FAQ

Hours

When can I come and see the grounds of St. Catherine’s at Bell Gable?

Currently, access to the Chapel, Barn, and Grounds are by appointment only, and we are only accepting appointments for parties seeking Chapel Tours for Wedding Planning, Event Bookings, and Photography Sessions. Our support staff is present during your appointed time to answer any questions and assist you with the details for your event.

Reserved Wedding Ceremonies, Elopement Ceremonies, Vow Renewals, Photography Sessions, and other services are available Monday-Sunday.

Please Call 479-387-1107 to book your event.

Or you may Email us at stcatherinesabg@gmail.com

Photography policies

Why is the fee per hour for photography different than the fee per hour for an event?

Photography sessions only require one staff member during the scheduled timeframe. The staff member will be available during your photography session to answer questions and monitor the property. Weddings are typically scheduled during peak days, and require various members of the staff to be available for the different services we provide at events.

I want to have family pictures / senior portraits /prom pictures/ engagement photos taken at the chapel. What do I need to do?

Anyone wishing to schedule a photography session may contact the office via phone (479-521-2860 or 479-387-1107) or email at:
stcatherinesabg@gmail.com

The venues available are the Chapel, the Barn or the Water Garden. The base rate is $50 per hour. Additional time may be purchased in 30 minute increments. These fees are applied towards the grounds maintenance costs. Photography is typically booked during non-peak days of the week (i.e. Monday – Thursday). During a photography session, the public does not have access to the property, so the photography of the Chapel, Barn and grounds is for the exclusive use of those reserving that time.

Please see the Photography Sessions tab on the main page for additional information.

When can my wedding photographer arrive to start taking photos?

Photographers, like all guests, florists, etc, are limited to the timeframe which each group has reserved. In many instances, we book multiple events in a day, and anyone attending each event must arrive and depart by the times reserved by the clients of each event.

Does the Chapel provide a photographer?

No, those reserving the chapel and grounds need to find the photographer that best fits their needs, budget, preferences, etc.

The signs say “No Photography.” May guests take pictures at a function?

When the Bell Gable grounds have been reserved for a function, guests may take all the pictures they wish during the reserved time for that group.

Why can’t I take pictures when the Bell Gable grounds are open to the public?

During our public hours on Sundays from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. numerous guests visit the Bell Gable grounds. Many guests enjoy the solitude of the grounds for prayer and meditation, while other guests are visiting the Chapel for wedding planning purposes. In order to best meet the needs of all groups we ask that no photos are taken during this time. Photography sessions for the Chapel, Barn and grounds are available by appointment only. The fees for photography are applied toward the costs of the grounds maintenance.

Staff and Services

What does the coordination include?

Our experienced Staff is there to provide limited coordination for your event. They will assist in organizing the Wedding Party for an event at the Chapel, Barn, and on the Grounds.

Our Weddings include Pre-Recorded Indoor/Outdoor music and limited staff coordination. Music that is not provided by St. Catherine’s at Bell Gable must be approved prior to the Event and will not include our coordination. You may have musical performers for your event. This includes Harpists, String Quartets, Acoustic Guitars, Violinists, and Bagpipers. Music and Instruments using amplifiers are prohibited at the Chapel, Barn, and on the Grounds. DJs are not permitted for any event.

What about a Minister or Officiant?

St. Catherine’s at Bell Gable is able to provide the names of persons that may be able to perform your ceremony. The Minister or Officiant name provided by the Chapel is independent of the Chapel. Appointments with the Minister or Officiant may be scheduled through the Chapel office number: 479-387-1107.

Do I have to reserve a parking attendant?

Our experienced Staff will provide assistance in organizing the parking of vehicles during your event. This is necessary to ensure vehicles are not parked in the background for photos and also to ensure the orderly parking of vehicles. We will also manage the inbound traffic when the 1902 Mercedes Limo is used for an event.

Where does the 1902 Mercedes take the bride, and who rides with her?

A beautiful one-of-a-kind 1902 Mercedes is available to bring each bride to her wedding in a memorable entrance. The car ride is coordinated with the wedding music and planning so that the bride arrives at precisely the correct moment before the ceremony. There is a special piece of music that plays as the car swings around the drive and delivers the bride to the sidewalk where she will process to the altar. Typically the bride arrives with her father, but some brides have chosen to come with their children, and a few have even arrived with their grooms.

Does the car take the bride and groom to the reception?

Due to liability the car is not allowed off of the property for this service.

Why do the different services have fees? Why isn’t everything provided for one price?

Each additional service adds to the number of employees that must be hired for an event. The individual pricing for each service allows each group to select those services that are highest priority, while not paying for others that are lower priority or that don’t fit the event’s budget.

Reservations

How do I go about reserving a date and time for my wedding?

The office phone number is 479-387-1107 and may be called any day of the week to see if the dates and times of interest are available.  Also, you may email inquiries to the office at:

st.catherinesabg@gmail.com

Why is there a deposit to hold a date, and is it applied to my balance?

Securing a deposit is a standard process in the booking of the desired date and time for an event. The following are the required Reservation Deposits (Non-Refundable) for the Elopement $200 – Small Wedding $300 – Small Wedding Plus $400 – Large Wedding $700. The Deposit is deducted from the Event Balance which is due 30 days prior to your Event.

There is a minimum booking time for my event. What if I want additional time, but not an entire hour? Do I have to pay for an entire extra hour?

No, you do not need to reserve an entire extra hour. You may reserve additional time in 30-minute increments. This is based on half of the hourly rate of your reserved event.

What if I don’t know how much extra time I need?

Our staff is very experienced in assisting you in selecting the amount of time that is needed for your event. We will need to know the approximate guest list size, and if there are activities during your event such as a Wedding Toast, or Holy Communion, for example, that will take additional time. You may want to confer with your Officiant to get a time estimate for the ceremony. Photographers typically want a minimum of 30-60 minutes specifically set aside for photographs.

How far into my reservation should I schedule the ceremony?

Typically most ceremonies are scheduled 30-45 minutes into a reserved event. It takes at least that much time for guests to arrive, park their vehicles, and to get last minute things arranged for the event. For instance, the Elopement Wedding, which has a base timeframe of 1 hour, the ceremony may be started sooner to provide ample time for photography.

Do I need to reserve an additional day and time slot for a rehearsal?

Our staff is experienced in providing a smooth, well-organized wedding. In the vast majority of events, no rehearsal is necessary. A consultation with a staff member prior to your wedding date will provide the necessary ceremony information. Weddings that do need rehearsals are usually those that have a lot of attendants (six or more on each side), several children under the age of five, or complicated ceremonies (lots of readings, soloists, communion, etc).

Where do my guests go if they need the restroom facilities?

The restroom is located at other facilities on the Grounds and our staff is available to provide a shuttle to those needing to visit the restroom.

My wedding is outside! What if it rains?

Plan ahead and have alternate choices available in case of bad weather. If it looks like rain may be an issue, there are several options available. If your group is small enough, we may be able to move the event into the Chapel. The beautifully renovated Barn is a viable option for an alternate facility on your wedding date and provides a bit of rustic elegance with seating available for up to 50 guests. If you have an outdoor wedding scheduled in front of the Chapel, and you opt to move your ceremony to the Barn due to weather concerns, the fees for chairs will be applied towards the setup of the Barn. If you plan to rent tents, it is necessary to be sure that there is additional time available to reserve for tent set up and removal.

How many people fit in the Chapel?

The ages and sizes of guests vary greatly, but a good rule of thumb is approximately 30-35 including the wedding party.

What if I want to change my wedding to an outside event?

Outdoor weddings provide much more flexibility for guest numbers and provide beautiful pictures with the Chapel as a backdrop. The service of Chairs is $1.50 each and this price includes the setup and takedown service.

It will be hot on the day of my wedding. May I bring bottled water for my guests?

It is very thoughtful to provide water for your guests. We provide at no additional cost chilling tubs for easy guest access. Please ensure you bring an ample supply of ice and bottled water to accommodate each of your guests.

May I put up signs and balloons on the road to tell my guests how to find my wedding?

Signs may not be put out prior to the Reserved Event time. This is because multiple Events may occur in a day. This has created confusion for the guests arriving for a wedding due to the unfamiliar names of a couple. This has resulted in guests leaving because they thought they were in the wrong location. All balloons and signs must be removed when the Reserved Event time is over.

Can my group arrive early and just park along the road until my time starts?

The Client/Renter agrees that the Reserved Event Time will be communicated and observed by their Wedding Party, all Wedding Vendors, and Wedding Guests. This is a rigid timeframe and we are unable to allow anyone access until the Reserved Event Time. 

Parking is only available on the property. Please communicate to the Wedding Party, all Wedding Vendors, and Wedding Guests, that we do not have parking outside of our property or in front of our entry gate. Access to our property is via a public street within a neighborhood. Please instruct all parties to refrain from blocking or parking in driveways along the street and to remain inside their vehicles until the Reserved Time. 

Other

Why can’t I have a picnic on the grounds?

The Chapel, Barn, and Grounds are privately owned and operated. The Chapel on the property, St. Catherine’s at Bell Gable, has been an active Church since 1999. Most of the activities commonly enjoyed in a park setting are not appropriate at a house of worship.

May I have my reception on the grounds?

Following your ceremony, we have several options available for you to celebrate with your family and guests. A very popular and elegant Wedding Toast is offered by St.Catherine’s at Bell Gable. This is a Cake and Beverage event. Each Wedding Toast package has a variety of options and may be customized to meet your needs. We are not currently allowing full receptions to be conducted at our venue

May I decorate for my event?

Items already in the Chapel, Barn, or on the grounds may not be moved without the consent of our staff. Provided that the people decorating, and the decorations, (e.g.flowers, props, etc.) arrive and depart within the reserved time, decorating is permitted. The use of nails is prohibited to affix any decorations in the Chapel, Barn, or on the Grounds.

Trash Removal

The Chapel, Barn and grounds does not provide trash service. All vases, ribbons, balloons, trash, etc, must be removed before the reserved time is over. The Chapel, Barn. and Grounds must be restored to the condition they were in when the group arrived.

An exception to this policy is if a Wedding Toast package is reserved. Trash removal is provided for the Wedding Toast option offered by St.Catherine’s at Bell Gable.