Monday, February 28, 2011

Venues, locations, etc

After coming to terms with the fact that I wasn't getting married at the happiest place on earth (the St. Regis on the corner of 5th & 55th) I had narrowed it down to Bretton Woods and Boston, both approximately half way between my parents and Corey's. The Omni Mt. Washington did not have the dates I wanted and I heard a not so stellar food review so Boston it was! I then narrowed it down to the Ritz and the Boston Harbor Hotel. Obviously the Ritz is a spectacular hotel and right on the common but the Harbor Hotel is on the water with beautiful city views on one side and georgous harbor views on the other. Visited both, too much walking and opportunity for boozed up wedding guests to disturb non-boozed up hotel guests at the Harbor Hotel, great space with no guest floor interaction and a spectaular sales/events team at the Ritz - the Ritz it is!

Venue down, I figured great now I'm all set.... not so fast Colleen. Who knew it was so hard to find a church! Fast forward two months and I am on my 5th (and hopefully final) church. The first church, close to the hotel, historic beautiful - the MBTA does work and cracks the foundation of the church in the process, floor to ceiling crack behind the altar. Second church, beautiful stained glass, inimately fits 175 - each time we visit the church the maximum capacity decreases (it really holds 150) and our guest list grows (pushing 200), wedding outgrows the church (hense Big Fat Boston Wedding). Third church, beautiful, Episcopal, near the hotel - sure the date is available, sure we can book the church; small thing - we have to become members and attend the church regularly for 6 months prior to the wedding or give a $7,500 "suggested donation" - considering that would mean Corey would have to give up all summer weekends in Maine or we (and by we I mean my parents) would be shelling out almost 12K for the ceremony alone, not happening. 4th church, beautiful, just over in Cambridge, church administrator sends pictures and its beautiful with tons of natural light - it takes the better part of an hour to navigate the 500 one way streets between Boston and Cambridge but we finally get there, walk into the sanctuary and find out there are two, yes TWO skinny aisles - this creates three seating sections and would allow me to walk myself down the aisle - again, not happening. 5th (and knock on wood, final) church, quintessential New England, plain but pretty with tons of windows, we saw the church, listened to a 40 minute oral history on the church and I was in love (did I mention they validate parking for $.50 and are a 6 minute drive from the hotel)! Old West Church here we come!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Father of the Bride

Here goes the blogging attempt - Perez Hilton watch out!

Considering we are 2 months into planning there will have to be a few "catch-up" posts to get everyone up to date.

First and foremost my favorite movie of all time is Father of the Bride. I can recite the entire script verbatim, line by line, in my sleep; Liz can both vouch for this and keep up. I have dreamed of planning my wedding for years and always envisioned myself, Franck and Howard creating a fabulous event topped off with swans and a tulip border. Then reality hit.... there are WAY more details involved than Father of the Bride let on and Franck & Howard aren't here, most likely because Howard is too busy psychoanalyzing suspects on Law & Order SVU... but getting back to the point, this is WAY more work than I thought it would be and lets face it I'm really not a details kind of girl, I am more of a someone plan a fabulous event, I'll show up, eat drink and everyone will be excited to see me kind of girl!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

My Big Fat Boston Wedding

Its T minus 8 months until wedding day! My bridesmaids are in NYC (and Iraq), my maid of honor is in NC and my family is everywhere except Boston. To keep everyone up to date and my sanity somewhat in check I have decided to start a blog of the wedding... the event lovingly know as "My Big Fat Boston Wedding".

It started with my decision to find a hobby that did not include drinking wine, eating nutella and watching TV on the couch. My mother's suggestion? Fencing... for those of you who do not know me well I am in one word a clutz. Considering I want to walk down the aisle in one piece I thought maybe a blog will do; Di promised to read it daily and I was sold!

I can guarentee this blog will be filled with some information, a few rants and lots of amusing stories ... here goes!