So, soon after you're engaged everyone asks you to pick a date, which all planner-type-people know you can't do until you have a location figured out-- preferrably with a signed contract and deposit. While the bride's hometown is traditional, MY hometown would mean planning a wedding from a distance of 400 miles, dealing with very inconvenient hotels for most of our friends and all of his family, and expecting all of our guests to find the middle-of-no-where Kansas church and slighly less middle-of-no-where reception hall.
So, we (I) quickly narrowed down our search to the Iowa City area.
First there was the Coralville North Ridge Pavillion. Pretty little fountain, nice deck overlooking a "lake." It was close to hotels and we could bring in our own food and drink, but because of it's proximity to a housing complex they'd kick us out by 11 PM to minimize noise. Also, the site said it was big enough to sit 200 people. With our 175ish guest list, that meant no room for a dance floor. Unacceptable!
Moving on I cyper-scoped out a couple options near Solon, IA, just North East of Iowa City. I found Brosh chapel and community center. Kind of a lousy picture here, but it had an indoor chapel, another outdoor deck overlooking a glorified pond for a possible outdoor ceremony and traditional reception space to boot. But factoring in the distance from Iowa City, the manditory carterers fees, and the likely hefty bar tab, I was not inspired.
Option 3 was certainly inspiring, and I am a little ashamed to say I didn't even go see this place, cause I hear it's phenomenal: the Schwabb Barns near Solon again. This is a collection of stone barns that the family rents out for events like dances and weddings. We could bring in our own vendors, so that was going to be a plus. BUT barns don't really scream "us" (as a couple, anyway). Plus, their distance from hotels was an issue (I really don't want to work about any driving and drinking) and I think bad weather would just kill the whole event at a venue like this.
So, what did I choose? I place called "Old Brick." Now, I'm sure you're looking at this picture and thinking, that's a weird name for a church, but our location isn't exactly what it appears to be. It IS the second oldest building in Iowa City, built during the Civil War era. It IS a historical landmark, which hopefully will keep everyone on their best behavior. And it WAS a chruch once. Now it's a community building that houses non-profit offices in the basement. The sanctuary area has been renovated into one big open room complete with original stain-glass windows (okay, 1 original window) the big church doors, altar and pipes from a long gone pipe organ.
Just look at these shots, or click
here to see a slideshow of it dressed up for past events:
Here's the front, withe the altar.
And the back with balcony & pipes (just for show)
And a shot of the side walls and the one complete, original stained glass window from which I choose the colors purple and gold (hard to tell in this shot, I know, but trust me, they're there.)
I can't wait to have our wedding here! Besides the basic goreousness, we can bring in our own caterer and alcohol, we have the space all day Friday and Saturday to set up, and it's a block away from one of our hotels and a shuttle ride away from the other. It's historic nature does offer some challenges, but I think the trade off will definitely be worth it in the end!
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