By Patricia Koch

Many of us remember hearing it at our first convocation freshman year. “Look to your left and right,” a dean of students told us. “Sixty percent (give or take) of you will marry someone you met right here at Whatever U.”  Incredible though it seemed then, experience has proven it’s true. College is prime time for finding a soul mate—and long after graduation we tend to bump into and connect with fellow alums.  

So it’s not surprising that many engaged couples wish to tie the knot on campus. The roadblock here in New Jersey is that most colleges only welcome students, alums, or faculty. Out of sixteen colleges and universities we interviewed recently, only three offer wedding venues for couples unaffiliated with the school: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in New Brunswick, whose Kirkpatrick Chapel is one of our state’s architectural gems; The College of New Jersey in Ewing, with its modern Spiritual Center; and Rowan University in Glassboro, which offers a ballroom and on-site catering.

Why don’t more campuses host weddings?  They may not have an elegant venue, they may have alcohol restrictions, or more likely, their facilities may be busy with students 24/7, leaving no spare time for outside rentals.

Jennifer Gradzki, conference coordinator at Rowan University, ventures an opinion on why campuses appeal to brides and grooms.  “There’s this enticing connection there if it’s your alma mater. And people are always looking for alternate venues.” 

Patrick Cogan, operations manager for Rutgers’ Kirkpatrick Chapel, which has hosted weddings since its doors opened in 1873, shares his take. “Sixty percent of couples getting married here are Rutgers alums,” he estimates. “The other forty percent are drawn by the grandeur of this space, its brilliant acoustics, and its setting on our manicured, historic campus.”

But campus weddings do have drawbacks. “Brides and grooms might hope a college venue saves dollars, but it may also require extra legwork,” warns Gradzki. “Unlike a one-stop-shop banquet hall, you may have to juggle individual vendors to pull off a reception on campus.” Parking is often limited, and liability insurance is sometimes required.  

Cogan reminds couples to double-check the college calendar. “Kirkpatrick Chapel is a busy student performance space, so it’s only available for outside events on weekends,” he tells us.  Some campuses rent spaces for non-student events during summer only.