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Booking Heinz Chapel Anxiety!

lindsayzelezniklindsayzeleznik
100 Comments
in Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh
So everytime I tell a vendor that we want to have our ceremony at Heinz Chapel they gasp and say "You better make sure you have a team of people to call for you!" I do have a group of people who will be able to call with me on June 1st, but it's just so nerve wracking! Did anyone book their ceremony at Heinz? Is it as stressful as it sounds? TIA!
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Re: Booking Heinz Chapel Anxiety!

  • gmc22gmc22 member
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I was looking between Heinz and St. Paul's and I DIDN'T want Heinz for that reason... everyone kept telling me the same thing and it seriously stressed me out. Happy to say I didn't have to deal with it but GL!!

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  • lindsayzelezniklindsayzeleznik
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    G - I know! I tried for St. Paul's for our date, They did the same thing for our wedding time period and are holding all of the 2 pm slots for the Bishop's thing. The 4 pm slot is taken and there are 2 girls already on the waiting list for the 2 pm slot. I had her put my name down, but not looking promising :(
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  • phillychica85phillychica85 member
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011

    It actually wasn't that big of a deal. I think the booking "hype" is more nervewracking than the experience itself.

    We got engaged on the last Saturday of the month, the following Monday was the first business day of the new month (when they start taking reservations for that same month the following year). I believe they take no phone calls that first business day of the month (obviously to deal with the callers), so what happens is you call the office, leave a message with your preferred date/time, they'll get back to you. I didn't call until the PM that day, so I didn't have my first choice for time but I did get the date I wanted and in the end the time for the ceremony was perfect. I received a call back later that day and it was all done. I was the only one to call, I had no team, and it was fine (my wedding was in August so still peak wedding season etc).

    Be prepared to call first thing on the first and you'll be fine. Defintely don't stress too much about it.

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  • HoneySpiderHoneySpider
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Be prepared to spend a lot of time calling - I think it took something like 2 or 2 1/2 hours before we finally got through (3 of us trying). I was going to give up because I had to shower and get ready for work and finally got through on my last time.

    Know ahead of time the order of which days/times you want. If you don't get one of your top choices, take the best available, give it some thought, and you can always cancel. I got an earlier time than I wanted (but on the day I wanted) and I wasn't crazy about it but I thought about it and the timing actually ended up working out well.

    Don't stress about it - it can be really frustrating calling over and over again and getting a busy signal, but you will eventually get through. GL!
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  • lindsayzelezniklindsayzeleznik
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    So do I leave a message or will I actually talk with someone that day?
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  • gmc22gmc22 member
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_pennsylvania-pittsburgh_booking-heinz-chapel-anxiety?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:116Discussion:bc243541-4818-468e-a964-5680059cdd93Post:b46b4e4f-ff65-4612-a712-80d62a471aa9">Re: Booking Heinz Chapel Anxiety!</a>:
    [QUOTE]G - I know! I tried for St. Paul's for our date, They did the same thing for our wedding time period and are holding all of the 2 pm slots for the Bishop's thing. The 4 pm slot is taken and there are 2 girls already on the waiting list for the 2 pm slot. I had her put my name down, but not looking promising :(
    Posted by lindsayzeleznik[/QUOTE]

    Oh no!! I'm so sorry to hear this :( Well, GL with both! I'm sure it will be a bit frustrating (as mentioned by pp) but worth it in the end :)

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  • HoneySpiderHoneySpider
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    You will actually talk to someone if you call in the morning. I am assuming the only reason pp got a voicemail system was because she said she called later in the day - I think they cut off answering the phone after a certain # of hours.
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  • lindsayzelezniklindsayzeleznik
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Got it - Thanks everyone!
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  • Missy5580Missy5580
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I was totally expecting the worst because I had heard the same thing. However, we didn't really have a problem. We had about 10 people calling and I got through after about an hour.I would just block off that morning and get who ever you can to call repeatedly until you get through. It really wasn't that bad.
    I got the date and time that I wanted. However, I am sure that the month that you chose plays a big part of that. My wedding is in April not nearly as popular as June.
    I was told that until you physically spoke with someone that you didn't have the reservation so I wouldn't be comfortable leaving a message.
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  • steelersnic314steelersnic314
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I called last June for our upcoming June wedding at Heinz.  I had a ton of people calling and it took over 3 hours for one of us to get through.  We were just about to give up when my fiance got through. They only had one time and day left, and we picked it even though  a 12:30 wedding ceremony wasn't ideal for me.  Now that it is almost here I am glad we got that time.  Just means more time to be in my dress and celebrate!  Less stressful if you are more flexible with your day and time.  We didn't book our reception until we were sure what day and time we were able to get for our ceremony.

    Good luck!
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  • natnicholasnatnicholas
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    My fiance and I are booked for the Friday of Memorial Day weekend at Heinz. We actually booked it in late July last year. We had just gotten engaged and wanted a May wedding and 2p on that Friday was still open, so we snagged it! We've found that having it on that Friday also made it possible for us to get the vendors we wanted because we weren't competing with the popular Saturday.

    So if you really want to minimize the stress, maybe consider choosing a Friday, especially over a holiday weekend?  We aren't getting any deals on vendors (some people think Fridays are less expensive), but it was more about availability of who and what we wanted, including Heinz Chapel!

    It sounds like you might have several other things booked though already for the date, so best of luck to you!
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  • Gabrielle0505Gabrielle0505 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    i had a team of about 25 people calling. I emailed a script to everyone (i know, crazy!). I even told everyone that whoever got through i was going to give them a gift card to show my appreciation. After 9 minutes of a busy signal, out of all people I got through! I am getting married in November though - not a popular wedding month. Just keep trying! GL!
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