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The University of Washington's cherry blossoms make its
Seattle campus a popular
wedding destination. OKSANA.PERKINS /
SHUTTERSTOCK
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The Atlantic
The College Campuses That Moonlight as Wedding Venues
Some schools rent out their facilities, bringing in extra revenue during a time of widespread budgetary woes.
Alia Wong
November 13, 2019
The chapel at Keuka College, in upstate New York, is a campus landmark.
Its Douglas-fir trusses, Italian-glass chandeliers, and custom-made
pipe organ are so charming that many alumni choose to get married
there. So do many non-alumni: About half of the roughly 18 weddings
that take place at Keuka College in a given year are for couples
without ties to the school.
Keuka, which sits on the shores of one of New York’s Finger Lakes,
alongside the region’s vineyards, is just one of scores of American
colleges that, recognizing the untapped value of their picturesque
facilities, host weddings. Keuka College charges roughly $800 to rent
out its chapel for a wedding ceremony, with a discount for those
affiliated with the school. It’s not a ton of money, but it helps
offset some expenses for students, says Karen Mann, who oversees
special events at the school.
At a time when many higher-education institutions are struggling to
stay afloat, every dollar counts. Colleges—especially those without big
endowments—find themselves facing the dual financial challenges of
reduced public funding for education and projected declines in
enrollment. Alternative revenue sources that require minimal investment
are an especially attractive strategy for defending against these
trends, says Richard Staisloff, who founded and serves as a principal
of the higher-education consultancy Rpk Group.
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