Planning - the venue

Now that you're in the loop on how this started, let's take a look at one of the big decisions - where is this shindig gonna

happen?

Ann and Seth have decided on a late afternoon outdoor wedding and reception at Schedel Arboritum and Gardens (http://www.schedel-gardens.org/) in Elmore, Ohio.  It is a beautiful green space with lots of seasonal and year-round plantings and several prominent waterscapes. It is due to the water features and concerns about the safety of children that they have elected to make their event Adults only. 

Here are a few shots taken during our walkabout last fall. Enjoy!

Meanwhile, the back story

So, anyone familiar with our families knows that Seth and Ann went to Sylvania Northview together and dated a bit. After that, they went in different directions for a while, but as I feel was their fate from the beginning, they came back together and began their lifelong journey together as a couple. Through many years of school and changes in jobs, they have faced challenges, weathered many emotional storms, and emerged on the other side stronger and more committed for it.

Their most difficult challenge to date has been the tragic untimely passing of Ann's mother, Barb Horvath. She has always been a strong stabilizing force in her family and it goes without saying that the bond between a mother and her daughter is like no other, like silk - both strong and gentle. Her passing has left such a hole in the hearts of all who knew her. At times throughout this process, it has been and will be difficult for Ann and Seth. It's impossible to predict when these moments will creep up - all we can do is honor that they will happen and move forward knowing that Barb is always with us, in our hearts and in Ann. 

After this loss, Ann and Seth moved forward with determination - Ann completed her schooling, and received her degree. It was a time to celebrate!

The summer day was warm and bright. The family and friends gathered at a park for a picnic to enjoy each other's company and celebrate Ann accomplishment - or so they thought. 

Once the party was going, Seth disappeared with a friend. What Ann did not know is that while she was working and going to school, he had been spending every possible moment restoring a car for her - a Porsche that she had said she would love to have "one day."  As Seth pulled up the drive to the shelter, the look on Ann's face was priceless. Seth parked and got out of the car, walked over to Ann and handed her the key. He escorted her to her car, opened the door and instead of closing the door, he dropped to one knee and brought out a ring from his pocket. The look on her face this time ... Priceless!

So ... That's the short engagement story ... And here they are in their first engaged photo ❤️

A little backtracking to catch you up ...

This planning thing has been going on for a while now, and Ann (with Seth's support) has been working hard to keep to the recommended timings from all the bridal websites and magazines.  She already has her dress (beautiful, by the way!), the venue is booked, a lot of the needed vendors like food, etc., have been lined up and money has been flying out of bank accounts like it has jet engines attached!

HOWEVER, in the end, Ann and Seth are doing their wedding their way, and will hopefully have a beautiful, cool but sunny June afternoon, with just a touch of breeze to take the edge off, happy family to attend their small, intimate ceremony, and lots of enthusiastic extended family and friends to share an awesome night of celebration afterward.

Due to the type of venue (Shedel Arboretium and Gardens), and the fact that alcohol will be available at the reception, this will be an Adults Only event.  It will be sad if that causes some folks to decline to attend in person, but we will know that you are with them on their day in spirit, nonetheless. :)

Since the attendees at the actual ceremony will be limited to close family, Ann and Seth have created a "Reception Only" invitation that I think is kind of a cool thing.  Here is a preview of the invitation for folks who will attend both ceremony and reception:

The "Official" invite to wedding and reception

The "Reception Only" invitation will have information about the reception and be sent with the same RSVP card.  The funnest part of a wedding is the reception, and it's really important to Ann and Seth to be able to included their friends and extended family in the special celebration.

When your invitation arrives, please remember to promptly RSVP :)

That's it for now!  Subscribe to our RSS feed or stop back often to keep up on the wedding news and progress, or to post encouraging words for the harried but happy couple!

And so it officially begins ...

Okay, so it seems to me like a really fun/good idea to start a blog to record all the ups and downs of this "wedding planning" thing.  I'm Seth's mom, Vicki, a long-time blogger and internet presence since the late 1990s, so I took up the gauntlet to get things rolling on a blog for my son, Seth and his fiancee Ann as they go through all the stuff of planning their wedding.  I hope that we can get a link to this blog out to interested parties (read family and friends) so they can stay abreast of the latest "Ann and Seth wedding" news.  And yes, there are some self-serving reasons to do this, too -- to keep this blog up to date for everyone, I will have to have the latest info to pass along, so YAY! for having a reason to be nosy!  ;-)  I hope you have fun following along and will post comments of support -- it will really lift them up to know that they have the love of so many people behind them!  So ... on to the official first post!

The Happy Couple -- Ann and Seth <3

Yesterday, Ann and Seth finished the big task of creating and ordering their wedding stationary.  They are enlisting several relatives to ensure that they have all the addresses they need to get things in the mail when the important package arrives later this week.  So ... without further delay, here is your sneak peek at the first mailing you will receive on the way to the date of their wedding!

This "Save the Date" card will be hitting mailboxes in the next 10 days to 2 weeks! Be sure to mark this on your calendars!