Camp Tour

We visited Pilgrim Center this morning, just to get a basic feel for the place and have discussions about food, lodging, and schedules.  Poor Paul was stuck with myself, my Mom, and two aunts, all wandering around talking about centerpieces, buffet vs sit-down food, and flower arrangements for the alter.  I am eternally grateful to all those people who willingly take on a wedding task, because this thing is going to go off so much better with all your help. 

For those of you unfamiliar with PC, here are some pictures:

This is the chapel, where the ceremony will be held.  Who wouldn't want to get married in front of that view?

The reception will be in the dining hall.  

Picture this with tons of white Christmas lights and paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling.  Plus, you can't beat the view:

"Venue" is a go.  It's a big check mark off the list.  It does, however, add a few more items, such as picking a menu and finalizing a guest list.  





Thanksgiving Planning Extravaganza

Paul and I will be back in Wisconsin for Thanksgivng weekend.  We're actually flying in on Thanksgiving, because it's almost $300 cheaper than the day before or after.  Also, I have to work Thanksgiving morning. 

We're hoping to get a few things checked off the list, especially those that require a physical presence in the state to accomplish. 

Here's the tenative schedule:
Visit the camp. Finalize food and sign the contract.
Possible cake tasting in Oshkosh
Dress shopping at David's Bridal in Milwaukee
Meeting up with Paul's sister and brother in Chicago, to hang out and to see what she's got in her brilliant mind for my dress. 
Possible coffee date with the photographer
See the invitations that my aunt put together

This is in between hanging out with family, eating too much food, and trying to squeeze in seeing some midwestern friends.  I'll need a vacation from vacation. 

See you all then!

Photographer

We now have a photographer! 

Thanks to generous family members, we've booked Ann Oleinik Photography for the wedding.  She and her husband will both be there all day on Saturday to take nifty pictures.  I love her style, as it is more candid and journalistic than formal, posed wedding photography.  I don't need pictures of all of us standing around smiling awkwardly.  I want pictures of us having a good time!

Ann is truely a professional photographer.  She's based out of Chicago.  And she's pricey.  Not incredibly so, but enough that I struggled with the idea of paying someone that much money, even for something I really wanted.  In the end, though, the only thing left after the wedding day is a spouse and a ton of pictures.  And I want those pictures to be awesome and a true representation of the day. 

Photobooth Props and Post-Halloween Sales

Ever since I knew the wedding photobooth was a "thing", I've wanted one.  I love all the formal shots of weddings, but I also know that my family and friends aren't going to be captured appropriately unless there's some hardcore goofball going on.  So in our photography package, we swapped out the engagement shoot for a photobooth! 

I have no idea if this is what our photobooth will actually look like.  This is just a generic idea off of Google Images.  The photos themselves might  look something like this:

Which means...props!  A post on Off Beat Bride reminded me that post-Halloween sales would be a great time to get weird stuff for super cheap.  So I visited Target and Halloween City, where all their Halloween swag was 50% off.  I got a ton of fun stuff for the photobooth.  It was also my first "real" wedding purchase, which I find appropriate. 

This is literally maybe a third of the stuff I got.  Now I just have to figure out how it's getting to Wisconsin.