George Boyle
The College of William & Mary in historic Williamsburg, Virginia, has been a favourite wedding site since 1860. The Wren Chapel, located within the Sir Christopher Wren Building, has hosted the weddings of thousands of couples, including members of the William & Mary family. The college also offers the William & Mary Alumni House as a wedding venue, accommodating both small, intimate weddings and large gatherings of up to 400 guests. The Alumni House features a historic section, the Bright House, dating back to the 1860s, as well as a grand ballroom, terrace, and bricked plaza. While the college was founded by King William III and Queen Mary II, the couple is not widely celebrated today, and their influence on the institution is often overlooked.
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What You'll Learn
William & Mary Alumni House as a wedding venue
The William & Mary Alumni House is located in the heart of historic Williamsburg, Virginia, on the campus of the College of William & Mary. The venue offers modern and Colonial charm, with both indoor and outdoor spaces available. The historic section of the Alumni House, the Bright House, dates back to the 1860s and was built on a parcel of land called "New Hope". The House was transformed and expanded in the late 1990s with the addition of a grand ballroom, terrace, and bricked plaza.
The Alumni House can accommodate small, intimate weddings as well as large gatherings of up to 400 guests. The rental fee for the Historic Bright House package, which accommodates up to 120 guests, is $4,500. The rental fee for the Grand Ballroom Package, which accommodates up to 400 guests, is $8,500. The venue includes 5 hours of event time, excluding set-up and clean-up time. Additional hours can be arranged for a fee of $500 per hour.
The William & Mary Alumni House is a popular choice for weddings, with many couples, including alumni of the college, choosing the venue for its beauty and accessibility. The venue offers a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, including courtyards, walled gardens, and terraces, which provide beautiful backdrops for photographs. The Alumni House is also conveniently located close to hotels, churches, and restaurants.
The Wren Chapel, located in the Sir Christopher Wren Building on the campus of William & Mary, is another popular wedding site for members of the William & Mary community. The chapel is open to people of all faiths and has been a favourite wedding site since 1860. However, it is currently unavailable for wedding ceremonies in 2025 due to a major preservation project.
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The Wren Chapel as a wedding venue
The Wren Chapel, located in the Sir Christopher Wren Building on the campus of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, has been a popular wedding venue for members of the William & Mary community since 1860. The chapel is open to people of all faiths and is available for weddings of students, alumni, current faculty and staff, and their children.
The Wren Chapel offers a unique and intimate setting for wedding ceremonies. The layout of the chapel is such that guests are facing one another, creating a warm and inclusive atmosphere. The venue is also known for its beautiful architecture, adding a touch of elegance to any wedding celebration.
For those seeking a traditional William & Mary experience, the college offers a special touch to the wedding ceremony. Following the ceremony, the newlyweds can wave to their guests from the balcony, a cherished tradition. The college also allows for wedding rehearsals the day before, providing an hour for preparations.
The Wren Chapel holds a special significance for alumni couples, offering a meaningful setting to exchange their vows and begin their married life together. The chapel's rich history and charm make it a sought-after venue for those with a connection to William & Mary.
While the Wren Chapel is currently unavailable for wedding bookings in 2025 due to preservation projects, it remains a beloved choice for couples looking to tie the knot in a picturesque and historic setting.
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The unusual power-sharing agreement
The marriage of King William III and Queen Mary II was an unusual power-sharing agreement from the start. Mary was named Queen, but William refused the traditional title of queen's consort and demanded to be named King. This was agreed upon, and they ruled jointly. Despite their initial differences, the couple eventually settled into a comfortable partnership, ruling wisely and recognising the role of parliament. They also accepted a bill of rights.
The marriage was not a love match, with William more interested in Mary's birthright than her. He was drawn to her position as second in line to the throne, knowing that he could become king if he played his cards right. And that is exactly what happened. William and Mary's influence can still be felt today, particularly in Virginia, where they founded the College of William & Mary and where Williamsburg and two counties are named for the king.
The couple's reign was significant in many ways, yet their influence on Virginia is barely acknowledged today. Even the college they founded pays little attention to its founders, and their statues are tucked away at a back entrance, overshadowed by "Do Not Enter" signs.
The early days of their marriage were challenging. William took Mary back to his native Holland, where she sulked and then occupied herself with designing gardens and studying her Anglican faith. William, meanwhile, took her childhood friend as a mistress. However, when a royal crisis forced Mary to choose sides, she backed her husband over her Catholic father, who faced opposition.
Despite their differences and challenges, William and Mary eventually developed a deep affection for each other. This is evident in a letter Mary wrote to William while he was away on a military campaign, expressing her abundant love for him.
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The couple's influence on Virginia
The marriage of King William III and Queen Mary II has had a lasting influence on Virginia. The couple founded the College of William & Mary, with the Wren Chapel becoming a popular wedding venue for members of the William & Mary family. The college is located in the heart of historic Williamsburg, which was named for the king, as were two Virginia counties.
The Wren Chapel has been a favourite wedding site since 1860 when Mr Dulany Ball of Fairfax County, Virginia, and Miss Sallie Wright of Williamsburg were married "in the old Chapel of Wm. & Mary College". The chapel is open to people of all faiths and is available for weddings of William & Mary students, alumni, current faculty and staff, and their children. The college's alumni house has also become a popular wedding venue, accommodating up to 400 guests and offering both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Despite their influence on the state, King William and Queen Mary are hardly celebrated in Virginia today. The college they founded pays little attention to its royal founders, with their statues tucked away at a back entrance. History writer and William & Mary graduate, Mary Miley Theobald, suggests that this lack of recognition may be due to the fact that neither the king nor queen ever set foot on the campus, and that their marriage was one of convenience rather than passion.
However, their marriage eventually developed into a comfortable partnership, with Mary writing a letter to William expressing her deep affection while he was away on a military campaign. Together, they jointly ruled the country, recognising the role of parliament and accepting a bill of rights. Their reign is considered significant, and their influence on Virginia is still felt today.
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The founding of the College of William & Mary
The College of William & Mary was founded on February 8, 1693, when King William III and Queen Mary II of England signed a charter for a "perpetual College of Divinity, Philosophy, Languages, and other good Arts and Sciences" in the Virginia colony. The college was established as an Anglican institution, with students and professors required to be members of the Church of England and adhere to the Thirty-Nine Articles. The charter named James Blair as the college's first president, a position he held until his death in 1743.
The Wren Building, attributed to and named after English architect Christopher Wren, is the oldest academic building still standing in the United States. Construction of the building began in 1695 when Jamestown was still the colony's capital. The Wren Chapel has been a popular wedding site since 1860, when Dulany Ball of Fairfax County, Virginia, and Miss Sallie Wright of Williamsburg were married there.
The College of William & Mary is notable for several firsts in American higher education. It was the first college to have a full faculty, a fraternity, a student honor system, and a law school. It was also the first institution to award gold medals for academic achievement. The college was the first school of higher education in the future United States to install a student honor code of conduct in 1736.
The college has strong connections to America's founding fathers and other pivotal figures in the development and expansion of the United States, including Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, John Tyler, and George Washington, who received his surveyor's license from the college in 1749 and later became its first American chancellor in 1788. Benjamin Franklin received William & Mary's first honorary degree in 1756.
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Frequently asked questions
The mass wedding was for Mr. Dulany Ball of Fairfax County, Virginia, and Miss Sallie Wright of Williamsburg.
The wedding took place in the Wren Chapel, which is located in the Wren Building on the campus of the College of William & Mary.
The wedding took place on October 7, 1860.
The Wren Chapel may be reserved for weddings of William & Mary students, alumni, current faculty and staff, and the children of anyone in those groups. It is not necessary for both the bride and groom to have a William & Mary affiliation.
