progress... maybe May 17, 2014?

So I had emailed the contact at St. John's College about a month ago and never heard back - ack! Well, last week I visited the facilities rentals page and realized that there was a different contact name! So I rushed off an email to the new contact. I hadn't heard back as of this morning, so I finally decided to just call and see what the heck was going on.

The new contact, Christine, was very nice, and it didn't seem like she had gotten my email (although I double checked and it matches as far as I can tell, but whatever). We talked for a few minutes and even though they have not set the academic calendar (and still won't until the end of April), so far it looks like May 17 is open! Woo hoo! Then the only other date after that (with the possible exception of Memorial Day weekend) is June 21 - which is getting a bit into the 'so hot I want to die' territory. So, keep your fingers crossed no one at St. John's decides to hold an event the weekend after their graduation! We are 'penciled' in - which means that any academic plan could bump us, but if something comes up, she will contact us to let us know and I am also hoping it means we get first dibs if another couple comes along.

I was just stalking some pictures of the dining hall and am so excited and REALLY hope that it works out for us on May 17. I am trying to keep my expectations low, but I am getting pretty excited about it. I think I will be disappointed if it doesn't work out, especially since I KNOW the other venues are getting booked as we speak. So, again, trying to stay zen about it.

One thing about the dining hall is that we only have two options for caterers - Ken's Creative Kitchen and Bon Apetit, the on campus caterer. However, I am pretty sure either will be super. I am dreaming of a farm to table menu a la Founding Farmers and they both seem like they could do it, so I am happy!

Seriously, keep your fingers crossed between now and the end of April, when I think we will have more assurance that we can get the dining hall!

PS I still have not heard back from camp. I am OK with it, but I think it is a sign that it wasn't meant to be. Ah well. I guess it is making our decision for us!

location update

So, we are in a holding pattern with our venue/location decision. We are waiting to hear back from camp for a couple weeks now about price, etc. I am starting to be concerned that it would be difficult to do from here, as there are so many things to figure out from hours away. We are also waiting to hear back from our clear first choice for Annapolis reception...

The Edgar Higgins Dining Hall at St. John's College, Annapolis

http://www.stjohnscollege.edu/admin/AN/facilities.shtml

You have to scroll down to see it and the picture doesn't really do it justice. There tall windows you can see in the picture look out over the playing fields and College Creek in the distance. It is the perfect mix of historic, size, prettiness, and affordability. The MAJOR drawback? Since it is the school's only dining hall, you can only rent it when school is not in session. And they will not have the academic calendar set until April or May! So we cannot reserve the room or even get a date! Needless to say, this is difficult for making decisions about caterer, band, and basically everything. I have an email in to the facilities coordinator, but I haven't heard back in a couple weeks.

So, this is all kind of disheartening. I would just say let's go ahead and reserve our second choice, but we don't have a clear second choice. In other words, we don't really agree what our best next choice would be. Mike would like to use our church fellowship hall. I could see that being fine, but there are a few drawbacks, the main one being that even though it is a big room and very nice, it is still basically the church basement. Size is an issue, as well.

My next choice would be Ram's Head Live - a concert venue in Annapolis. It is huge, but since we would want it on a Saturday, it would be a bit spendy. Although I really don't think it would be any more expensive than St. John's plus catering.

We also really like Londontown Gardens, but the space is weird and I am afraid the reception would feel discombobulated. Quiet Waters is also a fine option, but it is kind of blah. Both of these are further away and would require a car drive, which we would like to avoid if possible.

I am sure any of these would be OK, but as we wait to hear back from camp and St. John's, we are risking other options getting booked - which is not really great for my stress. I am trying to kind of just be zen about the whole thing, but there is also this big fear that everything will fall apart and it will be a disaster. If things are this stressful now, I am really worried I will have a breakdown as the wedding gets closer!