Sort of a crazy ceremony idea

climbingsingle

My FH and I are both big into rock climbing. We had the idea of having our ceremony hanging off of a cliff, either in NY where we usually climb or in West Virginia where there is lots of great rock climbing. We've spoken with our climbing guides, our officiant (who is a close friend of my FH) and our parents and all are on board. So, my question is this - has anyone here ever been to a similar wedding or have you planned/thought of planning something like this? I'm interested in any and all tips! Thanks!

misssunshine17

How many people would you plan on inviting? I think if you do only parent & you and FI, go for it. I think a lot of people would be uncomfortable with this. 

You can always throw a party at home after, but it's not a ceremony or reception. No fake ceremony, wedding dress or spotlight dances. Throw a fabulous party with great food and booze to celebrate your marriage. 

climbingsingle

Sorry - I should have clarified that we'll have an area on the ground for people that want to come and watch. We're not expecting our guests to climb with us! We're also thinking about having it recorded and then playing it back during the reception so anyone that wasn't there can see it. 

emmyg65

I know a couple who had a small ceremony at the summit of hiking trail. She wore a white tee shirt and he wore a black one. All their guests were fit enough to make the hike. 

My only concern about your cliff idea is that guests at the bottom might not be able to hear you. Also, it would be kind of rude if you're at a popular climbing spot during a busy time. I'd be kind of annoyed to have to wait to do my route because some folks were getting married.

climbingsingle

That's true that they might not be able to hear us. I'll have to take that into consideration. 

Maybe I'm a huge sap and a romantic, but if I had to wait to climb because a couple was getting married, I wouldn't mind at all! But maybe that's just me. 

LDubHawksFan

ClimbingBrideNY said:

That's true that they might not be able to hear us. I'll have to take that into consideration. 

Maybe I'm a huge sap and a romantic, but if I had to wait to climb because a couple was getting married, I wouldn't mind at all! But maybe that's just me. 

Yeah but you know how to climb. Guests that don't know how to would either be out of luck, or even worse you would have people who are ill prepared trying to do something out if their comfort zone. That is a recipe for disaster. What if someone gets hurt and then ends up at the hospital instead of your wedding? I agree that either you do a super intimate wedding with your climbing officiant and your parents (assuming they can climb) or chose an accessible location with your climbing site in the backdrop. Do a rock the dress shoot while climbing (though that sounds crazy too) or something else to add that special climbing element to your day but if you want others to be a part of your day, be conscious of their abilities and comfort.

selenathegreat

I think it's a cool idea...but as a guest I'd probably be a bit sad I couldn't really see or hear what was going on. If you were doing a private ceremony and inviting guests to the reception, I think it'd be great!

Or, could you have the ceremony, then climb and do a champagne toast and photo as a newly married couple on the mountain during "cocktail hour" or whatever? My patents sailed off in a sailboat after their ceremony, then returned for the reception...but then, they're slightly nuts!

Dreamergirl8812

It is creative, but I don't really get why people put creativity or a cool/crazy ceremony above having their loved ones experience it with them.

Jen4948

I'm not into rock-climbing, so if I were invited to such a wedding I'd feel completely lost and even scared if I was expected to climb up to something to hear the ceremony.

monkeysip

I don't OP wanted anyone else to climb.  Just her and Groom.  I don't particularly like her idea, but I don't know why several people responded thinking that she was asking guests to climb.

STARMOON44

Everyone invited should have a place to sit and watch, be able to hear and see, and have access to a bathroom. If you can find a climbing site that will do that, awesome. If not, maybe just go climbing on your honeymoon and repeat your vows.

climbingsingle

I definitely am not expecting any of my guests to climb! My FI seriously has his heart set on doing this. And I want to make it happen for him. It's my second wedding and his first, so I'm even more determined to make it about him, if that makes any sense. 

Thanks for the input! I may have located a place in West Virginia that will let us climb and will be able to set up a whole area on the ground for us with speakers. 

grumbledore

IF the guests can hear you, I think this could be very cool.  Make sure they have somewhere to sit and see if you can get hooked up with wireless body mics or something so they can hear the ceremony.

jenniferurs

grumbledore said:

IF the guests can hear you, I think this could be very cool.  Make sure they have somewhere to sit and see if you can get hooked up with wireless body mics or something so they can hear the ceremony.

This. If there are microphones and seating below, I think it could be very unique and very fun.

climbingsingle

Thanks!

climbingsingle

I wouldn't be climbing in a dress. I'd be climbing in proper climbing clothes. I don't plan on the ceremony being very long at all. We're not religious. We'll say our vows and be done. 

I would never block an area without having permission first. I agree that it's not cool. 

climbingsingle

I wouldn't be climbing in a dress. I'd be climbing in proper climbing clothes. I don't plan on the ceremony being very long at all. We're not religious. We'll say our vows and be done. 

I would never block an area without having permission first. I agree that it's not cool. 

Jen4948

monkeysip said:

I don't OP wanted anyone else to climb.  Just her and Groom.  I don't particularly like her idea, but I don't know why several people responded thinking that she was asking guests to climb.

That's a big part of why this isn't a good idea-it becomes AWish when couples want to do major things that are exclusive to them at their weddings.  If other people there were going to climb it wouldn't have that nuance, although I don't think it would be a good idea.

climbingsingle

So, according to you, this entire idea is terrible. Got it. 

itzMS

I don't think it's a good idea to invite witnesses to this kind of ceremony.

Do it in private if you're super duper passionate about this idea.

 

I'd be pretty miffed if I showed up to a ceremony at a park and the bride and groom were hanging 50 ft up in the air with their officiant.

climbingsingle

That would seriously bother you? Why? I guess I can't imagine any of our friends or family being bothered by this. It will be a small wedding, with our immediate families and closest friends. 

 

Dreamergirl8812

ClimbingBrideNY said:

That would seriously bother you? Why? I guess I can't imagine any of our friends or family being bothered by this. It will be a small wedding, with our immediate families and closest friends. 

 

Because the point of witnessing your loved ones get married is to witness them get married. Getting a kink in your neck and not getting to watch any of it would be a waste of time (and therefore AWish).

nannersbanners

Have you been to the venue lately? I ask because my FI and I are getting married on a cliff and everything changes once you are actually there to put things into perspective. If this would be your way to marry, I would want live video and audio if I was your guest. Otherwise, why invite me? Unless of course it is a VERY small personal wedding. I think you mentioned no dress... I would rock the dress.

I like your idea, but I think the ceremony should be romantic not just for you, but your guests too.

laylasaurus

This strikes me as a know your audience sort of thing, if you think your guests would be cool with it and recognize it as being very representative of you and fi, then go for it.  However, you still need to make sure your guests are comfortable, and can at least get audio of what is going on, otherwise it is pretty pointless to have guests for something like that.  

OR maybe you can work the rock climbing into your ceremony a different way, like maybe instead of a processional, you make your entrance by belaying down?  

climbingsingle

nannersbanners said:

Have you been to the venue lately? I ask because my FI and I are getting married on a cliff and everything changes once you are actually there to put things into perspective. If this would be your way to marry, I would want live video and audio if I was your guest. Otherwise, why invite me? Unless of course it is a VERY small personal wedding. I think you mentioned no dress... I would rock the dress.

I like your idea, but I think the ceremony should be romantic not just for you, but your guests too.

Yup, we just climbed there this past Sunday. I've done some research and have found some good info. Another couple did something very similar a few years ago. If we do it in this one spot, we've decided it's going to a private ceremony. 

I'm going to have a climbing outfit and then will change into my dress for the reception. 

climbingsingle

laylasaurus said:

This strikes me as a know your audience sort of thing, if you think your guests would be cool with it and recognize it as being very representative of you and fi, then go for it.  However, you still need to make sure your guests are comfortable, and can at least get audio of what is going on, otherwise it is pretty pointless to have guests for something like that.  

OR maybe you can work the rock climbing into your ceremony a different way, like maybe instead of a processional, you make your entrance by belaying down?  

I like that idea too! I'm definitely going to run it by FI. 

Also, the venue we're close to choosing for our reception might also be able to let us climb on their property (Catskills in NY - lots of mountains). If that's the case, we'd be able to tailor the ceremony to exactly what we'd want. 

Again, thanks for the input!! 

itzMS

Dreamergirl8812 said:

ClimbingBrideNY said:

That would seriously bother you? Why? I guess I can't imagine any of our friends or family being bothered by this. It will be a small wedding, with our immediate families and closest friends. 

 

Because the point of witnessing your loved ones get married is to witness them get married. Getting a kink in your neck and not getting to watch any of it would be a waste of time (and therefore AWish).

Exactly. Why did I drive all the way out here to not get to even hear or see the vows? Oh, yay.

It's certainly cool that you're able to rock climb...but not for a wedding ceremony.

climbingsingle

We're either going to keep the ceremony private or have it so the people attending can see and hear. We're not going to be 200 feet up, where people would get a kink in their neck. and it's not going to be a long ceremony by any means. This is a small wedding. We're only inviting our immediate families and closest friends. The people I've already talked to about it have all agreed it's very "us" and a cool idea. 

Jen4948

ClimbingBrideNY said:

We're either going to keep the ceremony private or have it so the people attending can see and hear. We're not going to be 200 feet up, where people would get a kink in their neck. and it's not going to be a long ceremony by any means. This is a small wedding. We're only inviting our immediate families and closest friends. The people I've already talked to about it have all agreed it's very "us" and a cool idea. 

Small weddings or no, your guests' comfort needs to take priority over what's "you" or a "cool idea."

thisismynickname2

OR maybe you can work the rock climbing into your ceremony a different way, like maybe instead of a processional, you make your entrance by belaying down?  

THIS!!!

Maggie0829

ClimbingBrideNY said:

We're either going to keep the ceremony private or have it so the people attending can see and hear. We're not going to be 200 feet up, where people would get a kink in their neck. and it's not going to be a long ceremony by any means. This is a small wedding. We're only inviting our immediate families and closest friends. The people I've already talked to about it have all agreed it's very "us" and a cool idea. 

Small weddings or no, your guests' comfort needs to take priority over what's "you" or a "cool idea."

I don't see the guests being put in an uncomfortable position. If the couple is not 200 feet in the air where the guests have to look straight up, but rather maybe 50 feet in the air where guests can look straight out without straining their necks and if there is plenty of seating and a sound system so that guests can hear what is going on then I don't really see this as not meeting the needs of the guests comfort. 

Obviously you don't like her idea. Is it my cup of tea? No. But I think that as long as the couple makes sure that the guests can hear, see, and also have a place to sit then they are meeting all the necessary etiquette requirements. Just because a guest may not like how they are getting married does not equate to them being physically uncomfortable. 

 OP, If you do decide to do this. Just make sure that you take into consideration how high you and your FI will be and how close/far you place the chairs for your guests. You want to make sure that you don't put the chairs directly under you because no matter what height you two are at, the guests will have to look up and that is just not fun to do for 15 minutes.

ETA:  because the internet doesn't like paragraphs.