Party in Virginia - August 22

This past weekend I went home to Virginia and looked at a couple of options for our reception in the Old Dominion. We've narrowed it down to the two options shown below.

Reynolds Homestead, Patrick County, Virginia
(http://www.reynoldshomestead.vt.edu)

This one is an old plantation about 20 minutes from my parents' house in Bassett. It is now owned by Virginia Tech and has a new building on the grounds that can be rented for events such as receptions. The area is beautiful and the old plantation house and surrounding landmarks are well preserved. Below is a picture of the old plantation house (built in 1843) and the inside of the main room where we would have the reception. I like this one for

its history and the beauty of the area.

Forest Park Country Club, Martinsville, Virginia

Another option we are considering is Forest Park in Martinsville which is also about 20 minutes from where I grew up. This is a nice option and beautiful location but they don't allow outside caterers.






























We haven't yet decided on exactly where to have it but the party in Virignia should be fun with good food and maybe a little bit of blue grass.

Inspiration

Inspiration comes in many different forms. I have fabric and pictures and now a notebook. My friend Marla helped me figure out a lot about my inspiration this weekend. I harnessed her years of experience in the wedding industry to help me get my thoughts together. Thanks, Marla!

So here are some of my inspirations...note they are inspirations and not necessarily exactly what I want (i.e. the fabrics are more palets of colors). Note the colors might not look the same so I'll have to send Mom and Judy samples.

And the flowers/plants...

Something sweet to look at...

Locations for Utah Reception

Picture an August evening where everyone is gathering to enjoy each other and congratulate Garrett and I on our new marriage. So where did you picture it? I kept thinking of locations but my mind always wondered back to my parents' yard. Isn't it lovely?

I keep telling Garrett that this would be a lot of stress and work for my parents so it's not an option, but my parents keep saying it's the best option. My sisters Marianne and Michelle had receptions here as well as my Aunt Nellie.

Another option is going to a reception hall where most everything is included...Northampton House is really close to Michelle and does a beautiful job (http://www.northamptonhouse.com/). If it won't be the death of my parents then I would prefer our yard to a reception hall...Any ideas on how to keep Mom & Dad's stress down?

Simple Formula

You take the right people . . .




. . . a beautiful ring . . .

. . . the right place and you get . . .

. . . . happily ever after!!

Save the Date!

The Manti Temple has been reserved...August 7th at 3PM.  Yeah!!!  We are getting married. :)

OK - now we've got to finish all the other plans...Manti House dinner, reception, cake, dress, etc

Wedding Expo

Thanksgiving Point is throwing their Wedding Expo in 2 weeks - March 27 & 28.  Sounds like fun and I wish I could make it.  Who wants to go get all the information and take pictures?  Mom, Michelle, Lori,...

www.Thanksgivingpoint.com

How We Met... Part II

Who doesn't love Coney Island? We sure love it... they're changing it a little bit this year but hopefully they won't change too much. Late in the month of July 2007 the Brooklyn YSA group hosted an activity out on Coney Island and I went there with my little brother Derek (he stayed that entire summer with me in NYC). We had a lot of fun and spent most of the day on the beach. 

After a while a very cute girl I had met a couple of weeks earlier showed up... she caught my eye again and this time I had to at least get her number. :) Betsy came later in the afternoon when some people were leaving. I didn't want to leave so early... we hadn't even gotten a hot dog yet! So, Derek and I stuck around a little longer with Betsy and another young lady... ok, we had more motivation for staying than just a hot dog. ;) We got our hot dog and sat on the beach for a while as dusk set in. We talked a while and she had caught my interest - to say the least. 

Later that evening, after I got home, Derek was laughing at me about how much we were flirting. He especially liked the part when Betsy dropped ice down my shirt... she doesn't remember that. :) Of course, he was really picking on me once I told him I got her number... my baby brother saw the beginnings of budding romance... and I guess he had to have his fun with me. After that I went to a conference in Hong Kong for a week so it was another couple of weeks before we went on our first date...