Good afternoon! Man, I’m lovin’ the two-day work week! 🙂 Happy early Thanksgiving!

 

Today’s mid-morning snack was a not-quite-ripe peach:

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And for lunch, I attacked the leftovers.

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I used up the last of the Better Mashed potatoes, as well as some chicken and broc that  I cooked yesterday and never got around to eating.

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I just love steamed broc. I always think about how my mom would say they are little trees and you need to eat all the leaves!

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I cooked the chicken in the wok with some Worcestershire sauce. Yum!

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And for "dessert," a handful of raisins.

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Wedding Details:  Location!

 

The wedding details are going to be coming more frequently from here on out!  Only 39 days to go! 🙂

 

Our location was a very difficult decision.  We looked at about 10 sites before choosing this golf course.   My requirements for a location were: (1) they had an on-site caterer, (2) we could have the ceremony and reception in the same place, and (3) it would create a fun party vibe.

 

We chose the golf course because it had a GREAT inclusive package that included a massive open bar.  I’m not going to talk prices on the blog, but if you’re a bride-to-be and are interested, feel free to shoot me an email.

 

Our package includes:

 

  • An outdoor ceremony on the green.  Chairs and an archway are included.  Set-up is also included.  Our guests will have free valet parking.

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  • A cocktail hour on the outside veranda.  This is my FAVORITE PART of the wedding; unfortunately, I won’t be able to enjoy it because I’ll be taking pictures.  The tables will be covered with linens and decorated with candles in hurricane vases.  There’s also tiki torches and white Christmas lights.  There will be an outside bar serving our signature cocktails (to be determined) and beer.  Butlers will pass out appetizers, which include: a fruit tray, a cheese tray, beef Wellington, and smoked chicken canapes.  The DJ will be playing music outside, too!

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  • A rockin’ reception inside the golf club.  We chose to have a buffet instead of a sit-down dinner because you get more food options.  Our buffet includes:  three salads, four side dishes, two meats, and rolls.  We’ll have an open bar with liquor, wine, and bottle and draft beer (all top shelf brands).  I’m pretty obsessed with the fact that this is real bar, and not a plastic caterer’s bar (see second picture).  The French doors in the back of the first picture open up to the veranda, so guests can go back and forth if you that fresh air.

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Back to work!

 

If you’ve been a guest at the wedding, what is your FAVORITE part of a wedding?  What’s the most annoying thing about weddings?

{ 40 comments }

 

  • Erica November 25, 2008, 10:48 am

    Gorgeous! We had the same requirements- We also wanted somewhere that had accomodations very close by (we actually ended up doing everything in pretty much the same spot- ceremony (outdoors at a state park less then 1/4 mile from the reception site that had a hotel attached!). Hmmm favorite part- Watching the first dance and cake cutting (and eating the cake haha). Worst part- bouquet/garter. We did it because it is such a tradition, but watching the people who catch them go through it is always somewhat strange.

  • Caitlin November 25, 2008, 10:49 am

    hahah erica i totally agree with the bouqet and garter. i dont want to do it, but so many people have told me they’d like me to do it, so i’m going to. 🙂 but still…. its weird and forced.

  • Anonymous November 25, 2008, 10:50 am

    Love the bar…we also got married at a golf club in San Francisco and it looked very similar and we had a great party.

    Best part of a wedding being a guest…the elegance of it all…also I am into a cute and creative yet classy favor. The worst part…a money dance (you already got them a gift!!!) and the chicken dance. Our DJ had strict orders that neither would be done at our reception!

  • ashley (sweet and natural) November 25, 2008, 10:55 am

    Lovely location! Best part – Seeing how happy the bride and groom are. I’m such a romantic! Worst part – I agree about the bouquet/garter toss. It’s always awkward.

  • girlrunningaround November 25, 2008, 10:55 am

    Woo-hoo! I love wedding details. Keep them coming!

  • runningwithfood.com November 25, 2008, 10:57 am

    Such a lovely setting for your big day!

  • Caitlin November 25, 2008, 10:57 am

    anon – our dj contract says in BIG BOLD letters “NO PARTICIPATION DANCES” lol. i agree, money dance is lame (to me) but i understand its part of some cultural traditions (i think polish people are really into the money dance).

  • *Andrea* November 25, 2008, 11:01 am

    GORGEOUS LOCATION!!!!! you’ll get great pictures 🙂 my favorite part at the wedding is the first dance. Have you ever seen the movie 27 Dresses???? there’s a quote from it about how the BEST part of the wedding is the look on a groom’s face when his bride walks in. i love that!!!

    can’t think of a worst part. i love it all! although the garter part is kinda embarassing

  • Sally November 25, 2008, 11:02 am

    I am so excited for you! That venue looks great!

    I got married in August and we had the ceremony and reception in my husband’s parent’s backyard. It was a gorgeous setting but it was a bit of a hassle because we had to arrange the rental for all of the chairs/tables/linens/silverware/tents/etc ourselves. I can definitely see the appeal of doing a wedding at a venue that takes care of all of that!

    Some great advice that was given to me before my wedding that I will share with you is that immediately after the ceremony, you should take a few minutes and just be alone with your husband. I was shaking for about a solid five minutes after we walked back down the aisle and I’m really glad I had some time to embrace the moment before seeing all of my family and friends.

  • Steph November 25, 2008, 11:04 am

    Love the wedding details!

    The worst part is waiting for the bridal party to take pictures. If you’re a guest, you have that awkward standing around mingling with ppl you may not know very well, usually you’re kind of hungry… and if you’re IN the party you’ve spent all day getting ready and you’re ready to have some fun!

    The best part is once all the “must-dos” are over and the fun can begin… dancing, drinks, and cake!

  • Bridget November 25, 2008, 11:08 am

    How beautiful! My favorite thing as a wedding guest is good dance music and cake. I agree the bouquet and garter tosses are awkward…we just left them out!

  • Krista November 25, 2008, 11:12 am

    My favorite part of a wedding is the ceremony, hands down. The thing that I could do without is all the little “games” you have to do in order to get the couple to kiss. Just let them alone to enjoy the dinner, already! I know when I got married, my hubby and I barely touched our food for all the kissing we had to do….plus our wedding video looked like a porno! 10 years later, I’m still embarassed to watch it!!! 🙂

  • Carolina John November 25, 2008, 11:15 am

    Hey, that looks like a great location! i hope FH got a few rounds of golf out of the deal too. Looks like the wedding will be a lot of fun!

  • Halie November 25, 2008, 11:17 am

    Wonderful venue!

    My favorite part is the dancing. My least favorite aspect of weddings are demanding and high maintenance mother of the bride and/or groom. Not all are like that! But I’ve had to deal with it! I’ve been wedding photographer and I HATE!!!!!! when I’m ready to take a photo and some sideler comes and snaps one before I do. It’s SOOOO annoying!! They totally mess me up. One wedding I had about four girls crowding me snapping photos. Ugh, I’m getting worked up just thinking about it!

  • tfh November 25, 2008, 11:23 am

    Aww, the broccoli saying from your Mom is so sweet! Also, you have some pretty lucky wedding guests!

  • Oh She Glows November 25, 2008, 11:25 am

    Your venue seems similar to ours!!
    Our was next to a golf course and our ceremony was outdoors overlooking a beautiful pond. We wanted the ceremony and reception at the same place too- it is much easier that way!
    I agree with Erica- Eric and I decided not to do a garter toss. We just would have been uncomfortable with it. I did a bouquet toss though, that is fairly harmless!

    One of my favourite parts of the day were the moments Eric and I got to share alone- they were far and few between but they were really special and intimate. Our photog managed to capture some of them too! I just posted a ton of pics in yesterday’s post on my blog 🙂

    Angela
    http://www.ohsheglows.com

  • Meg November 25, 2008, 11:36 am

    You picked an amazing place for your reception!

    I love watching the bride being walked in by the dad or other important family member!

  • ksgoodeats November 25, 2008, 11:44 am

    Wow – everything looks incredible! You two are going to have one spectacular wedding!

    My favorite part: The great food, seeing family, the romantic vibe, and the ceremony itself (as long as they’re not too long!)
    Worst part: cheese-ball DJs are kind of annoying!

  • Sharney November 25, 2008, 11:44 am

    Hi Caitlin,
    Your lunch looks very yummy for leftovers!

    The location for your wedding is BEAUTIFUL!!! That is so great that you are having the ceremony & reception at the same location- so convenient for your guests, too! The bar looks awesome & the cocktail hour on the veranda will be soooooo nice- what a pretty view!! I also love the buffet style because as a guest it is great to have different choices! Basically, everything looks awesome, Caitlin!

  • Jenny November 25, 2008, 11:50 am

    I love wedding details! On a broader scale though, as a guest I love to see a happy bride and groom having the time of their lives. I have been to weddings where they are running around frantically the whole time trying to make sure every detail is “perfect”… who cares? Enjoy the wedding and use the time to mingle and party it up with guests, I say.

  • VeggieGirl November 25, 2008, 11:53 am

    SPECTACULAR!!!

    **Favorite part of weddings = the ceremony. So beautiful.

  • bitesoflife November 25, 2008, 11:58 am

    Wow your reception location is beautiful!

  • Daisy November 25, 2008, 12:04 pm

    Hey,

    I love the blog and have been reading it for a while. I am actually going to visit my sister in orlando this weekend. can you give me any good places to go for fitness? i saw the free bike riding. what about gym classes? or gyms?

  • Caitlin (see bride run) November 25, 2008, 12:10 pm

    daisy – the free bikes are at blanchard park (http://www.centralfloridaymca.org/FamilyCenter.aspx?PageID=45)

    also, you can print a 1 – week trial coupon at lafitness.com to visit one of the local la fitnesses. you’ll just have to pretend you’re moving in with your sister.

    there are several great trails as well: http://outdoortravels.com/biking_fl_overview_orlando.html

    you can rent kayaks and see manatees at blue spring state park:
    http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/

    🙂 have a good vacation!

  • Caitlin (see bride run) November 25, 2008, 12:11 pm

    some of those links didnt post fully. just google “orlando trails” or “blue spring state park”

  • carolinebee November 25, 2008, 12:15 pm

    fun bar and beautiful place!! Can’t you designate someone else to take pictures during YOUR cocktail hour!? 😀 My fave part is the reception and dancing! Least favorite would be…REALLY long ceremonies- i’ve been to some with speeches, several bible verses, and songs!! I prefer simplicity but hey it’s their day 🙂

  • Bridget November 25, 2008, 12:36 pm

    Its going to be gorgeous!! We also visited like 7 reception sites, but its funny how everyone has different requirements. I wanted to have my reception at a Mansion/Estate type place, and we are brining in everything else, but I’m very particular about things so I wanted to pick out everything separately, I didn’t want a package…although its definitely more work, I can see wanting to have stuff included. So excited for you!! My favorite part is the ceremony, but at the reception I love the cake and the first dance! Luckily no one has asked us to do the garter thing, so thats a big NO, but I wil toss a bouquet 🙂

  • lauren November 25, 2008, 1:21 pm

    looks beautiful! My favorite things about weddings have always been the food/apps and the music. It makes a wedding. The most annoying thing was having hours in between the ceremony and cocktail hour with nothing to do. looks like you have it all covered!

  • Melissa November 25, 2008, 1:25 pm

    Favorite- the cake! Least favorite- waiting for my tables turn at the buffet.

  • Catherine November 25, 2008, 1:35 pm

    Least favorite part of a wedding: Bouquet & garter thing. I was so glad my sis cut that out of hers!

    Fav part (ok this is for the rehearsal dinner): The show game. Basically the Bridesmaids come up with a list of questions for the couple and have the two get up and stand back to back in the center of the room. Then they have the groom & bride take off their shoes. Each person should have one girl show and one guy shoe. Then the bridesmaids go through the questions and without looking at each other have to raise the shoe of the person they think best answers the question. Example: "Who takes longer to get ready in the morning?" Bride holds up her shoe if she thinks she does, or her husbands if she thnks he does and he does the same. It's really funny if the questions are good but def a rehearsal dinner game (booze infused)

  • Mica November 25, 2008, 1:37 pm

    Wow, that’s a great location! Thanks for sharing all these details with your readers.

  • Daisy November 25, 2008, 2:43 pm

    Caitlin thank you and I will!!!

  • Carrie H November 25, 2008, 3:09 pm

    Have you picked a father/daughter wedding dance song yet? I worried about what to pick for my dad and I for a few weeks, I think … I wanted it to be perfect — not too corny and not about romantic love, but not overtly about a father and a daughter … We finally came up with the perfect song for us …

    Simon and Garfunkel’s “Like a Bridge Over Troubled Waters.”

    It was beautiful and made my wedding even more special!

    Good luck with all the planning. It is all so worth it on your wedding day. Mine was wonderful!

  • BOBBI McCORMICK November 25, 2008, 3:10 pm

    your wedding site looks just like ours we were married on a golf course too! I think all wedding should have wine and beer unlimited because then people DANCE! I hate buffetts at weddings we had a sit down dinner:)

  • Jessica November 25, 2008, 3:37 pm

    photobooths are always very fun at weddings!!

  • Runeatrepeat November 25, 2008, 4:12 pm

    I love all these wedding details 🙂

    I actually really like buffets at weddings because then you can get what you want.

    The best part of the last wedding I went to was the food – it was some of the best food I’ve ever had.

  • Meghann November 25, 2008, 5:49 pm

    Your wedding sounds like it will be AMAZING! I especially love the idea of the cocktail hour, and being able to go outside for that fresh air. I’d have to say my favorite part of weddings is looking at the groom’s face when he sees the bride coming down the aisle!

  • HangryPants November 25, 2008, 6:07 pm

    Beautiful reception site! I love when the bride and groom get announced and dance their first dance. I also love when the bride first comes in. I can’t think of a worst part!

  • Anonymous November 26, 2008, 6:13 am

    Worst part of weddings: Cheesy DJ
    Best part: Free Booze (hey, I am honest)

    I golf where you are having it 🙂

  • Caitlin (see bride run) November 26, 2008, 7:47 am

    anon – yay! its an awesome course.

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