Wedding Ceremony Booklet

WEDDINGS
Mead Memorial Chapel
Middlebury College

Please read through this booklet carefully!

The Chapel plays an active role in the College and therefore its programming and appearance are subject to many changes during the academic and liturgical seasons. We will do our best to inform you of any Chapel, College or community event that may coincide with your wedding date or place unusual demands upon the Chapel's appearance or accessibility. Though not likely, unusual circumstances may disrupt reservations made months or even years in advance.

Due to the increased use of the chapel for all kinds of events, we now very rarely schedule weddings during the academic year.  We would be happy to assist you in reserving summertime dates for your ceremony.

The Chaplain or the Chaplain's Assistant, is available to answer questions regarding Mead Chapel. If you have questions not addressed in this publication, please phone the Chaplain's office at (802) 443-5626 and we will direct your call to the appropriate person.

Mead Memorial Chapel is available to Middlebury College alumni, faculty, staff and their children.  To make a reservation for your wedding ceremony and rehearsal, please call the Chaplain's office at (802) 443-5626.  Reservations may be made as early as one year in advance.

To confirm your booking, you must return the Chapel fee, the Wedding Confirmation form (contract), and the Hold Harmless Agreement form (enclosed with this booklet) to the office. Your tentative reservation will be held for 30 days. If you are not able to confirm your booking within 30 days, but would like to hold the date and time, please contact the Chaplain's office.

One hour is scheduled for each rehearsal. Two hours are scheduled for each wedding. Additional time may be added to your wedding reservation for a charge of $75/hour.

You and your guests will have access to the Chapel one half hour before the ceremony. Example: if your wedding ceremony is at 4 PM, your reservation for the Chapel space begins at 3:30 and continues until 5:30 PM.

If you must cancel your reservation, please inform the Chaplainís office as soon as possible. Full refunds will be made if the cancellation occurs prior to 3 months before the reservation date.

TIMES FOR REHEARSALS AND WEDDINGS

Rehearsals Fridays, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Saturdays, 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Weddings: Fridays, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Saturdays, 10:00 AM - 7:30 PM

Sundays, 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM (academic year)

11:00 am - 6:00 PM (summer)

Arrangements may be made for weddings and rehearsals on days other than Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Ask the Chaplainís office for details.

A maximum of two weddings may be scheduled in one day, please be prompt and considerate of others' reservation time.

It is the responsibility of the couple to arrange for a cleric or justice of the peace to officiate.

CLERGY AT MEAD CHAPEL

The Rev. Laurel M. Jordan, College Chaplain, is available to officiate at weddings upon consultation. She may require a series of conferences with the couple prior to the ceremony. To make an appointment with Laurie, please call the Chaplain's office at (802) 443-5626.

GUEST CLERGY

A minister, priest, or rabbi holding ordained status in their denomination or a justice of the peace is welcome to officiate at your wedding in Mead Chapel. However, special arrangements pertaining to particular religions may have to be made. Please check with the local congregation of the church with whom your officiant is affiliated. (Example: St. Mary's Catholic church has certain protocols for visiting priests in the area.)

If the cleric performing your wedding is not licensed in the state of Vermont, by state ordinance, the cleric must write a letter stating his/her formal education, date and place of ordination, by whom he/she was ordained, as well as their present standing in the church. This letter must be signed by the cleric. The bride and groom must write a letter requesting that this cleric be permitted to perform the ceremony. Include in the letter the date, time and location of the ceremony. Both letters should be mailed (together if possible) no later than one month prior to the wedding, to:

Addison County Courthouse

Middlebury, VT 05753

After you have purchased your marriage license at the Town Clerk's office, you must go to the courthouse where they will issue a permit for the cleric, and attach it to your license. Please call (802) 388-2612, ahead of time to ensure that the permit has been prepared.

MUSIC, SOUND & LIGHTS

ARRANGING FOR AN ORGANIST

Emory Fanning, the College Organist, is often available to play the organ at weddings. If he is unavailable, the wedding party should contact the organists listed in the Directory. Organists generally do not attend wedding rehearsals, but will meet with couples, musicians, or soloists as necessary.

The Organ (Gress-Miles, 1970) for use within Mead Memorial Chapel is a large instrument with three keyboards and pedal board controlling 48 sets of pipes. Guest organists must have experience with such classical organs.

Mr. Fanning must be contacted directly at (802) 443-5607 regarding all guest organists as instruction for its use may be necessary.

OTHER MUSIC

Contact Mr. Fanning at (802) 443-5607 directly for any questions pertaining to musical apparatus or acoustics.

The Dragone Carillon (1986, 48 notes) located in the tower is available for qualified players. A practice clavier is located in the basement green room. Ask Mr. Fanning for further details.

SOUND SYSTEM

Microphones are located in each of the podiums on the chancel. The Chapel is equipped with a cassette player for taped music. Controls for sound are located in the cabinet just inside the sanctuary as you enter the front of the chapel. Even when locked, the on/off button can be accessed through the cut out in the cabinet. Direct specific questions regarding sound to Emory Fanning (802) 443-5607.

LIGHTS

Light switch panels are located behind the organ console and near the stairway at the rear of the chapel.

There is one rest room for both men and women within the Chapel. There are both men's and women's rest rooms in lower Proctor. Enter the lower door of Proctor which is visible as you exit the back door of Mead Chapel.

There are no facilities within the Chapel for changing into wedding attire. Please make arrangements to do so at another location.

The groom and groomsmen may await the beginning of the ceremony in the hallway or green room located in the lower level of the Chapel.

Proctor Road, directly behind the Chapel, will be opened at the beginning of your reservation time and will be closed at its completion. If a problem occurs during weekend hours, please call Campus Security at 443-5911.

DELIVERIES

Deliveries may be made to the Chapel via the back door. Entrance is made from Hepburn Road directly behind the Chapel. Deliveries may take place at the beginning of your reservation time, one half hour before your ceremony. Make special arrangements with the Chaplain's office if earlier delivery is necessary.

PARKING

The wedding party and guests may park along both sides of Hepburn Road behind the Chapel. Parking for guests is also available on Old Chapel Road at the base of the Chapel hill, at marked locations on both sides of Route 125, and directly across the road in the Adirondack house parking area.

HANDICAPPED ACCESS

Mead Memorial Chapel is accessible to physically challenged persons via a ramp attached to the side of the building.

On occasion, the College must erect a chancel extension for special events. This extension is fashioned to match the decor of the rest of the Chapel and accommodates larger wedding and civil union parties.

Facilities management may require a fee for all special arrangements involving the chapel's interior. To avoid higher weekend charges, please direct all requests to the Chaplain's office at (802) 443-5626 as early as possible.

FLOWERS

The wedding party provides their own floral arrangements for their ceremony. Though we require that all decorations be kept to a minimum, flowers and/or bows may be hooked, clipped, or draped to the ends of the pews. Most florists will supply the devices necessary for safe attachment. We ask that nothing be stuck on, into or taped to the pews or any other surface within the Chapel.

FURNISHINGS, AISLE RUNNERS, CANDLES & RICE, ETC.

No fixed furnishing or ornaments in the church may be covered or removed except the cross on the altar which may be covered by the Hebrew tablet.

Aisle runners are permitted in the Chapel. The length of the aisle from doorway to altar steps is approximately sixty feet.

Due to fire laws, candles may only be used within the context of the wedding ceremony such as a "Unity Candle." Candlelight services are not permitted.

For your own protection, rice, confetti, balloons, birdseed, rose petals, etc. may not be thrown or released inside the Chapel, on the outside steps or on the sidewalks around the Chapel.

All decorations must be set up and removed completely within your two hour reservation period. Again, please be considerate of other wedding/civil union parties.

Photographs in the church before or after the service must be completed within the two hours allotted for your reservation. A list of local photographers can be found in the Directory.

It is the Chapel's policy that no flash or other photographic illumination for picture taking be used during the actual ceremony. We ask this with respect to the solemnity of your marriage vows and the Chapel sanctuary. You are welcome to take pictures during the processional and recessional of your service. Please inform your guests of our policy.

Your entire service may be videotaped with a stationary camera with existing lighting only. Neither the Chapel office nor the department of Audio-Visual Services are available to do video or audio recordings of weddings and civil unions.

LOCATIONS ON CAMPUS AND IN THE COMMUNITY

Mead Memorial Chapel has no facilities for receptions. However, facilities are sometimes available to alumni, students, faculty or staff at various places on the College campus. To check availability, please call the scheduling officer for each location choice. The scheduling officer is listed in the Directory.

Suggestions for other reception locations in the area can also be found in the Directory.

CATERING

The College will sometimes cater receptions located on campus if the wedding party is or has been affiliated with the College. Call the catering office at (802) 443-5347.

Suggestions for other caterers in the area can be found in the Directory.

Middlebury College cannot provide lodging for wedding parties or their guests. A list of local inns, motels and bed & breakfasts can be found in the Directory. If further information is needed, please call the Addison County Chamber of Commerce at (802) 388-7951.

COLLEGE AFFILIATED FEE FOR MEAD MEMORIAL CHAPEL - 2 HOURS

The bride or groom is an alumni, student, faculty or staff member of the College, or a child of a faculty or staff member of the College: $200

EACH ADDITIONAL HOUR: $75

Make checks payable to Mead Memorial Chapel and send to the Chaplain's office. Full refunds are made if cancellations occur within 3 months of the wedding.

ADDITIONAL FEES:

The College reserves the right to erect the staging for special college functions. Please notify the Chaplain's office if you would like chancel staging removed or erected. Anyone wishing to change the status of Mead Chapel's interior may be subject to the fees set by facilities management.

HONORARIA FOR CLERGY, JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND MUSICIANS

Clergy and Justices of the Peace

Clergy and Justices of the Peace are traditionally given an honorarium for their services. Honorarium varies according to the individual officiant. Frequently called upon Clergy and Justices of the Peace in the area can be found in the Directory. Checks should be made payable to the officiant performing the ceremony.

The Organist

Professor Emory Fanning, College Organist: $200.Payment must be received prior to the ceremony.  Make checks payable to Emory Fanning.

Guest Organist/Musicians

Honorarium varies according to the organist/musician. Organist choices are listed in the Directory. Permission for a guest organist must be obtained from Professor Emory Fanning as instruction for the organs' use may be necessary. Payment is made directly to the organist/musician prior to the ceremony.

Addison County Chamber of Commerce (802) 388-7951

Addison County Probate Court (802) 388-2612

Brandon Town Clerk (802) 247-5721

Bristol Town Clerk (802) 453-2486

Middlebury College (802) 443-5000

Middlebury Town Clerk (802) 388-8102

Mead Memorial Chapel Office (802) 443-5626

Security for the College (802) 443-5911

Vergennes City Clerk (802) 877-2841

CAMPUS SPACE RESERVATIONS

Scheduling (802) 443-5772

CLERGY

Wayne Holsman (802) 388-7647

Steven Jewett (802) 388-4067

Laurel M. Jordan, Chaplain to the College (802) 443-5626

Dr. Augustus Jordan, (802) 388-8360

Larry Yarbrough (802) 388-4169

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE

Walter Richard Calhoun (802) 388-2534

Mary M. Hurlie* (802) 482-3927

Christine Mobley Ketcham (802) 388-7433

Peg Martin (802) 388-7697

Michael Olinick* (802) 443-5559

David Rosenberg* (802) 443-5612 (W) or (802) 338-6453 (H)

* denotes member of College Community

FLORISTS

Blossom Basket (802) 388-3900

Campus Flowers (802) 388-9868

Carr's Florist (802) 247-5727

Cheers! (802) 453-3655

Cole's Flowers & Frames (802) 388-7852

The Cottage Garden (802) 425-3192

BloomersGardenFlowers.com
karenhescock@hotmail.com
(802) 948-2434

LODGING

Blueberry Hill Inn (802) 247-6735

Blue Spruce (802) 388-4091

Brandon Inn (802) 247-5766

Brooksville Bed & Breakfast (802) 388-7744

By the Way Bed & Breakfast (802) 388-6291

The Chipman Inn (802) 388-2390

Churchill House Inn (877) 248-7444

The Greystone Motel (802) 388-4935

The Inn on the Green (802) 388-7512

The Lilac Inn (800) 221-0720 or (802) 247-5463 www.lilacinn.com

Linen's & Lace Bed & Breakfast (802) 388-0832 (weekends only)

Mary's at Baldwin Creek (802) 453-2432

The Middlebury Inn (802) 388-4961

The October Pumpkin (802) 388-9525

The Sugar House Motor Inn (802) 388-2770

The Swift House Inn (802) 388-9925

The Waybury Inn (802) 388-4015

The Whitford House (800) 746-2704

Willow & Lotus (802) 462-2519

MUSICIANS

Professor Emory Fanning, College Organist, Pianist (802) 443-5607

Samuel Guarnaccia, Classical Guitarist (802) 985-2917

David Gusakov, Violin/Chamber Music/Ensembles (802) 453-5725

William Kirby, Trumpet (802) 388-0267

Susan Mason, Organist/Pianist/Harp/Recorder (802) 462-2543

Kevin Parizo, Organist (802) 388-6971

Ann Rowell, Organist (802) 388-8410

Jen Stevenson, Violinist (academic year only) (802) 443-7032

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Green Mountain Photography (802) 862-8222 www.greenmountainphotography.com

Kristin Hirsch (802) 545-2149

Gillian Randall Photography (802) 425-4242 www.gillianrandall.com

Tad Merrick (802) 388-9598

Curtis Rhodes Photography, (800) 673-1213
www.crhodes.net

Loveworks Photographic
Christopher J. Clements
802-453-5988
www.loveworksphotographic.com

RECEPTIONS/CATERERS

Middlebury College Caterers (802) 443-5347

Basin Harbor Club (802) 475-2311

Blueberry Hill Inn (802) 247-6735

The Lilac Inn www.lilacinn.com (800) 221-0720 or (802) 247-5463

Martha's Catering (802) 545-2227

Mary's at Baldwin Creek (802) 453-2432

The Waybury Inn (802) 388-4015

TUXEDO RENTAL/BRIDAL ALTERATIONS

Shapiro's Department Store (802) 247-5505

Thread Connections (802) 388-9413

(tuxedo rental and bridal dress alterations and pressing)

TENT RENTAL

Celebration Rentals (802) 247-0002 or www.celebrateinvermont.com

VOCALISTS

Marguerite (Peg) Corbin (802) 388-4118

Chaplain's Office
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT 05753

Addison County Probate Court
Addison County Courthouse
Middlebury, VT 05753

Middlebury Town Clerk
94 Main Street
Middlebury, VT 05753

Chaplain's Office

Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT 05753

Mr. Emory Fanning
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT 05753