Ceremony sites and Reception Plans

Long time- no see.

Let's see- an update shall we? I've been a busy little bee with only...

47 DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING!!

Jumpin' jehosephats! A little over six weeks!

I've actually been fairly productive though. It's such a weird feeling, seeing everyone head back to college. This is the first August I've not done the typical school supply shopping, elbowing the other girls for Lisa Frank folders (oh, wait. That was second grade.)

I'm, like, done with school. Weird.

Anyways, with all this free time NOT going back to school, I've been finishing up this wedding business. Here's what's left on my To Do list:

1. Print the invitations and pay the postage
2. Bridal party gifts
3. Guestbook
4. Escort cards
5. Family Wedding Photo table
6. Rent the sound system
7. Finalize the song list
8. Finalize the officiant (We may have found one!! Hooray!!)
9. Photobooth

And I really think that is it! Mom said all that's left is too look pretty and open gifts.

Last week Matt and I FINALLY got to see the Allandale. Besides those ice cream socials Matt attended as a boy and the 5 second walkthrough I got with Denise that one day, neither of us had really seen the place.

It took 2 WEEKS to get a hold of them. The first time I tried calling to pop by, I was told that one day was too short of notice. Then, we I tried the next week to set up a time, no one returned my call. Or my message. Then I sent an email. No response. Then Matt left a message. No response.

I was getting kind of antsy at this point. I finally called the city of Kingsport's Parks and Recreation department and THEY got the Allandale to call me back.

Denise, Matt and I headed up last Thursday. And I have pictures!

Here are the three potential ceremony sites:

The front of the house.
Pros:
Included in our fee
Pretty
Stately

Cons:
You can hear the traffic from the road
I'm not sure how I'm going to get to the back of the aisle to walk down it. Coming out of the front door is a little anti-climatic. Matt said I could just hide in the bushes while the guests are seated. Denise has mentioned a horse and carriage ride, but those are EXPENSIVE.

The gazebo at the back of the house.

Pros:
Pretty- not a lot of decor needed
I can walk out the back of the house and down the aisle
Guests will be right by the reception site

Cons:
Extra fee
I'm not sure if you can see it, but there are heron statues inside the gazebo. Random.

Pros:
Included in my fee
More casual and laid back- like the wedding
No road noise

Cons:
The walking down the aisle thing again- how do I get at the start of the aisle??
Ground is kind of not even- makes chair difficult
Someone would have to clean up the branches
I don't exactly scream "nature lover"


I'm not sure if you have noticed yet, but all three sites are OUTSIDE. Just like my reception site:

The dance floor!


So if it rains... well, I'm trying not to think about it. I'm not too thrilled with the plan B.

The inside of the house is beautiful.

But here is where I would have my ceremony AND reception:

What's that you ask? Did I type ceremony and reception?

Yes, I did.

I was told I can fit 72 people in the living room, but 62 would be a bit more "comfortable." After the ceremony, everyone would get up. Someone would have to move all the chairs, roll out five of the tables, and then set them up with the linens, plates, and centerpieces.

What are all the guests going to do? Stand and watch? I think it just sounds so... awkward?

Not to mention there would be NO dance floor. So we'd basically eat, cut the cake, and roll out.

So, I'm putting in a personal request to God for no rain. Hooray!