Adventures in Venue Searching: Where to Start?

I had never really thought about how one chooses where to have a wedding. Had I thought about it, I'd have guessed you just choose a pretty location reasonably close to where you live, and there you go. Venue! Turns out it isn't that easy. Well, I should say, it isn't that easy when you put me in charge of it. Seems I can turn an 'easy' project into one that requires Excel spreadsheets, multiple site visits and hours of agonizing.

Brings me back to the days of trying to choose a residency program. But this is just for a 4-6 hour event, not thee years of my life! Granted, these 4-6 hours mark the beginning of a brand new life. Not to mention, these will be the most expensive 4-6 hours of my entire life. So with that in mind, I guess it makes sense to put some time and effort into finding the right place.

What I was looking for in a venue:
1. Beautiful surroundings/view/photography sites - ideally with big trees and water
2. Peaceful atmosphere
3. A sense of being "away" from real life
4. A place where there were no noise or time restrictions
5. Catering on site (I didn't want to have to create another spreadsheet for caterers)
6. Not a budget buster
7. Enough room for up to 200 guests (generous estimate, as we will likely have fewer than that number!!)

We are fortunate on the West Coast in general, and in Northern California in particular to have SO MANY options for beautiful, peaceful places that really do take you away from real life. There are the amazing Napa and Sonoma counties, Gold Country, the San Francisco Bay Area, Yosemite, and Tahoe to mention the big players. There are also other less known areas that are more under the radar, but just as stunning. Add to this places closer to my home in Oregon - like my favorite place in the world, the Columbia River Gorge.


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In other words: enough places to look at for about TEN years and fill up hundreds of lines of Excel files! But since we are not in our early twenties, we decided on a shorter engagement. Ten months, not ten years. Not short per se, but not enough time to spend several months choosing a venue.

So. In a (rare) moment of clarity and decisiveness, I decided that we would get married in Tahoe!



Marc has some strong connections to Tahoe, and actually lived there for a time. I think it is gorgeous, and kind of reminds me of the Gorge in some ways - mountains, trees and water. Gorgeous!

And with the location decided, we were limited to the 72 miles of Lake Tahoe shore to find a venue. Much more manageable, right?

Suuuure. That's what you think... To Be Continued

Priorities

Everyone ready for a quick mental exercise?

No you don't need any props.

Yes, it is okay if you sit down.

Now. Close your eyes. Wait. Open them! You have to see to keep reading this.

Close your metaphysical eyes.

Now, I want you to expand your consciousness, lay aside all cares and worries, take a deep cleansing breath and... PLAN A GIANT PARTY FOR ALL OF YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS AND FAMILY. GO!!!

While some of you may find this a soothing activity, personally it gives me a bit of a panicky feeling right there in the pit of my stomach. That area that seems to know how you're feeling before your brain does.

I'm not nervous, per se. Just anxious to make sure that we have a fantastically wonderful wedding. Wherein everything goes perfectly and everyone has a perfectly splendiferous time.





Hmmm. Perhaps there is bit more Bridezilla to me than I thought....









In an attempt to rein in the Bridezilla, I decided that the first thing we needed to do was determine our priorities. So, amongst many conversations, Marc and I decided what those priorities are.

Turns out that for both of us, the number one priority is to get married. Shouldn't be too hard!

After that, we diverge a bit.

My priority: have a smallish gathering of our closest friends and family - the people that have shaped us into who we are today. It will be our way to thank them and maybe spoil them if at all possible.

His priority: invite as many people as possible to honor family heritage, to not offend anybody, and to attempt to strengthen our bond with various people who, for various reasons, are not actually a part of our lives at the moment.

Diametrically opposed? Perhaps a bit. But this is a great opportunity to practice the art of compromise.


So, I won't get my cozy cabin in the woods, hanging out all weekend with my nearest and dearest, having massages and pedicures and playing games until the wee hours of the night.


And he won't have his epic, joyous family reunion.

But, as long as the FIRST priorty gets checked off our checklist, we will both be happy.

Bridezilla be darned.

Holy Cowpie, Batman!

It took 31 years, 6 months and 21 days (I'd count hours, but I don't remember what time I was born), and it finally happened: I am engaged! When you're waiting for the right person, you have to take your time. I'm still in some shock!

[note: I started this post over a week ago, but then I decided I wanted to go back and find all dating related posts I'd written, which took me down a long and twisty pathway to this curret post. Read on, dear friends, read on.]

The Road to Engagement was not a quick one for yours truly (as anyone who reads this - likely only people that I know - knows) Somewhere there was a sign post (a la Robert Frost) and I took my own path, that did not lead directly to Marriage and Children. Much to my poor mother's dismay. I've met many people and made many friends along my path, however, and had a heck of a lot of fun.

Anyway.

The right guy for me had to pass a few challenges along the way. He had to have good etiquette, and understand a few, basic rules.

He couldn't be into shiny shirts and (according to OK Cupid), he should be a 'manchild' (Seriously? What's a manchild??) Some semblance of grammar was a must. And maybe only a touch of oddity.

He had to be able to handle my obsession with some things and my inability to handle others. And his ability to stomach "The Brenna" (with an extra side of clumsy) was, of course, a must.

It was the rare guy who made it past the first few qualifications.

I thought about moving to certain areas to increase my chances. But it was coming to Sacramento that finally put me in the right place.

It turned out that he didn't have to have a fun name or to play the role of the beautiful jerk. Starting residency really helped me solidify the grown up that I'm going to be (some day), and helped me to change my focus.

It took some maturity on my part, some cyber help on both our parts, and voila! I finally found home. And that is dang exciting.

And scary. Exciting AND scary.

Now comes the exciting, fun, intimidating, party planning!

Join me, as my blog becomes a WEDDING BLOG!!! Mwa ha ha ha!!! Hours of things for me to obsess about. Oh, yes, this will be fun. :)