[Wedding filter:] Wedding site!

[eohartman]

It's time to figure out the logistics of the wedding site, and I need your help and input! For reference, we'll have between 120-150 guests (rough estimate).

Underneath the cut are pictures of the waterfalls where Dustin and I will be getting married.



As you walk down to the falls from the main trail, this is what you see:


Keep in mind that the wedding will be in the fall, so it won't look this green, and the picnic shelter will (hopefully!) have a new roof. Dad has been wanting to put a new roof on it for a few years, and I'm hoping we can get that done before the wedding!

Another view of the picnic shelter:


If you're standing at the picnic shelter, this is what you see of the waterfalls:

(Ignore the obvious pasting of three pictures together and the bored fiance'.) The rock Dustin is sitting on is the same rock where he proposed. This picture was taken two weeks after he proposed, so in mid-November. We'll be having the wedding in late October/early November, so the area will look more like the pictures I took the day he proposed:

Less leaves on the rocks, more vibrant color in the trees.

This is the rock where he proposed:


I'd love to have us and the minister stand on the rock, with rose petals scattered on the ground (like when he proposed), and our wedding party on the rock below us, to either side of us, like this:

Yes, that's obviously cut-and-pasted people who I don't know. :-)

But I don't know how well that'll work, especially 'cause I'll have to step up on to the rock and over some water and that'll be rather hard in my wedding dress.

This is the rock when he proposed, from the "backside" of the rock:

At the top of the picture, you can see a grass area. I want everyone to be seated (because if everyone was standing, it would be hard for people in the back to see), and they'll most likely be seated in the grass above the falls, to the left of the picnic shelter. Here's more pictures of the grass area:
Looking at the grassy area from the rocks:


Looking at the grassy area while standing at the picnic shelter:



When my parents got married down at the waterfalls 30 years ago, they had everyone (about 120 guests) sit in chairs on the grass and Mom and Dad exchanged their vows right in front of them, also on the grass. I'll have to dig up some of their pictures and post them for reference, once I get back home. I'd prefer to have everyone sit in chairs on the grass and Dustin and I be on the rocks, about 20 feet away. We'll have wireless microphones so everyone will be able to hear us over the sound of the falls. Power isn't an issue because we can either have a generator or run power down from a house that's not too far from the falls (although the house is hidden behind trees).

I'm just not sure if we can pull off standing on the rock he proposed on, or whether we'll have to be down on the other rock, where it's a lot easier to stand. :-)

So...input?

Comments

[gonzostar.livejournal.com]

sooooo beautiful! since i'm a senitmental sap, i'd try to get on that rock if at all possible. that's the whole reason david and i are going to the beach, despite all the logistical problems. and i need wireless microphones, totally.

[watchmebe.livejournal.com]

Maybe you could create some sort of ramp up onto the rock so its easier to get onto? You could have something made out of wood and stained nicely so its not like "board on a rock."

Can people not sit on the rock that you're considering using to stand on, if you don't use it?

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

It might be an option to build a little ramp to the rock. It's not that big of a step (maybe a 2 foot step up), but I worry about doing it in a dress, with heels.

I don't know if people will be able to sit on the rock or not, because it isn't even ground, like the grass above is. I'm not sure chairs would balance correctly, and we'd have to arrange them around the cracks in the rock and stuff. It's an option, though.

[watchmebe.livejournal.com]

If you wanted something out of metal my dad could rig it, seeing as how the company he ended up buying is Advanced Metal, I just think wood might look more natural. If you had something very nice made with the shape of the rock in mind I don't think it would be too terrible to manuver.

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the offer, but I think we'd go for wood because it'd be more natural looking. Plus it might be a little less slippery. :-)

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

I'd love to be on the rock, but if it's not easily possible, then I'm not too concerned about it. Getting married ten feet from the exact location of where he proposed is fine with me!

It is nice to see pictures of my parent's wedding and talk to them about how they did it, and I'm hopefully going to get some pictures from my aunt's wedding (who also got married at the falls) as well, for reference. It's just nice to see other people's pictures and look at all the options and see how they pulled it off.

Has anyone ever gotten married at that particular part of the beach where y'all will be getting married? They might be a great reference for information about rentals and such.

[chasingangie05.livejournal.com]

Love the bridesmaids and groomsmen inserts... you crack me up

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

Gotta thank Google's image search for that. lol I just searched for "bridesmaids" and used on of the first pictures I found! I figured that would be better than trying to describe it, or drawing stick figures in Paint and trying to place them in there (unlike gonzostar and her friends, I'm bad at drawing with Paint to insert people in my wedding party!).

[chasingangie05.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it gives a nice image of what it's going to look like. :) Your wedding is going to be beautiful.

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

Awww, thanks! :-) Maybe you can come, especially if you're living in Jacksonville!

[chasingangie05.livejournal.com]

I'm going to be there with bells on!!!!!

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

Yea! *grin*

[gonzostar.livejournal.com]

hahahah my wedding diagrams are great!

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

I love them! I tried, but I failed miserably. My stick figure people just looked like colorful blobs and were really disproportioned... I'm in awe of you.

[dolmadez.livejournal.com]

autumn will be a beautiful time for the wedding, and you've picked out a great location!

if I ever get married someday, I think I'd like it to be in the autumn, too.

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It's gorgeous in the spring, too, but that's also pollen season (where I sneeze every time I walk outside) and I'll be finishing my senior year of college this spring, so it'd be hard to pull it all off!

[gweniveeve.livejournal.com]

Your wedding party is PASTEDE ON YAY!

Ahem, but yes, those sound like well-thought-out plans. And really, it's hard to hear the bride and groom's vows anyway (considering that they're facing away from the crowd, and aren't usually using their "outdoor voices"). But the microphones sound great.

I would mainly suggest having a good rain plan -- how slippery do the rocks get? Can you use tarps or rubber traction mats? (This also applies to a situation where it rained the day before).

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

I like my wedding party! lol

I'll have a good rain plan. I haven't figured out what it is yet, but considering the wedding will be outside...a rain plan is nessecary. I'm going to rent some tents, perhaps, or we may just say in case of rain, entire event is moved to our barn, which is where the reception will be even if it's not raining.

I'm going to call ASC once people are back from holidays and such and ask if we own some tents or if they're all rented. If they are owned, maybe I can borrow them for the weekend of my wedding and make a donation to Agnes. If they're rented, that gives me a place to start looking for rentable tents and prices!

[silvenwolf.livejournal.com]

Just make sure you got all the pieces before you start putting the tent together. My boy, his dad, and his bro + partner was trying to put the tent together, sans instructions, and two hours later, figured out why they were having problems - a key part was missing. :) This was for a HUGE family party, and well let's say his sister, his mom, and I had a really good laugh.

At any rate, go for a wooden ramp. And moving up those kind of things in heels and a dress isn't half as scary as it sounds, but then again I live and have danced in heels. Now, if you have a train, I suggest you get a bridesmaid to hold it up while you cross over your "bridge"... which can symbolize crossing over from your present to your happy future (and add some petals on the bridge for effect).

Make sure your wireless headphones work... electronics have a funny way of screwing up at "exactly" the wrong time. >_<

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

Wow, thanks for the advice! Ugh, I can't imagine having to work on putting a tent together only to realize a major piece was missing!

Oooh, yea for symbolism! Once I get my heels, I'm going to do what riscana suggested and walk around the falls with them on. That way I can get used to them. I never wear heels, so I'm going to need a lot of practice!

[georgiaispeachy.livejournal.com]

stand on the rock. makes it more meaningful. and trust me afterwards you won't care if your dress got a little dirty or even wet...you won't have a care in the world. :)

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the advice, newly married one! :-) Speaking of which, when will we get to see pictures?! I'm dying to see them!

[georgiaispeachy.livejournal.com]

I should get them this weekend or Monday. I will let you know. :)

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

w00t!

[slloyd.livejournal.com]

oooh. Wireless Microphones. Sounds like a marriage between nature and technology!

You should set up cameras and stream the whole thing live on the internet, for any of those unfortunate enough not to be there!

The rocks and the waterfalls are lovely though. I can see why it is a popular place to propose. It's like you have your own little romantic getaway in the corner of your garden! Hope Dustin doesn't think "Hmmm! Lets have our honeymoon here!" because you'll probably be hoping for something more adventurous. Like England. *cough*

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

Oooh, the live on the internet thing is a great idea! I wonder how possible that is.... hmmmm... *grin*

Nah, we're not having our honeymoon in my backyard! We're going to North Carolina for our honeymoon (I think). Unfortunately, we can't afford for both of us to go on a lovely trip to England! *cough* I think only one of us can go. lol

[silvenwolf.livejournal.com]

If not live on internet, I wouldn't mind watching via delayed video either!

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

I'm going to try and figure out what I can do. I want all my internet friends to see the wedding, too, if they wish! I feel crappy that I have so many online friends that are far enough away they probably can't come- 'cause if I had it my way, you'd all be invited and come!

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm paranoid about that, too. I can just imagine tripping and splitting my head open on my wedding day...

[breathlessdream.livejournal.com]

Very pretty. I would love to have a wedding there... although I want a outdoor winter wedding so... basically I'm sticking to California. LOL

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

Thanks! lol, I figure the only time the weather in Georgia is bearable is in the fall, so that's when our wedding is! Hopefully it won't be too hot or too cold.

[christyxjane.livejournal.com]

You forgot to filter this silly ;)

Im loving this idea

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

Eh. Most people on my f-list want to be on the filter, and I want this to be viewable to other people who aren't on my f-list (my brother, for instance), so I figured I'd make it public. :-)

I'm loving it, too! I wanna get married nowwwwwwww!

[sillygoosegirl.livejournal.com]

I would think your bridesmaids would be able to help you get your dress across without dipping it in the water... or perhaps you could get something ankle length.

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

Good point, I forgot bridesmaids help with stuff like that! :-)

I've already found and bought my dress (pictures of that tomorrow) and unfortunately I already know I'll probably have to wear heels with it. :-(

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

Patience, my child, patience. *grin*

[elleseven.livejournal.com]

OHHHH it's so pretty!!!!

I love the idea of standing on the rock during the ceremony if possible. The only thing I would be worried about getting a sprained ankle from tripping on the dress or slipping on the rock. But then again i'm probably just paranoid, lol.

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

I'm paranoid about that kind of stuff, too! I keep on flipping back and forth between "I really want to stand on that rock!" and "It's probably not worth the work of being so cautious I don't fall or trip." lol

[riscana.livejournal.com]

My advice is to get your wedding shoes as soon as possible and go out there and try walking around on the rocks - then you'd have a better idea of whether or not it's going to be possible to stand on the proposal-rock and make an informed decision from there.

Added bonus: if you get the shoes early, you can have more time to walk around in them and break them in before the wedding day so they don't kill your feet! :)

By the way, I LOVE that location! What a neat place to have right in your backyard..

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

That's GREAT advice! I haven't decided what shoes I'll wear yet, but most likely, they'll have to have a heel to go with the length of my dress because I can't alter the dress enough to be able to wear it without heels. But yes, once I find my shoes, I'm definitely going to make a trip down to the waterfalls and walk around in my jeans and white heels. *grin*

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I'm going to look into renting a tent, and I'll be sure to ask about renting little ramps, too. Thanks for the idea!

[adriennefriend.livejournal.com]

i heart you so much for getting married on rocks.

love
adrienne

[lizzie.livejournal.com]

Awww. I heart you for being you. :-)

To make it even dorkier, the rocks at the falls is the same granite that makes up Stone Mountain. I think technically, it may be *part* of Stone Mountain.

[adriennefriend.livejournal.com]

sounds like a history lesson for the kids one day, and that, my dear, is music to my ears!

love
adrienne