PLEASE HELP!!! Chapel SNAFU! (long)

[coreyphil]

Ok - I'm ready to make this post ... I think I can do it without crying ...

 

First, a little background --- My FI and I really wanted to be married in a church or chapel. We had been looking at El Encanto Inn because we loved its character and we really like to stay in small bed-and-breakfast-type hotels when we travel. I also really, really loved the chapel. When I hired my WC - I was delighted when El Encanto was the first place she mentioned after I told her what I was looking for --- I thought it was a match made in heaven! She put me in contact with a former bride who had been married there ... and I loved the little chapel even more. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures to share of her wedding ... BUT - I loved the fact that the chapel is small and intimate, has these beautiful rustic, hand-carved pews, and has this beautiful stone wall with a simple cross and candles on it. Both the former bride (Tracy) and my WC said that the chapel's simplicity is so beautiful and elegant that you don't even need a lot of flowers ... she just used aisle petals. In the pictures that I saw on BOTH the hotel website and in Tracy's wedding - the space above the stone was white and simple.

 

OK - 2 nights ago, my FI and I were talking about the wedding - and I decided to check something on the website. The website had been re-vamped and looked AWESOME! They did a really great job. We went to the "Weddings" page and I was FLOORED to see that a mural had been painted in the chapel. I flipped ...

 

Now - let me say that I have nothing against murals ... but it is definitely not my taste and I can ABSOLUTELY say that I would NOT have booked here if this was what I had seen. I was really, really worried about stepping on someone's toes or hurting someone's feelings (thinking maybe it was painted by someone's daughter or something ...)

 

I called my WC just to bend her ear - and she recommended contacting the hotel owner immediately.

 

When I talked to the hotel owner Blanca --- who has been AMAZINGLY nice the ENTIRE time I have worked with her --- I told her that I really liked the new website, but that I was very surprised to see the mural on the wall. I asked her when it had been painted - and she said, "Last summer ..." But, she admitted that the pictures on the old website did NOT show the mural in the chapel. I simply said, "I'm just trying to see what my options are because I really loved the simplicity of the chapel without the mural ..." She immediately offered to cover it up for the ceremony.

 

NOW --- Here's the dilemma and where I'm seeking opinions ...

 

Do you think it will look even worse covered up? What would you do?

 

Everyone who has seen the mural agrees that it is pretty bad ...

 

WC and FI think we should try to cover it up (which Blanca is willing to do) ...

My mom said she thinks we should just tell the guests what happened and let it be --- she thinks it may draw even more attention covered up!

 

Here are the pics:

 

 

 

I asked my WC if there are any other brides booked at El Encanto before my wedding --- I was thinking maybe if they are unhappy, too; then, they might consider painting over the mural completely. Unfortunately, WC doesn't have any others getting married there ...

 

Another friend suggested simply saying to the owner that the mural may actually discourage other brides from booking here because it detracts from the character of the chapel. I'm hesitant to do this because I absolutely HATE thinking that I am hurting someone's feelings or offending them ...

What would you do?

[Saraha]

I dont think that you would be offending anyone either way. It is a beautiful mural, but just dont think it belongs there. What ould they cover it up with. I can see how it could be more of a distraction depending on what they use. but either way I wouldnt feel bad if I were you, its your wedding and a picture on a wall shouldnt make you feel bad.

[Yari]

Perhaps there could be a tactful way to cover it up.

 

You could hang a large swag of fabric coming from both sides, then add flowers. Hmm...let me think a little more. There has to be a way.

[LCBride2007]

this might be a lot to ask of them, but is there any way you can ask for pictures of what it might look like covered up before making a decision?

[LCBride2007]

another note, if you're thinking of moving your ceremony because of what guests might think, i wouldn't do that. as a guest, i probably wouldn't even notice or give it a second thought. but i'm just not the type to notice something like that.

 

if you're thinking of moving because of how YOU feel about the place, then that's a different story!

[jas&john]

Oh my gosh I can't imagine anyone caring about that picture. Hey it's Mexico and it is exactly what I would expect to happen in MX. It's always hit and miss. If you have a good photographer you could just ask her/him to tyr to keep it out of the pictures if you really don't like it. In years from now it will be a great conversation piece when showing your album. I'd just laugh it off, have a blaast and enjoy the people (including that artist).

J

[coreyphil]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnnR this might be a lot to ask of them, but is there any way you can ask for pictures of what it might look like covered up before making a decision?

That's a good idea ... at the very least, I figured that I would ask her to have it "covered up" by the time we arrive on the 4th. That way there would be time to take it down by the 8th if I thought it was worse ...

Oh - and my mom (always so good at seeing the positive) pointed out that the photographer (Juan Carlos) can just shoot pictures without it as much as possible ... and probably digitally edit it out on ones that show it ...

Is it really not that bad?

I wish I could share the pictures of Tracy's wedding where the candles are lit on the wall and it is just simple and pretty!

[Yari]

Quote:

Originally Posted by coreyphil That's a good idea ... at the very least, I figured that I would ask her to have it "covered up" by the time we arrive on the 4th. That way there would be time to take it down by the 8th if I thought it was worse ... Oh - and my mom (always so good at seeing the positive) pointed out that the photographer (Juan Carlos) can just shoot pictures without it as much as possible ... and probably digitally edit it out on ones that show it ... Is it really not that bad? I wish I could share the pictures of Tracy's wedding where the candles are lit on the wall and it is just simple and pretty!

It really isn't that bad.

[Saraha]

If its what you will see in the pictures, I wouldnt worry about it a bit. Those photographers are amazing at what they do, and for them not to include part of a ceiling will be a piece of cake.... I would think so at least )

[JUSTUSTWO]

I understand why you would be upset. That seems like a major glitch to not inform you that there would be some kind of change to the chapel when you booked. However, it really isn't that bad. I agree that as a guest I probably wouldn't pay much attn to it. I think all of the attn will be on you & your wedding party.

If it really bothers you I'd see how it would look covered up. I hope you work something out that makes you feel better about it.