Gates of Heaven Synagogue taking reservations Oct. 1
Attention brides-to-be: The Madison Parks Department announced Monday that it will begin taking reservations for 2009 events at the Gates of Heaven synagogue in James Madison Park Oct. 1, with reservations for all other park shelters beginning Oct. 15.
Laura Whitmore of the department said reservations for Gates of Heaven are taken separately because of the popularity of the site for weddings. The City-County Building opens at 5 a.m. on Oct. 1, with the parks office opening at 8 a.m., but Whitmore said many brides show up the night before and wait overnight to ensure they get one of their top dates.
"It's very popular, and very rarely is there a crossover" between people who want to use Gates of Heaven and those who want to use other park shelters, she said.
Despite the popularity of the synagogue, however, Whitmore said there are rarely any "bridezillas," and that most of those waiting will negotiate with others to get at least one of their choices for weekend weddings. Similarly, although dates for major Jewish holidays are available for sign-up, she said most people scheduling weddings give first priority to those waiting in line to hold Jewish religious services at the synagogue on those days.
Olin Park on the city's south side is the next most popular wedding location, Whitmore said, with many brides showing up very early on Oct. 15 to reserve that site. Within the first hour or two, every weekend for the park's shelter is gone, she said.
Something to keep in mind for reserving Madison parks in 2009 is a modest increase in user fees approved by the Board of Park Commissioners last week, putting the price of a six-hour wedding package for Gates of Heaven at $400 and an all-day weekend user fee for Olin Park's shelter at $474.
For more information on reserving Gates of Heaven or Madison park shelters, visit http://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/shelterRes.html
