A museum. park. A bridge. Even... the Baseball Hall of Fame:
Landmark Weddings

By Bev Bennett

Many famous places-including a baseball shrine-can serve as the wedding space of your dreams.

So when the two finally tied the knot they chose the National Baseball Hall of Fame as their wedding site, exchanging vows among the effigies of the game's greatest players.

"People said, 'Boy, are you weird,' but weren't surprised that Denny and I were married there, because we're huge baseball fans," says Ludemann, who now lives in the Boston area with her husband.

Although a wedding with baseball allusions might not be your ideal, you may be among a growing number of couples looking for a famous spot for your wedding ceremony.

You may want to connect to a landmark that has personal meaning for your family, a nation forest, say, where your father proposed to your mother. Or perhaps you find the charms of some public facility compelling. Whatever your motive, you'll find hundreds officially recognized or locally acknowledged public sites to choose from in the U.S.

Having a location that reflects your interests and those of your partner helps generate excitement as you plan for the ceremony.

Let's say as a bride you suggest a wedding at Chicago's Soldier Field, where the Bears play (the field is undergoing renovation but is expected to have some areas suitable for special events when it reopens) or in Cooperstown, N.Y., where baseball honors its legends. You may discover your partner is more eager to help with the arrangements.

"Without a doubt, a man is more enthusiastic about a wedding that takes place in the Baseball Hall of Fame," says Brad Horn, director of public relations at the hall of fame and museum.

If you're both golfers, you can check championship golf courses. Maybe it's not sports, but other interests you want to recognize. As a wine enthusiast you can wed in historic Sonoma, part of California's lush wine country. Maybe you want to rock with Janis Joplin's ghost at The Fillmore in San Francisco.

Or, you may discover that a town draws your attention. For a wedding that says Chicago, picture your wedding party in front the famed Buckingham Fountain. (Note to bride and groom: do not stand downwind of the gushing waters if it's a windy day.)

Angelynne Amores champions Chicago's parks for weddings. "What makes these locations unique is that they have the architects, such as Daniel Burnham and Jens Jensen, who define American architecture," says Amores, a spokesperson for the Chicago Park District.

Before you fall in love with a site, know its advantages and drawbacks, says Joyce Scardina Becker, President of Events of Distinction, a wedding design and management company in San Francisco.

"A landmark is open to the public. If you need privacy the venue might not be right," says Becker, who recently arranged weddings at Golden Gate Park and in the Safari Room of the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.

Imagine traipsing around some architectural wonder in full bridal dress while several busloads of tourists gawk. It might be more exposure than you want.

You also have to follow the rules and regulations of the site. Those may be more limiting than what you'd face in a private facility. For example, take Jennifer Dunn and the challenge of the 12 chairs. Dunn fell in love with Hollis Gardens in the historic district of Lakeland, Fla. when she first saw a picture of it on the Internet.

The Hollis Gardens, given to the city of Lakeland, are divided into floral themes. Each attracts a different type of butterfly. The gardens, landscaped with a fountain and gazebo and overlooking a lake, are breathtaking.

The natural beauty of the gardens had to be balanced with the fact that the caretakers limited her to a dozen seats. "I was hesitant about that. We plan to have a string quartet that takes up four of the chairs and a few elderly guests who will claim the rest. And, I had to limit invitations to 120 because the setting was so small," says Dunn.

The site was so compelling she ultimately didn't care that her guests had to stand. She sees the space limitation as an advantage.

"I wanted something natural, not extravagant, and the setting demanded that of me," says Dunn.

As a general rule when deciding how many people a location can accommodate, Becker suggests you allow 20 square feet of space per guest.

You may have to purchase city and county occupancy permits, noise permits and food permits. "Permits don't necessarily come cheap. You may pay $150 or more," says Becker.

Some municipalities restrict the caterers you're allowed to use. For example, Chicago's permits division has a list of about 19 caterers and vendors to choose from. Only those on the list are permitted to set up in a site that has landmark status. Other cities have different regulations.

Finally, locations that are in the public eye may be subject to last-minute emergencies. If a dignitary is visiting your wedding site, you may be put on hold for a few hours.

"I always tell brides to not tell everyone what they're doing. Choosing a landmark that might fall through could be a problem," says Becker. But if you have patience and don't mind red tape, public sites can be "more whimsical and dramatic," says Becker. "A landmark site can be a lot more fun for guests."

High-Profile Places to Say 'I Do'

In love with the thought of holding your wedding ceremony in a special public place? For ideas, check the meeting and event planners guides available from convention and visitors' bureaus in your area. Here's the lowdown on three famous places.

Central Park, New York City

Prime spots for tying the knot on the grounds of Manhattan's 843-acre park include the Conservatory Garden, the Bethesda Terrace overlooking the boat pond and the Bow Bride, a cast-iron structure that spans the lake. Permit required for groups of 20 or more. Limit of 100 people. Prohibited: receptions, thrown rice, birdseed, flowers or confetti; alcohol, chairs, rugs, runners, tents, amplified music and/or speakers. Cost: $300 plus $50 for photography.

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Choose from 20 sites. The Point Bonita Lighthouse offers spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean, but parking is limited to five cars and the historic lighthouse is a steep 1/2-mile walk away. Permit required. Cost: $400 plus $65 per hour for National Park service staff to be on site, if necessary.

Buckingham Fountain, Chicago

Crafted of pink marble, the beaux-arts fountain in the heart of Grant Park on Chicago's lakefront shoots water high into the sky accompanied by colored lights at dusk. Two "pavilions" in the fountain area may be reserved for receptions only (ceremonies may be held in the nearby Rose Gardens.) Capacity: 4,760. Fee: $20,000 for 8 hours.

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