Being Engaged and Wedding Planning

I've been a "fiance" for a while now and I think I can speak for the two of us and say that we're a happily engaged couple. The fiance loves to affectionately observe my ring finger and reminds me constantly that he chose me. I still find myself awestruck by the fact that I am engaged, that I found my man, and that this time last year was such a radically different situation for me! All in all, we're both excited to have each other on "layaway" and we both space out imagining the wedding day (smiles and dazed gazing) and we're both booming with wedding plans.

So far we've considered quite a few venue options in western Washington and think we have found the BEST option, possibly PERFECT option.

Originally we were sold on a big log-cabin style lodge in Gold Bar near one of our favorite hiking spots-Wallace Falls. It was perfect for a private, outdoor ceremony and had room for up to 100 people.

The downside was the price and the fact that even with the location paid for we would still have many other costs to consider. I took a cue from the ball of anxiety hiding in my gut and started looking more fervently for smaller venue options that were more inclusive.

Enter our top choice venue.

During a fluke Google search and ensuing clickfest, I was directed to a small inn in Ashford, WA near Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park. The venue specializes in elopements and small weddings, with their largest receptions serving only 50 people. Perfect for our celebration.

The location offers indoor and outdoor ceremony sites and the reservation includes champagne toasts, lodging for the newlyweds, welcome package, and wedding planning services. After the initial reservation we can add things like reception dinner, cake, flowers, massages, and the planner can help us find an officiant, hair and makeup services if necessary, or photographers.

Our initial wedding concept we a blend of casual/outdoor and elegant (the elegance mostly involves the fiance's desire for slightly upscale, scrumptious vittles-not cheap BBQ). A delicious dining experience is important, but the rest of the celebration is intended to be semi-formal and relaxed.

Both of us consider ourselves "traditional folk," but during our wedding planning we haven't found ourselves attached to many traditional wedding staples. Neither of us are interested in a garter toss (seriously, it kind of grosses us out-the tradition started as a way to "prove" the marriage had been consummated and over the years it has lost it's meaning and become a reception sideshow-ain't nobody needs to be up my skirt in public!)

I'm not planning to toss a bouquet and we aren't attached to the idea of ceremoniously cutting the cake. There will be no onslaught of rice or bird seed upon our departure and our ceremony seem to be headed toward an amalgam of Buddhist vows, poetry readings, family readings, and personal statements. The fiance is very interested in a unique unity ceremony-his favorite ideas involve dirt or beer.

Some things we are looking forward to include destroying a raccoon-shaped pinata and dancing the night away to a playlist packed with our favorite songs from across the board. I'm also planning to wear my hiking boots down the aisle and I've got my eyes peeled for an outstanding pair of flashy heels for the reception.

Our celebration isn't uber-formal/traditional but it isn't extremely off-the-wall either. Our basic desires are to be married at the end of the day and not exceed $8000 in our total spending. For a moment we considered going "super budget" and aiming for a couple grand as our budget cap, but in the end we decided a great photographer, delectable food, and a snappy suit were more our style and what we want to make up our memories.

So where are we in our wedding planning? Yours truly has a dress, veil, and some other accessories already (bought at an insanely satisfying sale price), we have our invitations draft form, appointments to meet with a photographer and our venue/planner, and through the venue we have menu and cake options to consider.

Over a year away and I feel like we've got the bones of our wedding already laid out :o)

In other news: The fiance is hiking Mt. St. Helens with his hiking partner tomorrow morning. He's been gathering supplies and in a state of excited/nervous agitation for the last two days.

As for the cats: Millie has found herself in and out of paper bags since last night and Iroh has been especially handsome after his most recent grooming session. They have also landed themselves in our invitation design!