Well, As I have said, I am Catholic. I have to get married inside of a Catholic Church. My options:
Gardendale, Alabama
Saint Elizabeth is where I did my Catholic growing up. Sunday school, first communion, the whole bit. Pros and cons:
- I don't really go there anymore
- It has ugly red carpet and the interior is not very pretty
- I don't want to get married there
- Church hall is not very pretty and I don't want to have my reception there, but I don't know where else we would have it because I would rather not drive across town for a reception after a wedding in Gardendale.
+ It will cost about $1000 less than anywhere else (I think)
+ Shorter distance for guests to drive because lots of them live in Gardendale
+ I could get ready at my mom's house because it is really close
+ The above three reasons help to simplify some parts of the planning process
+ It is almost certainly still available for our date
Birmingham, Alabama
St. Paul's is where my mom did her Catholic growing up. Pros and cons:
- It costs a bijillion dollars (about $1200 more) if you have not been a member for 2 years, which we haven't.
- It is a little much and intimidates me slightly. Seems like it will be some sort of "EVENT" and very not low key here.
- It echoes in there and you can't hear a thing the priest says. So basically you just stare around at all the pretty stuff.
- It is probably already booked.
- It is ginormous and my guests will look like "BBs in a matchbox" to quote my mom.
+ It is absolutely GORGEOUS!!!
+ It is uber Catholic and adds a sense of ceremony and tradition that no place other than the Cathedral can.
+ It is gorgeous. Doubly so.
Birmingham, Alabama
St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Chapel is a satelite church of St. Paul's Cathedral and the Catholic Student Center for UAB.
- Its up on a hill and I think I would have to walk up a bizillion stairs in a wedding dress and heels to walk down the aisle
- Its extra modern looking inside with airbrushed walls and stars and pink stuff and weirdness. There is this slightly disturbing modern/art-deco/weird crucifix hanging right over the altar that would look extra funky in pictures.
- Its pretty outside and I hear that the parish hall is pretty nice and big enough for a reception.
- Not a whole lot of parking
- I am not really sure they even do weddings there
- May cost the same amount as the cathedral. Not really sure.
+ It is relatively small inside, so that limits the number of guests. As I would like a small wedding, this is a good thing, but it could present some guest list chopping issues. I am not sure because I have not made a guest list :).
+ My childhood priest is the "sacramental minister" there, so he could do the wedding no problem!
+ It is really pretty outside, so pictures would be nice.
+ Nice central location
Birmingham, Alabama
St. Mark's is a fairly new church off 119 on the far South side of Birmingham.
- Although the building is pretty, the area is drab with new landscaping and not really any pretty places to take pictures
- The altar sits very low so you can't really see what is going on up front while seated in the pews.
- It costs as much as St. Paul's costs.
- Far for Gardendalians to drive, so I'll have to give directions which will say "turn by the shell station"
- The sanctuary is a little big, but I think I would just rope off the back 10 pews or something
+ Very nice Parish hall that is perfect for a reception and comes with tables, chairs, white table cloths (I think)
+ The priest (Father Joe) is a very nice man and very flexible.
+ Easy to book, most likely still available.
no to st. eliz - you don't like it. maybe to paul.... figure out the budget. no to the modern one - same price as the one you love. possibly st mark... you never know how the weather will be in april, so don't base your decision on the landscape around the church, but the church itself :)
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