Location, Location, Location

Again, so long since my last post. It's OK I have an excuse this time too.

Last time I posted we were about to move. Silly me did not check the availability of internet when inspecting the unit we accepted ... Alas this proved to be my downfall. We changed internet providers to one that is meant to offer the best country coverage, even though they are the most expensive, only to discover that they needed to upgrade the tower in our area due to network congestion. Three months and much frustration later, we finally have internet that works.

Anyway, enough about internet access issues and on to the subject of choosing a wedding venue.

Prior to yesterday I had done some asking and looking around at possible venues for our wedding and had all but fallen in love with a particularly rustic place. I won't mention the name but it's in the Wellsford Forest, Victoria. So yesterday my fiancé and I as well as my good friend Belinda who has taken the job of primary wedding consultant, took a trip out to said venue to meet with the owner/operator, who for privacy reasons I will call Shazza. I already had some reservations regarding Shazza due to the blunt style of her reply emails to my initial inquiries. Unfortunately these turned out to be well founded.

Shazza was quite rude from the start, telling me I really needed to know how I wanted the area set up, whereas although I had some thoughts on the subject I had expected this to be rather heavily influenced by the venue of choice and was also very open to suggestions from the operator who had, I assumed, previously seen the venue set up a number of different ways and would have an idea of what worked best within the space. The ideas I did offer up were quickly dismissed with a wave of a hand and a comment of how they would not do that as it would look awful.

Shazza was also quite unimpressed by our idea of having an afternoon tea style reception, which we feel would suit the theme and the people involved and invited perfectly, although come to think of it, Shazza made no inquiries as to the intended theme and spoke over me much of the time, even when she did stop to ask me what I wanted.

Suggestions of using our own caterer were met with shock and disapproval, even though she had mentioned that her preferred caterers would probably not do the type of catering we wanted.

Shazza was also adamant that if we were to try to spend a minimal amount on our wedding, it would be rubbish. She also pointed out many things we had not, in her opinion, even thought of or considered, when in fact I have a notebook which indicates otherwise. Shazza indicated that I obviously had very little idea of the reality of a wedding, which I admit has some truth to it as I have never been to one. However in my defence, we by no means intend to have a traditional, formal style wedding anyway. We want it to be something that reflects our style and personality's, one that is light hearted and fun and that is inclusive of our family and friends, including the children and teenagers who are so dear to us. Mind you, children were also a sore point with Shazza and the fact that they need to be properly supervised was rather heavily drummed in. Really? I had expected to let the little shites run wild and free, all over the roof, naked and coved in jelly with polka dots made from smarties.

Shazza also made the mistake of thinking my friend would not tell me if she had a little dig at me while I was out of hearing range.

The quotes provided were as out of touch as Shazza's hair do and little to no services were inclusive. Needless to say, we all left feeling as unimpressed with Shazza as she was with us.

I could go on, as I tend to do, but I think you get the picture.

From there we went to another venue I had all but dismissed as it is very large, newly refurbished and a little bit fancy and boy was I surprised. The lady who showed us around was friendly, likeable and willing to bend over backwards to give us the wedding we wanted, within our budget.

We will still look around, but I think we are almost sold on the second venue we inspected yesterday, even though I am having a little trouble imagining our chosen theme working in that venue. Luckily though I have a great little team of helpers and a good imagination and so I am sure we could make it work if we decide to have it there.

So to summarise, my advice to any wedding venue operator/manager is to be friendly, nice, listen to what the couple wants and above all, remember it's their day, not yours.


On a different subject, can anyone help mw with getting the text to place in my header correctly?

Moving, looking, moving, looking.

It has been quite some time since my first, and only, blog entry. This is because I have been in the process of relocating to Bendigo (Country) form Melbourne (City).

The reason we (my fiance and I) decided to make the big move is primarily, initially, to make my fiance happy again. When we first got together I was living in Melbourne and he in Bendigo, so we made a deal that he would move to Melbourne and if he gave it a good honest shot and couldn't really be happy there, we would move back to Bendigo, where we are both from. So he tried, he couldn't, and so we have moved back to the country.

We have been staying with my fiance's sister while we look for a place. Sadly, my crafting and sewing stuff has been packed away this whole time. The only good thing about this is that it has made me realise how important my hobby has become to me and how much I gain from it emotionally.

So after a couple of weeks of scouring the town for a decent and cheap rental, we have successfully secured a little place and will be moving in over the coming week and weekend. I can't wait! I'm itching to get back into my projects!

We have also started the search for the place where we will get married (I almost wrote 'tie the knot', but that makes me think of a hang mans noose!).

Yesterday we went for a drive and visited a few wineries. None of them were suitable for one reason or another. One had a rooster as it's logo and I'm terrified of chooks and roosters!  However, we were directed (by a lovely lady at one of the wineries we visited) to a property called Rosewood where weddings and such are held. The gardens there are stunning and it is now on our list of possibilities but we will continue looking for now as there are still quite a lot of wineries in the area worth checking out as a potential venue and besides, I love wine!

No Idea

To anyone who reads this, the following will be very clear; I have no idea!

In many ways this is what this blog will be all about. Having no idea and the journey along the way to ... well hopefully having one! Ayone who already has some idea, is invited to (please!) pass on your wisdom along the way by way of response to posts, guest posts or anyother way they can thnk of.

So what don't I have any idea about? Well amoung many things, blogging. I have wanted to start this blog for a very long time but a lack of confidence and fear of sucking has been in my way. In fact a lack of confidence and fear of sucking often get in the way of me doing things that I would no doubt very much enjoy if I just, well, did it.

Other things I have no idea about which I plan to cover in this blog are as follows:

Crafting & sewing - I started about 2 years ago so my knowledge and skills are still minimal or undiscovered;

Getting married - this I will be doing in April next year, DIY style (I have ever even been to a wedding); and

Starting a small business - selling my crafty products.

So as I stand on the brink of adventures in to unknown territory, I invite you to join me and together we will overcome our fears and learn along the way!