Got cookies?

This weekend brought about a little sun, lots of rain, and plenty of information regarding the wedding invitation and hotel portion of this program.

We started out at a certain chain that specializes in custom invitations. Because I had a somewhat negative experience and the possibility is high that many people that I know have gotten their invitations from said business, I'm not going to mention the name of this establishment. When we walked in there were 2 women working. One was behind the counter and looked somewhat involved in something and the other was sitting at desk looking through a book of (what looked like) kids birthday party invites. She looked up and said, "What's up" while taking a big gulp of (what looked like) a Frappucino. I told her that we were beginning our quest for wedding invitations. What was I looking for? She asked. "Classic, but with a nature-oriented design, like a pine cone" I responded.

She proceeded to pull out two books of invitations. So we started looking. Luckily, Bryan and I liked alot of the same styles and designs, but nothing was wow-ing us (and no pine cones). Eventually this same customer service rep gave us a third book but spent most her time attending to another couple that had come in after us. We spent about 45 minutes going through the books, but the way the books are set-up you can't just say, "How much is this invitation?" You have to do some kind of weird advanced calculus because underneath the invitation it tells you that the invitation CARD is at a certain price level, the ENVELOPE LINER (if you want one) is at another price level, the RESPONSE CARD is at yet another one and so on and so forth. Every piece of invitation material is a different price level - ribbons, cards that surround the invitation card itself...options, options, options.
Well, what the heck are the price levels? Then you flip to the back of the book where you look at a series of tables. Why tables plural? Because it all depends on how you get the invitations printed...thermography, engraved, or letterpress.

After having to figure all of this out ourselves and desperately searching for a pine cone, the couple that had been getting all the attention left and the customer service lady had taken a seat again with her book of kiddie invites.

Now color-me-bratty, but if I'm going to be spending HUNDREDS of dollars on something, you better darn well come over and see if I need anything, have any questions, or I don't know, would like a quote of our selected invites?! We had two favorites and Bryan plain as day said, "HONEY, DO YOU WANT TO GET A QUOTE ON THESE". "THAT WOULD BE VERY NICE" I responded. Nothing...still into the kiddie invitations....

We waited a good two-three minutes and then I got up. Bryan said, "What are you doing?" (now we were talking quietly). I said, "I'd like to leave." He asked if I wanted the quotes, I said, no that I was good. So we left. When we got outside I told him my position on customer service. It's too much money to spend for the people that work there to be that disinterested in their customers. What if something goes wrong? What if the invitations print funky? What if we don't like the colors when we see the proof? What if something is spelled wrong? Is Frappucino-girl just going to stay in her party-invitation-induced trance?? I can't risk it.

The good news is Bryan and I did see some styles of invitation that we liked and some we didn't like. And it got us talking and familiar with how the pricing does work and all of that. So even though we didn't end up purchasing anything, it was a productive trip.

After the invitation adventure, we decided to drive to various hotels affiliated with the Payne-Corley House and check out their locations. I never expected looking at hotels to be so much fun, but it certainly turned out to be! Each of these hotels, we were told, provides a courtesy shuttle service. We knew going in that was a deal-breaker. No shuttle, no dice. The other things we want from our hotel include complimentary breakfast for our guests (a super-nice perk, but not a deal-breaker), free suites for our parents, a free suite for us, and preferably cookies at the front desk. That last one is pretty much all me.

It turns out it's impossible to plan a wedding on a Sunday. Of course I should've thought of this, but none of the individuals in the Sales Department of the hotels work on Sundays. It was informative though to talk to the people at the front desk of each hotel and eat cookies along the way. Based on location, shuttle service (some hotels have a maximum radius with their shuttles), availability of a banquet room (after-party, hello!), and the general interior of the hotel, we narrowed our choices down to a top 3 (although I would like to talk to the Sales Reps at all of the hotels we visited). So I've still got some work to do on this. I can't officially give details until we sign a contract. I didn't know this part was so formal! But I guess it makes sense.

The news just broke that Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes are separating. Random, but I'm watching the Today show. I'm going to go cry now. I will keep everyone up to date as the invitation/hotel searching continues. There will be plenty to tell after this weekend, too, as Bryan and I are running the ING Georgia Half-Marathon. Wish us luck!!