HEY GIRL HEY!!!
SO...... in regards to the church ceremonies/ beach ceremonies.... if you chose to have a ceremony outside of your venue, would you lose the $1000 you already put down? Or will they refund your money if you don't have the ceremony there?
Something about that venue still just doesn't sit right with me...

I can't understand why they would suggest a date to customers knowing there is already another event taking place that day? Wouldn't it make more sense to just offer another day? I know I would be discouraged to book somewhere knowing that someone else was having an event the same day- especially with such a close time gap.
I definitely don't want you to lose your deposit, or have to worry about changing your date or anything- but I think she needs to work with you more, and give you first dibs on the date since you booked first... and way in advance!!!
I don't think she realizes that even though something is scheduled for a specific time- things can definitely not go as planned and run late- and in that case it would not be good!!
I would agree that $700 is expensive for a church! Although it is $300 less then they wanted to charge me down here!!
I just like the idea of having more freedom over my ceremony and including things that would not necessarily be discouraged in a church- but I would want it done my way- without having someone else tell me that they don't agree with my choices, or that I can't do that.
My ceremony is going to be at 4, so give or take 30-45 minutes, and we will be able to take pictures at least for a good hour or so before we lose the sunlight, and get some good sunset pictures too!
Then our cocktail hour is from 5-6, dinner from 6:30-7:30, and dancing and reception until 10.
More than likely we will be calling it an early night since we will have to be getting up very early to make the drive down to Orlando the next day!