After celebrating our engagement with friends and family ... the next step was to plan. Afterall, we were tired of everyone asking when we were actually getting married. To hush the masses ... all we needed to do was set a date.
In order to do that ... we first had to decide which was more important; the place or the date. We chose place. We thought about all the places that were meaningful for us. There were two places that made the most sense. The outdoor theatre at CU or Tahoe. And not just anywhere in Tahoe ... Edgewood. After all ... that was the first place we had been and seen when we begain to seriously talk about marriage. Since the theatre department at CU was undertaking a new head of the department and therefore incredibly slow to return calls/emails/messages. We went in search for Edgewood. Realizing that it's a very popular place to get married ... we went in with hope.
And came out with a possible date. Someone technically had August 24th, 2009 held ... but not booked. In fact, they only had a few more days for their "hold". And no one had become a backup either. So we placed our names down as the backup and hoped that we could steal this very perfect Sunday August 24th. A few days later ... we heard word that they chose to take another venue and the 24th was ours if we wanted it.
Hooray!!! We now not only had a date but we had a venue booked ... the only place Lakeside that is actually in a facility instead of just on the beach in tents. It has floor to ceiling windows that faced north-westward to the lake. Surrounded by a beautiful green golf course and a dining experience that seemed almost surreal.
And so planning began. All the dress shopping, floral arrangements, cake flavors, main dishes, bachelor parties and bridal showers. We had a unique planning experience as I refused to find a wedding coordinator. Places that caught my eye online with reviews and webpages and quality, professional responses became prime candidates. Not to mention, using the now widely popular TheKnot.com. Whom I can thank for introducing me to a few of my newest and now closest friends.
Mike stayed pretty involved the whole time with planning. And was an excellent assistant. :) He was truly helpful and quite the best shoulder and ear through all the stress that comes with wedding planning. He helped pick flowers and look at arrangements ... he tasted all the cakes gleefully ... he even helped make the floral pens for people to send us best wishes.
The planning all came down to a wonderful day ... couldn't quite make it more perfect. Even though Mike had a watch on to know that the pastor was late but the friends and mom's kept Danielle from finding out. The sun was shining bright with just enough breeze to keep from boiling over. A gorgeous sunset that had perfect timing before the cake cutter time. Scrumptious food that the guests STILL wave about to this day. A bestman's speech to beat all the rest and an evening that continued to rave on at the hotel in our party suite. Everyone stopped by even if only for a moment and the party went on into the wee hours of the morning. Complete with a party crasher and all. Who was that guy anyways?!
The boys played goof ... uh hhmmm ... golf the next morning at Edgewood ... just weeks after the Celebs did and had a blast. While Danielle took her mom up the mountain on the gondola and had the privilege to show her the California/Nevada state line. Hahahaha ...
All in all ... the planning ... the stress ... the random hours of cutting out little tags that I did or didn't use and the fun times built with friends ... created a year full of memories and a day to look back on forever with a smile.
In order to do that ... we first had to decide which was more important; the place or the date. We chose place. We thought about all the places that were meaningful for us. There were two places that made the most sense. The outdoor theatre at CU or Tahoe. And not just anywhere in Tahoe ... Edgewood. After all ... that was the first place we had been and seen when we begain to seriously talk about marriage. Since the theatre department at CU was undertaking a new head of the department and therefore incredibly slow to return calls/emails/messages. We went in search for Edgewood. Realizing that it's a very popular place to get married ... we went in with hope.
And came out with a possible date. Someone technically had August 24th, 2009 held ... but not booked. In fact, they only had a few more days for their "hold". And no one had become a backup either. So we placed our names down as the backup and hoped that we could steal this very perfect Sunday August 24th. A few days later ... we heard word that they chose to take another venue and the 24th was ours if we wanted it.
Hooray!!! We now not only had a date but we had a venue booked ... the only place Lakeside that is actually in a facility instead of just on the beach in tents. It has floor to ceiling windows that faced north-westward to the lake. Surrounded by a beautiful green golf course and a dining experience that seemed almost surreal.
And so planning began. All the dress shopping, floral arrangements, cake flavors, main dishes, bachelor parties and bridal showers. We had a unique planning experience as I refused to find a wedding coordinator. Places that caught my eye online with reviews and webpages and quality, professional responses became prime candidates. Not to mention, using the now widely popular TheKnot.com. Whom I can thank for introducing me to a few of my newest and now closest friends.
Mike stayed pretty involved the whole time with planning. And was an excellent assistant. :) He was truly helpful and quite the best shoulder and ear through all the stress that comes with wedding planning. He helped pick flowers and look at arrangements ... he tasted all the cakes gleefully ... he even helped make the floral pens for people to send us best wishes.
The planning all came down to a wonderful day ... couldn't quite make it more perfect. Even though Mike had a watch on to know that the pastor was late but the friends and mom's kept Danielle from finding out. The sun was shining bright with just enough breeze to keep from boiling over. A gorgeous sunset that had perfect timing before the cake cutter time. Scrumptious food that the guests STILL wave about to this day. A bestman's speech to beat all the rest and an evening that continued to rave on at the hotel in our party suite. Everyone stopped by even if only for a moment and the party went on into the wee hours of the morning. Complete with a party crasher and all. Who was that guy anyways?!
The boys played goof ... uh hhmmm ... golf the next morning at Edgewood ... just weeks after the Celebs did and had a blast. While Danielle took her mom up the mountain on the gondola and had the privilege to show her the California/Nevada state line. Hahahaha ...
All in all ... the planning ... the stress ... the random hours of cutting out little tags that I did or didn't use and the fun times built with friends ... created a year full of memories and a day to look back on forever with a smile.
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