We've been together for a long time—almost seven years by our count—and we've known each other even longer than that.
We met about 12 years ago when a mutual friend introduced us at one of Dave's shows, and then we saw each other on the rare occasion that we would attend the same event—mostly music-related. Fast forward several years and Jen again attends one of Dave's shows, but something was different this time. Maybe it was Dave's unforgettable performance as the lead singer of a band that has been hailed by some as, "definitely a band that plays music." Maybe it was the gentle aroma of stale beer and cigarette smoke in the air. Whatever it was, it was magic. Dave saw Jen from across the room while he was standing behind the merch booth, and thought, "Well heck, Jen's here! I'll go say hi." And after that, we got to talking, and then laughing, and then it didn't seem too much of a leap to start seeing each other outside of those music venues we used to frequent so often.
We've been through a lot over the last seven years. We've changed addresses three times. We've learned how to work around strange sleep patterns. We've dealt with roommates, renters, noisy neighbors, noisy bandmates, living inside a music studio, living without a music studio, career changes, funerals, weddings, chocolate molds stacked to the ceiling and modifying our lives to make sure we have the time to support and encourage each other in all that we do. Whether we would get married was never a question, it was just a matter of making it happen.
We're excited to share the culmination of the last seven years with you, and we can't wait to see you there!
- The Venue -
Baldoria on the Water
Baldoria on the Water was the first venue we visited. I could tell Jen was a big fan the moment we walked in the door, and I made a bet with myself that this would end up being THE venue, but there was still a long list of venues to stop by. We visited venues all over the state, and all of them were really very nice; but, just as I predicted, when it was all said and done, Baldoria was the only venue that had everything we needed to make our celebration special.
It's a beautiful venue, run by some awesome people, and we're really excited to have our wedding here!
Scroll through some photos above, or visit their website to do get a better idea of what to expect from the venue.
- The Schedule -
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4:00pm-4:30pm
The Ceremony, AKA The Main Event. We're going to make it quick and painless—unless the joining ceremony goes terribly awry. Also, we're starting at 4pm sharp, so if you're not there by 4pm, then you'll just have to watch it on YouTube.
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4:30pm-6:00pm
Cocktail hour (and a half!). It's an open bar, so don't be shy! But don't be sloppy either. We expect enough lubrication that everyone is on the dance floor in an hour, maybe even with ties around their heads, but not so much that you're grabbing the mic to tell that one story about Dave. You know the story I'm talking about.
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6:00pm-7:00pm
Dinner will be at 6, and it's buffet-style. There will be two lines going around the buffet table, so there will be no need to throw elbows or pretend that you're the bride or groom. Everyone will get food, and it should be fast and efficient if the bride has anything to say about it. She'll be timing you, so it's a good idea to start practicing your buffet etiquette.
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7:00pm-7:30pm
First dance, father-daughter dance, mother-son dance. Insert quip here.
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7:30pm
Garter and bouquet toss. I'm not sure that we know any single people. Do we? Maybe a handful. Either everyone we know is already married or will be getting married soon. Maybe we'll just leave the boquet and garter in the center of the dance floor and let you guys fight it out for either one. Kirk v. Spock style.
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8:00pm
Cake cutting and dessert. We'll have cake, cupcakes, and ice cream (of course) for dessert.
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8:15pm
Party time! I hope your dancing shoes are on, because we're going to cut many a rug!
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9:30pm
Late night snacking time! Take a break and have some popcorn (of course). Or snap up one of the remaining cupcakes. Or go ahead and visit the bar again—the hotel is really close, so stumbling there shouldn't be a problem!
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10:30pm
It's the send off! I guess this means that we're leaving. Which is okay with us because 10pm is our bedtime anyway. We require that you continue dancing until you are told to leave.
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11:00pm
That's it! Don't forget your jackets, and don't forget to snag a chunk of centerpiece for your very own!