Ugh, so the officiant we wanted hasn't contacted me since our initial talk when he told me he was available. I sent him more info and there's been no communication. On top of that, DC has a 3 day waiting period on marriage licenses and my boss is refusing to give me time off until it's too late to go get it taken care of before the 22nd.

So now we're looking at doing a courthouse ceremony on Friday the 21st in Virginia where we live and marriage licenses are processed in the same day, then having our friend preside over the ceremony the next day, which we would consider our actual wedding. It's not what I wanted originally, but I'm warming up to having something more personal in the end.

I am kind of torn now between doing our original plan of getting married in DC then going museum hopping, and renting a park pavilion here in Reston for the ceremony / having cake and champagne then heading into DC for fun.

10/6/2011 7:52:29 PM

Quote :

"So now we're looking at doing a courthouse ceremony on Friday the 21st in Virginia where we live and marriage licenses are processed in the same day, then having our friend preside over the ceremony the next day, which we would consider our actual wedding. It's not what I wanted originally, but I'm warming up to having something more personal in the end. "

That's what we did. Just made life easier.

10/6/2011 8:01:31 PM

sooooooooo it looks like we're looking at June for a wedding. since the fiancee's brother/wife/kids live in Germany, we are aware how expensive it is for them to come over to the states. we are all planning a big family vacation in June and i know the brother and his family are coming out for that so i think we're going to tie the wedding in during the same trip so they only have to come out here once.

question - where in the hell do i even begin finding venues? i think we're going to look for Raleigh, the Outer Banks, and possibly destination (that we will figure out). how did yall go about figuring out venues? is there is a listing somewhere or do you just need some good investigative skills?

i'm just kind of slightly panicking because june is an incredibly popular month

10/7/2011 9:47:31 AM

I would just start googling for wedding venues in the locations you're thinking of. June is definitely a popular month, destination may end up being your best option.

10/7/2011 9:49:46 AM

yeah gl with some of the more popular venues.

we got the last available april weekend and booked ~17 months in advance.

10/7/2011 10:05:15 AM

For NC venues this is a good starting point: http://www.ncbridebio.com/

But yeah June is going to be tough. To give you an idea, that event I talked about on the last page I just spent the whole day calling around to venues and pretty much everyone is already completely booked for April and May I know that's not June but it wouldn't surprise me if it's the same situation.

This is to say, I would call around to venues in your price range first to see if they're even available the dates you're considering before you even bother with touring them etc. It would suck to have your heart set on a particular venue and then find out they're booked.

10/7/2011 1:12:02 PM

one of my sorority sisters sent me a link with venues in the triangle area (and some outside the area) and it looks like a good starting place. i'm open to places and dates - we just need to find something. and if i have to look into July, that's fine too. it's just making me a bit anxious.

[Edited on October 7, 2011 at 2:12 PM. Reason : stress]

10/7/2011 2:11:39 PM

Just don't do it outside in July! You will be all sweaty and gross

10/7/2011 2:12:18 PM

oh hell no. i wouldn't do it outside in May or June

10/7/2011 2:13:12 PM

Ours is outside in may in the evening though. Here's hoping there's a cold front

10/7/2011 6:19:20 PM

Ours was outside in June, early June, but still June. It was 76* and beautiful with a light breeze.

10/7/2011 6:48:56 PM

I get hot too easily and would prefer not to be sweating in my dress

10/7/2011 6:55:43 PM

And your groomsmen will thank you for that too. Wool tuxes in the summer sun, no matter the temperature...

10/7/2011 7:16:35 PM

piddlebug, you looked gorgeous! congrats to y'all

10/9/2011 10:36:45 AM

If we do a bridal party (I'm still deciding) most of our groomsmen would be from the middle east so they don't really sweat

So it looks like June/early July it is. I am going to start calling venues tomorrow. I'm going to be looking at Friday and/or Saturday availability. Wish me luck

10/9/2011 10:54:19 AM

Our wedding was outdoors in May and the temp was perfect. I don't think you really have to worry til June.

10/9/2011 10:55:56 AM

Every April/May/June wedding I went to that was outdoors, it was like 95 out that day

I sweat when it's 35 degrees outside. This is more of a vanity issue than anything

10/9/2011 12:45:49 PM

if I had my way we would be having our wedding in March, because I, too, sweat.. but it was just out of the question for us :\

10/9/2011 3:14:59 PM

Current forecast for next Saturday looks pretty good

10/9/2011 9:02:57 PM

had to share somewhere!!!

10/9/2011 10:21:47 PM

Love the hair!! And the dress is absolutely gorgeous. I want a close up of the detailing!

10/10/2011 9:08:20 AM

I will post those probably when the professional pics come in. Right now we just have friends photos that don't really catch all the detail. But thank you!

10/10/2011 9:26:44 AM

http://www.ideeli.com/events/58094/latest_view

for those ladies looking for BM dresses who are ideeli members check these out.

10/10/2011 11:21:22 AM

^^I haven't posted mine yet
I got an up close of the lace before you even put it on boo

[Edited on October 10, 2011 at 11:23 AM. Reason : N]

10/10/2011 11:22:37 AM

I love piddlebug's dress. It looks absolutely gorgeous on you! Biofreak70 is a very lucky fellow.

10/10/2011 11:57:28 AM

piddlebug's dress

10/10/2011 2:41:06 PM

absolutely gorgeous!

10/10/2011 3:05:23 PM

i love the colors of the bridesmaids dresses

10/10/2011 3:57:30 PM

I loooooooove that dress!

And I have to day, i am a fan of the orange bridesmaid dresses

10/10/2011 8:01:32 PM

everyone looks beautiful!


and my mother is planning like crazy, and i've only picked colors for bridesmaid dress.

my mother and his mother have never met, but they are talking on the phone and planning my wedding without me there.

10/10/2011 8:31:30 PM

That would be a major no in my book. :/ is that wrong?

10/10/2011 8:34:44 PM

it's harmless talking really. they just have lots of suggestions. i guess i'll find out how harmless the talking really is on saturday when both of them are over here for dinner.

10/10/2011 8:42:06 PM

I would think that as long as they're chatting and getting along its okay for them to talk about ideas. Just rember you're the bride so you can say no (politely) if you don't care for the idea.

We introduced my dad to my fiance's parents about a year and a half ago when we first announced we were moving in together. My dad talks to Mark's parents and vice versa. I rather them chat and get along than not. It could be worse

So I called a venue twice today to ask about availability and touring the facility and never heard back. I plan on calling again tomorrow. This is kind of my first choice so I would like to talk with them first (but I plan on calling other places tomorrow). Is it normal for the venue folk to take a day or so to get back I touch with me? I think I'm just anxious to get the ball rolling. Oh and I'm impatient

10/10/2011 9:11:34 PM

Yeah I think that's normal. What place?

10/10/2011 9:17:14 PM

and don't forget, today is technically a holiday, some places may be closed.

10/10/2011 9:38:54 PM

Thanks everybody!!!!!


Elise, my mom and his mom were talking alot about ideas, but mainly for the luncheon, about money, who would pay for what, etc. All the little details that really made the wedding, were my idea or Brett's.


And Cassie, where are you looking? They could have been closed for Columbus Day?

10/10/2011 9:42:34 PM

hotels normally aren't closed on holidays i called the renaissance hotel in north hills.

although i was wondering if maybe the sales staff (which is who i was directed to) were off today because of the holiday. that thought did cross my mind. hopefully they call me back today. i guess i'm just anxious to get the ball rolling

10/11/2011 7:57:16 AM

i would talk to a special events coordinator instead of the sales staff....

oh and when you're negotiating with them, i wouldn't tell them it's a wedding they tend to increase the price

10/11/2011 8:49:03 AM

i kind of had to tell them it's a wedding because i plan on using their facilities for the ceremony as well

"it's just a love....commitment....uhhhhh group get together...yes with a pastor BUT NOT a ceremony"

10/11/2011 9:36:11 AM

lol okay when if you're having the ceremony there too, then nevermind

10/11/2011 9:38:00 AM

I found that even special event coordinators at hotels were horrible at getting back to me even after phone calls and emails.

Anyway, got married at Marbles last Saturday and had a blast. If anyone is wanting more information on how it was as a venue, etc... just PM me.

10/11/2011 9:42:23 AM

caterers are the worst for response time.

it's surprising. it's like, im calling you, saying im looking to potentially spend five figures with your business... one would think that'd warrant a return call. i shouldn't have to pester you for responses. it's a good way to not be considered.

out of the like dozen caterers i've contacted, i've gotten prompt response (less than three days) by exactly zero of them.

on another note... i had been dittyboppin around playing with itineraries for the honeymoon... finally booked it last night. totally backwards considering i've had the accommodations set for weeks.

we're kinda adventurous. going to fart around thailand for two weeks. do some diving, some beaching, some kayaking, some hiking, etc.

10/11/2011 9:48:43 AM

Just got our digital proof back for our Save The Dates, and I wanted to share this one the yellow will be a tad lighter when it's printed



Awkward family photo!!

(That actually turned out to be pretty cute)

10/11/2011 10:45:49 AM

Quote :

"we're kinda adventurous. going to fart around thailand for two weeks. do some diving, some beaching, some kayaking, some hiking, etc."

That's exactly what I would want my honeymoon to be (and probably will be...the gf loves some Thailand).

10/11/2011 10:53:17 AM

Have any of you gotten your rings soldered together? Pros? Cons? I think it would be nice to keep it all together. I don't really plan on wearing either separately.

10/11/2011 11:56:30 AM

Quote :

"oh and when you're negotiating with them, i wouldn't tell them it's a wedding they tend to increase the price "

I don't necessarily agree with this. I had a friend that tried to pull that in an event space in New Jersey. Obviously the day of the wedding the space coordinator figured out real quick it was a wedding and it caused all sorts of issues between my friend and the company. She ended up having to pay the difference and they even threatened to send a collections agency after her if she didn't

Quote :

"caterers are the worst for response time. it's surprising. it's like, im calling you, saying im looking to potentially spend five figures with your business... one would think that'd warrant a return call. i shouldn't have to pester you for responses. it's a good way to not be considered. out of the like dozen caterers i've contacted, i've gotten prompt response (less than three days) by exactly zero of them."

I found that some of them were really bad and some of them I heard back from them the same day or the next. Obviously ones that didn't get back to me within 48 hours I didn't bother talking to.

[Edited on October 11, 2011 at 3:28 PM. Reason : a]

10/11/2011 3:26:27 PM

i think it's BS that they charge you more just because it's a wedding instead of a regular event but that's just my opinion.

10/11/2011 4:02:08 PM

Today's Living Social deal is for a 4 hour photobooth rental for $550

10/11/2011 4:56:37 PM

WHERE WAS THAT DEAL WHEN I WAS GETTING MARRIED

^^ Oh I completely agree. I've heard it has to do with liability (people at weddings are more likely to act like jackasses than people at a business banquet) but still, it shouldn't be such a huge difference.

[Edited on October 12, 2011 at 9:37 AM. Reason : a]

10/12/2011 9:36:30 AM

I guess people don't like the Save The Date

/attn whoring

10/12/2011 9:47:58 AM