Quick ''yay!'' Venue booked for US post-wedding celebration par-tay!

[gwendolyn]

Yes, that''s right! After a million different wedding plans over four months, we have *finally* committed to a venue and date for the US half of our wedding! It is absolutely lovely, and has lots of fun stuff to do, and I am so so so excited! The date is May 30th, 2010, and it is going to be so much fun!!!!

I have spent almost every summer of my life in the Poconos. There is just something about it that always makes me feel so at peace. Only made sense that we''d end up celebrating there, I think!

Here are a couple of photos...first, an aerial shot of the whole resort.

 

[gwendolyn]

Entrance to the Lodge where (I think?) dinner will be.

 

[gwendolyn]

Sailing on a Sunfish, canoeing and paddleboats too!

 

[gwendolyn]

They have bumper cars, little race cars, golf and other stuff, but my favourite is the bumper boats!

 

[gwendolyn]

Plus there''s lots of little places to enjoy the tranquility of the beautiful surroundings.

 

[gwendolyn]

And then we get to eat, drink and dance the night away! Woohooooo, so excited!!

Thanks for looking!

 

[merrymunky]

Oh that looks like a LOVELY venue for the US celebrations.

Will that be the first ceremony? Have yo arranged the UK one yet?

Congratulations on setting a date!!

EDIT: I just noticed it is a post wedding party venue, so I am guessing the UK one is going to be the first?

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 7/19/2009 6:22:00 AM
Author: merrymunky
Oh that looks like a LOVELY venue for the US celebrations.


Will that be the first ceremony? Have yo arranged the UK one yet?


Congratulations on setting a date!!


EDIT: I just noticed it is a post wedding party venue, so I am guessing the UK one is going to be the first?

Thanks, hon!

Yeah, originally I was almost in tears at the thought of getting married legally before celebrating with all my friends and family at home, but because this venue is EXACTLY what I want and really only works in the warm weather, we really need to have it in the spring/summer, rather than the winter.

So, the legal wedding will still be around Easter to give us plenty of time to get my marriage visa in order, but it will be ok because I am so so so looking forward to this party at home! I think even if it's cold and wet, there will be a photo of me in my wedding dress in one of those bumper boats...

So, the reception will be about 2 months later than the wedding. What can I say? I've never been one to do things the traditional way.

ETA: Changed my signature to reflect the dates now too. Making progress feels so good!

 

[livinginsg]

CONGRATS CONGRATS CONGRATS! The pictures are awesome; U and your partner will have a blast!

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

Gwen it looks perfect and Beautiful! I think there is something really special about getting married somewhere that you have a childhood connection to. Congrats

 

[Lanie]

Wow! What a venue! Congrats and glad you got the whole UK/in-law thing worked out!

 

[Lanie]

What date do you want on the BIW list?

 

[marlie]

absolutely beautiful!! and the weather will be great that time of the year too.

 

[princessplease]

VERY pretty!!!!!!! I LOVE the bumper boats!!!! Congrats on securing the US venue!!!!

 

[KimberlyH]

What a wonderful location, Gwen! I can''t wait to see pictures!

 

[ilovesparkles]

Congratulations Gwen!

So glad you have been able to figure things out and are happy with the venue! It looks stunning!

 

[FrekeChild]

YAY!!!!!

 

[ladypirate]

Yay Gwen! I''m so happy for you!

That resort is beautiful--I can''t wait to see pictures next year!

 

[Rock_of_Love]

Congrats!! The pics look beautiful!! I bet you and your guests will have a blast!!

 

[mrscushion]

Fantastic news, gwendolyn! Yay indeed!

 

[Octavia]

Gewnnie, that looks perfect! FWIW, I don't think that 2 months is too much in-between time at all -- you're going to be so busy it'll pass in no time! Our reception abroad is about 9-10 months after our actual wedding (the same issue with needing to go there in the summer), so I'm jealous that yours is so much closer. I'm so glad that you're feeling better and that things are falling into place -- very exciting!

 

[PearlDahhhling]

Congratulations! That place is so beautiful and looks like the perfect spot to have a post-wedding celebration!!! I can''t wait to see pics of you in your gown riding the bumper boats!!! HahahA!

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

That looks like such a wonderful oasis! Right up my ally!

P.S.: Any more progress on the UK wedding venue? Weren''t you looking at the castle-ish (I think?)/hotel location that paid for the reception if guests stayed at the hotel? Am I thinking of someone else? Haha... My brain is mush, apologies!

But yes- beautiful, fun-looking, awesome US venue!

 

[katamari]

What a great venue! Are you going to spend the weekend there to get a full fill of all the fun things you can do there? And, I have to +1 Pearl that I cannot wait to see you and James in full getup in a paddle boat! Congrats on a huge step in the planning!

 

[miss_flo]

Holy cow, completely gorgeous Gwen!! Your guests will have so much fun there

 

[Dannielle]

That looks fabulous

 

[gwendolyn]

Aww, thanks, everyone, for sharing in my excitement!

Makes me feel even better about it!

Ok, now, to reply to you all individually....



livinginsg, thanks so much! We definitely will have a great time, no doubt!!

hawaiianorangetree, thanks! Yeah, I totally agree--I didn''t start to get excited about venue options for the states party until the Poconos came into it. Even places in Maryland, where I lived the last 15 or 16 years of my life or something were kind of ''meh'' because they just don''t have the magic for me that the Poconos do. So glad we chose this spot, even though it''s farther for my Maryland friends to drive.

Lanie, thanks so much, and yes, I am so pleased to have figured out (mostly) what on earth we''re doing.

Still am not sure about the date for me for the list, though. Am I allowed to be on it twice?

marlie, thanks! Yes, definitely! Trying to do outdoor activities in the Poconos in March would''ve been an abject failure, but the end of May should be lovely. Even if it isn''t, though, am still going to be out there doing stuff!

hahaha!

princessplease, yay, another bumper boat lover!

Maybe it''s a bit silly, but that''s really what made me think that *this* is the place--I just really want to do that in my dress!

KimberlyH, aww, thank you so much, sweetie! It''s funny, I''ve been dreading the picture-taking part of this wedding stuff for a while, but now that we have my perfect venue, I can''t wait to get pictures of everyone (hopefully) having a great time!

ilovesparkles, thanks, my dear! Wedding planning is starting to be enjoyable, now that we have some idea of what we''re doing--who''d have thunk it?

Freke, thanks, babe! Well done, your ''quick yay'' was faster than mine.

ladypirate, thank you, darlin''! I can''t wait either--it''s going to be so much fun!

Rock_of_Love, thanks! I surely hope we do have a blast, because I''m going to be looking forward to it all year long!

mscushion, thanks, m''dear!

Octavia, you''re definitely right about the time in between the two weddings flying by, no doubt. I''m sorry that you have a much longer wait, though! How do you feel about your reception location? Is it the same sort of thing, where you can maybe keep yourself happy and looking forward to it through the year? Are you doing any sort of vows at your reception, like a blessing or renewal or anything? I''ve gone back and forth about it a bit and would love to know what your plans are, if you don''t mind sharing.

PearlDahhhling, thank you! Hahaha, yeah, I''m so excited about the bumper boat/gown combo.

By the way, can I just mention again how gorgeous and happy a bride you were? Love love LOVE your pictures!

PilsnPinkysMom, thanks, it''s totally my kind of place too!

Yes, your memory is not failing you, I had been looking at a castle in Wales that offered a "free" wedding if you could get a certain number of people to spend the night there. The more I thought about it, the more it felt very uncomfortable to try to get people who were trying to save money so they could come over for the wedding (at this time, there was no US party), and not only ask them to shell out so much to fly over to the UK, but also try to get them to book rooms at my venue? Nah...didn''t sit right, so I gave up on that idea. So now the plan is that we''ll have a very small UK wedding (registry office/city hall type deal). My parents want to fly over to be here for that, which will probably be Easter weekend, if they do weddings then. Then we''ll all go out for a nice dinner and then on whatever honeymoon we can manage. Then, back to work for about two months, and then we''ll fly to the states for the big party! Some of James'' family might come over for it as well, which would be so great! So we''re really happy with how things are working out.

katamari, yes, that''s the plan! The woman there who''s in charge of room bookings and stuff hasn''t answered my emails about how many rooms are available but assuming things are available, we definitely want to chill out and have fun all weekend long!

news_girl, thank you, hon!! Am so so so excited about it! I hope the guests love it at least half as much as I do!

Dannielle, thanks, m''dear!!

 

[ozsparkle]

Hi Gwen,
I''m so happy that things have worked out for you. I remember how upset you were about trying to negotiate the US/UK wedding. You have chosen a beautiful place, and you can now think of your wedding as a festival rather than just one day!! Enjoy it

 

[bee*]

Woohoo!!! I''m absolutely thrilled for you. That venue looks amazing. Delighted that you have it all worked out. Have you done any dress shopping yet?

 

[Clairitek]

That setting looks sublime! Great time of year to go too! I don''t live far from the Poconos and I am looking forward to being able to make a trip up there sometime.