Reception Venues

Since we're not entirely confident with having a fully outdoor wedding, we've started the task of looking at venues that offer the option of having a ceremony outside and the reception inside. Yesterday we went to Borio's, located on Oneida Lake.
They have two outdoor areas where a ceremony could take place, and a third they don't know about yet ;-)

Pros

• The downstairs banquet room has an outdoor patio that can be utilized on a nice day
• The menu provides the best options in terms of open bar/variety of dishes
• They don't have all the extra fees, everything (ie: tax, gratuity, room fee, etc) is included in their dinner cost
• Lake setting
• Close proximity for my family
• They have a good reputation

Cons

• They normally hold 4 weddings a day (1 in each room, afternoon/evening)
  
• About an hr drive for Brian's family
• Normal "cookie-cutter" banquet facility
• Not sure if they'll allow the changes and tweaks I have in mind?

Regardless of my pros/cons, Borio's is a very nice place and it is ideal for a wedding setting, and it's very popular (4 receptions a day!)
We'll keep it on the list
Below are some pictures I took while we were there, enjoy!

This is the arbor where they hold ceremonies (obviously the picnic tables aren't there)

This is the gazebo area, however, I will not get married in a gazebo, not my style

This is Brian planning out where people might stand and sit

This is the 3rd area they don't know about yet, I pictured in my mind just a simple book stand for the officiant and some flowers, and let the backdrop speak for itself!

This is the patio outside the downstairs banquet hall

The Outdoor Reception

So, as I've stated before, I've always wanted an outdoor wedding, preferably on a lake even. Helllooooo we live in Syracuse NY, where it can snow in June and be 85 in October, so with all this unpredictability, why on earth would I consider an outdoor wedding?
Outdoor weddings are so unique and with the right touches can be made so beautiful...
AND, We've found the perfect location!
Lakeland Park, Cazenovia, NY!!
Below you can see various pictures of the park.
There are some things holding us back though:
#1 being the unpredictable weather
#2 we can't book the park until Jan 2011
#3 we would have to bring in tons of rental equipment (ie: tables, chairs, lights, dance floor) so it's a cost just to get the place set up, not to mention there is only 1 electrical hookup on site, so we would need to rent generators, ugh so much little stuff to remember
#4 who is gonna set everything up?
#5 who will cater, we are going to set up a meeting with the Brae Loch to discuss their options, hopefully they can provide us with some good options
#6 If we do get the park for that day, we have to get various permits in order to have it there and serve food and alcohol and everything
So we have a lot of details to work out. We've been in contact with the woman in charge of the park stuff, and she's mentioned they have never had a big wedding held there, so we would be the first! I like that idea ;-)

Enjoy these pictures of the park, it really is the perfect location

Table Games - Tacky??

So I was recently at the beautiful wedding of our friends Beth and Shawn, there wedding was wonderful and they had this neat little "game" of ISpy. On each table they had a disposable camera and a little iSpy list of things to take pictures of, I thought it was a really cute and creative idea and it helped to start conversation amongst our table.
I know as adults we should be able to carry on conversations, but sometimes when you're thrown in the mix with people you don't normally converse with, sometimes you need something to get the conversation started... which brings me to what I'm thinking for a table "game"

I have got two ideas, now I've heard it's tacky to do table games... so feedback on this would be very appreciated!!

At each table we would have a 8x10 picture of Brian and I, some would be goofy, some serious, whatever... and then there would be a little "thought-bubble" note card for each guest to fill out during dinner, sort of like a "caption-this" type thing...
so each person (optional for people to participate) would fill out their best caption for the photo... the DJ would come around while people are eating and go through and read out the captions, the "winner" at each table would get a small prize...
I figured it would be a good way to keep peoples attention during dinner and create a fun atmosphere... get some people laughing, etc.

Another idea I got from a website I was browsing... at each seat there would be an envelope containing the name of another person at the wedding, the object of the game is to find that person and draw a portrait of them on the back of the card... this game is meant to get people to mingle with one another... at the end of the reception each guest puts their self-drawn photo in a basket to "earn their favor"

I definitely like the first idea the best, but should I do with out any?
On the flip sides, I've read that table games are tacky and should only be played during the bridal shower?
Thoughts on this...

So I've been doing a lot of research and gathering a lot of ideas about the wedding, some I am sure that I'm going to incorporate, others I'm not so sure...
Things I know for sure:
We are having a candy buffet - I think they are fun and different, and don't cost that much to put together
Wedding Colors - the wedding colors are purple (sangria) which is a rustic looking purple, not your eggplant or anything like that, the accent color is going to be orange, same rustic type orange, not a pumpkin orange
The flowers will be calla lilies



Theme- We are planning for a Fall 2011 wedding so we want to stick with the fall theme, fall colors, etc
Engagement pictures - A friend of Brian and I, Amy Williams, is going to be doing our engagement photos this October, since we are going with the fall theme/colors we want our engagement photos to reflect the same tone
Invites - My friend Jason will be doing our invites, he'll actually be doing all the stationary for our wedding, table numbers/cards, invites, save the dates, etc. I've known Jason for a long time and he is a graphic designer by day, so I know he will do a great job

Things I don't know for sure:
Where to have the reception - Ever since I was a little girl I wanted an outdoor wedding, its different and can be made so beautiful, however Syracuse isn't the most wonderful place for an outdoor wedding, We have an appointment to look at Borio's next week, so we will see how that goes
Dress - haven't even started looking
Table Games - I'm going to dedicate a full blog entry to this idea, hopefully get some feedback
Favors - have some options

So this is my first crack at blogging, I figured I would start a blog detailing my wedding plans as a way for me to get all I'm thinking out there. Whoever is reading may be able to come up with some great ideas to share as well....

This blog is dedicated to my wedding to my wonderful fiance Brian! We've been together since Feb 3rd, 2006.
On May 24th, 2010 Brian proposed in a simple and perfect way!
Now it's on to the wedding planning, we are quite the pair so nothing with us is ever really traditional!

Ever since I was a little girl I've envisioned an outside wedding, living in Syracuse, NY, not that easy...
So sit back and follow with me as I blog about everything Wedding! :-)