The Guest List & Location Planning

Thank you for your comments and well wishes; some brought tears to my eyes. One comment mentioned how blessed I was to have found a good man and how a good man is hard to find. We’ve all felt that way at some point in our lives; but, please remember that you deserve the best and never settle for anything less. Though it may seem hopeless at times, there are still good men out there. Speaking of which, I can’t go on without saying something about President-Elect Barack Obama. We’ll soon have an African American serving as the President of the United States! This is yet another confirmation that anything is possible with faith and perseverance.

I’m still absorbing the fact that I’m getting married. It’s exciting and scary at the same time. However, my anxiety hasn’t stopped me from jumping into planning my special day. I started what I felt was my biggest task, the guest list, weeks ago. It’s still a nightmare! My goal is to have between 180 and 200 guests, but my list alone reaches close to that amount. Having a large family and friends, who have been there for me over the years, make it difficult to cut the list. I find myself adding more names after realizing I’d forgotten family members or after my mother reviewed the list. A “B” list seemed to be the way to go right now, though I feel most should remain on the “A” list. I was reminded that everyone invited might not be available to attend. This somewhat put my mind at ease because I could maintain my desired number of guests.

Finding a venue wasn’t too challenging; I’ve always wanted an outdoor ceremony. I made a list of places with outdoor facilities and called or emailed for prices and availability. After narrowing down the list, I scheduled an appointment with one of my top choices. My sister accompanied me to assist with my decision-making. The location was perfect for an outdoor ceremony. I loved that the banquet room split for the cocktail hour and opened to a patio leading out to a garden area. After discussing price and amenities, we booked the date and agreed to bring Bobby and our mothers back to seal the deal.