Chapel in the Hills

My husband and I booked a tiny ceremony at the Chapel a few short months before our wedding. We spoke with Brian to arrange in advance a plan for the day of. Brian emailed us information including rules and limitations of the venue contract. We followed up with a phone conversation in which Brian politely answered some questions we had. We were a bit surprised at Brian’s somewhat-lax approach in the weeks leading up to the wedding but appreciated that he seemed easy to talk to and friendly. Still, we weren’t very comfortable that the chapel doesn’t include rehearsal opportunities. If our wedding had been a bigger, more formal event, the lack of rehearsal would have been a dealbreaker. Fast-forward to the ceremony day, we arrived a few minutes before our scheduled arrival time (about 12:45) and my husband was hoping to get the Bluetooth sound system set up to his phone to make sure it was working. We knew there was the possibility that we wouldn’t be allowed to start preparations until our contracted 1:00 arrival time, however a tour bus had pulled in and my husband was told that he would not be able to speak with Brian until 1:00. Keep in mind, our ceremony was scheduled to begin at 1:30. No rehearsal, can’t speak with anyone, can’t begin set-up until THIRTY MINUTES before the ceremony begins. So, my husband was unable to prepare the sound system even a moment early (though it would have only taken Brian 10 seconds to give him Bluetooth instructions), all the while a tour bus of seniors are milling through the chapel. In fact, the tour didn’t exit the chapel until 1:05. I’m no stickler, but the lack of flexibility on the part of the Chapel isn’t what you want on your wedding day. Add to that, there is no air conditioning. The “bridal changing room” is rough. No A/C or windows. Getting ready to walk down the aisle requires more than a table lamp and a box fan. Especially in the summer months, think really long and hard before committing to a 1/2 hour prep window, no prior meeting or rehearsal, sweltering heat, stagnant air, random tour groups, and a venue manager who can’t be bothered.