Wedding planner knows his way around Heinz Chapel

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Behind the Cathedral of Learning sits Heinz Memorial Chapel. ‘ ‘ ‘ And behind the… ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Behind the Cathedral of Learning sits Heinz Memorial Chapel. ‘ ‘ ‘ And behind the chapel is the man who runs it, Tom Meisner. ‘ ‘ ‘ Meisner, the chapel’s docent and self-proclaimed ‘jack-of-all trades,’ spends his time at the chapel giving tours, caring for the facility and coordinating weddings. ‘ ‘ ‘ Every day at the chapel is a little different. And Meisner likes that. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I’m very happy to be here, I have no slow days, and I’m happy to provide information to students, visitors, brides, grooms and graduates,’ he said. ‘ ‘ ‘ Meisner most enjoys the weddings in Heinz Chapel. ‘ ‘ ‘ He and his wife, Elaine, got married there almost 40 years ago.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ In the last eight years, Meisner’s worked on somewhere between 600 and 700 weddings. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Weddings are my favorite part of my job because everyone leaves happy,’ said Meisner, who has three degrees from Pitt, including a doctorate in educational administration. ‘ ‘ ‘ Meisner takes his job so seriously that he often knows more about a bride’s wedding plans than the mother of the bride, he said. ‘ ‘ ‘ Thanks to a four-page survey he created for his brides, pertaining to the logistics of the ceremony, Meisner said he has never been asked a question that he has not already discussed with the bride. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘He made sure everything ran smoothly for the rehearsal … and [during the wedding] he’s right there, making sure everything is in order,’ said Mary Beth Vasko of Meisner’s help with her wedding in 2006. ‘ ‘ ‘ Meisner said that he asks questions that often go overlooked, such as the seating of step-parents. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I assume nothing,’ said Meisner. ‘I need to ask questions in advance because issues can’t wait until rehearsal. I will never put a bride on the spot. That’s a recipe for disaster.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Nicole Mader, an associate coordinator for the chapel’s weddings, remembers how Meisner diffused one situation involving the parents of the bride. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘The bride’s parents were divorced, and the father wanted to bring his girlfriend. It caused a lot of tension,’ said Mader, ‘but Tom was very diplomatic. He’s very good at explaining and putting out any major problems.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Meisner said he often tries to be diplomatic when he deals with family issues. ‘ ‘ ‘ To him, that means understanding the conflict, knowing the alternatives and working with the bride and groom to solve the issue. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘At the end of the day, I want to feel that the brides, grooms and their families enjoyed the ceremony and walked out of Heinz Chapel happy,’ he said. ‘ ‘ ‘ Between April and December he directs four or five weddings almost every weekend, giving him 11-hour work days. ‘ ‘ ‘ While one ceremony is underway, Meisner simultaneously prepares for the exit of current guests and the arrival of the next wedding party. ‘ ‘ ‘ By the last wedding of the day, Meisner is simply ‘relieved that the brides got what they wanted,’ he said. ‘ ‘ ‘ Jackie Batt, an administrator in the College of Arts and Sciences, was surprised when her daughter decided to get married at the chapel, but she wasn’t sure the chapel would be available. ‘ ‘ ‘ It turned out that there were only two time slots left for the chosen day, leaving them with an afternoon wedding. ‘ ‘ ‘ Meisner assuaged Batt’s concerns. ‘ ‘ Batt headed over to the chapel one afternoon to look around and begin to plan the wedding. Meisner, who was just leaving, skipped his lunch break to give Batt a tour. ‘ ‘ ‘ He also came to the chapel early, before a wedding, to meet with Batt’s daughter, who lived out of town. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘He gave us a lot of time … he’s the type of person who would give time to everyone,’ said Batt. ‘ ‘ ‘ In Meisner’s mind, it’s simple. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Sometimes brides don’t know that they have choices,’ he said. ‘I inform them of their available choices.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Meisner now shares the duty with fellow docent Annita Haynes. It’s a change he loves. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I get to be closer to my wife,’ he said. ‘Plus, I’m in the most beautiful building, and it’s just a nice place to hang out.’