Weddings at Paris-Yates Chapel

Use of the Paris-Yates Chapel for weddings shall be available only to: current students and their immediate families, alumni and their immediate families, current faculty and staff and their immediate families, and retired faculty and staff and their immediate families.

Weddings may be scheduled on available Saturdays between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM. All setup, decorations, other preparations, and cleanup must take place within this window.

• Available days: Saturdays only (Check our Chapel calendar)
• Unavailable dates: University holidays and home football games
• One wedding per Saturday.

Reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the date and time your reservation form is submitted.

Reservations can only be made one year in advance, starting on the first day of the month of your desired wedding date.

Example: For a wedding on July 20, 2099, submit your reservation starting July 1, 2098.

Weddings may also be booked as late as two weeks before the desired date, subject to availability.

To reserve Paris-Yates Chapel for a wedding:

1. Check availability for Saturdays on the Chapel Calendar.
2. Submit a Reservation Form.

To secure your wedding date, you’ll need: 

• Full names of both parties getting married
• Affiliation with the University as student, faculty, staff, or alumni
• A non-refundable fee (see Payment section)
• Requested date & time 
• A signed contract agreement to follow all policies and guidelines for use of the Paris-Yates Chapel.

The undersigned must pay a total fee of $1,500 for the use of the Chapel. This includes:

• A non-refundable deposit of $500 due at reservation. 
• A remaining $1,000 balance due 30 days before the ceremony. 

Make checks payable to: The University of Mississippi

Mail payments to:
Office of Professional Development, Events and Services
Division of Outreach and Continuing Education
Jackson Ave Center, Ste. L, Office L08
P.O. Box 1848
University, MS 38677-1848

The Main Chapel has 30 pews and a maximum capacity of 200 people. No food or drinks are allowed inside. 

There are two spaces that may be used as dressing areas: 

• Primary space: Auxiliary building, a small building on the north side of the chapel. The auxiliary building has a refrigerator and sink where you may store food & drink for the wedding party. No alcohol is allowed on Chapel grounds.
• Secondary space: Meditation room, to the right side of the chapel stage. 

The connecting Quadrangle and fountain immediately behind the Chapel cannot be reserved for weddings or receptions. 

Note: Balcony access is not permitted, even to photographers during the ceremony.

Yes, your reservation includes both a walk-through and a rehearsal. 

• Rehearsals are scheduled the Friday before the wedding.
• You may also schedule a walk-through of the chapel.
• To schedule: Designate one contact person for all communication with the Director.
  Email the Chapel Director at chapel@olemiss.edu to arrange a date and time (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)

To see the Chapel before your final walk-through, learn more about planning your visit.

• Food and beverages are prohibited in the main Chapel, and no alcoholic beverages may be served on the Chapel grounds. 
• Communion is allowed in the chapel between the couple. 
• Snacks and beverages may be used by the wedding party in the auxiliary building while preparing for the wedding but must be part of the cleanup after the ceremony. 

Reservations can be cancelled by using the cancellation form.

Yes, the Chapel has a Bluetooth-compatible music system that may be used with a cellphone. The wedding party is responsible for operating this equipment during the event.

There are two built-in microphones located at the permanent podiums. These are turned on by University staff for both the rehearsal and the wedding.

Piano
Yes, upon request. Contact the Chapel Director to have the piano unlocked for your rehearsal. After use, the piano must be returned to the Mediation Room (left of the stage).

Organ
Yes, an approved organist may play the chapel organ and/or carillon. A list of approved organists will be provided after your reservation is confirmed.

Yes. The University’s Department of Music is a great resource for musicians and vocalists. Any fees for musicians are paid directly to the musicians by the wedding party.

The bells cannot be used to play “Wedding Bells” or custom chimes. They chime automatically on the hour and half-hour unless silenced by request.