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Additional Details

General Information

Shove Memorial Chapel is an integral part of Colorado College. The campus is home to about 1,900 students, as well as the faculty and staff who make this a place of learning and discovery.Chapel policies reflect the educational context of this private, residential, liberal arts institution.

As an inter-faith college chapel (rather than a local church), the Chapel's primary responsibility is to the Colorado College community. Thus, we cannot provide on-campus facilities for private wedding receptions or parties.However, the chapel building is available for a limited number of private wedding ceremonies, as the academic schedule permits. Please be aware that there may be college or community functions taking place in the grassy area directly west of the chapel and that the chapel does not have control over that scheduling.

The Chapel Code

A wedding at Shove Chapel for CC affiliated persons (bride, groom, or parents/grandparents on either side are alumni, currently matriculated, or currently employed) currently costs $200.00. For those without CC affiliation, a wedding at Shove Chapel costs $800.00. This fee includes:

  • four hours of Chapel use:1 hour for the rehearsal and 3 hours on the day of the wedding (11/2 hours prior to and 11/2 hours after the start of the wedding ceremony);
  • the logistical services of the chapel assistant at the rehearsal and the wedding;
  • any sound system or amplification equipment desired, including microphones and CD/audio cassette player;
  • the use of the grand piano and any chancel furniture you desire (table, lectern, pulpit);
  • use of the floor-standing unity candle holder with two dripless tapers (you supply the unity candle).

For CC-affiliated weddings, payment of the fee of $200 is requested within two weeks of your wedding reservation to secure the date/time. For non-affiliated persons, a $200.00 deposit is requested within two weeks of your wedding reservation to secure the date and time. The balance is due two months before the wedding date.

If you wish, you may schedule a meeting prior to your rehearsal with the Chapel Manager, Linda Madden, during weekday office hours. Linda will be happy to show you around the Chapel, discuss lighting and sound system options, and address any other concerns or questions you have about the Chapel. Alternatively, these discussions can happen over the phone or at the rehearsal.

Especially in spring and summer months, wedding scheduling is very tight, with several weddings each weekend! For this reason, it is very important that your rehearsal and your wedding ceremony begin and end at the designated times. Decorating prior to your reserved time is not allowed.

Please do your best to make sure all of the participants are here on time and that everyone in your party exits the Chapel promptly at the end of your reserved times.

An additional charge of $60.00 per hour (or part of) may be assessed if the reserved times are exceeded by anyone in your party, including photographers and ministers.

You may rent our 7-candle candelabras (including dripless candles) for $20.00 each. "Pewlabras" are available from local florists or rental companies.

Birdseed may be thrown outside the Chapel, but no rice, streamers, or paper products of any kind are permitted. Scattering of anything, including flowers or petals, is not allowed inside the Chapel.

No consumption of alcoholic beverages is allowed inside the Chapel or on the adjacent grounds.

Your respect for the beauty and majesty of this sacred place will create a splendid wedding day!

Organists and Fees

The Colorado College Organist usually plays for weddings in Shove Chapel. In cases where he is not available, another local organist with experience playing this instrument will be suggested. In some instances, professional organists known to the wedding party may receive permission to play for that particular wedding. Please contact the Chapel Manager for more information.

There are generally four parts of wedding music planning for which fees may be charged:

  1. Musical consultation ($50 pe hour): The organist discusses music choices for the wedding, normally by phone and/or with an audio tape.
  2. Soloist rehearsal ($50 per rehearsal): The organist has a working rehearsal (usually about an hour long) with the soloist(s) to set tempos and balance and to perfect the presentation.
  3. Wedding rehearsal ($50): The organist is present at the wedding rehearsal to play the processionaland recessional.
  4. Wedding ($200): The organist plays for the wedding, including a 20 to 25 minute pre-service recital, processional, recessional, and/or incidental organ music during the service.

you should contact thte College Organist about two months prior to your wedding date. Financial arragements for payment are agreements made between the musician and the wedding party.

Frank Shelton
College Organist
(719) 630-8114
Baps27@msn.com