mandy's blog

Eric and I are quickly flying through our monthly to-dos on The Knot's handy checklist. I've ordered my dress, my fabulous bridesmaids have selected their classy J.Crew dresses, AND we finally found the perfect spot for our reception! After scrutinizing my Dad's pictures over email--planning long distance is NOT easy!--we are thrilled about finding the Mill Street Grill. Its hardwood floors and columns enveloped in white lights will radiate the perfect glow for some romantic reception dancing. It also worked out that the hotel, reception and rehearsal dinner, situated in Staunton's historic downtown, are all located within walking distance of one another. Staunton (pronounced STAN-ton) is the birthplace of President Woodrow Wilson and was one of the few towns in the Shenandoah Valley to escape the Civil War unscathed. Many of its 18th and early 19th century homes and buildings still stand and are wonderfully preserved. Personally, I'm excited about riding the city's trolley to explore the 10 or so art galleries located downtown as part of Staunton's Fourth Fridays Gallery Open House.

So, I have joined the exciting world of blogs and of course, wedding planning, woo wee! It's very thrilling and yet a tad bit overwhelming. Anyways, so what's new and interesting in the world of Eric and Mandy wedding planning? Well, we are trying to select that perfect spot for our reception. Eric and I, like I’m sure all couples, would like our day to be special and “unique.” So, we’ve been scouring the beautiful Shenandoah Valley for all available options. We checked out a retirement home, which had some lovely light-blue wallpaper, but some potentially conflicting smells, and Evers restaurant, which ignited in Eric an excitement for some good ole Southern home cooking. We also strolled through the soup and salad food service islands at James Madison University’s student center, which overlooks JMU’s swan-inhabited lake. We considered my old high school gymnasium, but that would mean our first dance would have to be to Stairway to Heaven, the favorite song of my awkward high school dances so long ago. We even checked out a couple of barns— one was refurbished to commemorate a nearby Civil War battle, decorated with Confederate flags, stuffed bears, and deer heads.

Hmm...which place would you choose?? I hope Eric and I can arrive at the right decision before this weekend!

Update: You can now vote in our official reception poll.