Hi all...
I've emailed the MC about this as well, but figure I'll cover my bases by posting here too as I'm realllllllllllllly hoping to get some help/info any way I can... basically I'm looking for someone/multiple someones who have had their ceremony at the MC (i.e. not just the reception), and might be willing to share some photos with me of how it was set-up -- I'm having trouble finding pics of more than one outside set-up online.
Our date is June 22. I'd been picturing outside in the pavillion (which we'd have to rent the chairs for ourselves). That way we're outside, but safe from anything except maybe gale force winds! We're expecting about 150 people - not sure how many will come to the ceremony first but I imagine it'll be most of the guests. For reasons really beyond my grasp, though we've had our date/venue set for 2 mos, my mom sprung it on me today that she thinks I should have the ceremony at Heinz Chapel instead (even made phone calls about it before checking with me!!).... nevermind the fact that I already have my dress, which is incredible and very ME (and thus NOT an 'I'm getting married in an ornate cathedral' dress but an 'I'm getting married outside on a summer evening' kind of dress) and that I really love the MC. I've been to weddings at HC and there's NO doubt it's incredible, but it's just not my fiance's and my style. I'm talking, I want to walk up the aisle to my friend playing Patti Griffin on acoustic guitar and us to walk back out together to the Monkees. That's not going to happen at HC.
She is VERY concerned though that, with my limited budget (though our florist is a family friend who I think is going to be able to spread our floral budget farther than it would go with someone who didn't know us) -- that it's going to be cost-prohibitive to spruce up the pavilion (my first choice) or the back porch, circular kind of area (which I guess would be the second choice, if it is indeed just too out-of-our budget to make the pavilion look more wedding-y). As a last resort, if there's like, gale force winds that night, they'd told me at the MC that they do sometimes have ceremonies indoors where the tables are pushed to the side (i.e. more like a traditional wedding set up than having people already seated around the dinner tables during their ceremony, which I really don't like). I'm not sure if that will look too crowded though. (I should also say, though I could go with our florist-friend out there sometime -- I'm pretty sure my mom's not going to be satisfied with just reassurance from him that this'll be ok... she'll need like, photographic evidence).
So, if you or anyone you know on this board or in real life might be willing to talk to me and/or show me some pics about how this worked out for you, you'd be saving my sanity and perhaps my Mom's and my relationship!
ANY info anyone could give me would seriously be super super appreciated!!
Thanks!!
-B