chirawan's Blue wedding

We've started looking at wedding locations, but so far haven't been able to find any place that screams "us." We just aren't Florida people. Sure, we grew up here, but Florida doesn't describe Kevin and me as a couple. That said, we thought about doing a destination wedding or eloping but a ceremony would mean a lot to my family. I want them to experience the special day with me. We don't have enough money to really plan something out of state, so here we are...looking for a place locally.

Here are some of the places we've already visited:

- Maitland Art Center: www.maitlandartcenter.org
As of today, this is my favorite location. I find it charming and the outdoor wedding chapel seems unique. I also like that they provide an outdoor reception venue in a garden right on their property. Plus, it seems affordable. However, Kevin isn't a big fan. He thinks it could look much better. I agree, it isn't perfect. But as of now, it tops the list.

- Bok Sanctuary: http://www.boksanctuary.org/overview/weddings.html
I LOVE this place. It's enchanting, romantic, creative, beautiful, and very picturesque. HOWEVER, it's nearly 2 hours from home in the middle-of-nowhere, Florida and there are no reception places nearby. It's also too expensive. I'd be much happier with the price if it included enough time for reception. Unfortunately, this location does not allow receptions.

- Carl T. Lanford Park: http://www.cityoforlando.net/fpr/net/t_ParkRec.aspx?Park=065_1
This location has some nice areas for a wedding, but it just isn't for us. Sure, it's cheap. We could have our wedding and reception there for about $200. But, it's a public park. It has a playground on property and could potentially get very loud. It also seems a little swampy. It just wasn't right. You know what I mean?

- Lighthouse Point Park: http://volusia.org/parks/lighthouse.htm
Another public park, but this one is on the beach. This is my favorite beach in Central Florida. It's very natural, still has dunes, and it's fairly quiet. However, we aren't really beach people. When I think of beach decor part of me says *bleh.* The beach just seems so cliche, almost. It does not at all describe Kevin and me as a couple.

I dream of getting married under a big shade tree somewhere, next to a big grassy field. White chairs, hints of flowers, grassy isle. But, I don't know if I'm going to be able to find that in Central Florida. We're going to try though!

:-)