Weddings and Events at the Mission
Aside from our normal liturgical events, the Mission can be used for a variety of events, including weddings, memorial services, and certain artistic and cultural events that are in line with the nature of the University and Mission Santa Clara as a Roman Catholic church.
Weddings
Getting Married at
Mission Santa Clara de Asís
As a Catholic student chapel within the Diocese of San Jose, CA, Mission Santa Clara hosts Roman Catholic weddings for current students, faculty, staff, alumni of Santa Clara University, or children of current faculty and staff. Only weddings within the Roman Catholic rite, wherein one party (either the bride or the groom) is a baptized Catholic, are permitted.
SCU Affiliation Requirements
To reserve the Mission for a wedding, the bride or the groom must be a current student, faculty, staff member, alum of Santa Clara University, or a child of a current faculty or staff member. The privilege of using Mission Santa Clara does not extend to relatives or other members of the immediate family - no exceptions are made. Please contact the Mission Office at 408-554-4023 If you have questions about your eligibility.
Choosing a Presider
The Mission Office does not provide a priest for wedding ceremonies. Couples will need to arrange a presider on their own. At the 6 month mark (prior to your reservation), the agreement of a Catholic priest/deacon to preside at your ceremony will become necessary to continue holding your reservation. While your presider can be from within or outside of Santa Clara University, a good place to start is your local parish.
RESERVATIONS
To make a reservation, you'll need to stop by or call the Mission Office directly at 408-554-4023.
Available time slots are as follows:
- Saturdays | 12 PM start time
- Saturdays | 3 PM start time
- No weekday weddings on campus
- No outdoor weddings on campus
Reservations consist of a 2.5 hour window with your wedding beginning at one the above mentioned hours. These times are fixed and may not be extended beyond these offerings. When considering a time slot, you can expect your reservation to be broken up into the following:
| 1 Hour | The hour prior to the ceremony is meant for any preparation of the space, as well as the seating of the guests. Floral deliveries, music setup, and any decorations will be put in place during this time. |
| 1 Hour | This hour (consistent with one of the time slots above) is allotted for the wedding ceremony. All ceremonies will start at their contracted time and end accordingly. |
| 30 Minutes | The remaining 30 minutes following the conclusion of the wedding are meant for photography inside the Mission. Be aware this time may be diminished if your wedding lasts longer than expected. The limit of your photography time ends with the conclusion of your contracted reservation. With a proper photography permit, you can spend as long as you like utilizing our outside garden spaces. |
FEES & FUNDS
The reservation fee to schedule Mission Santa Clara for your marriage ceremony is $1600. This fee is due in full within 10 business days of putting a date/time on hold. Failure to make this payment within a timely manner will result in the forfeiture of your wedding date and time.
Your reservation fee affords you the following:
- The use of the Mission Church for 2.5 hours on your wedding day
- 1 hour wedding rehearsal on the Thursday or Friday before your wedding
- Mission Staff to be with you on both days
- Available grand piano/pipe organ
- Seating for 400 is standard (additional fees apply for more seating)
- Sound system will be provided (outside sound systems may not be brought in)
- An Expanded Candlelight Set Up
Please be advised that this fee does not cover the following:
- A customary stipend of ~$200 to your presider
- Marriage Preparation Courses
- 3rd Party Vendors (i.e. florists, photographers, etc.)
- Music for your ceremony
Optional Services for Purchase
- Shuttle Service to brings guests from the parking garages to the Mission Church (and back again): $250
- Vehicular Access to Abby Sobrato Mall (the pedestrian promenade): $300 (up to 5 cars/limousines - buses are prohibited)
Cancellations and Refunds
If for any reason you need to cancel your wedding reservation, you must submit a letter of cancellation to the Mission Office. We will refund 100% of your reservation fee as long as you submit your request no less than 7 months before your original scheduled reservation. Be aware that no refunds, for any reason, are issued if your cancel your reservation less than 7 months before your original scheduled reservation. Refunds are issued to the original payor in the form of a check, and can take 2-3 weeks to receive in the mail once your request has been received. Your refund deadline always remains tied to your original reservation date, and is not affected in the event that you reschedule your original reservation.
MARRIAGE PREPERATION COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage must begin at least 6 months before your wedding. Consult the following steps to make sure you've met all the requirements before your wedding day. Failure to fulfill any of these obligations can jeopardize your reservation and our ability to host your wedding ceremony.
| Step 1 | Initial consultation with your presider to establish your Freedom to Marry in the Catholic Church |
| Step 2 |
Completion of at least ONE (1) of the following:
|
| Step 3 |
Completion of at least ONE (1) of the following:
|
A Certificate of Completion will be given to you after the conclusion of the courses. These certificates must be submitted to the Mission Office. Should you have any questions or concerns about your marriage preparation requirements, please contact the Mission Office.
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
The Santa Clara University Campus is private property. Permits are required to utilize the campus for photography purposes.
Weddings scheduled to take place in the Mission automatically qualify for a Photography Permit. You will be given this permit at you wedding rehearsal.
Please note that wedding photography inside the Mission is prohibited just prior to your wedding ceremony. There is time allotted for this after the conclusion of your ceremony, through the end of your contracted reservation. This time is dictated by the timeliness with which your event begins and progresses. Ceremonies that start late diminish the amount of time you will have for photos in the church.
While the time inside the Mission is limited to your reservation, you are free to spend as much time as you wish utilizing the Mission Gardens for pictures both before and after your ceremony.
Please contact the Mission Office is you have additional questions regarding photography at your wedding.
For those not being married in the Mission, please review this additional information about photography at SCU.
GUEST PARKING
Santa Clara University parking restrictions are fully enforced during the following hours:
Monday – Friday | 6 AM - 8 PM
Saturday – Sunday | No Restrictions
Guests to the University can park in either of 2 University owned and operated parking structures:
- Main Parking Structure: 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053
- North Campus Garage: 1063 Alviso Street, Santa Clara, CA 95053
During Enforceable Hours:
- Stop at the El Camino Real guard kiosk to secure a FREE 2hr Visitor’s Permit to park in either garage
- Pay stations are available in the North Campus Garage, if you decide to bypass the guard's kiosk
- Valid parking permits must be displayed during enforceable hours to avoid parking citations/fines
- Permits are NOT required during non-enforceable hours (Saturdays and Sundays - unless otherwise posted)
- Follow all posted signage and instructions to avoid citations and/or fines
WEDDING RECEPTIONS AT SCU
One of SCU's best kept secrets, the Mission Gardens can be the perfect location to host your wedding reception. Adjacent to the Mission Church and Mission Gardens, the Adobe Lodge is prepared to cater a lavish affaire or an inviting cocktail hour right after your ceremony. With various spaces available, you're limited only by your own creativity. Please feel free to request their digital Wedding Brochure by contacting their catering staff for assistance at 408-554-4059 or by email at: AdobeLodge@scu.edu.
Visit the Adobe Lodge Website for more information.
Other Event
The Mission can be used for a variety of events, including certain artistic and cultural events that are in line with the nature of the University and Mission Santa Clara as a Roman Catholic church. This may include choral and orchestral concerts or other traditional events/presentations, provided they reflect the Mission's religious nature and/or season of the liturgical year.
BAPTISMS
The Sacrament of Baptism should be celebrated in a Catholic parish church – not in the Mission Church – with the exception of student baptisms forming part of the annual Easter Vigil and entered into the baptismal registry of St. Clare Parish. Current students who would like to inquire about being baptized should contact Santa Clara University's Campus Ministry staff in Benson Center at 408-554-4372 or campusministry@scu.edu.
FUNERALS
Roman Catholic funerals, with or without the remains present, may be held in the Mission Church provided the deceased individual was a current student, faculty, or staff member of Santa Clara University or was a member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Under extraordinary circumstances, with the advice of the University President and the consent of the Rector, the Mission Church may host Catholic funeral liturgies for other persons, provided that the liturgy clearly serves the pastoral needs of the University or the Jesuit Order.
MEMORIAL SERVICES
With the permission of the Rector of the Jesuit Community, Mission Santa Clara may be used for prayer services and memorials for deceased individuals who were in some manner affiliated with the University. These events should always manifest an appropriate spiritual expression. Memorial services ordinarily occur 3 or more months after a person's death. As such, a memorial service should not be held prior to a funeral and committal to the deceased's final resting place.
CONCERT, MASS, & GENERAL EVENT APPLICATIONS
General Information
If you're interested in having Mission Santa Clara host your event, call the Mission Office to verify that the date and time you're interested in are available. A tentative 30 day hold can be placed on that date while you firm up the details for your official application.
- Reservation Fee: $1250
- First-time applicants are required to meet with our office staff before a tentative hold can be placed.
- A standard Concert Reservation Fee includes a performance night, AND a rehearsal night.
- A 6ft Yamaha Grand Piano is available at no additional charge.
- Additional fees may be charged should your event need more than our standard 400 chairs.
- Publicizing your event is the sole responsibility of your department/organization.
- All external non-affiliates will need to provide a Certificate of Liability Insurance.
Once you've placed a tentative reservation with us, a simple 3-step process needs to be followed:
Step 1: Fill out the appropriate application and submit it to the Mission Office.
If you're applying for a concert or a mass, use the dedicated concert or mass applications. All other events should use the General Event Application.
Step 2: Submit balance and any outstanding documentation.
Your balance due and any outstanding documentation (i.e. Certificate of Liability Insurance) must be submitted to our office no less than 3 months before your scheduled event. Failure to submit these items to our office by their due date will result in automatic release of your reservation from our schedule.
Once our office has received all required payments and forms, there is little else to do but let your audience or congregation enjoy what you've put together for them.
Contact your local parish for events not authorized within the Mission Church. The local parish for this area is:
St. Clare Parish | 408-248-7786 | www.StClareParish.org
Additional SCU Locations
In addition the Mission Church, other facilities on the Santa Clara University campus are available to rent for an event.
Nobili Dining Room
The Nobili Dining Room is a multi-use, non-religious space located within the Nobili Residence Hall. To reserve this space, complete the application and contract below and submit it to the Mission Office.
For SCU Departments
SCU departments and affiliates not paying their fees via University Budget Strings will be charged non-affiliate rates (see below). Typically, our office will collect budget string information which would only be used in the event that we need to charge for spilled food/drink on the carpet, or damage to the space or furniture. All events scheduled for Friday, Saturday or Sunday, will automatically be charged a $175 cleaning fee. Because this space is within a residence hall, reservable hours are limited to the hours between 8am and 10pm daily. Events may not extend beyond 10pm.
SCU Non-affiliates
Non-affiliates may also reserve the space for appropriate purposes. The rate for non-affiliates is $300 for a minimum of 4 consecutive hours, with each hour thereafter costing an additional $75, OR $500 for the entire day (limited to a maximum of 8 consecutive hours between 8 AM and 10 PM). All events scheduled for Friday, Saturday or Sunday, will automatically be charged a $175 cleaning fee. Non-affiliates must also provide a Certificate of Liability Insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 naming Santa Clara University as Additional Insured. Additionally, submission of proof of 501C(3) non-profit status must also be submitted.
Food Service
Any events providing food service (for both SCU departments and non-affiliates) must secure their catering needs through the Adobe Lodge at 408-554-4059 or Bon Appetit at 408-554-5771. Outside caterers are expressly prohibited from providing food service on the SCU campus for any reason.
Provided Resources
While generally a bare space, the room does come equipped with 40 chairs and 20 small tables (2.5' x 4') already set out. These can be configured in a number of ways to accommodate your needs. If they're not needed, they can also be stored off to the side and out of the way. There are also an additional eight 8' tables (rectangular style) available, along with another 60 folding chairs that you can draw from if you're hosting a larger event. Setup of all these items is self-service oriented, or you can contact Facilities if you're in need of additional items (fees may apply). Finally, groups also have access to a screen, projector, sound system, and computer (for SCU departments/employees only). Non-SCU groups that need to use the projector and screen should plan to bring their own laptops from which to project (standard cables and connections are provided).
To reserve the space, complete the NDR Application. Our office will notify you upon approval or contact with you to resolve any scheduling conflicts.
St. Francis Chapel
The St. Francis Chapel is a smaller, religious-oriented space attached to the back of the Mission Church. It is a gem of a space for groups of 20 or less, looking to gather, worship, or meditate in more intimate surroundings.
Because of the chapel's nature as a religious space, it is not generally meant to be a generic gathering space for receptions, food service, lectures, etc. However, it is an appropriate choice for reflections, retreats, meditations, liturgies, and other events with a spiritual component. If you have questions about whether your event would be appropriate for the St. Francis Chapel, feel more than welcome to reach out to the Mission Office at 408-554-5301 or MissionSantaClara@scu.edu.
Fees and Charges
- There are no fees incurred for on-campus departments to utilize the St. Francis Chapel for appropriate purposes.
- Faculty/Staff members, or RSO advisors must reserve the chapel on behalf of students/student clubs. If reserving on behalf of students, the identified faculty/staff/advisor must be present to the event.
- Non-affiliates must pay a reservation fee of $400, provide proof of 501(c)3 status, and provide a Certificate of Liability Insurance before a reservation for the chapel will be confirmed.
Included Resources
- The St. Francis Chapel is equipped with seating for 20, a large cross, altar table, and altar candles.
- Seating and configuration of the chapel can rearranged, however, we would ask that you return the space to its standard configuration when your event is complete.
- Because of the historic nature of the furnishings, any furniture or other decorative items may NOT be removed from the space under any circumstances. Damage or destruction to any of these items will be billed to your department or organization for conservation, restoration, or replacement.
Contact & Support
500 El Camino Real | Santa Clara, CA | 95053
Ph: 408-554-4023 | Fax: 408-551-7166 | Email: MissionSantaClara@scu.edu