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There is one (ONLY one!) thing I don’t love about Heinz Chapel: our ceremony site. Would you like a few gratuitous shots of how pretty it is to refresh your memory first?
Anyway, Heinz Chapel has super-strict music requirements for the ceremonies it hosts. As in, you have to use one of their organists to provide the music, and there is a list of six songs you can pick from for the processional, three for the bride’s entrance, and six for the recessional. All of the choices are very formal, traditional, classical songs (Ode to Joy, Here Comes the Bride, Canon in D, etc). Those are your options, no ifs, ands, or buts.
I don’t LOVE this, but I also don’t care that much either. I’m not a huge music person to begin with, and I’m sure the organ music will not be something that sticks with me about our wedding. Also, because of the inflexible rules, figuring out ceremony music is one less thing that I have to worry about, so there’s a bright side!
If those restrictions didn’t exist, though, I know exactly what song would play for our processional up the aisle: “Bridal Veil Falls”, by Chris Thile. It’s an instrumental song that features an acoustic guitar and a mandolin, and it’s sooooo beautiful. Not to get really schmoopy on you, but do you know how sometimes a song sounds the way something feels? This song sounds like what my relationship with Mr. O feels like. We both love it so, so, so much.
Sigh. In my dream world. (The same one with the Primanti Bros sandwiches and the satin kimono and the second French bulldog.)
Do you have any bummer restrictions at one of your venues, or with one of your vendors?
Thank you for posting this. I am extremely interested in Heinz Chapel for our ceremony site. I was unaware of this restriction. I am not really picky on music either, but I kind of want something different. I think this is something I can get over though.
Ehhhhh. Sometimes I feel like having choices is hard. Like, I’m REALLY bad at making decisions. When I go to 7-11 I could just stand there forever deciding on a candy bar. Sometimes I want somebody (mainly Mr. G) just to tell me “Look biotch, this is the way it is and this is the way it has to be.” But ceremony music is kinda special and I could see how this is a little irritating!
I am a Pitt grad and would give up that to get married there if I were getting married in Pittsburgh. It’s such a fantastic place.
I’m getting married at Heinz Chapel next May, and I was super bummed when I found out about this. It wouldn’t have stopped me from booking, but c’mon. I had visions of walking down the aisle while a full choir sang something haunting and beautiful, and instead I get the honkin’ organ. Oh well. It is so gorgeous, it’s worth it!
We’re not allowed to have flower petals, confetti, bubbles, candles, or red wine (no, really). We’re getting married at an art museum, and they have some very strict rules!
Our ceremony site is very similar–we also have limited music choices…and the bride doesn’t get a music change at all! One song for the entire processional. At first I was kind of disappointed but now I have to say that I love all of the music we did end up picking, so it turned out to be no big deal. 
sorry to be this person on the boards, but in your first sentence, it should be a comma, not a colon. (”There is only one thing I don’t like about Heinz Chapel, our ceremony site.”) Right now, the colon makes it seem like there is only one thing you don’t like about Heinz Chapel, and that one thing is your ceremony site. (Like it’s an ugly room inside or something.) What you mean to say is that Heinz Chapel is, by the way, your ceremony site. Hence, the comma.
Once again, I apologize for being the annoying nit-picky grammar commenter, but it is confusing.
When I first saw this post, I thought you were going to say parking, lol!! (Although I guess they always block off the one lane right in front for parking… still, it’s Oakland and parking can be such a hassle!!) The chapel really is a beautiful place, though! I love watching weddings there on Saturdays when I’m on campus! I wouldn’t dwell on the music, at least you know the organist knows the place and the music will sound good, rather than you bringing in your own with one more thing to figure out!!
miss octopus and miss taco night –
How far in advance did you book the chapel? I have been told various times. I heard the first business day of the month. I also heard to call from a campus phone (since the office is likely to pick up). I am not getting married til November 2012. I know this is a while, but this is kind of a bonus if I want to get married in Heinz Chapel. I was thinking of calling this fall. I am also looking at halls this fall, too so hopefully once I book the hall I can book the chapel. Thanks in advance!
Aww that does stink! Music is big in my life (as an instrumentalist lol) so that would probably have been a deal breaker for me. But your venue is beautiful! Luckily our venue has said we can do whatever we want so long as nothing get damaged, so we’re pretty free with what we do. That was my main qualification when looking at venues - so many of them won’t let the flower girl drop petals, or let us use candles on the tables….
I was just there for a wedding this past Saturday, even though it rained it was gorgeous. I was expecting you to say that you didn’t like that it wasn’t air conditioned, the place was roasting hot, they had fans going in the back, but they didn’t do much to circulate the air. Great site for a wedding though, and parking actually wasn’t that bad, but then again, school isn’t back in session! good luck with everything, it will be gorgeous!
that’s a tough one - and would be a dealbreaker for me, sine FI and I have chosen non-traditional songs for the pro/recessional.
however, our ceremony venue says no flowers (other than bouquets) and no candles (besides a unity candle), so there are always rules!
it’s a gorgeous chapel though!
@Miss Taco Night—My best friend got married there a few summers ago and because of the acoustics in the chapel the organ does sound haunting and beautiful! I am not one who loves all of the traditional music, but thinking back to how intense it was when they started playing “here comes the bride” makes me wish I were getting married in a church!
@Gabrielle123: If you’re getting married in November 2012 then you’ll have to wait until November 2011 to book Heinz Chapel- you can only do it a year in advance, and you have to call the first business day of the month you want to be married in (does that sentence make sense?) It’s a tough process- you can start calling at 8:30 a.m., but there are about a thousand other people calling at the same time and you aren’t put on hold, you’ll just get a busy signal and have to call back. I got really lucky- I called for about 15 minutes and then got through, and my first choice for date/time was still available. I know girls who’ve called for over an hour though. You’ll need a list of back-up dates and times! It’s worth it though
@cabanagrl9: Good, I’m glad! I haven’t actually been to a wedding there, so I wasn’t sure- normally I’m not a fan of organs, but that makes me feel a lot better!
I loooooove Heinz Chapel. Like k_bride, I always used to love watching weddings there when I was in grad school at Pitt. It is a gorgeous space. My church is almost as stingey with the music, though not quite so much. We have to use the organist or pay a ridiculous fee - even if we just plug an iPod into the sound system. And we can pick our own music, but “within reason,” meaning no “popular music.” I’m disappointed, but not disappointed enough that it was 1. a deal-breaker, or 2. enough to make me pay to do something else. I’m sure it will be beautiful, no matter what!
Considering how amazing it looks, I really wouldn’t mind the musical restrictions. Awesome venue!
@Miss Taco Night: @Miss Taco Night: Yes that makes sense! Thank you so much. I appreciate it. I hope that I am as lucky as you!
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Mrs. Octopus, Boston, MA/Pittsburgh, PA Age and Occupation: 25, Grad Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Graphics Operator for TV News Engagement Date: May 6th, 2009 Wedding Date: September 2010 Venue: Heinz Chapel Ceremony, Museum Reception About Me: When my best friend dragged me to a toga party in our freshmen year of college, I was not expecting to meet my future husband; but seven years later, here we are. I'm a crazy-organized planner at heart, and I am a great lover of random trivia, books, chocolate, blogs, new and exciting adventures, mockumentary-style television, and anything heavily flavored with bright orange fake cheese powder. We're planning a festive and fun mini-destination wedding in the place where we met: fabulous Pittsburgh, PA! I can't wait to marry the man I love!
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