Venue Decision!!

James and I will be getting married on June 29, 2013 at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society!! Check out the pictures on their website: www.masshort.org/images

I am so happy to announce that statement, and release all my stress, anxiety and worry about finding the perfect venue that is within reason of our budget. It has been such a LONG process, and we've probably looked at hundreds of websites, visited dozens of venues, but when you know, you know. You know?

So some of you may notice, it has the gardens, but what about the water? James and I realized that ocean front, though beautiful, is squeezing our budget too tight. Kinda like when you try to wear skinny jeans the day after Thanksgiving. Everything else can fit, but it was the ocean that gave us the muffin top. So in compromise, we're going to do our engagement picturs by the ocean.

There are so many unique gardens on the grounds that we can choose from for our ceremony, cocktail hour and pictures. We have the big carriage house for our dinner and it has a huge tent attached, which we will use for dancing! All this space is something we really liked, we have over 30 acres, so our guests can wander, without finding another wedding, or being cramped on top of each other, but also we have all these options for ceremony locations, cocktail areas and different options for the dinner and reception area. This is a huge perk for this venue, not to mention that these perfectly manicured grounds are GORGEOUS and have so many little details that our guests can discover while basking in the warm New England sun!

This is where our ceremony will take place!

This is the other end view where our ceremony will be, and a close up of a lilly pad in the fountain, just pretty, so I wanted to add it! This is the exterior shot of where the reception will be

This is inside, where dinner will be served!
One thing that was important to us, was to find a venue with long rental hours. Some venues will charge you extra to use their location for the ceremony and reception, have limited hours the reception can end or will offer you five minutes with the rental but charge you a million dollars if you want more time. Reality check please, this is the most important day of my life and I'd like to have it last a little longer than a power nap. So when you're looking at venues make sure you ask the question about how long you'll have the location, and it's important to find out if there is another wedding the same day, you don't want to arrive and find some lingering guests waiting for the encore!

Another perk our venue has, is it has tables and chairs for us to use! Granted we may decide to rent different chairs, but this option is great and could save a few thousand dollars, who wouldn't like that?! Seeing what is included in the rental price is a way to get more bang for your buck, literally! Also, if you don't have your heart set on a Saturday in June, like I do, it will spare your wallet! Always ask if they have off season rates or a different rate for Fridays or Sundays. Vendors have plenty resources available for you, and all you need to do is ask!

Now that we have a venue, we can really figure out what to do for all the details that will personalize our wedding! So exiting and I can't wait to make those decisions and share them with you all!

Stay tuned and stay questioning, you never know what it can bring you!

Say Yes To The Dress Application!

So I just finished my application for Say Yes To The Dress! I tried to do it a few weeks ago, but I had trouble deciding on my answers! It was really long, but fun overall!

I had to describe myself and style in three words each.. HARD. I came up with bubbly, creative and enthusiastic and interesting, colorful and individual for style. I feel like those are accurate decriptions, right? Then say why I think I would be fun to watch on TV.. EASY. Hahaha

I liked the application because it gave me a chance to reflect on what I'm looking for for a dress, think about my wedding style and opinions! Good one TLC, now just pick me for your show!!

One thing I realized that I don't have at all are traditions. We're not doing a church ceremony, and we're sort of making our own ceremony out of a mixture of different things. Then I don't have any specific articles of clothing or jewelery, so I feel like I'm missing something. James always tells me we should start our own traditions, but a part of me wishes I had a family tradition to carry on.

This week, James and I figured out some wedding things, and looked at a venue we both REALLY REALLY REALLY like. This venue doesn't have the ocean view, but we feel so strongly about it, and it fits our budget! We went to visit, and it was SO nice! Decision to be announced soon!

After we got back from the venue, we sat in the car and did this!

So what are your traditions? Do you have a certain veil to use? Are you wearing a family heirloom?? Are you forging your own route and doing things your own way? Are you going to draw moustaches on your fingers?

I'm getting married at...???

First off, I need to talk about the new Facebook game I'm obsessed with, Wedding Street. It's just like FarmVille, but it is all about weddings. I have a wedding planning shop where I get clients and plan their weddings, I have my own flower shop, bakery, dress shop and soon I'll unlock a store where I can make stationary.

Each client gives me their budget, deadline, theme, colors, etc. The more they like something I design, the more hearts, or happiness I'll get. You can earn coins to buy more things to use for each wedding and there are also quick games to play within the game. I TOTALLY recommend this! It's a good time waster, and it's something you can leave and come back to throughout the day.

Now down to business.

Finding the perfect venue for your ceremony and reception is extremely difficult. James wants a location near water (lake, pond, river, ocean, I think he'll even settle for a koi pond) and my main request is a nice garden or near tons of flowers. I feel like these are two reasonable requests, but we're having some minor delays finding a place. I've been researching since February, and there are only so many venues that fill both of those requirements. It is quite stressful, as we need to decide pretty soon considering our wedding date is fast approaching, and June is so popular, everything will be booked.. YIKES

After traveling around the state of Massachusetts, we found the House of the Seven Gables in Salem MA, and fell in love! Any place that you walk into and get butterflies over, means something. A seaside garden, a unique location in a great city full of life and history, it is a little small for our 120 guests, but we can make it work.

BUT having to go through their rental company, the prices are skyrocketing! Is it worth a majority of our wedding budget just on the venue and rentals??? Being frugal, we've decided to keep looking, but it makes me so sad to pass up on the only place I've seen where I imagined myself walking down the aisle. We're trying to schedule more tours, but how can I push myself when I really don't want to keep looking.

Also we can't schedule any tours because no one is open late on weekdays or weekends! I swear every place is open from 10-4 Monday-Friday. WHO is available then, and how can I get their job?? TIP: Save your sick or vacation time at your job so you can go look at the venue. Also make a list of what is important to you and your fiance, and try contacting the event coordinator to ask those things before you get to the place. TIP: After you figure out your wedding budget, think about how much of it you're willing to put toward each cost associated with the wedding. This might help you before you start looking for a venue.

In the end, we'll wed at the perfect place, but for now we're still on the prowl for that perfect spot to tie the knot. (I love rhyming).

Stay crafty friends.