Frequently Asked Questions

There are 11 pews on each side of the chapel (22 total). Each of the pews is 10’9” long, and 3'4.5" between each pew.

From the base of the bottom step at the altar to the door: 45 feet by 3 feet 5 inches. 

No, Oberlin College does not provide officiants. Each client is responsible for bringing and hiring their own.

You may arrange for musicians on your own, or we would be happy to connect you with the musician referral service provided through the Oberlin Conservatory.  Visit the Oberlin Gig Referral Service website for more information and to put in a request.

We allow only service animals in the chapel. 

There is a single-person restroom located on the main floor of Bosworth.  If you enter Bosworth Hall through the front/center door, the restroom is to the right of the main chapel door.

There are designated male and female restrooms in the lower (basement) level of Bosworth Hall.  Typically, wedding parties use these restrooms and the green room spaces to do last-minute touch-ups and to wait in some privacy until it's time for the ceremony.

There are two spaces for wedding parties to get prepped before the ceremony. They are on the ground level floor and on the opposite side of the building. There is a hallway between the two spaces, but the hallway is locked off during the weekends.  Usage of these spaces is included in the Fairchild Chapel Wedding Package.

If parties would like to rent the prep spaces for a more extended period before their ceremony, it is $60 per hour and includes access to both spaces. 

The Chapel does not have microphones and does not have a sound system for playing recorded music.  Sound amplification is unnecessary for the many live performances of music, singing, and poetry in the Fairchild Chapel throughout the school year because the space is very "live."  Because of the excellent acoustics, most wedding parties conduct their ceremony without sound support.  You can arrange a sound system or microphone on your own if you wish.  Some weddings have asked their DJ for sound, or have used a small speaker system to play recorded music.

See here for pricing. This consists of a two-hour wedding rehearsal and a three-hour reservation block for your ceremony.  This provides time for a florist to set up/bring arrangements, for guests to arrive, for the ceremony to be conducted, and for pictures to be taken afterward. One of our staff is present to open the building, unlock doors, turn on lights, oversee the building setup, and so on. They remain on-site during your rehearsal and will be there at the beginning and end of your ceremony; they will lock up the spaces after you are finished and gather all keys.

The rental price includes a lace table skirt, two tall standing candelabras, and two ivory floral pillars for your wedding. 

The Fairchild Chapel was built in 1931 for the College's Graduate School of Theology by Cass Gilbert, who also created the United States Supreme Court building, Allen Memorial Art Museum, and Cox Administration building. The Chapel was named for James Harris Fairchild, who served as college president from 1866-89.

The Graduate School of Theology closed in 1965. Oberlin College now uses Bosworth Hall and the Fairchild Chapel for classes, concerts, and offices. You can learn more about the history of the Fairchild Chapel here.

The Chapel is not air-conditioned.  Although the stone walls offer a slight cooling effect,  the summer Chapel temperature will reflect the temperature outside.  During the winter, the Chapel is heated by a radiator system, sometimes making typical radiator sounds.

If the Fairchild Chapel is not the right fit for your ceremony, Oberlin College provides several other locations, including Peters Hall, the Bandstand on Tappan, and the Memorial Arch on Tappan. Our Peters and outdoor wedding packages include a two-hour rehearsal, a three-hour ceremony block, and 50 chairs with options to add more chairs ala carte.

See here for pricing for our outdoor spaces.

We only allow wedding parties to get into the venue at their slotted time to set up. However, we can add additional time before or after the party's 3-hour ceremony block. Please email confserv@oberlin.edu to find out the pricing for your ceremony.

50 W Lorain St, Oberlin, OH, 44074

Wedding guests may park in the Stevenson lot, with the main entrance driveway on West Lorain (between Bosworth Hall/Fairchild Chapel and First Church).  This parking lot is designated as a visitor lot on weekends.  Guests may park in STAFF parking spaces in the Stevenson parking lot but should avoid any reserved space.

You can email us at confserv@oberlin.edu or call us at (440) 775-8730 to book a venue tour. Our staff is usually available during the work day on weekdays or by appointment on weekends.

If you would like to book the Chapel or any other space, please fill out the form here. You will need to create and register a profile to log in. When you book the Chapel or any other space, we place your dates/times on hold and request information from you to make a contract.

We'd like to ask you to sign and return the contract with a deposit within two weeks after we send it to you. The deposit is half of the rental fee.

Our most commonly used spaces include:

• The Carnegie Root Room (up to 200 guests)
• Knowlton Athletic Center (up to 200 guests)
• Perlik Commons in the Science Center (up to 100 guests)
• Peters Hall (up to 80 guests)

We do have other spaces on campus where receptions can be held. Email confserv@oberlin.edu to inquire about other spaces. 

You can email us at confserv@oberlin.edu or  (440) 775-8730 to book a venue tour. Our staff is usually available during the work day on weekdays or by appointment on weekends.

Yes

All of our Residence hall buildings have heating.

The Residence halls with AC are as follows: Dascomb Hall, Firelands Apartments, Khan Hall, Lord Hall, Saunders Hall, South Hall, Talcott Hall,  and Union-Goldsmith Apartments.

Stevenson Dining Hall is our summer location for meals. It provides buffet-style with various meals to cover many food preferences; the area can hold up to 1,200 people.

Meal pricing for Summer 2024 is:

• Breakfast: $10.00
• Lunch: $13.00
• Dinner: $16.00
• Daily: $34.00

We provide catering options through AVI Foodsystems; you can find more information on their website or email the Director of Catering, Marcus Low. 

No. Oberlin College provides a free wi-fi network in which campus visitors may join. 

We source our linen bags from a local woman-owned and operated company, Lakeside Linen Supply. 

These linen bags include the following:

• 1 Twin XL Fitted Sheet
• 1 Blanket
• 1 hand towel
• 1 bath towel
• 1 pillowcase

Conference Services provides pillows with every linen bag. 

Linen bags are $30 per person.  Participants will receive a complimentary linen exchange on day seven if your overnight event lasts longer than ten days.

Yes, you're keycard will get you into the gym during the times it is open. 

A linen kit is provided for those camps and conferences that stay overnight. Linen kits are a per bag and are a flat fee for the duration of your stay. If the camp or conference stays longer than 10 days participants will receive a complimentary linen exchange on day 7.

The kit includes

• 1 Twin XL Fitted Sheet
• 1 Blanket
• 1 hand towel
• 1 bath towel
• 1 pillowcase

All linen is individually sealed within a larger linen bag. Linen bags are traditionally delivered and placed into rooms before a camp or conference comes to campus. Some camps/conferences have also had participants pick up linen from the check-in desk upon arrival. We work to find a solution that works best for your camp or conference. At the end of your stay all linen (except the pillow) should be placed back into the larger linen bag, sinched up, and placed outside of the room. 

Check-In Information
Check-in will take place at a central campus location designated by the conference organizers. Specific details about this location will be shared with participants prior to their arrival on campus.

Student staff will be available to assist your group throughout the check-in process. Attendees will need to provide their name and a valid form of identification to receive their room key card.

During check-in, you may also request a parking pass for complimentary parking in designated areas (please note that reserved spaces are not included). Box fans are available for rent upon request.

Before Checking Out:

• Ensure your room is clean.

• Return all furniture to its original location.

• Leave linens on the bed as instructed.

• Close and lock all windows.

Please note that any damages or excessive cleaning fees will be billed to your group.

To Check Out:

• Place all linens (except the pillow) in the provided orange bag and leave it inside your room.

• Return your room key at the check-out table.

• If you rented a fan, leave it unplugged in your room.

All vehicles parked on campus must display a temporary parking permit issued by Conference Services. Permits can be obtained at check-in, and a campus parking map will be provided on the back of the pass.

The permit holder is responsible for any parking violations. Vehicles without a valid permit are subject to ticketing, and the vehicle owner will be held responsible for any fines.

Oberlin College is not responsible for any loss or damage to vehicles or their contents while parked or operated on college property.

Each group will be assigned a unique Wi-Fi password for use during their stay on campus.

Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by persons under legal drinking age (21) is prohibited. If you are 21 or older, you may drink alcohol in your residence hall room, kitchens, or lounges in your assigned residence hall. No alcohol may be consumed outdoors. If you would like an exception to this policy, please have your group leader contact the Housing Assistant assigned to your group.

The possession and/or use of illegal drugs and narcotics are against state and college regulations and are not permitted on college property.

Weapons are not permitted on or in college property. If you are seen with weapons, you may be immediately removed from college property.

Fireworks of any sort are not permitted on college property. If you are seen possessing or using fireworks, you may be immediately removed from college property.

Fire and emergency procedures are posted on the back of each room’s door. Please familiarize yourself with evacuation routes. Tampering with fire safety equipment and/or smoke detectors is prohibited and will result in immediate removal of the premises. Do not attempt to use elevators in the event of a fire or fire evacuation.

Access to roof and ledge areas is prohibited for your personal safety and the safety of others. Any person(s) accessing a roof or ledge will be immediately removed from campus housing. 

Smoking and tobacco use are prohibited on the entire campus, including indoor and outdoor areas, all buildings, recreational areas, lawns, and college sidewalks.

Yes, current faculty, staff, and Alumni can get a 10% discount on spaces and/or amenities used for their special event or wedding on campus.