So the first thing I did, literally two days later, was to trick Abe into taking me to the book store before we left Toledo so I could buy a wedding planning binder (to read outloud on the way home)! This book was monstrous and really shed light to all the different time lines, expenses, and random things I probably wouldn’t have thought of, and truthfully could have saved money not knowing.
The first thing we had to figure out was the engagement period. I wanted a longer engagement (so I thought) so I could relax and enjoy planning. Funny, right? As I’d soon find out, there’s no such thing as relaxing while planning a wedding. Abe wanted a short engagement. I’m pretty sure he just wanted to start repopulating the world. We decided to leave our date undecided since we couldn’t quite agree and check out the venues and see what we’d come up with.
For the venue I knew I wanted an outdoor ceremony (I’d love an outdoor reception too, but poor gramps can’t be outside for that long), and we both agreed we wanted the ceremony and reception to be in the same place (to make it easier on our out-of-town guests). With a group of family and friends as big as ours we were limited on venues that could accommodate.
The first place we checked out was The Savannah Center! It was nice, set on a lake with fountains and beautifully landscaped gardens. The price was a pretty penny too…a whopping $13,000-$15,000 just to rent the place and order their food and their cheapest alcohol package. Needless to say, we would not be getting married there.
Thanks to having the best MOH ever, she assured me it was not the end of the world and cleared the following Saturday to go to yet another bridal show with me bound and determined to find a venue. Walking around the bridal show (while trying to avoid the reps from the Savannah Center), we found it… Shaker Run Golf Club. Although I was a little skeptical of being on a boring golf course, Abe and I visited the place the following weekend. Besides the crazy off-roading we had to do to get there, we loved everything about it. I especially loved the two-tiered, shaded ceremony site. Once again, when the $17,000 price tag came out we knew we’d better walk away. UGH! I was so frustrated! We scratched Shaker Run off our list and checked out another golf club, Beckett Ridge. I hated it! Literally, I’d be getting married smack dab in the middle of the parking lot. I was never going to find anything!
Thanks to having the best MOH ever, she assured me it was not the end of the world and cleared the following Saturday to go to yet another bridal show with me bound and determined to find a venue. Walking around the bridal show (while trying to avoid the reps from the Savannah Center), we found it… Shaker Run Golf Club. Although I was a little skeptical of being on a boring golf course, Abe and I visited the place the following weekend. Besides the crazy off-roading we had to do to get there, we loved everything about it. I especially loved the two-tiered, shaded ceremony site. Once again, when the $17,000 price tag came out we knew we’d better walk away. UGH! I was so frustrated! We scratched Shaker Run off our list and checked out another golf club, Beckett Ridge. I hated it! Literally, I’d be getting married smack dab in the middle of the parking lot. I was never going to find anything!
My stack of brochures I’d picked up at the last bridal show was widdling down. I came across the Chateau Pomiji Winery and thought, “this could work!” I looked at pictures online to be sure I wouldn’t be wasting my time—a very romantic setting. Just like time and time again I scheduled a consultation. We spent another Saturday afternoon driving out there. (Side note-I will say Abe has been outstanding as he’s accompanied me to all these potential venues in good spirit, only to have to deal with me complaining and crying the whole way home as I’m just positive I won’t find anything as perfect as the place before). Anyway, I don’t remember why at this point, but I didn’t like the winery after all. Not at all; I just knew it wasn’t the right place.
I went home, got online, and then (suspenseful music here), I found it! A do-it-yourself place with a breathtaking view of lake and a contemporary but cozy lodge. I scheduled the consultation, to which my Aunt Sue came along (Abe was watching football at work). I loved it, loved it, loved it!!! I envisioned our day there and I could foresee it being perfect! I know you know what’s coming next. You guessed it…the price. Well, I won’t say the exact amount, but I will say it’s a flat fee and then you bring in your own caterers and other necessary vendors making the event as fancy or relaxed as you want to determine the final price. I was sold! I would never find anything better and I knew it. So needless to say the biggest deal was solved. We were having the ceremony and reception at Lake Lyndsay.
I went home, got online, and then (suspenseful music here), I found it! A do-it-yourself place with a breathtaking view of lake and a contemporary but cozy lodge. I scheduled the consultation, to which my Aunt Sue came along (Abe was watching football at work). I loved it, loved it, loved it!!! I envisioned our day there and I could foresee it being perfect! I know you know what’s coming next. You guessed it…the price. Well, I won’t say the exact amount, but I will say it’s a flat fee and then you bring in your own caterers and other necessary vendors making the event as fancy or relaxed as you want to determine the final price. I was sold! I would never find anything better and I knew it. So needless to say the biggest deal was solved. We were having the ceremony and reception at Lake Lyndsay.
