Rhiannon Hendricks
The Mall of America was once home to the Chapel of Love, a wedding venue that hosted over 8,300 weddings and vow renewals over its 28-year history. The chapel, located on the third floor of the mall, was known for providing an inexpensive and intimate setting for couples from all backgrounds and walks of life. However, in August 2022, the Chapel of Love closed its doors for good, with the owner, Felicia Glass-Wilcox, citing the challenges of running a business during the pandemic as the reason for its closure. While the Mall of America will no longer host weddings, it remains a popular spot for marriage proposals and continues to be associated with love and romance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chapel Name | Chapel of Love |
| Number of Weddings | 8,300+ |
| Owner | Felicia Glass-Wilcox |
| Date of Closure | 28 August 2022 |
| Notable Weddings | David and Elizabeth Weinlick (1998), 21 drive-thru weddings on Valentine's Day in 1999 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Chapel of Love closed on 28 August 2022
The Chapel of Love at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, closed on 28 August 2022. The chapel, located on the third floor of the mall, had been open since 1994 and had hosted more than 8,300 weddings and vow renewals over its 28-year history.
The unique wedding venue had attracted couples from a range of backgrounds and countries, including Saudi Arabia, Japan, Iceland, Fiji, Germany, and France. Owner Felicia Glass-Wilcox had provided an affordable and intimate option for couples looking for a simple wedding outside of a courthouse.
The decision to close the chapel was made due to the challenges of running a business during the pandemic and other unspecified roadblocks. Glass-Wilcox expressed sadness about the closure, sharing that she would miss meeting people and hearing their stories.
The final wedding was held on 28 August 2022, for a couple whose parents had also tied the knot at the mall 28 years earlier. In the lead-up to its closing, the chapel offered discounts and specials, including $50 off weddings and 40% off all store merchandise.
The Chapel of Love may be gone, but it leaves behind a legacy of love and fond memories for the thousands of couples it united in matrimony.
The Office Wedding Song: Tune for Jim and Pam's Nuptials
You may want to see also
Explore related products
More than 8,300 weddings in 28 years
The Chapel of Love at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, has hosted more than 8,300 weddings and vow renewals over the past 28 years. The chapel, located on the third floor of the mall, was opened by London over 23 years ago. She sold it to its current owner, Felicia Glass-Wilcox, in 2005.
Glass-Wilcox first visited the chapel as a customer and decided to purchase it after realising that it offered a nice, intimate setting for couples who wanted something outside of a courthouse wedding. She has since hosted approximately 15 weddings a week, including those of military couples, second marriages, and people with small budgets.
The Chapel of Love has welcomed couples from a range of backgrounds and countries, including Saudi Arabia, Japan, Iceland, Fiji, Germany, and France. It has also been the site of reality TV weddings, including that of bachelor Dave Weinlick, who wed Elizabeth Runze in 1998 after she was chosen by his family and friends from a group of 28 candidates. The couple renewed their vows at the mall in 2017, the year before Weinlick passed away. A plaque was added to the mall's carousel in their honour in 2018.
In addition to traditional weddings, the Chapel of Love has hosted underwater weddings, vampire weddings, and drive-thru weddings. In 1999, London hosted 21 drive-thru weddings from the mall's parking lot live on TV. The mall has also been the site of countless proposals, from underwater to atop the Log Chute.
Casino Wedding Chapels: Can Children Attend?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Owner: Felicia Glass-Wilcox
The Chapel of Love at the Mall of America is closing its doors after 28 years of business. The last wedding is scheduled to take place on August 28, 2022. The chapel, located on the third floor of the mall, has performed over 8,300 weddings and vow renewals since it opened in 1994.
Owner Felicia Glass-Wilcox said she never wanted to close the business but running it during the pandemic made her aware of the many challenges. She purchased the Chapel of Love from the previous owner, London, in 2005. Glass-Wilcox wanted to provide an inexpensive option for couples seeking matrimony outside of the courthouse. She has seen couples of all ages and backgrounds walk down the aisle, including folks from Saudi Arabia, Japan, Iceland, Fiji, Germany, and France.
Glass-Wilcox shared that before purchasing the chapel, she sat in on a wedding and realized that it was no different from a wedding anywhere else, except for the unconventional location. She wanted to provide a nice, intimate, and affordable service for second marriages, military couples, and those without a large budget. The chapel became a beloved venue for many, including high school sweethearts Sephra and Denzel, who tied the knot after 11 years together.
The Chapel of Love has hosted a range of unique weddings over the years, including drive-thru weddings in the mall's parking lot and a midnight wedding at the turn of the century. It has also been the site of memorable proposals, with patrons popping the question in unusual spots around the mall, such as atop the Log Chute or outside the chapel minutes before their wedding.
The decision to close the chapel marks the end of an era for the Mall of America, leaving behind fond memories for the countless couples who exchanged vows in this unique setting.
Praying Before the Wedding Homily: A Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$2.99
Unusual weddings: drive-thru, midnight, nude
The Mall of America no longer hosts weddings at its Chapel of Love, which closed at the end of August 2022. The venue had a history of hosting unusual weddings, including a drive-thru ceremony in its parking lot, a midnight wedding, and even a nude wedding (although the latter request had to be turned down).
If you're intrigued by the idea of an unconventional wedding, here are some ideas for drive-thru, midnight, and nude weddings:
Drive-Thru Weddings
Drive-thru weddings offer a unique and fast way to tie the knot. Made famous by celebrities like JLo, Ben Affleck, Britney Spears, and Frank Sinatra, this type of wedding allows couples to exchange vows without leaving their car. The world's first drive-thru wedding service is available for just $167.
Midnight Weddings
For a truly magical and romantic experience, a midnight wedding is a perfect choice. Imagine exchanging vows under the stars or with the vibrant city lights as your backdrop. Whether it's an outdoor ceremony in the snow or a cozy indoor celebration, a midnight wedding is an unusual yet enchanting option.
Nude Weddings
Nude weddings take the traditional ceremony and strip it down—quite literally. This type of wedding challenges societal norms and embraces a bold expression of love. Nude weddings can still include all the typical elements of a wedding, such as flowers, veils, accessories, music, and food. The largest nude wedding took place in Jamaica in 2003, with 29 couples marrying simultaneously.
While the Mall of America's wedding chapel may be closed, its legacy of hosting unique weddings lives on, and these unusual wedding ideas continue to offer alternative ways to celebrate love.
Ellie Goulding's Wedding: What Went Wrong?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Weinlicks' love story
The Chapel of Love at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, was a unique wedding venue. Over the years, it has played host to thousands of couples looking for a non-traditional wedding experience.
One of the most famous love stories to come out of the Chapel of Love is that of David and Elizabeth Weinlick. In 1998, David Weinlick decided he wanted to get married, but there was a catch – he didn't have a bride. So, he did what any romantic would do and announced that he was looking for a wife. He held a bridal campaign mixer, and his family and friends chose Elizabeth Runze out of 28 other candidates. It was an arranged marriage, but one that seemed to be based on mutual liking and affection. The couple tied the knot at the Chapel of Love in the Mall of America on June 13, 1998, in front of their family and friends.
The Weinlicks' wedding was not without its quirks. It was part of a reality TV show, with David's search for a bride and the wedding itself being documented and aired on television. Despite the unusual start to their marriage, the couple stayed together and even renewed their vows at the same chapel 20 years later, in 2018. Sadly, David passed away later that year from colon cancer. Their love story is commemorated with a plaque at the Mall of America carousel, which reads, "In Celebration of Dave & Bethy Weinlick. One of Life’s Greatest Love Stories."
The Chapel of Love has been the backdrop for many other unique and heartwarming love stories over the years. It has hosted more than 8,300 weddings and vow renewals since it opened in 1994. The chapel provided an inexpensive and intimate setting for couples from all backgrounds and ages, including military couples, second marriages, and international couples. It even hosted drive-thru weddings and a midnight wedding at the turn of the century.
Unfortunately, the Chapel of Love closed its doors on August 28, 2022, after nearly three decades of business. The last wedding was a couple whose parents had also tied the knot at the mall 28 years earlier. While the chapel may no longer be in business, it leaves behind a legacy of love and unique memories for the thousands of couples who exchanged vows there.
Who Pays for the Wedding?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, the Mall of America's Chapel of Love closed on August 28, 2022, after 28 years of business.
Owner Felicia Glass-Wilcox cited the many hurdles of running a business during the pandemic as the main reason for the chapel's closure.
The Chapel of Love was unique because it was located inside a shopping mall, making it one of the few places where people could go shopping and also leave married. The chapel also offered unconventional wedding experiences, such as drive-thru weddings and midnight weddings.
