Rental popularity for Rosehill rising

MUKILTEO, Washington (STPNS) -- A sleepy-eyed Nicole Brovald was at the Rosehill Community Center front counter making a reservation for her wedding reception at 6:30 a.m. on July 21.  She had waited in line at Rosehill for almost a day to get first pick.

The week before, Brovald wasnt so lucky. When she arrived, the popular Point Elliott Room had already been reserved for the date she wanted.

Six months after its grand opening, the Rosehill Community Center has become a popular venue for everything from weddings to high school reunions to bar mitzvahs.



Every Saturday up until July 21, 2012 is now booked for events. Friday and Sundays are filling up too.

The citys revenues were projected to increase by about $202,300, or about double, with added rentals and fees at the new Rosehill.

Jennifer Berner, Recreation and Cultural Services manager, said weekend rentals are meeting projections, and that weekday rentals while not there yet are starting to pick up.

As people come in for weddings, or a reception or an event, more people come up to the counter and ask for a packet on Christmas parties, meetings, etc. she said.

Berner said current revenues are not available. A six-month status update on Rosehill revenues for Mukilteo City Council is scheduled in August.

On July 14, Brovald had arrived at Rosehill right when it opened to reserve the room for a reception on July 14, 2012.  However, she soon found out that another renter who had been in line since 3 a.m. had already reserved the room.

Rosehill reservations may be made up to one year in advance. Precedence is given to requests made in person over emails and phone calls.

The physical person is our first priority, Berner said. Thats the lining up.

All other Saturdays were booked by July 14, so Brovald decided to try for the next Saturday. All she wanted was a summer wedding.  July 21, 2012 would do.

So that she wouldnt lose out on Point Elliott again, Brovald made plans to get to Rosehill by 5 p.m. the day before and camp out at the front of the line, the entrance of the community center.

I was freaking out, Brovald said.  I woke up thinking, What if someone comes at noon? What if someone is already there?

Still fearing that she would be second in line, she and her future sister-in-law, Melissa Brockett, got to Rosehill by 11 a.m. on July 20. They made plans to wait in line overnight until 6:30 a.m., when the community center opens.

Thats just short of 20 hours in line.

Brovald called up her family and all of her bridesmaids to see if theyd be willing to stop by Rosehill for a shift. A lot of them said yes.

I say, the more the merrier, Brovald said.  It made it a lot of fun.

Surprisingly, they said, the time went by really fast.  They played games, ate snacks and browsed the Internet on their laptops.  They brought all of Brovalds bridal magazines and her wedding-planning book.

Some of them slept in camping chairs with sleeping bags and blankets, others in their cars. Brovald was too excited to sleep.

Why go through so much for a reservation at Rosehill?

Brovald and her fianc, Adam Brockett, 24, are both from Mukilteo and graduated from Kamiak High School. They want to celebrate their wedding where they grew up, close to the water.

After three weeks of searching for a venue, they decided on Rosehill. Brovald said the room and the Mukilteo setting fits them perfectly.

I couldnt find anything better, especially for the price, Brovald said.  I could go to Seattle for a view, but Id be paying double or triple. So, why not? Its just as beautiful here.

Others think Rosehill is worth the wait too. Staff said others have lined up at Rosehills entrance at 6:30, 4:30 and 4 in the morning but never before had someone started a line at 11 a.m. the day before.

Theres just been a lot of positive feedback about the facility and the staff, Berner said.

Brovald and Brockett started dating their junior year at Kamiak. Brovald said everyone at high school knew theyd get married someday. Eight years later, Brockett proposed to Brovald on a beach in Hawaii.

Ive been planning our wedding together for a really long time, Brovald said. I knew exactly what I wanted.

Its official. High school sweethearts Nicole Brovald and Adam Brockett are getting married on July 21, 2012 at a church in Richmond Beach. Their wedding reception is going to be at Rosehill.

When Brovald saw that she was first in line, she screamed.

I was literally jumping up and down in the car, she said. I was like, I got it! Yeah! July 21 is my day.

The city also rents the Mukilteo Light Station, Wedding Circle and picnic shelters at Lighthouse Park for both indoor and outdoor weddings and receptions.

The Point Elliott Room may also be rented for concerts, plays, dances, banquets, auctions and more.  For a 10-hour weekend rental, Point Elliott fees are $1,100 for residents and $768 for non-residents.

Other rooms at Rosehill are available for meetings, workshops, retreats, parties, fundraisers and more. Classroom rental fees are $30/ hour for residents and $36/hour for non-residents.

Reduced rates are available for non-profit rentals.

For more information, call 425-263-8180 or go online to www.ci.mukilteo.wa.us/recreation&culturalservices.