big planning update!

I know I’ve been MIA this week, but we have gotten a TON of wedding stuff done! Yesterday we went out and signed the contract with our venue! So, we officially have a wedding date and location. We will be tying the knot on October 23, 2009, at Catoctin Hall at Musket Ridge. It’s about an hour outside of DC, at the foothills of the Catoctin Mountains. The views are gorgeous! Musket Ridge is a public golf course, and Catoctin Hall is an event venue that was added on a little over a year ago. They provide catering on-site, so that’s another vendor we don’t have to worry about! The Hall is stunning, photos don’t do it justice. It’s warm and rustic and elegant, unlike any place I’ve ever been in before.

And I took some photos while we were there! This is the entrance to Catoctin Hall, where the guests will enter. There are two entrances (the one for golfers is another big building to the right) so they’ll station someone at these doors to welcome guests:

The guests will then be ushered through the ballroom to the ceremony site – outdoors, weather permitting (knock on wood!)

Isn’t the view phenomenal? I can’t wait to see it in October with all the colorful leaves! After the ceremony, the guests will head back towards the hall for an indoor/outdoor cocktail hour…

…followed by dinner and dancing in the gorgeous ballroom! (It was being set up for an indoor wedding while we were there. Yes, the Chiavari chairs are included!)

I love love love it! We’ll go out in a few months again for a tasting with the caterer and wedding coordinator and discuss the details like timeline, room configuration, etc.

We have some more photographer and DJ meetings this week, and this weekend the first dress shopping excursion! I’m so excited that things are starting to fall into place!

i’m still here, i promise!

I’ve been a neglectful blogger, I know. What with finishing up my schoolwork for the semester and then moving, plus I’m on a new client at work where I don’t have as much free reign on the internet. (the nerve!)

The move went well, pretty uneventful. My Dad and brothers were very helpful loading and unloading the U-Haul on either end. Now the big pile of boxes that was in my apartment is scattered around the house, waiting to be unpacked. Every other place I’ve ever moved into has been empty when I got there, but since J’s stuff is already all settled in here, it’s a little tougher to unpack. There’s lots of moving HIS stuff around to fit in my stuff, and renegotiating where things go. It’s definitely a process. Has anyone else had the experience of moving in with your guy to a place he already lived? How did you make if feel like “ours” and not “his” anymore?

In wedding news, my shoes came! They are even more fabulous in person than on the website. I am so excited to wear them. Not much else to report on that front, unfortunately. We’re in the midst of a venue hunt. My parents are chipping in for about 2/3 of the cost of the wedding, which is awesome, but it also means that they are able to have a bit of say in how things go. Unfortunately my mom and I have diametrically different styles and tastes. And personalities. So, my poor sister/MOH is running interference. We’re checking out some more places next weekend, keep your fingers crossed. Once we have somewhere booked, I’ll give you a full run down of all of the drama!

Also, if you know of any great all-inclusive, non-hotel venues with outdoor ceremony space within an hour or so of DC, let me know! 🙂

crazy week

The Big Move is this Sunday, and on Saturday J and I are taking my folks to see our venue of choice. So, this week is a little crazy and will be light on posts. But, never fear! With any luck, if Saturday goes well, we will have a date set and a venue by next week, so I’ll have LOTS to start posting about! Get excited, and cross your fingers that all goes well.

Oooh and I got my cards made for Vane’s (of Brooklyn Bride) holiday card swap. I’m pretty pleased with how they came out (I am not super crafty, though I wish I was…) I’ll post pics after I send them out, so as not to ruin the surprise for my card swap buddies.