Here we go again!

I am a terrible blogging bride.  I'm supposed to update this almost religiously and keep everyone up to date with every detail of the joy that is wedding planning.  Unfortunately, busy times are busy!  Here's a quick update:

Work has gotten really busy for both Joe and myself.  I've been known to hang out at work well past closing time and Joe has spent a few weekends working away. 

Wedding planning...that's where the real stress lies.  We've been quite lucky to have chosen an amazing caterer who has been our rock and our champion throughout all the madness that we've been faced with.  As those of you who read this blog are aware, we started our hunt for the perfect wedding venue well over a year in advance.  We were aware that some of the best locations book up quickly, and as a constant worrywort...it was in our best interest to have all of the major details taken care of far FAR in advance, lest I have a nervous breakdown.

We thought we had it.  After visits to almost every "unique" wedding venue in Southern California we thought we had it.  The Automobile Driving Museum was our place!  HOORAY!  ...and then it wasn't.  And then it was again!  And then we couldn't have our original caterer.  And then we could!  And then the staff would change and they would ask us for a deposit, we would ask for more info and then the staff would change again and we would repeat the process.  We kept fighting the good fight because we loved the venue.  And then...we didn't have the venue.  They gave away our date with less than 6 months to go before our big day, and it was a huge disaster.  No one would give us information.  Worst of all, they did not tell us directly, they told our caterer and didn't even bother to mention this issue to us.  It was our wonderful caterer who called me in a panic one morning.  But, we continued to fight.  They offered a subpar venue next door, and at first we wanted to fight for the original room that we had booked.  But, they wore us down.  We were tired of fighting and convinced ourselves that we also loved the venue next door.  And then...contract time.  What a shocker, we had to keep sending it back for revisions.  They were backing out of items that they had initially promised.  Our caterer suggested that I "go bridezilla" on them.  We went through this madness for another month and half and just last week we had decided that we had enough.

There were no bridezilla blowouts, no shouting matches.  Just one little 5'1 bride who said to her 6'5 groom, "this is too much".  Luckily the groom said "I agree".  We decided to look at another venue that our caterer suggested, and wouldn't you know it?  IT'S PERFECT.

We spoke to the venue manager, who is a real great guy and I can't wait to have a beer with him at the reception.  He sent us a contract that we didn't have to revise and the location is absolutely wonderful.

We've got 3 1/2 months to go and we're starting from scratch and I couldn't be happier.

-ri