My main complaints with this chapel start with the photographer. I understand the chapel's policy to not allow anyone else to take pictures ANYWHERE on the property (this is so you'll purcahse THEIR pictures), but if you're going to do that, you'd think they'd let you give your input on what type of pictures you'll buy! I LOVE candid photos, and told the photographer multiple times the kinds of cheesy poses I didn't like (staring lovingly at my flowers, touching our wedding rings lightly with my finger while holding them in my hand, etc), yet he kept arguing with me, saying these are moments frozen in time. I was joking around and generally having fun with my Maid of Honor and mother, and instead of capturing these moments, he actually got mad at us for "not taking it seriously". It was MY wedding! We ended up only choosing the amount of photos that came with the package, and to be honest, two or three of them we only chose because we got a certain amount free.

I also had a huge argument with them about the bouquet of flowers. The argument? That I didn't want to carry any! They kept INSISTING, like they couldn't believe I'd turn them down. I was walking down the aisle on my brother's arm, with my 3 year old on my other side, I didn't have room to carry the flowers. Also, I told them I didn't LIKE the flowers, but that I was fine with NO flowers, and they still wanted me to pose for pictures with flowers that I hated.

After we returned home, I realized that we chose the package that included a bottle of champaine, a garter, and champaine flutes. They did not give us ANY of these things. I called them, they took down my address and said they'd send them in the mail, and I never heard from them again (and never received anything in the mail).

They are unorganized and set in their ways. My suggestion to you is to go somewhere where they listen to what you want.

First off....anyone reading the negative reviews of people who were talking about the "no cameras" rule,use of no cameras, the expensive cost of photographs, the minister's fee (egads!), or any other slew of complaints...PLEASE realize that if you just READ THE INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE...there will be no surprises on the day of the wedding!

1. My husband and I knew well beforehand that there are NO cameras allowed on the grounds of the chapel (Not just inside...anywhere on the grounds!) We knew it was OUR responsibility to let our guests know...and they obliged.

2. It is common knowledge..or at least should be, that the minister receives a fee for service. Mon Bel Ami states that the minimum donation is $60.

3. The webiste states that the photos that come with the packages are CEREMONY photos. Period. Any others you want...you have to pay for.

4. Racial slurs? My husband is black and I'm hispanic...and they treated us with the utmost respect. It comes down to that old adage...you have to give respect to earn respect.

I completely understand why the owner would come busting into the chapel when everyone is blatantly disrespecting their rules. For one, they can no longer post the wedding on the internet, because there's a bunch of yahoos standing around taking pictures...how does that look to everyone else!??? Second, there was a photographer there taking pictures...I'm sure the pictures came out just great with a bunch of people standing around snapping their own photos with contrasting flashes going off!

Get a clue people! You have brains! USE THEM! What an embarrasment! If you're upset with anyone it should be the bride/groom for not letting your know the proper etiquette the wedding chapel expected!!! And if you ARE the bride/groom...READ!!! It's not only on the website...but on the invoice as well!

That being said....when you follow the rules and know what to expect...this was a LOVELY place to get married! The chapel itself is very pretty...we had the candlelight ceremony with the candles lit down the aisle which was very nice...it gave the chapel a very intimate feeling. The pictures were pricey...but nothing you'd pay if you had hired a photographer to take pictures at a traditional wedding...which can run $2500 and up...we ended up paying $250 for about 75 pictures total (but that included our ceremony pictures that came with the package). They are willing to work with you on the photos...and you get them on CD with all rights...so you can print whatever and however many you want. This was well worth it to us!
And the staff was professional and friendly!

Don't let some bad reviews from people who couldn't be bothered with reading and understanding everything before ragging on something that isn't even the chapel's fault! If you're on the fence...take it from me...I read these reviews before my wedding...and I read the entire Mon Bel Ami website. I knew what to expect, and being prepared...everything was right as rain.

Thank you to all Mon Bel Ami for a memorable and happy wedding!

Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Tolton, Jr.

This is the absolute worse place to get married. My cousin was getting married and I was in the wedding party. Smack dab in the middle of he ceremony, this old lady burst into the middle of the chapel and begins to yell "turn off those cameras". she yelled at another one of my relatives to sit back down. This is right in the middle of the ceremony. We waited until after the ceremony to confront this lady. We apologized for the cameras as we were not informed that cameras were not allowed during the ceremony and we took full responsibility for our error. Our point was that if we did make an make an error, she should have waited until after the ceremony and pulled one of us aside and advised us, not burst into the middle of the ceremony and begin yelling to turn our cameras off. She refused to take any responsibility for ruining my cousin's wedding. Furthermore, she insulted us and made racial slurs and called the police on us because we demanded an apology and our money back.
It is my advise that NO ONE patronize this business as these people do not realize the value of a customer and do not know how to conduct themselves in a classy or professional manner. The better business bureau has numerous complaints about this business and the owner simply does not care.
You are taking a big risk by patronizing this place on what should be one of the happiest days of your life. It is simply not worth the risk. The one star is because I am an American and I do believe in capitalism no matter how worthless a business is.

I got married here in April 2008. The place was very busy, and the wedding before mine was running late. Upon arrival we were hearded into a small room with a sink, toilet behind a screen and one wicker chair. The owner (older woman) said that she wanted a "special" photographer for us, and she called someone to "come right away." An hour later he showed up and took our pictures before the ceremony. I asked for another bouquet for my bridesmaid (I had two) and was charged $60 for a crappy wilted bouquet (just like mine!)

The ceremony was fine and the inside chapel is pretty. However, directly after the pastor hunted us down and greased us for a tip! We then took more pictures, none of which look like the ones online. They look more like bad prom photos. We were then hearded into another room and shown a "slideshow" of our pictures. The free "ceremony" pictures were mostly terrible. The rest of the photos were ok, but the bad used car salesman pitch for us to purchase them was ridiculous. My dad was so annoyed he just gave her the $1100 so she would shut up. We then had our "champagne toast" with non-alcoholic champagne.

All in all, nothing can ruin the day if you love the person you are marrying, but this place is definetly not what it claims to be. Bring a deep wallet and a sense of humor.