Jacob Henry Mansion

Hi again. Please don't throw up, but I have one more place I'd like your opinions on. This is the Jacob Henry mansion in Joliet. It's significantly cheaper than the the Patrick Haley mansion, which is already booked for September 2009 (Can you believe that crap?), and it's about the same as both the zoo and the Rialto. Speaking of the Rialto, my mom, my brother, and I took a ride out there yesterday. We couldn't go in but we checked out the parking and smoking situation. I'm not sure what I think. I have to actually go in and stuff.

So, here's the church which is on the same grounds as the mansion:

"As it was at the turn-of-the-century, the 2,000-pipe organ can accompany your procession down the aisle, and your first walk into the world as husband and wife.
Glorious cathedral ceilings peak to a common center, and mahogany woodwork extends skyward. Listed on the Illinois Historic Registry, the Old Central Church’s magnificent architecture and beautiful design make it a worthy rival to any cathedral, though it maintains a non-denominational status."

Here's the mansion itself. There's a suite in here where the bridal party gets ready and I think maybe you can do the cocktail hour or something in here too.

"The Jacob Henry Mansion won the Architecture Award at the American Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia in 1876, and is claimed to be the largest and best example of Renaissance Revival architecture still standing in the state of Illinois. Today the lovely and fully decorated mansion, a National Historic Landmark, is well known for its beauty, Old Victorian charm and furnishings, as well as its delicious meals and entertainment, making the Jacob Henry Mansion Estate the perfect place for your next special occasion."

And here's the ballroom where the reception would be...

"The Ballroom comes complete with a full stage, large dance floor, and a unique pub setting with an European fireplace that adds to any photo opportunity for your special occasion or event. A short walk from our non-denominational chapel, in the Old Central Church, the Ballroom is encompassed by a full promonade walkway making it perfect for outdoor cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, or romantic strolls as the evening draws to a close. Whatever the occasion, the Victorian Ballroom is a beautiful compliment to any social affair."

Rialto Square Theater

My mom suggested that I look at the Rialto because the rental fees are reasonable and because you bring in a caterer - which can save you a lot of money. You can have both the ceremony and the reception here. You can even get married on the stage if you want! Have any of you ever been here before? Please take a look and tell me what you think. Personally, I think it's amazing. http://www.rialtosquare.com/weddings_main.htm

Do We Belong in a Zoo?

Hi guys! Thanks for your ideas. Sarah, I think yours is my favorite...

Do you think they'll put our names on the sign?

I need your honest opinions on something: Brookfield Zoo. It's much more affordable than other places I've looked into and I think it might be fun. What do you think?

The ceremony would be here:

These are "The Pavilions" and they are just now being built.

Cocktails would be in one of these places:

After the cocktails, the guest get on a tram, take a tour of the zoo and go to the reception here:

The reception could possibly be at The Pavillions too.

If you got an invitation for a wedding at the zoo, what would you honestly think?

Also, do you think this would be enjoyable? Here's the sample agenda they sent me:

5:00 pm Guests Arrive At South Gate And Are Instructed To Park In The Discovery Center Parking Lot. Guest Will Gather On The Plaza Of Discovery Center And Await Motor Safari.

5:15 PM Motor Safari To Take Guests to the Pavilions

5:30 PM Ceremony at Pavilions

6:00 PM Motor Safari to Greet Guests at Pavilions a and shuttle guests to cocktail hour at an exhibit

6:30 To 7:30 PM Cocktails At exhibit

7:30 PM Motor Safari To Greet Guests At coctail hour - and take them On A Narrated Tour Of Zoo on their way to the Discovery Center for dinner arriving No Later Than 7:50 PM

8:00 PM Dinner Begins At DISCOVERY CENTER ORIENTATION THEATER

9:30 PM Dancing Begins

12:00 AM Event Concludes And Guests Will Exit Via South Gate.

Alright guys, be honest. What do you think? Is this too much shuffling people around? Thanks for your help! I love you guys!

On the Road to Engagement

Hi girls! I sent this link to the four of you (and my mommy) because I just couldn't wait for my bestest girls to see the ring I picked out! So, here's the band but my stone is different...

It's fun to be engaged-ish! I want to start doing planning things, but it doesn't feel right until the ring's on my finger. However... I have about 5,000 wedding magazines stacked up around the house. (Don't tell anyone.) Tom and I are thinking about having the wedding on Labor Day weekend of 2009. (Yes, that's a 9 and not an 8!)

I love you guys. Thank you for letting me share my excitement with you!

Is That So Wrong?

I have a confession to make...I am not smart. If I were smart, I would be saving up on a down payment for our construction loan. But instead I am racking my brain for ways to pay for the $30,000 reception that I want so badly. (Yup. $30,000.) Apparantly I have expensive taste.

You see, as a general rule I don't like banquet halls for several reasons. I'll spare you all of the specifics, but I will say that I can't stand ugly carpeting. What I do love are window filled atriums, gardens, trees, light. When I initially started thinking about a wedding, I thought that I'd be able to plan my dream wedding for less than the average because of my preference for natural surroundings. I was wrong. Very wrong.

It turns out that I have taste

on a budget.

Here's the thing...Tom and I have been together for about four and a half years. We love each other insanely. When we first started dating, noone thought we would last a week. We have worked so hard to fight the things that stood in the way of our being together. All love is a miracle, but I'm a little dramatic and I happen to feel that Tom and I have beaten the odds to stay together. This wedding is a big deal to me.

This is where I need all of you smart women to help me out. I would absolutely love to have my wedding at the Patrick Haley Mansion in Joliet. (It's my dream wedding!) I love that I could have an indoor ceremony here:

and the reception across the hall here:

where our guests have access to lots of outdoor space like this:

Do any of you have ideas on similar settings that aren't so fricken' expensive? Tom and I will most likely be paying for the wedding ourselves and there is no way we can do anything like this. (This is that $30,000 reception that I was talking about!) I would love to hear any creative ideas you can come up with!

Love you guys!