Q: I heard through the grapevine that Piedmont Park is offering an elopement event. Can you tell me about it?
A: Yes, Piedmont Park is currently offering two waterside "Elopement packages."
Save the date for countless brides-to-be disintegrated in the wake of COVID-19. Piedmont Park took a past event and redesigned it for couples wanting to begin their lives together.
“A couple of years ago we did a program called ‘I do’ at the Park, which was like a marathon day of weddings - ceremonies like Vegas, get ‘em in, get ‘em out,” said Director of Piedmont Park Facility Rentals Jane Rollo. “We always wanted to do elopement packages and so during this time we thought we needed to reinstitute quick ceremonies.”
The elopement packages are put together for the dockside venue at Lake Clara Meer. The small visitor center has guest restrooms, a small holding room and is able to accommodate up to 20 guests under the social distancing guidelines. The center can be used in the event of rain.
The 30-minute package ($250) covers the private ceremony and photos allowing up to 10 people (includes the officiant, the couple and eight guests), eight chairs and champagne toast (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.).
Offered Saturday or Sunday before 6 p.m. or during the week, the hour-long package ($500) allows up to 20 people (officiant, the wedding couple and 18 guests), private ceremony, time for photos, 10 chairs, champagne toast and two oversized cupcakes.
“One of my couples said, ‘We understand we couldn’t save the wedding, but we could start a marriage,’ which really resonated with me,” Rollo said.
“For these couples who have spent thousands of dollars for their wedding that they might not be able to afford a $1,200+ for another ceremony,” she added.
The rental fees go back into caring for the park, and the rates/packages will run through the end of September, according to the director of facility rentals.
“We have a phrase in our wedding industry: – Do you care more about your guest count or list, or your wedding date? If you care more about your guest count, then push your wedding to 2021. If you care more about the day you get married, then go for it and have a smaller guest count,” she said.
For more information, contact Jane Rollo at jrollo@piedmontpark.org.
New to town or simply have a question about this place we call home? Email your request to atlactualfact@gmail.com.
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