Happy 4th of July!
We took our day off to go out to Riverside and check out a couple of other places in the area.
First, we went out to Riverside to the Mission Inn. I know, going inland in July is just asking for heatstroke. And yes, it was plenty hot there - the lobby and courtyard were cool, but the upper floors were pretty stuffy. (Sorry, photos are only on my facebook right now). I expected something more like the typical hotel. The Mission Inn, however, is nothing like the typical hotel. It's a mission that has a hotel built up around it over many many years, and the architecture is amazing! It reminded me of the Winchester House. Honestly, I'd recommend going out to visit just to look around.
The big selling point to me was the St. Francis of Assisi chapel. Yup, chapel - no religious requirements! Whew! I like it, of course, because I've been to the basilica in Italy just before an earthquake that damaged a lot of it. I've always loved Catholic cathedrals - when my family moved to St. Louis, we went on a field trip to the cathedral downtown, and it seemed like a place you just get married in. I was pretty crushed when I found out you actually have to be a member of the Catholic church. Methodists just aren't really in to the whole cathedral thing. And, to be honest, some of those statues hanging around give me the creepies. But, I digress - the chapel was beautiful, and not too big. We didn't get to see the reception areas, but the pictures I've seen online are really nice. Verdict? Kind of far away, very hot, and I requested pricing information a week ago and never got anything.
We then drove back to Long Beach to see the Ebell Club. I thought it might be unlocked and we'd be able to snoop around like at the Mission Inn, but it was entirely buttoned up. We drove around in circles for a long time looking for it (not a good sign), and when we got to the building, it was nice on the outside. But - the website describes it to be in a nice, tree-lined neighborhood. What they don't mention is it's in the ghetto. I was pretty crushed.
This is about the point where Andy called his aunt and uncle (hi!) about somewhere they'd been on a trip years ago. So we drove across the LA/Long Beach ports to Palos Verdes, to the Wayfarer's Chapel. Again with the amazing architecture! I'm a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright (is there anyone who isn't??), and it's really, really amazing. I loved it, but was kind of disappointed that it wasn't close to anywhere for a reception. It's by the Trump Golf Course, but I'm not real in to that. We talked about having everyone meet at the reception place and renting a charter bus. That seems a little pricey to me ... but we both really liked it a lot. And, since we're not really affiliated with any church, but it seems to me like that's where people should get married, I'd be happy with a chapel!
Things I learned I'd like for the ceremony & reception:
1. I'd really prefer it to be in the Orange County/Los Angeles area. Preferably OC; the sales tax is 1% cheaper there! Not only is it closer for us, making it easier to plan locally, but most of our guests are coming from far away. I don't want to plan a destination wedding, but I do want to keep in mind this is going to be a big vacation for a lot of people!
2. I love the idea of having the ceremony and reception in one place. People don't have to drive around then (again for the out-of-towners), and it's a little easier just in general.
3. I'd like somewhere special to both of us. While we had a good time out at the Mission Inn, I wouldn't say that's one of the places that reflects who we are really.
On a separate note, I've been worried about costs - our guest list just recently broke 100, congratulations to my cousin! Here's a sample conversation between me and my mom:
Me: Mom, the guest list keeps getting bigger! And there's a lot of people we haven't added! I was wanting and planning for 70 and now I've had to up it to 80 and it's so expensive ...
Mom: Don't worry, I'm sure a lot of people won't be able to make it.
Me: Whew.
I think I'm the only person who's comforted by the fact that people won't be able to attend their wedding.
First, we went out to Riverside to the Mission Inn. I know, going inland in July is just asking for heatstroke. And yes, it was plenty hot there - the lobby and courtyard were cool, but the upper floors were pretty stuffy. (Sorry, photos are only on my facebook right now). I expected something more like the typical hotel. The Mission Inn, however, is nothing like the typical hotel. It's a mission that has a hotel built up around it over many many years, and the architecture is amazing! It reminded me of the Winchester House. Honestly, I'd recommend going out to visit just to look around.
The big selling point to me was the St. Francis of Assisi chapel. Yup, chapel - no religious requirements! Whew! I like it, of course, because I've been to the basilica in Italy just before an earthquake that damaged a lot of it. I've always loved Catholic cathedrals - when my family moved to St. Louis, we went on a field trip to the cathedral downtown, and it seemed like a place you just get married in. I was pretty crushed when I found out you actually have to be a member of the Catholic church. Methodists just aren't really in to the whole cathedral thing. And, to be honest, some of those statues hanging around give me the creepies. But, I digress - the chapel was beautiful, and not too big. We didn't get to see the reception areas, but the pictures I've seen online are really nice. Verdict? Kind of far away, very hot, and I requested pricing information a week ago and never got anything.
We then drove back to Long Beach to see the Ebell Club. I thought it might be unlocked and we'd be able to snoop around like at the Mission Inn, but it was entirely buttoned up. We drove around in circles for a long time looking for it (not a good sign), and when we got to the building, it was nice on the outside. But - the website describes it to be in a nice, tree-lined neighborhood. What they don't mention is it's in the ghetto. I was pretty crushed.
This is about the point where Andy called his aunt and uncle (hi!) about somewhere they'd been on a trip years ago. So we drove across the LA/Long Beach ports to Palos Verdes, to the Wayfarer's Chapel. Again with the amazing architecture! I'm a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright (is there anyone who isn't??), and it's really, really amazing. I loved it, but was kind of disappointed that it wasn't close to anywhere for a reception. It's by the Trump Golf Course, but I'm not real in to that. We talked about having everyone meet at the reception place and renting a charter bus. That seems a little pricey to me ... but we both really liked it a lot. And, since we're not really affiliated with any church, but it seems to me like that's where people should get married, I'd be happy with a chapel!
Things I learned I'd like for the ceremony & reception:
1. I'd really prefer it to be in the Orange County/Los Angeles area. Preferably OC; the sales tax is 1% cheaper there! Not only is it closer for us, making it easier to plan locally, but most of our guests are coming from far away. I don't want to plan a destination wedding, but I do want to keep in mind this is going to be a big vacation for a lot of people!
2. I love the idea of having the ceremony and reception in one place. People don't have to drive around then (again for the out-of-towners), and it's a little easier just in general.
3. I'd like somewhere special to both of us. While we had a good time out at the Mission Inn, I wouldn't say that's one of the places that reflects who we are really.
On a separate note, I've been worried about costs - our guest list just recently broke 100, congratulations to my cousin! Here's a sample conversation between me and my mom:
Me: Mom, the guest list keeps getting bigger! And there's a lot of people we haven't added! I was wanting and planning for 70 and now I've had to up it to 80 and it's so expensive ...
Mom: Don't worry, I'm sure a lot of people won't be able to make it.
Me: Whew.
I think I'm the only person who's comforted by the fact that people won't be able to attend their wedding.
posted by Emma at
12:01 PM
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