Continued Camping News

I hope you all know that I was kidding about the hunters. I don't even think it is official hunting season yet, so they wouldn't be out anyhow. Now bowhunters, that's a different story. But, having worked with bowhunters and hunters alike, they usually camp out way out in the woods down a dirt road and then some to do their hunting. They don't hang out in a campground.

With that said, there is no true resolution to this problem. I am remaining optimistic about the possibility that the campground will be fairly empty; however, I do recommend that you arrive earlier than 2pm to reserve your spot. And, if you want to snag more than one spot for yourself and another guest, that's fine too. The spots are also fairly large, so people can squeeze. Isn't a wedding about sharing our lives together? Doesn't that extend to camping spots as well? The spots can even fit a medium-sized RV which fits more than one person.

I'm not too concerned, but if you are, you might want to establish a plan B. Just in case...you never know. I will try to go out on Friday to speak with the campground host to get a feel of how many people have been showing up on September weekends and if we couldn't strike up a deal about campsites. I can be persuasive when I want to be.

All in all, I just want y'all to have fun! Me too! And, bowhunters or not, I believe we will.

Bad News: Campground Overrun by Hunters

(If you are receiving this in an email, it is because you signed up for a campground.)

BLM called me this morning, and we will no longer have the campground all to ourselves. They have decided to keep the campground open to the public through September 30th.  They have also decided, that yes, we do need to pay the campground fee for each site: $10, plus $5 additional vehicle. This also means that the following scenarios are possible:

A) Hunters indeed will drive out on Friday or may have been there all week using the campground as their home base and venison slaughter house.

B) No one will get their carefully selected (by me) campsite and instead will have to sleep in their car in the parking lot.

C) The dancing, etc. will have to cease and desist at 10pm.

D) The place will be deserted except for the campground host, and things will work out.

E) There will be fisticuffs over camp spots Friday night between our lot and the hunters.

F) There will be fisticuffs over camp spots Saturday night amongst ourselves.

G) All of the above.

I'm sorry to have to tell you, but the only guarantee that you will indeed get a place to camp would be to get out there and stay the night Friday. I'm not sure how my wedding committee will handle this. I know that BLM doesn't let you "hold" sites by purchasing them...but I also know that certain members on my wedding committee can be quite convincing and might be able to sweet-talk the campground host.

I will keep you posted on the outcome of this potential wedding disaster. Again, if you are thinking of camping and haven't told me yet, now would be a good time, because who knows, optimism may take the day and you may get exactly the spot you want.

Assemby Party - it's here!

Some of you foolishly said you'd love to help me with wedding planning, and you've already received an email with the particulars, but for those of you that wanted to help, but didn't know how...now's your opportunity. I'm throwing an "Assembly Party"...think assembly line plus food.

When: August 1st at 11:30am
Where: My house

If you're interested, just drop me a line. Thanks! xo

A Community Wedding

I just completed a communal Google Docs spreadsheet to share with the members of the Wedding Committee, so that I'd feel like we're making progress. I am teacher thus I like to be organized. I like to-do lists on which I can exuberantly cross off items that are done, so I definitely needed a list for this whole wedding thing.

I do need some assistance in many things including maintaining my sanity (just kidding). Soon, we are going to have an "Assembly Party" that will include the makings of the details that will go in to the day of. Also, I will be posting a link soon on how to be a photographer at my wedding. And...does anyone have an extra croquet, horseshoe, bocce ball, Scrabble set they'd like to bring? I just have one of each, and I want to make sure that everyone can be gamin' if they so wish. If you do, please let me know ASAP. Thanks.

All this help from people like you exactly embodies what a wedding should be: a community event. It should not be full of froo-froo bows and little girls dressed like shepherdesses, but of family and friends helping out where/when they are needed. I came across this article that compares building a wedding to raising a barn, and I thought, "yeah, this is the stuff."

Thanks again to everyone willing to participate.

And the planning begins!

I'm back from my out-of-country vacation and have come to the realization of how much work I have to do. Besides painting my house this summer, there is of course the typical yard clean-up, vegetable tending, rose dead-heading, etc. that usually takes up my summer hours, but now I have to get things in gear!

My "wedding planner" (my aunt) went shopping while I was gone and has purchased plates for the reception among other things. She is also my officiant, and we have yet to sit down and organize the ceremony with her. I actually sat down yesterday and generously copied ideas from all over the world wide web and wrote up a ceremony which feels appropriately ceremonious.

I have also been officially measured for my dress, so my mom can get started on that. Of course, these measurements came in after the croissant-binging trip in France. Ha! At least, I don't have to worry about gaining weight. Shoes are proving to be problematic...details, details, details. I guess I'm wearing flip-flops.

My mother and I did some shopping and purchased more vintage plates for the reception. I did pause and question myself about this particular idea. What will we do with 50 some plates after the reception? Give them away as mementos? Return them to the charity organizations we purchased them from? I don't know. They are at least more eco-friendly than purchasing paper plates, right?

Last night, I nearly completed my veil, so I feel ready to marry Nathan. Who knows? Maybe I'll win that trip to Vegas and we'll surprise everyone! Constructing a veil was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. I am pretty sure it doesn't look like I have a flower pot on my head, but I'm a little worried that it might look a little like that...

Boy, I sure wish all my aunties were here to join in the planning fun. You know you want to...

The Centerpieces

Total cost: $30?...plus the cost of a cat eating her own food, and my auntie growing her own flowers

I had no idea that when I told my aunt that she was in charge of the flowers that she would become a florist-designing-fiend! True, it is her secret wish to be a florist, but really she has outdone herself. I was just thinking a few stems of flowers in her many vases on the tables, but she has taken the owl and pussycat theme and run with it. Check out her prototype below:

So, you know what that means helpers? There is going to be a origami folding party in your future! Perhaps, we can eat sushi for that party.

The Location

Total cost: $100

A few years ago after a fall excursion to the coast, Nathan and I took a side trip to an old growth trail attached to Clay Creek Campground. I didn't know at the time that it would be the location of our own fall wedding. Of course, I must admit that in a back corner of my mind, I did comment silently that leaves falling on the bridge to the trail would be a beautiful spot for a wedding photo.

Today, myself, Nathan, and our fearless wedding planners (my mother, my aunt and uncle) took the hour drive out to see the site, count parking spaces, picnic tables, and figure out how to have a classy wedding at a campground with no electricity. Despite the intermittent rain, I still found it to be a beautiful spot in which to be married. (Thank goodness.)

We have reserved the two picnic shelters that are adjoined by a baseball field (more of a meadow really) that I think would be a perfect spot for bocce ball, croquet, and badminton. The site has its own horseshoes courts. And, if it does rain, the picnic shelters have enormous stone fireplaces to keep us toasty while we toast and play Scrabble.

There is a sandy beach with bleacher style seating that seems to be the obvious spot for the ceremony. There is even a waterfall playing in the background which means of course, we'll have to speak up. Yet, the river will have less of a flow by the fall and may not be as raucous. I like that I get to make an entrance down a staircase...yes, I do like a bit of drama.

I am excited that all agree (even through the rain) that it will be a lovely spot.