Busy busy day

Today we went to two reception venues. One was great and the other not so much. Not exactly our style. We really liked Robinson Film Center though. The man we talked to was super nice and had some great ideas! The room unlike others has neutral colors so it will match our colors very nice.

Some other things we liked:

Surround sound system built in great for music

Good space

Already has projector for slide show

No room charge with min food purchase

Great photo options on balcony downtown

So far its one of two options on our list!

I can't wait for tomorrow. We have our last venue to look at.

Funnies

I just found this on someone else's blog and thought it was hilarious.

2 more down

Yesterday we went to check out a casino ballroom for the reception. Absolutely gorgeous! Then I hear the words, "We have a $6,000 minimum food charge." I almost fainted. Just reminds me of how clueless I was before this whole process...thinking we could pay a couple hundred for a church and a couple hundred for reception venue. We could bring our own food, and make our own flowers. Little did I know insurance policies and licenses and permits and a whole bunch of crap is involved with doing it like that. Of and of course everything is alot more expensive than I thought. You never know how hard and stressful it is until you actually start planning. Not to mention the huge list of things venues won't let you do. Chris told me today..."I think you have been watching too many platinum wedding shows!" And I think he is right. For the right price I am sure you can do whatever you want.

Anyway...This morning we went to a historic house on Fairfield. It was pretty. Price was good, space inside was awesome. We can bring our own food...decorate however...use sparklers. So whats the problem your asking? They are booked on our date and 3 months after. Crap!

At least we have 3 more places to look. 2 appointments tomorrow and 1 on Friday. I am getting pretty nervous but everything happens for a reason right? There must be "the perfect" place waiting for us!

I love Michaels

Today we went to Michaels to get ideas for the bouquets. I think we are leaning towards fake flowers. They are cheaper and last longer haha! Plus I am making the bouquets myself and if I use real flowers I would probably end up just breaking them.

Venue #3

Today we checked out our first strictly reception only venue. Here are the pros and cons...

Pros:
Great location downtown
Good size room
Yummy food
No room charge with $1500 food minimum
Built in speakers for music
No decorating restrictions
We get our very own bartender
Whole area outside of reception room will be reserved for us

Cons:
Room colors are earth tones and won't really match our wedding colors
Food is a little pricey

Church

I think we found "the church" today. We went and looked at it earlier before work and it is absolutely beautiful. It is a little pricey but we don't have many options so I think its 99% perfect. Whew.

Cakes

Today we have an appointment with a cake decorator and I have no idea what kind of cake I want. Chris either wants a playstation, basketball or something firefighter related, but we have a few months before we find out about the firefighter job.

Sneaky girl

What is this I see here?

Ohhh! Macaroni and cheese!

I think I will try a bite.

Almost there!

Yum!

Busy day

Went to Taylors Rental and Sparks Rental today. Got lots of good ideas for the wedding. Might have been a bad idea because I added about 10 things to my "I have to buy" list. I made a strict wedding budget a couple months ago that we have now exceeded by $2000. Yikes! I keep telling myself...it only happens once so you might as well do it right.

Also went by the training academy and got Chris's really thick application packet. He has his work cut out for him tonight.

Busy day

Went to Taylors Rental and Sparks Rental today. Got lots of good ideas for the wedding. Might have been a bad idea because I added about 10 things to my "I have to buy" list. I made a strict wedding budget a couple months ago that we have now exceeded by $2000. Yikes! I keep telling myself...it only happens once so you might as well do it right.

Also went by the training academy and got Chris's really thick application packet. He has his work cut out for him tonight.

Yes!

We finally got the letter I have been waiting for for 9 long weeks. Chris passed the civil service exam with flying colors! Tomorrow he is going to get the application for the 53rd basic firefighter recruit class. Now starts the fun stuff...interview, cpat, drug test, polygraph test, bla bla. I am so excited!!

Colors

I think we have decided on pink and green for our wedding colors. Since we are getting married in March I thought that would be perfect!

New obsession

I have been in love with photography for quite some time now. Today it was taken to a whole other level when Chris and I went to the flea market. I saw a pile of old cameras sitting right there on a shelf. Needless to say by the photo below, they came home with me. There is also one more that I didn't photo because Chris is cleaning it as we speak. Anyway I just wanted to share.

Venue #2

Everything about this place was great...until the lady said there was a $6,000 minimum food purchase. Ok well with us only having approximately 75 people that is not possible. The most expensive meal package was $30 per person so that totals $2250. Chris goes..."well what do we do about the other almost $4,000? She said you are going to have to buy alot of alcohol. Excuse me? I don't think so. I just wanted to get up right then and walk out of the place, but I am too nice. Maybe better luck next time.

First on the list

First on our list of venues to see was Stonebridge Country Club. It was beautiful. They don't do weddings outside but the inside was almost perfect. Very accommodating and will allow us to do everything we wanted to do. So at least now we have something to put on our list. Next is another country club on Saturday.

We also went to Hobby Lobby to look at all their wedding items. I felt like I was in heaven! We also made a few floral arrangements in the store lol. There was this one employee who was staring at us the entire time...happened to be the same lady who stared at me and my mom one day we went trying on veils and tiaras. She looked at us like we were crazy but we had alot of fun.

My new desk and lcd monitor!

Tonight Chris bought me a new desk for my office and an lcd monitor! I have to say I am super stocked!

**Excuse the non matching chair in the photo!

First on the list

First on our list of venues to see was Stonebridge Country Club. It was beautiful. They don't do weddings outside but the inside was almost perfect. Very accommodating and will allow us to do everything we wanted to do. So at least now we have something to put on our list. Next is another country club on Saturday.

We also went to Hobby Lobby to look at all their wedding items. I felt like I was in heaven! We also made a few floral arrangements in the store lol. There was this one employee who was staring at us the entire time...happened to be the same lady who stared at me and my mom one day we went trying on veils and tiaras. She looked at us like we were crazy but we had alot of fun.

Planning has begun

The wedding planning has begun. We have been asking around for a few months about venues for the ceremony and reception. Originally we wanted an outside wedding. There wasn't many choices but did find one. It was amazing and beautiful but about 40 minutes away from here and also very expensive! So its on our list but I am all about budget so we started looking again. This time we are including churches and inside venues. Alot of churches just allow members to hold ceremonies there, including my very favorite one which I have dreamed about forever! I found a couple that don't. One was very overpriced so scratch that. One was almost perfect but will be under construction next year...go figure. And the rest haven't written me back yet. Ugh! So now moving on to reception. We have an appointment this Thursday at Stonebridge golf club, next Monday at Olde Oaks, and two more next week at Eastridge Country Club and the Hilton downtown. All in our price range! Yay! The only bad thing about having the reception at a place that does catering is you either have to have their caterers or you have to pay approximately $800 to bring your own food. Ridiculous if you ask me but whatever. So anyway wish us good luck!!

First wedding of the series

It must be wedding time. Today me and Chris went to his sisters wedding...the first wedding of the series. In 3 weeks my old friend Heather is getting married, and my cousin Jacqueline, then 2 months later my best friend Ashley. I love weddings though! So I am very excited! Here are some photos we took today...