It's official: We're saying "I Do" at the Zoo!!

I got the confirmation that our caterer received our contract/deposit yesterday.  They're associated with our venue, so I assume the venue got their deposit as well.

We're getting married at the Minnesota Zoo on August 25, 2012!

Our ceremony will be on the Lakeside Terrace.  You can sort of see the little arch in the background where we would be standing (without the snow, of course!).

Then, for the reception, we will go inside to Discovery Bay.  Excitement!!!!!  The dance floor would go in the foreground, and the tables would be in the open area behind the open pool (or interactive estuary, as it is actually known at the zoo).  The head table goes right up by the dolphin tank!!!! Eeeeeeeee! :)

So cool!!!!

This was during our tour back in December.  The Zoo was our first choice from online searching.  As shown by our smiles, we could tell that we didn't need to look anywhere else!

Photos by LLB

Winter Wonderland Wedding

People often worry that weather could play a negative role in a wedding. What if it rains on the outdoor ceremony? What if it's really cold? What if your state gets the 5th largest snowfall on record on your wedding date?

Wait, what? Yep, that's what happened to one of my good friends on 12/11/10 in the Twin Cities area in Minnesota. (This is the same snowfall that made the Metrodome roof collapse; see the video and a picture of the blizzard from space here.) The invitations warned that "the weather outside might be frightful," but who could have guessed they would be getting a giant dumping of 17.1 inches of snow!?

Here is a summary of the crazy events that took place:

• Everyone got stuck (probably) at least once on the roads.
  
• The plows weren't clearing the side streets yet so my dad and the neighbors tried clearing the road with snow-blowers (we still got stuck and had to be rescued by another neighbor in a front loader snow plow).
• The wedding photographer canceled! Nightmare!! (Thankfully my dad and my friend's boyfriend Rustin stepped in as the photographers and videographer)
• The wedding started 45 minutes late because the bride's vehicle got stuck. So much snow!
• Everyone got to have seconds at the reception because so many couldn't make it due to the weather and road conditions. The food was delicious!
• Having the reception at a hotel was a genius idea (even though the bride and groom probably didn't expect a blizzard when they booked their venue). No one had to try driving home on the bad roads, they could just get a room.

In the end, everything worked out just fine. The bride and groom got hitched. The ceremony was lovely, and the reception was a blast!

Congrats to Michelle & Zach!

Bride & Groom Photo: Rustin R.
Snow Photos: Me