Reservations - Events and Ceremonies/Weddings

Ceremonies at Wellesley can be booked in Houghton Chapel (capacity 750), the Multifaith Center (capacity 150) and the Alumnae Hall Event Lawn (capacity 750). Reservations and arrangements for all ceremonies are made directly through the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life.

Our ceremonies summer season takes place between mid-June and mid-August. Ceremonies may be booked at other times throughout the academic year, although College events may preclude some of these dates being available. 

Venues are available for members of the Wellesley College community (faculty, staff, students, alumnae, and their immediate relatives) at an affiliate rate. Those without an affiliation to Wellesley College are permitted to schedule a ceremony at a different rate.

We welcome couples of all sexualities and gender identities for weddings at Wellesley College.

Space for an on-campus reception is available at the Wellesley College Club. Reservations for space at the Wellesley College Club (capacity 150) must be made directly with them by calling 781.283.2700.

Please note that reserving the Chapel, Multifaith Center or Alumnae Hall Event Lawn DOES NOT also reserve the Wellesley College Club. For example, if you have reserved the Chapel, you must contact the Wellesley College Club separately and directly to reserve space for the reception.

Receptions may also be held on the Chapel Lawn or the Alumnae Hall Event Lawn for an additional fee through the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. Renters of this space must supply their own chairs and/or equipment needed for their reception through external vendors, including a generator if needed, as electrical outlets are not available. 

Houghton Chapel sits at the center of the Wellesley College campus. The Chapel is used for weekly worship as well as musical and educational events during the academic year. The Chapel’s availability is limited and dependent upon College activities.

Reminder: there is no air conditioning in the Chapel.

The standard Chapel setup seats 400 people: 400 chairs in straight rows with a 90 foot center aisle, a large wooden altar table located on the floor in front of the stage, and a Grand Piano on the floor to the right of the stage.

Additional fees occur for non-standard setup in the Chapel (i.e special placement of the chapel chairs). These special requests require additional custodial staff at an over-time rate, average ranging between $150 to $300, which would be discussed and confirmed prior to the date of your ceremony.

The Houghton Chapel at capacity layout with folding chairs in the transepts can hold up to 750 people. 

Special setups will require at least 4 weeks notice prior to your ceremony, to ensure the proper work-order can be placed and completed. The Chapel is equipped with the following items:

• A worship table approximately 3' x 6', which may be used for flowers
• A wooden podium with microphone
• A movable smaller, wooden floor podium with/without a microphone
• A grand piano

The Houghton Chapel is accessible by means of a ramp at the east transept door. The Multifaith Center is accessible through the center entrance located off of the Chapel Peace Plaza. There is an elevator located between the upstairs (Chapel) and the ground floor (Multifaith Center) where the restrooms are located.

Opened in the fall of 2008, the Multifaith Center offers a spiritual environment for people of all religious traditions and spiritual practices. The worship space in the center main room will seat up to 150 people. Like the Chapel, the Multifaith Center’s availability is subject to College use of the space. The Multifaith Center is available for small receptions (see the Fees section). Restrooms are available in the Multifaith Center.

Reminder: there is no air conditioning in the Multifaith Center.

View the layouts of the Multifaith Center

The Multifaith Center is accessible through the center entrance located off of the Chapel Peace Plaza. Houghton Chapel is accessible by means of a ramp at the east transept door. There is an elevator located between the upstairs (Chapel) and the ground floor (Multifaith Center) where the restrooms are located.

The College address is 106 Central Street, Wellesley, MA, 02481. It is at the intersection of Route 16 and Route 135.

Click here for a Campus Map to search and get directions to various campus locations.

Click here for directions to Wellesley College by car, plane, bus, or via public transportation.

You may park in the Davis Parking Facility. If you have any questions about parking, please go to the Campus Police Department, located in the Davis Parking Facility.

During summer months, parking is available in the Founder’s Lot, adjacent to Houghton Chapel. There is no guard/attendant during the summer. If additional space is needed, please use the Davis Parking Facility. Please remind your guests that their cars must be moved from the parking facilities immediately following your rehearsal and ceremony to accommodate the next scheduled event.

Fees for Wellesley College Affiliate     

Houghton Chapel Ceremony - $1500.00

Multifaith Center Ceremony - $1000.00

Alumnae Hall Event Lawn

Ceremony - $1500.00

Reception (separate fee from the ceremony) - $1500.00

Fees for Non-Wellesley College Affiliate

Houghton Chapel Ceremony - $2000.00

Multifaith Center Ceremony - $1500.00

Alumnae Hall Event Lawn

Ceremony - $2000.00

Reception (separate fee from the ceremony) - $2000.00

The fee includes rental of the space with Custodial and Chapel Representative, including 1-hour rehearsal time, and 3-hour allotted ceremony time (generally 1 hour prior to service for arrivals, 1 hour for service and 1 hour for after service).

A non-refundable deposit of 50% is required to confirm and hold the date and time. Full payment and completed ceremony contract are due THREE months prior to the date of your ceremony.

Officiant

Ceremonies at Wellesley College may arrange for outside clergy or other authorized persons to perform services. Outside clergy or other authorized persons performing your ceremony must be approved by the Office of Religious & Spiritual Life. You must make your own financial arrangements with your Officiant. The fee must be paid in full prior to the ceremony. Members of the Wellesley College Office of Religious and Spiritual Life may also be available to preside at these ceremonies, as their schedule permits. The fee is $500 for preparation and celebration of the ceremony. To inquire about the availability of Chaplains for this purpose, please contact the Office Manager.

Custodial

Wellesley College Custodial Services will open the Chapel and be on duty for your scheduled rehearsal and for one hour prior to your scheduled ceremony start time. The facility fee listed above includes a standard setup. Any nonstandard setup will be subject to an additional fee, which will be discussed and confirmed with the renter prior to the date of your ceremony.

A nonstandard setup in the Chapel (i.e. special placement of the chapel chairs) may incur additonal fees. These special requests require additional custodial staff at an over-time rate, on average ranging between $150 to $300. Special setups require at least 4 weeks notice prior to your ceremony, to ensure that the proper work-order can be placed and completed.

Flowers

You must make your own vendor arrangements for flowers and runners. Your florist may deliver flowers one hour prior to your ceremony. Flowers may be placed on the worship table, provided the wood is protected, or on standing holders, which must be supplied by your florist. You are responsible for removing all flowers from the Chapel after the ceremony. Runners are usually acquired through your florist. The center aisle in the chapel is 90 feet long.

Music

The clergy person who is officiating at your ceremony must approve all musical selections to be performed. 

Courtesy and professional etiquette require that the Wellesley College Organist (or their designate) play at all ceremonies that use the Chapel Fisk Organ. The services of the Organist do not automatically come with booking a ceremony, and require a professional fee.  You must contact the Organist about playing for your ceremony. The Organist will be glad to help you engage the services of an instrumentalist or vocalist for your ceremony, or to work with a soloist of your choosing. Contracting the Organist and/or other musicians is recommended at least six months in advance.

You must make your own financial arrangements with the Organist or musican(s). Musician fees must be paid in full prior to the ceremony. Often the planning of the music can be handled via telephone or e-mail. For services involving several soloists or a complicated liturgy, a personal consultation is advised. Rehearsal time must be planned around the schedule of the Organist and availability of the space with the College, and may be subject to an additional custodial fee.

For additional needs for microphones and speakers, please see the Preferred Vendor Lists.