The Wired Bride

Hi. I am still here.  I haven’t been posting because I haven’t had anything new to add.  I have been back to the grind at work and with the social life and just hanging out trying to figure out our housing situation.  I sent over a few venues to the planner to investigate. The one I was most excited about - The Carlyle Club - is located in Alexandria, VA.  Not the DC proper we were looking for, but hey, money talks!  Here is a picture of the venue.

The Carlyle Club is an art deco style music venue with fine dining.  It seems to be a very unique space, which we definitely wanted. Because it is a “big band/swing night club” with a stage and lighting effects, it makes for a better argument to have a band. Yippee!  Also, the place is super affordable (in comparison).  There is no site fee.  The food and beverage minimum is $10,000, which includes space, staff, bartenders, linens, tables, chairs, etc. WOW!  By going this route vs the Biltmore on NYE, we will be saving about $7,000 just on the space and food.

Check out this wedding from the creative eye of W Scott Chester Photography based in Atlanta.  This couple is “so cool.”  Their wedding looks like so much fun.  From the entrance, to the guest “book,” to the hankies, I am in L.O.V.E.

Thank goodness for this blog.  Having an outlet to jot down my thoughts about wedding talk is such a relief.  I am sick and tired of talking to friends and family because I just feel like people don’t understand.  I am not looking for comments or feedback. I just want someone to listen and nod their head.  Thank you blog for being a good listener:)

So we are at another standstill with the wedding planning. I thought we were heading down the right path after deciding that we “had to have” our wedding at the Biltmore Mansion.  Well, then the housing discussion made its way back in the picture.  A house in Beetle’s parent’s neighborhood came on the market at a “steal.”  A “steal” meaning $200,000 less than any other house in the neighborhood but $300,000 OVER our budget. Yikes!  We looked at it yesterday and although small, it would be great to have “our” house. It would be a FOREVER home, not a starter home.  But…in the end, it isn’t right for us right now because it just makes life too difficult.  In my mid twenties, I want to live my life…not be tied down as a prisoner to money because I have a nice house.

Because the housing discussion is back on the table, we will need to make revisions to our “wedding plan.”  Obviously it is super stressful saving for a house and a wedding.  So, if we do the house route, we will not be able to afford the $30,000 New Year’s Eve Wedding.  We will have to scale it down to a restaurant wedding for half the budget.  Still pretty hard to do…

Then there is the issue of finding a date, which I have no idea because there isn’t a single day or date that stands out to me.  This also means the dreaded venue search is on again. yikes!

I need lots of this…

and one of these…

At the end of the day, I have no idea when/where/how our wedding is going to happen. Time will tell.

We found it! The one!  Perfection!  

Our second venue on Saturday was a success.  We left Dupont Circle and made our way to Adams Morgan to look at the Maison Biltmore.  The curb appeal was great.  The gated front yard is well kept and very beautiful.  The house is big and old with lots of character.

Don’t you just love the spiral staircase? I can only dream of how beautiful the pictures will be here!  

For a rental fee of $5500, we get access to the entire house and ballroom.  There are no restrictions on time, alcohol, caterers, or music.  Check. Check. Check. Check.  They will also provide heat lamps for us to use outside on the front porch.

We are going to try to negotiate the site fee of $5500 to $4,000.  If that doesn’t work, we want to try for $5000 all inclusive of tax and all the little charges that may be tacked on. 

I am ready to sign on the dotted line…that is how much I loved the place.  Our planner is worried because the ballroom is under renovation, which means we weren’t able to see it.  I am going on blind faith that it will be just as beautiful as the rest of the house.

The only downside of the place is that there are only two regular bathrooms in the whole space. With only two toilets in the space, it means long bathroom waits for our guests. For us, it isn’t a deal breaker or even that big of a deal because our guest list consists of our closest friends and family.  That minor inconvenience will be tolerated by our group with no fuss or complaints.

On Saturday, we made our way to the city to look at more venues.  First stop was The Studio Gallery.  It is an art gallery in Dupont Circle and is a really cool space that occupies three different levels of an old rowhouse.  

For a rental fee of $600, it would be a great location for a reception-only wedding. The space was unique but to small for a ceremony.  We could not find a good setup for a ceremony where all of our guests would be seated and would be able to see.  There is no line of site because it consists of small rooms and long hallways. Another downside is that there can’t be amplified music because of the neighboring rowhouses, which means you are limited to a guy on a guitar or an ipod hooked up to little speakers. 

Another one down…

To be honest, I feel defeated. I am ready to throw in the hat.  Beetle & I are discussing options this week.  The more I think about it, the more I just want to scratch the plans and do the previously discussed Destination Wedding.  To think that I could put the original wedding budget into a destination wedding and get the following:

1. Planning trip to (insert country).

   

2. Week long vacation/relaxation before wedding.

3. Week long vacation after wedding

4. New wardrobe

5. Cigar Bar

and other additions such as:

6. Open Bar

7. All-Inclusive Resort

8. Bridal Shower, Bachelorette, Bachelor Party in one location 

9. No restriction on # of guests

As of today, my checkbook and my heart is leaning towards the destination wedding because of all the said reasons.

Two things I am concerned about:

1. Wedding Planner - I do not want to upset her or hurt her feelings.  I am so attached to her and adore her.  I hope if we decide to switch our plans, she will not be too upset with me.

2. My Dress - I adore my wedding dress. After going back and forth about how I feel, I feel so beautiful in it and really want to wear it on my special day.  My dress doesn’t fit into a “beach theme.”  I know this is minor. I mean, I only paid $250 for it so it would be no problem to replace it but I am hoping that I will be able to find a place/theme it will fit so I can keep it and wear it.  

I only have a few rushed moments but wanted to write a quick post about our venue search at The Newseum.  Oh, how I love the city views. Oh, how I love how “DC” it is. Oh, I how I love that it is a museum of news and hosts parts of the Berlin Wall and the top of the World Trade Center.  Oh, how I love that they exclusively work with Wolfgang Puck. Yum!  Oh, how I love that the chairs, tables, linens, and AV equipment is included in the price.

What’s there not to love? Well, you probably guessed it!  MONEY, honey!  To rent out the 7th floor ranges from $6,000 for a room or $9500 for the entire floor.  Then we have to discuss the catering. Not to mention the chivari chair upgrades, the dj/band, photographer, decor, flowers, invites. etc.  Also, I have yet to mention the fact that we would have to pay everyone DOUBLE TIME.  Yes, you heard me right. NYE isn’t even a holiday. New Years Day is!  I could see making people work past midnight and paying them extra. I get it! I would be happy to do it! But, I can’t double my costs just because you are working on a non-holiday evening. Sorry! Not happening!

Look how beautiful!!! I am gushing!  Our planner is crunching numbers to see what we will need to do to make the space work, if anything.  I am awaiting her email.

I must apologize for the lack of posts the past few days but I have been swamped with work and the like.  Also, I was out of town for the Labor Day weekend. I spent some time in Chicago for sister’s wedding party.

Sister’s wedding party was amazing!  Because she had an intimate family - only elopement on Easter Weekend, her husband’s family wanted to throw them a get together.  Chad’s uncle hosted it at his house and invited close friends and family from the original guest list.  Casey and Chad are probably the most well-loved couple I have ever known.  They had 59 of the 75 people invited actually attend.

The house was decorated with a lot of small details she wanted at the actual wedding.  Blown up pictures, a candy station, cookies and milk station, s’mores, etc.  Entering their house took my breath away and made me shed a few alligator tears.

Fun was had by all.  I, of course, got caught with my hand in the Swedish Fish jar…

And finally…their custom made candy bars, which was a nice touch!

If I had a million dollars and could do anything I wanted at my wedding, I would have a room set up like this one!  The lighting and centerpieces blow me away.

Credits to: “Hey Mister DJ” WeddingWire Profile.

Blast From the Past - Looking through old emails I came across a doozy I had to share.Check out the email below! Note that it was sent on August 18, 2008!  Beetle and I had been discussing marriage since we met it is not surprising that rings and weddings were always on my mind.  What are the chances that almost two years later, I get an identical ring to the one I shared with him. wow!

Without further ado, I present the email…

From:Vanessa Pierrard <vanessa.pierrard@yahoo.com>View ContactTo:kevin_lanik@yahoo.com

Mon, August 18, 2008 9:26:42 PM

Don’t freak out but just wanted you to get an idea of what my “dream” ring looks like.It is the one on the left.  Everytime I see it, I think to myself, “Oh my goodness. That would look amazing on my little finger.”  Simple, antiquey, big, and beautiful.  I think it sort of describes me…what do you think?  Just having a little fun with the internet over here. I will call you soon (after I shower) to wish you a good night and sing you a little lullaby.Hope this doesn’t freak you out.  I don’t mean to sound like a brat but if it is going on my finger, I want it to express who I am.