Introduction

Since this is my first blog, it'll be a little long to bring everyone up-to-date. If you've checked out our wedding website on The Knot, you already know the basics. The purpose of blogging through this whole experience is because people keep telling me "it's so much fun to plan a wedding!!!". So I'm thinking two things: 1.) they're lying, in which case I am going to expose this lie on the web, or 2.) it is an incredibly fun time and I want to share it not only with the bridal party, but with everyone. The other advantage to blogging is so people can also leave comments with particular suggestions or hints since I have no idea what I'm doing (thank gosh for Mrs. Lindsay Smith!).

So far, it's been quite fun. I spend hours looking at bridal magazines, websites, looking at centerpieces, hairstyles, shoes - while this doesn't sound much different from my normal behavior - I assure you this engagement has kicked it into high gear. There has been some stress though, as I feel we are no closer to booking a venue than when we started. Here is the run-down on our search for a great venue:

Bryan and I, up to this point, have looked at 5 venues. Last week's visit to Flint Hill - while gorgeous - just didn't seem spacious enough for all of our guests. This weekend we had alot more success...maybe too much!

Friday we checked out the Old Courthouse on Decatur Square. What we liked: location, location, location. Not only are there hotels very close by, a MARTA stop immediately to the left of it, and plenty of possible rehearsal dinner venues in proximity, but it was unique. The cons? There is no bridal suite (it is a courthouse!) and the planning/coordinating would all have to be done on our own (this is a partial con, technically, but could be a pro depending on if it saved money).

Saturday, we went to The Georgian Club in Atlanta and The Pavillion at East Cobb in Marietta. We'll start with The Pavillion: the pricing is very inexpensive and the ballroom is spacious and beautiful. BUT, the outside of the place just doesn't look that great to me. I didn't really like the surrounding area. The ceremony site kinda just looks like it's on the side of the road. Needless to say, we won't be considering that one. The Georgian Club was awesome. Located on the 17th floor of a building on Galleria Drive, it has floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the city in one direction and (I think it was) Stone Mountain (or Kennesaw?) in the other. The dining room is pretty with a big dance floor, the menus look awesome, the ceremony site is stunning. There was one BIG con - the main dining room seats 100-110 comfortably. We're looking at upwards of 135, probably. They essentially have an "overflow" room that connects to the main dining room but that means that our guests would be separated by a doorway. Granted, the doors could stay open, but it would still feel like the guests were in a separate room. Our options with this one? Cut down the guest list or it's a no go (for me anyways, Bryan loves it).

Finally, we visited the Payne-Corley House in Duluth yesterday. There was nothing to dislike about this place. Even in the rain, it was beautiful. The house is gorgeous, the bridal suite is very pretty with lots of room and photo ops. Bryan and the groomsmen get a house to themselves where the coordinator assured us that spirits would be provided (is it bad that I asked that question?) The ballroom is large and has plenty of room. Everything is included in the facility fee - and I shockingly liked their house centerpieces!!! (I'd have to work with the flowers in them, but the actual candebras were gorgeous - almost an antique look). Everything about the house worked for me. The outdoor ceremony site is very pretty and I could definitely see it candlelit for a 7pm wedding in October. If it rains and the ceremony is inside, there's a fireplace and I think it'd still be gorgeous. There's just tons of room, lots of places for people to wander about if they wanted (a patio that has access to the main bar), but the main ballroom has ample space for everyone as well. The hotels in the area provide courtesy shuttle service for guests over to the site...I can't think of any cons!!!

I don't know when to stop all of this craziness in looking although we might go to at least one or two more places in the next week or two. I will keep everyone posted. Thoughts/ideas would be great! And I finally got a wedding organizer to play with...so much fun :-)