Reserving the Chapel 

The historic UVA Chapel can host weddings, memorial services, meetings and special events for up to 250 guests. Please use the following links to learn more information about how the Chapel can suit your needs. 

The UVA Chapel is currently undergoing renovations and will be unable to host events until August, 2023.

Wedding Reservations
All other Meetings and Events
Fees
Additional Information (Parking, addresses, and equipment)
Regulations
Additional Services (Cross, sound system, organists)
History of the Chapel

Wedding Reservations

Reservation requests for weddings in the UVA Chapel are now being accepted on a first-come first serve basis for the remainder of 2022. The Chapel will be closed for renovations from January 1 – August 30, 2023. The reservation portal for weddings in 2023 will reopen next spring. 

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All Other Meetings and Events

All other requests for the Chapel should be made as for any other meeting or event space. The request must be made at least three business days in advance and no further in advance than is allowed for departments and student groups (see our announcements section on the home page). Additionally, for christenings, baptisms, memorials and funerals, affiliation with the University is required.

Please make sure to check all information on Chapel regulations and fees to ensure your reservation can be approved. 

Faculty, Staff, Student Login

Use this portal if you are with a department or student group and would like to use the chapel for a meeting or event.

External Client Space Request

Use this portal if you are affiliated with UVA and want to request the Chapel for a christening, baptism, memorial service or funeral.

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Fees

Chapel reservations, and the fee schedule, are for two (2) hours. Additional time may be added at half of the fee for each additional hour. Your reservation includes setup, ceremony and breakdown (i.e., you must stay within the reserved time). It also includes a one-hour rehearsal – the date and time of which should be included in your request.

Payment

You will receive an invoice from UVA Accounts Receivable and will have 30 days to make a payment. Otherwise, we may cancel your reservation.

Cancellations

All cancellations must be made via email. Paid weddings will receive a 50% refund if cancelled in writing 90 days or more before the reservation date. If the cancellation is made less than 90 days before the reservation date, a refund will not be issued.

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Additional Information

Please note that we respect the privacy of all parties who reserve the Chapel. We will neither provide contact information nor communicate on behalf of one client with another except in the case of emergency situations.

The chapel does not offer dressing rooms. However, there is a small room located on the right wing near the back of the chapel, as well as a small office to the right of the altar, that can be used as a waiting room.

The University Chapel does not have restrooms. The closest restrooms are located in Alderman Library or Newcomb Hall.

Facility and Equipment Description:

The Chapel has front door wheelchair access, as well as A/C and heat. There is a foyer in the entrance with a wooden table. The chapel seats 250 people. The bell tower is located on the right side of the Chapel. There are 17 pews on one side and 18 pews on the other side of the center aisle (58 ft long x 62 in wide). In the front, there are 6 short pews on the left and 5 short pews on the right of the aisle. There is a 2 manual skinner pipe organ, a brass lectern, 4 large wooden altar chairs, and a wooden altar table (6 ft 2 in wide, 2 ft deep, 3 ft high). The Chapel stage area is approximately 32 feet wide and 13 feet deep. Extra armless chairs – 8 wooden fold-up chairs in right side room, 4 padded stacking chairs in the room to the right of the altar (they cannot be put in an aisle).

Address

Invitation Address:
The University of Virginia Chapel on the corner of University Avenue and McCormick Road

Directions Address:
200 McCormick Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22903

Building Hours

The Chapel is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.

Parking

Parking may be available in the six spaces along McCormick Road next to the chapel. Due to the high volume of traffic at the Chapel, parties must clear the spaces when their reservation has ended. Parking availability is limited Monday through Friday before 5 pm.

To reserve parking spaces, please send a request at least two business weeks prior to your event date.

For questions or more information, please email the Special Events Coordinator at Parking and Transportation at [email protected] to make reservations.

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Regulations

No food or beverages may be taken into the chapel.

Decorations may be hung on the pews.  No stapling, gluing or taping to any surface, including the pews, is permitted. Items left behind will be disposed of immediately.

Pianos are not allowed in the chapel. There are no exceptions. Only electric keyboards or other instruments may be used.

No rice, birdseed, confetti or any substance may be thrown in or outside of the chapel.  Bubbles may be used outside of the chapel. ONLY dried flowers may be dropped on a runner.

Candles (Memorials and Weddings Only):

• Only dripless candles may be used. Any wax dripped on the carpet will incur a $250 cleaning fee. (Under no circumstance may student organizations use candles in the Chapel)
• Candles must be stationary (not hand held) in candelabras or on a table top in candle holders.
• Candles, including candelabras, may not be put in the aisles or on window sills per fire code. No aisle may be blocked in any way per fire code.
• Candles must be removed carefully so that the hot wax does not spill on any surface.
• Candles must be removed and taken out of the chapel after use.
• Suggestion: Use battery candles or consult with your florist.

Runners and candelabras are to be provided by your florist.

Florists must remove all equipment, candles and litter before reservation ends.

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Additional Services

Chapel Cross

A Stanislav Makielski designed cross is in a display case on the organ side of the University Chapel. It is 12” x 24”. For those who do not prefer to have the cross on display, we will keep the wooden case door closed. Otherwise, please let your Event Coordinator know whether you would like the cross to be displayed in the case with the door open, or taken out and placed on the altar.

Sound System

The University Chapel is equipped with a sound system that includes a wireless microphone, wireless lavalier (lapel) microphone, one corded goose neck microphone, and an mp3 cable that may be rented (see fees).

For your ceremony, the lavalier (lapel) microphone will be placed on the altar table and the other microphones can be placed on stands or on the lectern. You may move the equipment at your discretion but please make sure to leave all equipment in the chapel prior to your departure.

Special Approval is required if you would like to bring equipment into the chapel. Student organizations may use sound equipment from the Student Activity Center at no additional cost.

Organ

The University Chapel is equipped with an Aeolian-2 manual Skinner pipe organ. The organ is equipped with 124 memory levels for setting pistons. If you select to use the organ please remember to stop by the Event Planning Services Office in Newcomb Hall, Room 436, the week of your ceremony to check out an organ key.

Organist

It is the responsibility of the bride and groom to contract with an organist. The ODOS Event Planning Services Office has no affiliation with this service.

The organists listed here charge a flat fee of $300. This includes one consultation, the wedding rehearsal, the ceremony, and any time required to rehearse with a soloist if you have hired one. A $50 fee applies for any additional meetings, additional soloists or more than three solo pieces to accompany. If you wish to consult with more than one organist, an additional fee may apply. A deposit may be required at the time of engaging the services of the organist. The total fee is due to the organist two weeks in advance of the wedding rehearsal.

Pre-Approved Organists for UVA Chapel

Any organist not listed above must receive prior approval. To receive approval, submit a brief description of the organist’s training and experience by email to [email protected]

The organist may call or email the Event Planning Services Office, (434) 924-7225, to reserve a one hour organ rehearsal time.

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History of the Chapel

For more information on the history of the University Chapel, this document (pdf) may provide some insight.

UVA’s student newspaper, the Cavalier Daily, wrote an article published on February 11, 2016 delineating the University Chapel’s history. You can find the full article here.

The Chapel doors are set to automatically unlock each day, in conjunction with Newcomb Hall Building hours.