Hey guys!
I hope you’re all having a great start to your new year! As we are adjusting to the changes going on in the office (Farewell to Brittney and welcome to Kayli, our new Chapel Coordinator!) we thought it would be nice to share with y’all some answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). These will also have a special place in our new and improved chapel website as soon as it’s up and running. So without further adieu, here they are:
Who may be married at Robert Carr Chapel?
The Chapel is open to the entire community. TCU students, faculty, staff, and alum are offered a discount for weddings at the chapel. The discount only applies when the bride or groom is a member of the TCU community. Non-TCU affiliates are welcome to host their wedding in the Chapel as well.
How far out do you book?
Typically, we book wedding slots 12-18 months in advance. The evening slot from 5-8pm books first, and we frequently have morning and afternoon slots available without as much advanced notice. Please contact our office to check availability.
Why do you require requests in writing?
We require all requests in writing so that we can easily keep track of when dates have been requested as we are frequently overwhelmed with requests for dates. We will hold a slot for you for seven days before your deposit is required. If you are considering a date, please email us so that we have a written request to hold your slot.
What does the chapel fee include?
The chapel fee includes:
- A three-hour block for the wedding and one hour for the rehearsal
- A chapel coordinator to work with you throughout the wedding process, to run your rehearsal as needed, to coordinate your wedding in the chapel, and to work with outside coordinators as needed. Should you choose to hire a wedding planner, we will assist him/her as needed.
- Parking in a TCU campus lot (please note additional parking fee required on home football game fees)
- The services of a sound technician to address the sound needs of the minister, vocalists, etc
- Custodial services
How many people does the chapel seat?
The chapel can seat approximately 300 guests.
Can I play recorded music in the chapel?
Please see our Chapel Music Guidelines and Examples page. No recorded music is permitted in the chapel, and all music must be sacred or traditional in nature.
Can my flower girl toss flower petals down the aisle? Can we decorate with flower petals?
You are welcome to decorate with flower petals and have a flower girl toss petals, but please keep in mind that your party will be responsible for picking up the petals and we are unable to provide a broom. This is a task that little kids usually don’t mind helping with!
My reservation is from 2pm-5pm. What time can I arrive at the chapel?
You may arrive at the chapel at the start of your reservation time—- in this case, 2pm.
Can I arrive before my reservation to take photos or get ready at the chapel?
It is not permissible or possible to arrive before your reservation time. We have several weddings each Saturday, and we frequently host other events for TCU organizations in the chapel over the weekends as well. Many staff members are involved in making your special day possible: the chapel coordinator, the chapel intern, the TCU Police, TCU Facility Services, and more. Every wedding must stick to their chapel reservation slot.
Here is a typical timeline for a 5-8pm slot in the chapel:
5:00 Florist arrives and begins decorating; girls arrive and drop off items in dressing room
5:15 Bride and Bridesmaids take photos in chapel; boys arrive and wait in dressing room
5:40 Girls return to dressing room; groom and groomsmen take photos in chapel
6:00 All wedding party returns to dressing rooms; prelude music begins; guests arrive and ushers seat guests
6:30 Ceremony begins
7:00 Ceremony ends, photos begin
7:45 Photos wrap up and wedding party cleans out dressing room
Can I arrive to the dressing rooms earlier so that I can start getting ready sooner?
Because you cannot access the dressing rooms early, we highly encourage you to treat the dressing rooms as waiting rooms. You will need to arrive at the chapel dressed and ready to go (with the exception of the bride slipping on her dress if she chooses not to wear it while riding in the car) so that you can jump right into take photos.
What are the dressing rooms like?
The dressing rooms are two classrooms in Beasley Hall, a building adjacent to the chapel. We place several floor-length mirrors in the rooms so that you are able to make last-minute touch-ups.
Where do my guests park?
Guests park in the parking lot behind the chapel and Beasley Hall accessible from Princeton Avenue. Guests who have difficulty walking may be dropped off closer to the chapel, though there is no parking closer to the chapel.
If a football game is scheduled on your wedding day, please see the Weddings and TCU Football page.
Why do my vendors need to submit forms?
We require all vendors (florist, photographers, and videographers) sign paperwork and agree to follow our chapel policies. If your vendor has been to the chapel recently, we may have a form already on file for them. Please contact our office to find out if we have a form on file already.
How many pews are in the chapel?
Please see our Chapel Measurements page for information about pews, the length of the aisle, and more.
If I must postpone or cancel my wedding, will I get my money back?
We understand that postponing or cancelling a wedding can be stressful. Cancellations must be made in writing, and we refer to our chapel policies for our cancellation guidelines:
- All fees with be forfeited in the event that you cancel or reschedule less than nine months prior to your date.
- A refund, minus your $500 deposit, will be made only if cancellation is given in writing at least nine months before the facilities are to be used.
- Refunds will only be issued to the person who made the reservation & paid the original fee.
- If necessary, a wedding date or time may be rescheduled once if more than nine months from the original date. After that, any changes will be considered a cancellation and will require rebooking.
- The university does not permit guests to sell their wedding spot. The wedding contract is valid only for the bride and groom listed.
What is the physical address of the chapel to use on invitations?
Robert Carr Chapel
2855 South University Drive
Fort Worth, Texas 76129
Can I take a tour of the chapel on the weekend?
Because we host up to four weddings in the chapel each weekend, we are unable to provide tours of the chapel on Saturdays or Sundays. In addition, the chapel is closed whenever Texas Christian University is closed. The chapel is open weekdays from 8am-8pm, so you are welcome to pop in and take a peek whenever you would like. Please be respectful of any events that may be occurring in the chapel at that time. If you would prefer a guided tour, please contact our office to schedule an appointment during our weekly office hours, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.
Can I have my reception at TCU?
TCU is generally unable to host receptions on campus, though receptions can be held in the Harrison Building through Brite Divinity School. This space is only available for the last wedding slot of the day. If your wedding reception is very small (less than 60 guests), it may be possible to reserve the Harrison Building for morning and afternoon receptions. Please contact our office for more information
I know that’s a ton of info to put out there at once but if anything is unclear or if you have any other questions you can always email us at robertcarrchapel@tcu.edu!
xoxo
Kaci
