WEDDING DATE HELP

AngBob

So, originally I planned on having my wedding on September 8, 2012 but my church is already booked that day So now my options are Sept 15 or Sept 22.  They are open for my church and reception.  Here's my problem...Sept 15th is the Forest Park Balloon races which don't directly affect me because my wedding will be at St. Francis Xavier with the reception at the MAC.  I do plan on taking pictures all over St. Louis and think Forest Park will be too crowded to get too.... So for Sept 22,  there is a HUGE convention in St. Louis and many of the hotels are already almost fully booked.  I already have a block of rooms reserved so not too concerned about that.  I'm just wondering how crazy the city will be and if this is going to affect me at all considering my wedding will be downtown?  I heard the convention is Monday through Friday though with a lot of people checking out on Saturday....

maryandkirk0909

I got married 9/19/2009, which was the weekend of the balloon race, an evangelical convention at the convention center and Cards/ Cubs weekend.  

I stayed mostly downtown, but really no one had any issues getting anywhere except for one friend who came from Soulard to Wash Ave (so she had to drive directly across the stadium area at 6pm, 1 hour before first pitch).  

Unless you're 100% set on having to do pictures in Forest Park, I wouldn't disqualify the weekend of the 15th.  There are plenty of other beautiful places to do pictures around town that you don't necessarily need to be there.  (Tower Grove is a pretty reasonable alternative, especially because you can just jet down Kingshighway from SLU's campus, they have all the greenery, lakes and gazeebos you can desire)

crh1020

I would have it 9/15.  I bet you cuold get amazing and unique wedding pictures with the balloon race!

aragx6

I would pick a balloon race weekend over a giant convention too.

Also, you already blocked your rooms? We're date twins adn it hadn't even crossed my mind to worry about that until like the holidays. Where'd you block at?

bridetobemo

I'd definitely pick the 15th, while forest park might be busy it would make for amazing pictures, just dont take hampton to get there, take Kingshighway or Skinker!

AngBob

So far my wedding date is September 22nd at St. Francis Xavier and Missouri Athletic Club so I already have a block of 45 rooms held at MAC.  That's why I am not concerned about all the hotels being booked...I'm just worried if the city will feel crowded! I'm probably overanalyzing but now I am wondering if I should switch to the 15th because I bet the pictures would be unique... Any photographers out there that know if Forest Park is too crazy for wedding pics during the balloon race?

jginther0424

What convention is going on downtown on 09/22/2012?  I am looking at that date as well but have not looked into hotel rooms yet...now I am nervous!

AngBob

It is some religious convention, but I can't find it when I google it.  The lady at the MAC I have been working with told me it is a Monday through Friday deal so a lot of people are checking out by Saturday. It makes me nervous too though! I don't think it should be a big deal .... I also found out it is SLU's homecoming that weekend and my church is at Xavier, but luckily that is just a Friday night deal!

aragx6

Honestly there's some convention or another in St. Louis pretty much every nice weekend of the year -- they're just of varying sizes. As long as you can get a decent hotel block, I definitely don't see any reason to worry.