Dinwiddie Chapel

Peace College is pleased to make available the James Dinwiddie Chapel for weddings of our alumnae. Contact Director of Visitor Services Rebecca Leggett at (919) 508-2044 or rleggett@peace.edu to schedule your wedding at the Dinwiddie Chapel or with any visitor related questions.

GUIDELINES FOR USE OF DINWIDDIE CHAPEL FOR WEDDINGS
1. Dates: Wedding dates are arranged in writing through the Office of Visitor Services, Rebecca Leggett. The following should be included in the written request: the bride's address, daytime phone number, year of graduation or attendance, date and time of wedding, date and time of wedding rehearsal, and the groom’s name. Weddings are scheduled and confirmed on the calendar once a written request is received. Requests sent via email or fax are acceptable. A confirming letter and contract will be mailed to you upon receipt of your written request. Please return the contract within thirty days, acknowledging that you agree to the requirements noted below, and dates by which we need certain information and payments.

2. Fees: There is a charge of $300 for use of the Chapel and ancillary facilities, and a $500 refundable security fee/damage deposit. Please return the payment for the rental and deposit with your signed contract. The deposit amount will be refunded by Peace College within 10 days following the wedding, and upon satisfactory inspection of the Chapel for any damage or excessive decorations and debris left behind.

3. Facility and Services: The capacity of the Chapel is 250. The rental fee includes the services of our departments of 1) Environmental Services to clean the facilities before and after both the rehearsal and wedding; 2) Maintenance to provide appropriate climate control as much as possible and facility maintenance needs; 3) Security to provide access to the facilities, ensure the safety of guests, and assist wedding party members and guests with directions to and use of the Chapel; and finally, 4) Visitor Services in reserving the facilities, the coordination of logistical details, and assistance with questions and needs by the wedding party prior to the wedding day.

The College does not provide staff persons to assist or supervise on the day of the wedding, thus we recommend that you hire a wedding planner or coordinator to assist you and your family & guests during the wedding. It is also recommended that wedding consultants, coordinators and directors contact the Office of Visitor Services several weeks prior to the ceremony to review questions about these guidelines and the facility.

4. Access: To insure prompt access to the facility at your arrival times for the rehearsal and wedding, and for any other planning purpose visits, we suggest that you call Security at (919) 833-2277 before reaching campus, especially during campus holidays, summer, and weekend hours. Facilities are not unlocked until the first wedding party member or serviceperson arrives. Also, if emergencies occur during your visit, please call this number to ask for assistance with any facility-related or other need. A telephone is provided in the Faculty/Staff lounge on first floor Main for guests’ use (dial “9” to obtain a line before dialing local or 1-800 numbers), or if a receptionist is on duty, she may help you with questions or needs, or calling Security.

5. Decorations: Decorations in the Chapel must not cause any damage or leave debris.
• Confetti and rice are not permitted in the building.
• Drip-free candles only, not wax, may be used and lighted in the Chancel only, but may not be carried into the sanctuary, down the aisles, attached to pew ends, or placed in the windowsills.
• Candles on the communion table are available for use during weddings.
• Battery-operated candles are recommended for use in windowsills.
• No items may be taped or wired to pews or other furniture.
• Whenever necessary to change the paraments from the seasonal color to white for weddings, please replace existing paraments and any other adornments which were in place in when you arrived, following your wedding.
• Additionally, if hymnals are removed from pews or furniture moved temporarily, please return them to their original location.
• The College can provide a kneeling bench and podium for the guest registry, if requested in advance.
• Please alert your florist that the College does not provide any items such as candelabra, plant stands, candle lighters, or other furniture or accessory items to supplement the existing Chapel decor.
• If floral decorations are placed on the communion table, they should be constructed so as to provide the organist a clear view of the Chapel aisle.
Failure to return any items, including furniture, which have been moved, back to their original location will result in forfeiture of the security deposit.

6. Dressing: It is recommended that wedding party members arrive on campus already attired for the wedding as much as possible, as spacious facilities for dressing are unavailable. If dressing facilities are desired, however, they include (ON MAIN FIRST FLOOR) a small women's restroom on the west office wing (located directly underneath the Chapel), the Faculty/Staff lounge and, during the academic year (mid-August through mid-May), Frazier 104 Conference Room. For weddings held from mid-May (after graduation) through mid-August (prior to students’ return) brides and attendants may use the second floor Main long hall restroom and hallway for dressing purposes, as long as there are no residential conference guests in that space.

For male members of the wedding party, a small men's restroom is available on the first floor of Main Building and the ground floor of Frazier Hall, adjacent to Main on the east side; however, due to the small space available, male members of the wedding party especially are advised to arrive attired for the wedding. No offices are available for dressing and assembly; please do not ask Security to open offices for any purpose. Use of the Blue Parlor or Williams Board Room for dressing purposes will result in forfeiture of the security deposit and additional charges assessed if damages occur. Please notify your wedding party IN ADVANCE of this policy.

7. Assembly: The Parlor directly adjacent to the Chapel may be used for assembly of the bridal party and for photography ONLY. It is not available for dressing, dining, or for supervision of children during the ceremony, and will be unlocked approximately one-two hours prior to the wedding, unless requested in advance to be unlocked at an earlier time. The Board Room adjacent to the Parlor will remain locked at all times and is not available for any use. Male members of the wedding party (groom, best man and minister) may use Main Parlor as an assembly site prior to entering the Chapel from the east side fire escape stairwell.

8. Receptions: The College permits rental use of Main Parlor for receptions involving 75 or fewer guests, and if coordinated well in advance on the College calendar, and by separate contract. The caterer for receptions is ARAMARK-Peace College Dining Services. Outside catering is not permitted, except for specialty cakes. In your request letter, please indicate if you are interested in renting Main Parlor for this part of your ceremony. Receptions will be scheduled based upon and in coordination with the College calendar, and thus all requests may not be able to be accepted.

9. Rehearsal Dinners: The College permits rental of the President’s Dining Room for rehearsal dinners involving 45 or fewer guests, if coordinated well in advance on College calendar, and by separate contract. The caterer for dinners is ARAMARK-Peace College Dining Services. Outside catering is not permitted, except for specialty cakes. In your request letter, please indicate if you are interested in renting the President’s Dining Room for this aspect of your ceremony. Dinners will be scheduled based upon and in coordination with the College calendar, and thus all requests may not be able to be accepted.

10. Officiant: The College welcomes clergy of your choosing to officiate your wedding.

11. Wedding Music: The College Organist is Ms. Virginia Vance, who provides music for weddings upon advance request. When unavailable, she will advise the name of an alternate organist from our list of those trained to perform on the delicate and historic instrument. Please contact Ms. Vance directly at 508-2296 to discuss her availability and fee schedule.

12. Climate Control: The heat or air conditioning is turned on, as appropriate to the season, prior to the ceremony and rehearsal. Every attempt will be made to insure your comfort, recognizing the limitations of an historic structure such as Main Building and its systems. Security officers on duty will assist with unlocking and locking facilities as needed. Should there be a need to contact Security staff directly, please dial (919) 833-2277 to reach the officers 24 hours per day from either on or off-campus.

13. Alcohol/Refreshments: Peace College policy prohibits alcoholic beverages on campus. Please inform wedding party members of this policy in advance of your ceremony. The use of alcoholic beverages on campus before, during or after your ceremony will result in forfeiture of the damage deposit.

If you wish to provide light refreshments for wedding party members prior to the wedding, please utilize the Faculty/Staff lounge on Main Building, first floor, if not being used for dressing purposes. Please do not provide any food or beverages in the Blue Parlor or Chapel. Providing refreshments in these areas will result in forfeiture of the damage deposit, and additional charges for cleaning.

14. Cancellation: Should there be a need to cancel or change any aspect of the ceremony, please notify Mrs. Leggett as soon as you are aware of the cancellation or change. Should you decide to cancel your wedding, your rental and deposit fee payments will be returned to you, if you cancel prior to sixty (60) business days from the original wedding date. Less than sixty business days’ notice, your damage deposit only will be refunded.

We are delighted that you have chosen Dinwiddie Chapel as the location for this special moment in your life.

We wish you Peace...