Question 1

What is the capacity at Chapel in the Hills?

Accepted Answer

The interior of the chapel seats 50 guests. For outdoor ceremonies on the patio, the chapel provides white folding chairs for up to 84 guests and 35 additional brown chairs, for a maximum of 119 outdoor seats. If your guest count exceeds 50 and you want everyone seated under cover, an outdoor ceremony is your only option. For intimate weddings of 20 to 40 people, the interior is the argument: small, quiet, carved wood, and it photographs unlike any other ceremony room in Rapid City.

Question 2

Is there a bridal suite or getting-ready space at the chapel?

Accepted Answer

No. The chapel does not have a bridal suite, dressing room, or any getting-ready space. You need to arrive at the chapel already dressed and ready for the ceremony. We plan our getting-ready coverage at a hotel or Airbnb before the chapel reservation window opens. This is a hard constraint of the venue — plan accordingly, and build in enough transition time to arrive calm rather than rushed.

Question 3

What does the $400 reservation fee include?

Accepted Answer

The reservation fee of $400 covers use of the chapel and patio areas for your two-hour window, plus the officiant's fee of $100 for the chapel pastor. You are required to have a valid South Dakota marriage license and must present it to the pastor when you arrive. Contact the chapel office at (605) 342-8281 or info@chapel-in-the-hills.org to check availability and reserve your date.

Question 4

Can our photographer arrive early to set up?

Accepted Answer

No — the chapel's policy is that photographers may not arrive before the couple's reserved start time. This is strictly enforced as part of how the chapel manages consecutive bookings. We build our entire session plan around the start time: detail shots of the interior happen in the first 10 minutes after the couple and guests arrive, not before. If you want interior documentary images of the space before guests are present, we can cover that in the first few minutes of the window while guests are still being seated.

Question 5

What is the two-hour time limit, exactly?

Accepted Answer

The two-hour window runs from your reserved start time, regardless of when the ceremony actually begins. If your reservation starts at 3 PM and the processional begins at 3:10 PM, the window still closes at 5 PM. We plan every Chapel in the Hills wedding with this constraint as a fixed frame rather than an afterthought. Our standard approach: 30 minutes for the ceremony, 20 minutes for family formals on the patio, 40 minutes for couple portraits on the grounds and forested lane, 10 minutes buffer to clear the space. Anything beyond that moves to a nearby location — typically Skyline Drive or the Rapid Creek trail, both within 10 minutes.

Question 6

Is the Chapel in the Hills open year-round for weddings?

Accepted Answer

The chapel office indicates weddings are primarily available May through September, when the outdoor patio is fully operational. Ceremonies outside that window depend on weather and chapel schedule — contact the office directly if you are considering a fall or early spring date. Winter availability has been limited in our experience, and the outdoor patio is not a realistic option October through April in most years.

Chapel in the Hills Wedding Photographer