Rings, Dates, and Venues OH MY!!!

So the wedding planning has begun.

First of all. My mom offered her engagement diamond to us a few weeks ago. About a week ago we decided to take it and use it in the ring. The diamond is from my dad to my mom (back when they were married.) It is absolutely gorgeous and has so much sentimental value. I am glad that my dad somehow gets to be a part of this since he can’t otherwise. Greg and I went diamond setting shopping and finally ended up at Jared’s. I know what you might be thinking…JARED’S?!!?!?! I am not a fan of jewelry franchises with horribly catching jingles but it was the place we felt most comfortable with. They had the exact setting I wanted and our salesman was a really great, geninuley nice guy. The best thing was that in a way my ring was customed made and it is my dream ring.




Greg and I have been tossing around dates in December 2008. After having a short discussion with my mother we realized that anytime around Christmas is out of the question. People are too frantic and crazy and stressed for a wedding around Christmas. So Greg and I found a solution (fingers crossed) which is still in 2008 but on the cusp of 2009. That’s right, New Year’s Eve. We thought there is no better way to bring in the New Year as a new couple than with our friends and family.

Big problem though! Churches are not open on New Year’s Eve!!!!! We called every church we are affiliated with somehow and none of them are open that day. So we moved to plan B. Chapels. Finding a chapel is hard…finding a chapel with stained glass windows and stones walls is harder! The chapel of my dreams does not seem to exist in the DFW area. So then comes Plan C. Venues and Chapels-that-aren’t-chapels-of-my-dreams.

These types of places are also hard to find but as of right now we have three in mind.

• The first choice as of right now is probably the most expensive but it goes with my idea of simple, elegant and New Year’s Eve-y
  http://www.threethreethreefirstavenue.com/weddings.htm
  
• The second place is in the hospital district of Fort Worth.
  http://www.rosechapel.org/
  it’s part of historic fort worth. I promise the carpet is not pink, it’s maroon. We went there today and it has some promising potentional. Some.
  
• The third is an old mansion also in Fort Worth.
  http://www.thistlehill.org/
  but I’m afraid it might be too stuffy.
  So those are tenative ideas for right now.
  

My goal for this summer is to have a date!, a place, and a pastor.
Wish us luck.