Weddings in Notre Dame Chapel

Notre Dame Chapel is available for weddings of current Trinity students, faculty, and staff and their children, as well as Trinity alumni. Catholic alumni must obtain special permission from the Archdiocese of Washington.

Weddings are scheduled only on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.. These times indicate the time the chapel will be available to the couple. Each couple is allotted three hours. This timeframe includes set up, decorations, the ceremony, and pictures. Please allow at least one hour for the ceremony in your planning. If, for example, the chapel is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., the couple may start to set up at 4:00 p.m. and must vacate the chapel no later than 7:00 p.m.; this includes florists and photographers.

No weddings will be scheduled on Holy Saturday, Graduation weekend, Reunion weekend (June), or Move-in Day (August). The office of Campus Ministry reserves the right to remove other Saturdays from the schedule as circumstances require.

A wedding rehearsal is essential and should include the bridal party as well as the presider, who will conduct the rehearsal. One hour is reserved for each couple. Rehearsals are usually held on Friday afternoons at 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Campus Ministry reserves the right to adjust scheduled times in accordance with the needs of the University community. Late arrivals simply shorten time in the chapel.

Please note that the chapel has some limitations, for example, there is no central air and public restrooms are located in Main Hall. Read Section III as you develop your wedding plans. Campus Ministry does not provide presiding priests, deacons or altar servers; the couple must arrange for these themselves (visiting clergy are welcome to officiate [Section II.C.]). All Roman Catholic weddings are registered at St. Martin’s Church, which maintains the marriage records.