Saturday, February 11, 2006

White Rabbit Mad Hatter Date Setting

The adrenaline has officially worn off.  It was a quick euphoric state for me with the engagement before my panic set in about getting things in place.  The date.  Is it determined by choice or by what is available?  Try the latter.

I began thinking September would be nice.  I checked out the church.  The first hurdle with the Catholic church is all of requirements!  Natural family planning class???  A weekend away for engaged couples??? I doubt my roommate will be my fiance, which in my opinion is a complete waste of a weekend with him.  Nope, I'll get to house with another bride to be.  Good hell.

Ok, so then onto the reception sites.  We began with the 23rd floor.  www.23rdfloor.net  My mother and I began the adventure by first getting lost in the parking garage.  What was even better is that it was the WRONG parking garage (already this place was losing points).  We were at the Utah One Center vs. the Wells Fargo Building.  No worries!  A quick jaunt through the Gallivan center while avoiding the KUTV offices, and we made our way up to the elevators.  We met Ashley, the coordinator, who proceeded to show us the space.  The atrium looks out over lovely industrial west Salt Lake!  Nothing like showing the out of towners a beautiful smoke stack!  Oh, and they also mentioned that since it was facing west it tended to "get a little warm."  Ok, that's an understatement.  The following rooms looked like places to hold board meetings or seminars, not weddings.  We sat in her office after with the caterer while they proceeded to overwhelm us with questions:  plated or buffet?  colors?  signature cocktail?  type of linens?  valet or validations?  We left, without a validation and $4.00 poorer.

We then went to Red Butte Gardens.  www.redbuttegardens.org  Beautiful.  However the hills would be brown in September and it was where my future sister in law got married.  I'm not into repeats especially when her's was so spectacular.  However, the parking was free!

The following Sunday I took my mom and to-be-mother-in-law up to Log Haven.  www.log-haven.com  It was quaint, close to nature, elegant, and intimate.  So far it was my first choice, but they had limited dates left.  We began to ponder October.

Memorial grove was next.  www.utahheritagefoundation.com/memorialhouse/index.php  All I can say is that it was a historical building with a domed roof and poor foliage due to the tornado of '99.  The wedding coordinator was a trip.  She kept saying things like, "The ceremony is all about the love, but the reception is all about the cash and prizes."  We left.

I had already decided against Park City venues simply due to logistics, but my love was interested in Alta.  Seeing that it was an emotional spot for us and he was in Indy, I took our mothers there yesterday for a site visit.  I have no idea what they were selling him over the phone but what I saw was a 1950's nightmare.  Think asbestos ceiling tiles, canned lighting, tacky curtains, and wood paneling covered by Indian rugs.  The vistas were amazing.  But as I toured the lodge I could only think of the Shining. 

We spent the next few hours over wine, my fiance on speaker phone, and lists of pros, cons, and finances.  My love is not known for his decision making ability.  He is options man.  His step father was the one who called the decision about an hour before it was made.

September 16th, Log Haven.  :)

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