inside or outside of the Chapel.
  • The choice of florist and all arrangements related to flowers are left to the couple.
  • Two floral arrangements are permitted on the high altar. These arrangements must be between 24”W x 28”H and 32” W and 36”H.  This includes the base/container.
  • Flowers may not be affixed to any Chapel furnishing.
  • Flowers may be left in the Chapel or removed for the reception.
  • Except for flowers, no other decorations are allowed in the Chapel.

 Parking

  • On weeknights and weekends, parking is available in the lots on Summit Street and Vernon Street. Street parking is available on these streets as well.
    Please note: during the academic year, parking is very limited.
  • No parking is allowed in the Borges Admissions Center Circle without prior approval.

Availability

  • The Chapel is open to couples with a connection to Trinity College. All ceremonies in the Chapel must be religious ceremonies.
  • During the academic session, space is at a premium on campus. Weddings may occur, but only if they do not disrupt College operations.
  • Weddings may not occur during larger scale College events (e.g. New Student Orientation and Move-in, Fall Weekend, Hip Hop Festival, Spring Weekend, Bantam Welcome Weekend, SambaFest, Honors Day, Commencement Weekend, Reunion Weekend).
  • Large receptions are only held during the summer break in the Washington Room or Smith House lawn. During the academic session, the Reese Room, Admissions Grand Room and Hamlin Dining Hall are available for small receptions (50 people).

Ceremony Inquiry Form

  • Campus facility reservations are made through the Office of Events and Campus Operations. After reading this webpage, please fill out the Ceremony Inquiry Form (click this link). Please take the availability of the officiant into consideration when requesting dates for the ceremony.
  • The Events and Operations Office will email you concerning availability of the requested dates. If dates are available, an application form will accompany this email.
  • Upon receipt of the application and deposit (50% of the Chapel fee), a member of the Events and Campus Operations Office will contact you to confirm the wedding date and discuss logistics of the ceremony.
  • No wedding is confirmed until the Events and Campus Operations Office receives the application form and deposit and a member of the Events team provides a written confirmation.

 Fees

  • Associated fees are provided upon receiving a completed wedding survey

Planning Contacts
Campus facility reservations are made through the Office of Events and Campus Operations. After reading this webpage, please fill out the Wedding Inquiry Form (click here). Please take the availability of the officiant into consideration when requesting dates for the ceremony.

  • Facility reservations and support services needs, coordinates date availability and support services
    Ramon Rosario, Associate Director of Campus Operations
    [email protected]
  • Officiant and religious service questions, point of contact upon a confirmed reservation
    Rev. Marcus Halley, Chaplain to the College and Dean of Spiritual and Religious Life
    mar[email protected]
  • Music coordination, point of contact upon a confirmed reservation
    Christopher Houlihan, John Rose College Organist-and-Directorship Distinguished Chair of Chapel Music
    [email protected]