Save the Date! (No, Really, Save It!)

So I'm happy to report that our crazy date saga has come to a resolution! We are pleased and sooo excited to announce that our wedding will be taking place on Sunday, August 9th, 2009.

Our lovely photographer, Kara, who has been with us since the beginning, has saved us the date. I will be meeting with our prospective florist, Kristen with Kio Kreations, on Monday to discuss options and sign the contract. Our ceremony will be held at a lovely park/garden/conservatory in Elmhurst, IL, called Wilder Park. We will be hosting a brunch reception to follow at the always delicious and sophisticated Maggiano's.

We are also extremely excited to announce that one of Tom's good friends from school has agreed to marry us! We have the utmost faith in him to write and officiate a fabulous ceremony that will be tailored to us.

So while we have the big things out of the way, we still have a few more things to check off the list, including:

• Purchase wedding rings (I've been eyeing a few, just haven't jumped yet!)
• Finalize brunch menu
• Choose ceremony music and figure out logistics
• Choose and create reception playlist
• Choose & book rehearsal dinner location (we're leaning towards a good old-fashioned BBQ at our apartment, or possibly a fab "crosstown classic" themed dinner @ Harry Caray's)
• Register!!
• Take engagement photos
• Reserve convertible for the wedding day (one of Tom's friends works at a rental place, so he was more than eager to take this task on!)
• Decide on favors. (Do we bother?)
• Design invitations, programs and menus.
• Print invitations, programs and menus.
• Assemble invitations, programs and menus. (I think you get the picture!)
• Research and book honeymoon! (We're deciding between a Mediterranean cruise or a land excursion of Scotland, London & maybe Paris!)
• Apply for marriage license
• Buy ties & pocket squares for the groom, groomsmen and fathers
• Assemble the bases for the flowergirl flower wands (PS - Congrats to Becca and fam -- we're officially adding little Charlotte Joanne to our wedding party in May!)
• Create seating chart and have it printed at Kinko

I can't really seem to think of anything more, though I'm sure there's plenty I'm forgetting! Anybody else have any suggestions about what I've forgotten so far?

The Contract...

I don't think I've ever been more excited to receive a contract than I was yesterday. While seeing the pricing information wasn't so pleasant, it was good to see our names (albeit spelled wrong) with an official date next to them.

It's been a long time in coming, I can assure you. Poor Tom has probably endured 3 years of wedding talk, and that's a conservative estimate. I guess it's fairly easy to see how indecisive I really am when you factor in that we picked out 3 different engagement rings, 6 different wedding venues, 2 completely different color schemes, upwards of 10 wedding dates, and countless ideas associated with all of it.



So when I say that this is much more than just a contract, I mean it. More than just a legal agreement, it's a physical embodiment of this planning process, which can be so cerebral.

So, with the first major decision made, signed off on, and partially paid for, it's onward in the planning process for us. And it feels really, really good. :)

A Grand Announcement!

After a fair bit of wrestling, a 27-email exchange, and a little blood, sweat and tears, Tom and I are now the proud owners of a wedding date at the Danada House.

It has taken us over 3 weeks just to secure a contract --- No easy task, I assure you.

When we inquired to the availability of the 19th, we were told that we were #3 on the list. Really? #3???

We went back to the drawing board. How about the 12th? Nope - there was a wait there, too. The 26th (despite the fact that its my parents' anniversary)? Nope - taken as well. June 5th (my birthday)? The only available date, as luck would have it. And while its certainly not the norm to be married on your birthday, at this point, I couldn't think of a better present :) (and I mean Tom, not the wedding).

And even though this wedding date wasn't our 1st, 2nd, or even 3rd choice, (and as early as yesterday we were trying to be talked into July or August), we're so very excited to have something permanent in this planning process. From here we will begin the search for our caterer (who will undoubtedly play a HUGE role in the day --- food, linens, rentals, etc.) and hopefully make a decision on the photographer. Next on the list? An officiant and florist would be priorities #3 and #4. We're hoping to have contracts signed, deposits down, and plans in place by March, making the rest of the spring and summer relaxed and major-planning free. :)

Just Another Reason I Love Danada :)

So I've been searching this morning, to no avail, for more pictures of the Danada House. But this time, I'm trying to find more of the outside.

One thing that Tom and I instantly fell in love with was the property the house was on, as well as the house & atrium. True to his very personality, the first thing Tom said when he saw the lawn behind the house was "We could bring up our bag sets to play while you guys are getting ready. Wait, maybe we could even play football."

Football was nixed pretty quickly, as I don't think bruises are the fashion statement we want to be making that day. Bags, however, has sort of stuck and morphed into another non-traditional idea.

Since the whole point of the day is really to reflect our personalities and the relationship we've developed, I think it's only normal to want the aspects of the day to reflect that, too. And I guess, since I'm marrying a fitness/P.E. nut, that includes lawn sports. :-)

I actually really like the idea of the guys hanging out that morning, just relaxing and playing around as only they do best. I think it would help reduce anxiety, and give them an outlet for extra energy.

I do, as always though, have one stipulation. The men must wear these:

Le Sigh.

Not only am I not really in the mood to talk wedding right now, I don't really have the time to peruse pictures and such like I normally do.

Work is absolutely crazy, with 2 members of my team on vacation. When you take into consideration my team is only 4 people generally, I have a bit more to do this week...

However, I'd like to catch you up to speed about this weekend. We're definitely in talks about putting down a deposit on the Danada House. I went in on Sunday hoping that I would be impressed and it wouldn't be another let-down. Not only was I impressed with the place, but I found the coordinator so extremely helpful and knowledgeable that it definitely put my mind at ease. We talked prices, capacity, future renovations and how they would affect us, weather contingency plans, etc. We got to see it set up for a wedding, and even got to see the bride, too. Poor girl. It rained all day. :(

Anyway, I'll let you all know (obviously) what happens from here. I'd rather not jinx it, so I'll probably not talk about it until after we've officially reserved it.

And while this seems like a great task to have done, now comes the more tedious vendors: florists, photographers, and caterers. My goal is to use the fall & early winter to scope out possibilities, gather references, etc. Then I'm hoping to actually begin meeting with these people in late winter/early spring. I'd rather wait to do this until late spring, but with Tom being so busy, we have few options. And most of the best vendors book up a year early, so waiting until summer is definitely out. Ugh.

Let's Recap, Shall We?

The past few weeks have been rather topsy-turvey in Weddingland.

We've ditched the original venue, are still in discussions about the ceremony location (well, actually not discussions - the decision's up to Tom...), honed in on small details, purchased a Gocco, and began a few DIY projects that will hopefully be featured soon. So, I thought that this would be an opportune time to recap.

When picturing the wedding months ago, I never really pictured the "theme" revolving around an object. I thought it would be dictated by the location, the time, or the season. And to a degree, it still is. But I've found myself making decisions based on a particular picture.

This picture:

(The Knot)

"I love her, and true love lasts a lifetime." (Nicole, name that movie!!)

This bouquet has really come to embody what I want to see from the day. It's elegant, fresh, fun, and just downright pretty.

I also love this. Not necessarily the daisies, but the overall look:


(Sweet Paul, via Snippet & Ink)

And I've bought these:


(Michaels)

It was a weak moment, I confess. But they match! And they were on clearance!!

And, sigh, this:


(The Danada House)

I've fallen in love with the Danada House. And I'm hoping that this weekend will only solidify that, rather than change it. We'll be meeting with the coordinator on Sunday, and will get to see it setup for a wedding :)

Drumroll, Please: The Danada House

I am a very self-aware person.

For instance, just today, I realized that I'm a bit of a drama queen. Situations arise, blood pressure skyrockets, hours pass, situations diffuse. That's pretty much how I operate.

I also know that I'm pretty transparent. Not in a shallow sort of way, but in a I-can't-hide-my-emotions-well-at-all-unless-I'm-really-trying-and-I'm-absolutely-no-good-at-surprises kind of way.

So I'm sure you've all guessed that the Danada House is my favorite. Heck, I might have said that already. But that's besides the point.

I'd heard of this place during my original 3 searches for venues, but it was barely a blip on my radar. First, I thought it was going to be uber-expensive. Second, I tend to ignore places in cities I rarely visit, including Wheaton.

But I searched it out and low and behold, this is what I found:



The splendor that is the Danada House.

It's pretty without being over the top, it's classic without being outdated, it's unique without being odd, and best of all, since it's nestled back on the grounds of the forest preserve, it offers us the natural setting we've been looking for.

And while the outside of the atrium isn't nearly as pretty, (see below):



The inside more than makes up for it!!!



Look at all the natural light!!! Windows --- tons of them! And a skylight! And some weird lighting that I'm sure will look great once it gets dark. And it seats 250, which means we'll have ample space!!!!

Though the fee to rent it is a bit high ($3,200), the fact that their caterers are more than reasonable makes up for it. Priced out, a menu comparable to Montefiori is $10,500. And that includes tax and gratuity. And a full bar.

What we don't like is the location. It's at least a 30 minute drive from the church. Couple that with the only available ceremony times (2:30), and the available reception time of 6:00, and we have quite the gap.

So, we've brought back up the possibility of having a secular ceremony on the grounds.

Like this:


Amazing, right???

And the price to have the ceremony (basically the cost of renting the chairs) is cheaper than the donation to the church.

There's much, much more I could say about this (including the fact that the florist I want has done many events there!), but I'll stop for now. The manager let me know that they're showing the house this Sunday from 9:30-11 am, before a wedding. I'm working with Tom to see if we can make it over there.

We'll keep you updated! :)

Lifescapes at Montefiori

I was going to do one of these a day, but I can't contain my excitement. So, behold Montefiori:



Le sigh. I love it.

And what's even cooler is the bit of history behind it. The land, all 28 acres, was bought by the owners of the Como Inn (a restaurant that hosted many a family dinner for my mother's side of the family, including my parents' wedding dinner, and, if I'm not mistaken, my grandparents' reception --- correct me if I'm wrong, Ma). The land was purchased because it reminded them of their native Tuscany. Throughout the years, they cared for the grounds, eventually naming it Montefiori (Mountain of Flowers). A few years back, the son of the original owner sold it to the management company that runs it now. It currently houses 3 reception sites, plus the old family home.



Michelina's Pavilion


Pine Grove

Fabulous, right? It's absolutely everything we want: natural setting, elegance, coordinated, etc.

The downside? The cost. Yesterday I estimated a $70-90 price range. Today, the sales manager emailed me to let me know that the current Saturday evening cost is $115 a person. Without tax. And gratuity. Factor another 20% onto that and we're looking at a $135 pp price tag, meaning the reception, for 200 people, would cost a whopping $27,000.

Do you know what $27,000 is? That's already thousands over our budget. It's also more than the amount of student loans Tom and I have, combined. It's a sizeable house downpayment. It's a car. It's more than most kindergarten teachers make in an entire year. Before taxes.

There is no way I could convince myself to spend that kind of money, even if we somehow came into an unknown inheritance or lottery winnings. To me, there are few things in this life worth $4,500/hour.

...and so we trudge on in our search. Stay tuned for more on the Danada House...

The Barber & Oberwortmann Nature Center

So over the next few days, I'll be sharing the details of the three places we're going to be looking at. Today's selection is the Barber & Oberwortmann Nature Center, located on the ground of Pilcher Park. Managed by the Joliet Park District and located near Rt. 30 & Gougar Rd., this option provides affordability and a natural setting.

I really should be an advertising writer. Oh, right...

This is the outside...

Pretty, no?


But this is the inside:




BOR-ING.

But I do like the catering selections. And the price. But not so much that it's out in Joliet.

Thoughts from my ever-loyal readers, all 4 of you?

Happy Anniversary to Us!

So this weekend, we visited Lake Katherine and met with the event coordinator. We learned that if we pursue this route, we'll be the first outdoor tent reception to take place on the grounds. As such, they're not really equipped to handle it, only offering us 1 hour of setup and 1 hour of takedown. It's seemingly impossible to setup and takedown all that we would want in an hour, so we've decided to explore other options.

The best part? They wanted to charge us $4,000 for 6 hours. And that's just for the land. No tent, no tables, no chairs --- nothing.

So I spent yesterday trying to find every botanic garden, nature center, what-have-you within a 30 mile radius that didn't charge an arm and a leg. I've found 3 options that we'd like to check out.

1. The Barber & Oberwortman Nature Center in Joliet --- located off of Route 30 & Gougar Rd., this center is located on the grounds of Pilcher Park. While the grounds are beautiful, the center is actually a banquet-hall type building, which we're trying to stay away from. The catering options, however, are reasonably priced and plentiful!
2. Lifescapes at Montefiori - There are no words to say how amazing these grounds are! Waterfalls, gardens, stone-paver walkways --- this place has it all! There are 3 tented sites that stay up year-round. Their catering options are astounding, but with that, comes an equally astounding price tag. I have no concrete evidence, but from what I've gathered, we're looking at a $70-90 per person price tag. I'll wait for you to do the math.
3. The Danada House - Located in Wheaton, this manor is owned by the Forest Preserve of DuPage County. The house has been restored (as it was built in 1939), and they've added an all glass "atrium," complete with skylights, air-conditioning, modern lighting, etc. The rental includes both the house and the atrium, along with tables and chairs. They also have a great selection of caterers with great budgets and lots of creativity!

While I'm leaning towards the Danada House, I'd definitely like to visit all three to get accurate price quotes and see the places in person. Seeing is believing, after all.

(The Danada House)

In the very least, this was a fun way to celebrate our anniversary...even Tom was excited :)

The Weekend...

Lake Katherine's Waterfall Garden

So this weekend, we (Tom, his mother, my mother and I) are taking a trip to Lake Katherine, aka the number one potential spot for the wedding reception. We'll be meeting with the rental coordinator, with whom I've only spoken with on the phone before.

The significance?

• This is the first "vendor" we're actually meeting with! :)
• As the reception site, this will play a big part in "setting the tone" of the party
• It's weird (and coincidental) that the only weekend available to check this place out just happened to be the weekend of our 5th anniversary. :) It's kinda fun to think we'll be at "our place" looking into wedding details!

Other fun-ness this weekend: My Gocco should arrive!!! Yahoo!

Have a good weekend everybody!!!

Oh, and more to follow on the dessert reception crisis...

Lake Katherine: An Introduction

So I realize that many of you out there, even if you've heard of Lake Katherine, have actually never seen it. And while I can't seem to find lots of pictures, I have one that I took this summer, as well as a few I've been able to scrounge up.

The Lake Katherine Nature Preserve and Botanic Gardens is "125 acres of water, wooded trails, gardens and open space," according to its website. I'm not quite sure of the history of the preserve, but it's been around for quite awhile. I remember reading a plaque on one of the buildings stating that former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited the preserve as a part of the nature preservation movement of the era.

Well, pictures are worth 1,000 words, right? So here:

This is the view as you walk from the parking lot. The clubhouse is straight ahead. The lake would be on your left from here, and the gardens are up towards the top right of the picture.

This is the view from the south side of the lake, near the parking lot.

This is the brook that leads from the waterfalls to the lake...

And the view of the lake from the clubhouse...

One of the waterfalls...

I took this picture at sunset on the 4th of July...

And this is the east lawn. I'm assuming this is where our ginormous tent will be pitched, but I haven't confirmed that with the rental manager yet.

The Basics: The Ceremony & Reception Site

I read somewhere that all you need for a wedding are a groom, a bride, a location, an officiant, a witness, and a marriage license. The rest is, well, optional. So given that we are all acutely aware of who the bride and groom are, we shall now venture into the wonderful world of locations!

Now after plenty of mind changes (I think I've had about 5), I feel like I've finally found a reception site that fits the bill, so to speak. We had decided early on that we did not want the "cookie cutter" banquet hall reception that is popular in the Chicago area (not that there's anything wrong with those, they're just not for us...). We wanted something unique and personal, but wasn't crazy out of left field, either. Previous choices (Door County, Meson Sabika, Walter Payton's Roundhouse, Chicago Botanical Gardens) had illicited responses from T like "Oh, cool," or "That works." But when I first brought up the idea of Lake Katherine, his immediate response was "Really? We can actually have it there?" More conversations ensued, my favorite one being this:

B: "So, this whole Lake Katherine thing --- you really want to do it?"
T: "Definitely."
B: "Even if it costs more money?"
T: "Even if. Oh, there'll be air conditioning there, right?"
B: "Only if we pay for it."
T: "Oh. Oh well. Let's do it!"

The fact that T was willing to engage in a conversation about the wedding that lasted more than 2 sentences and contains more than 5 one-syllable words had me thinking I was on the right track. Plus, it all sort of made sense...we've spent countless hours here over the past 5 years, it was close to home and our churches, and was unique. Since we're able to choose our own caterer, we can avoid the costly wedding packages that include crazy things like ice sculptures that we don't care about...

Having planned and run several events back in college, I feel fairly confident that I can pull this off with little stress, but the added challenge of coordinating the rental/arrival/set-up of the tent, generators, air conditioning, lighting, chairs, tables, bars, flooring, and sound equipment seems a bit overwhelming. Hopefully the rental manager at LK will be efficient and helpful...