Throwback Tuesday: Weekirk

As many of you may know, I started posting lol's here because Wedinator shut down.  I would like to honor the memory of these lol's by each Tuesday choosing one Wedinator throwback to honor.

http://cheezburger.com/4929795072

Destination Spot: Gatlinburg, TN

I just spent the past week up in Gatlinburg, TN and I have to say I was impressed with the romantic atmosphere of this little town!  Cute shop after cute shop lines the main street through town and most are geared at couples and young families.  There were half a dozen shops that specialize in the old timey dress up photos.  A cute idea for a unique couple or honeymoon shot!  There were also Moonshine tastings (as shown in my picture) and whiskey.  Ice Skating and Skiing are available with a quick trip up the mountain.  Best of all, the entire city is decorated from head to toe for the holidays.  I wasn't able to get any good photos of it, but there are many light displays spread throughout town.

The cabin we rented was in the Arts and Crafts Community.  This area featured tons of shops with hand made goodies to peruse.  We also gorged ourselves at the many local restaurants.  We stayed the week after New Years, and the traffic was minimal.  We were warned though that during peak seasons this is quite the destination spot.  I've got a couple of good articles planned about some of the great wedding chapels I saw.  If you are looking for a small destination spot that is not too far, Gatlinburg may be the place for you!

Location, Location, Location - Part 2

Last week I posted a quick list came up with of some different wedding venues to consider. (See it here) Here are a few more ideas I am adding to my list!

Art Gallery
Some Art Galleries are large enough to double as venue areas.  If you have very eclectic tastes and enjoy modern art, this is a unique option.  I've seen it done just a couple times, generally with a more modern overall theme attached to it.  Just be careful that your guests are well behaved!

Cabin
My sweetie and I are travelling to the mountains over New Years for a little romantic getaway.  Many of the cabin rentals I looked at also had options for small weddings, and sometimes bigger ones.  If you are looking to have a small intimate wedding, some of these rentals could be perfect!  It may mean travelling for more of your guests though.

Botanical Garden
In a past season of my life, I worked at a botanical garden and had the opportunity to experience several weddings hosted on the premises.  Beautiful pictures are almost guaranteed!  Botanical Gardens will often have wedding packages that you can choose from.  You might warn guests up from if they have allergies, and try to choose a spot that has a good balance of flowers that is not overwhelming.  You want the focus to be you, not the flowers.

Hotel
Hotels are often used as event spaces as well.  The upside to this is that hotel staff have plenty of experience in orchestrating large events.  In order to make the space special, expect to spend a little bit more on the decorations to make it feel less like a hotel.

Please add your ideas to the comments! Look for part 3 coming soon :)

Location, Location, Location - Part 1

When you are looking for a location to host your wedding, what are you looking for?  I have started to come up with a list of ideas for where ours could be hosted, but it is hard the small town I live in.  I am having to come up with unique ideas.

Church/Synagogue/Religious House
Depending on your religious affiliation, this is the most obvious choice for most couples.  This option is one of the most affordable and if you are having your wedding near a major holiday, it is likely the venue will already be decorated for you.  It is still expected that a donation will be made to the organization and the officiant may want you to go through counseling or have other criteria before you can use their building.

Wedding Chapel
We have a couple wedding chapels near my city that I have considered for our wedding and reception.  The best thing about these venues is they tend to have packages that include almost everything you are going to need from flower to table linens and sometimes even the cake and dj.  The down side to this is they may limit the vendors you can choose from and the options of what you can do at your wedding.

Park
One of my best friends was married this past summer at a local park.  It was a very pretty spot just in front of a waterfall with plenty of flowers planted all around it.