Couples camp out for chance to marry at Duke Chapel
DURHAM (WTVD) -- Some dedicated couples in Durham demonstrated just how far they would go for the wedding of their dreams by camping out at Duke Chapel Friday.
The chapel has been closed for renovations since the beginning of May, but it started scheduling dates for 2016 wedding ceremonies in July.
Sara Clark is the wedding coordinator at Duke Chapel. She said the chapel only books wedding dates at the beginning of each month. The first sign-up for ceremonies in the newly-renovated chapel filled up so fast that desperate couples had to take extreme measures.
"Several of these couples did come to try to sign up for a July wedding," Clark explained. "But by the time they arrived, which was still several days in advance, there were already people who had been tenting for a week."
Much like students hoping for Duke Basketball tickets, the couples have been camped out for a full week. Their next opportunity to book the chapel will be Monday morning.
Clark said one out-of-state couple even hired a few students to camp out in their place.
Camping out isn't something Clark had to do for her own wedding in the chapel, but she claims she would have if necessary.
"I walked down the aisle so many times on the job that I didn't think that it would make any difference now, but I cried all 50 yards down that aisle because it was such a moving experience," Clark said.
Clark and her husband are both proud Duke alumni, proven by her Duke blue sapphire engagement ring. She said getting married at Duke Chapel is just like a fairy tale.
"There is no building like this anywhere nearby. And when you have a close connection to the University, you've graduated here, you work here, it's just that much more meaningful." Clark said.
