On Tuesday, we went to visit a possible wedding location. First, an explanation – we are looking for a place that can host both the ceremony and reception. So we’ve looked at museums, historical houses, estates, hotels, and so on. We need a place that will fit us all (our guest list will likely end up around 200, so 160 or so actually attending), be in or close to Charlotte, not cost as much as a new car (excluding those places that said they have an $18,000 minimum charge), and not feel like a convention center (excluding some hotels – even their pictures of weddings they have hosted had an air of “today’s corporate agenda” about them).
Our first visit was to the Magnolia Room, in Rock Hill, SC. Charlotte is on the NC/SC border, so Rock Hill is not too far away. The Magnolia Room is a large room situated in some upscale community. The Room itself is surrounded by the community swimming pool, tennis court, and parking lots. In other words, not very secluded and no real outdoor location for a ceremony. Our host, Warren, explained that we could divide the room in half and have the ceremony on one side and the reception on the other. That was the point where I stopped thinking “this could still be nice” and started thinking “No. No no no no no. Not for us. No.” It also did not help that when he heard where I work , he started asking for my advice on why their speaker system and microphone system wasn’t working. Luckily, Erik’s technical expertise helped. Warren chatted a bit with Erik (Warren was a Pi Kapp), and then we left.
Pros of the place:
It really is a lovely space. Real hardwood floors (possibly maple?), great big windows, high ceilings. Has a beautiful bar area with dark woods and black marble. And the price was affordable. And has built in house sound system (although it sounded as if they were not sure how to use it).
Cons:
Only one dressing area – either Erik and I would have to share and see each other before the wedding, or one of us is getting ready before/in the manager’s office. No area for a ceremony – we are not splitting the room, and we just can’t picture our ceremony being out by the parking lot. And it’s in South Carolina, and Erik doesn’t like that state.
Me: “I thought you said you didn’t care where we got married.”
Him: “That didn’t mean we could get married in another STATE.”
Today: a visit to Birkdale Golf Club.