Over the Christmas holidays, one of our relatives, CO, offered to help us with our wedding planning. We've been confused, astonished, mixed up and overwhelmed! So CO stepped in over the Christmas holidays to give us some company, options and ideas.
We visited our existing venue, and talked about our guest list, looked at the venue again, and then got astonished. What we do know is that 120 people cannot be seated for a sit down meal at our existing venue. So we went looking for a space that could accommodate our guests. Shockingly, we found two.
One was about 10 minutes away, in the middle of Mississauga. Glenerin Inn. It is gorgeous. When we arrived at the reception area, we could see, close to the window, four deer grazing. We were in love. Then the wonderful event planner there told us the price - something like $119/person. We were in imaginary-land. But also hooked.
We figured, we calculated, we planned, we imagined. There were so many things perfect about this venue.
Except for the fact that we would have to pay for it.
Granted, we would be getting a lot for our money. But until I have a full time job again, we are only 1/2 an income.
We were still in love with the deer and the venue. But we realized that we might not be able to have our wedding at the Glenerin Inn.
Not one to be daunted, CO took Twinkie to another venue. A bland, run of the mill event hall. It was good, they would be nut-free, it had parking, they would organize everything. We wouldn't have to worry.
It was also good - and the price was better $86/person. But the room had a stunning view of the parking lot. Would that matter?
We tried to talk about how it was not about the view, it was not about the venue, it was about us. And then we tried to talk about the price.
Somewhere within us came up again our real dream. We want to get married in an outdoorsy setting - with wildflowers in mason jars, simplicity, people being comfortable and a casual atmosphere.
So, we are not going to be hosting our wedding at either of the other two venues. We aren't really talking about it yet - and aren't really planning, yet. It was pretty disappointing realizing that we couldn't just purchase a wedding off the rack and then just show up and have it all smoothly unfold.
And shhhhh don't tell Twinkie, but I think someday soon we are going to start talking again about our dream wedding.
Because what is important to me is to celebrate the love I have found, and the family we have created for me, for Twinkie and for Creampuff, as well as the rest of our families. My deeply held belief is that life can be pretty hard, and every new committed love relationship should be launched with the support and encouragement of family and friends and community. And I am so proud and honoured to declare our new family and to acknowledge connection to our friends and family.
And to do that, we will have to face some realities. The guest list will have to be pared down. We want all the single people to be able to bring a guest - and that number, coincidentally, is the number of people by which we have to cut the guest list. Can we cut in other areas? Realities. Twinkie and I have to do that hard work. We want everyone to be there, but we can't have everyone there. **sigh**. And once we get the guts to manage that - then we can move forward in joy.
CO is amazing - he is going to be a spectacular event planner - he already is such an amazing fellow. We have ordered him business cards to help him getting other clients.
I'm just putting it out there - I want a barbecue. And Twinkie wants a dance and a party. And we want the friends to sing who want to sing. And we want music and joy and community and for everyone to have a great time. I want our wedding to be a celebration, a bringing together, a recommitment and a great party.
And thank you CO, from our hearts, you are amazing and lovely and fantastic and so good to help us out. We only hope we can repay you. And we also hope you are ready for this challenge. The BBQ dance party in the refurbished barn in Oakville.
153 days to go ....
Hallelujah...
Yours in matrimony
Cupcake
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