Sometimes, Less is More

Well, it has happened. After much (internal) debate, delay, and distraction, we have a new location for our wedding. Providence provided and Still Meadows Community was available on July 25th. And this is going to be a very good thing.

First, it is a much more convenient location for folks coming from across the country (such as my parents). Second, it has on-site lodging (that actually is quite a bit nicer than what was at Silver Falls). Third, it has a big indoor area. Fourth, we will be the only ones there, which is also really nice. Best of all, we get it for the ENTIRE WEEKEND! We only had Silver Falls for less than 24 hours.

This is going to allow us to remain much closer to the original vision of the wedding (see first post, ignore ridiculous idea of a budget of $6,000!). We have to take care of food, which frankly I am not concerned about. We get to bring in our own booze, with no markup. We also don't have to rent all the rooms. If people don't fill up the rooms, they just stay empty. It's on 60 acres, only 20 minutes from our house. This makes it much more feasible for Portlanders with children to get a babysitter for the event (hint-hint), which is how we are handling the need to limit the event to 150 people. (All we are doing is asking people. We won't insist, but if you are not willing to hire yourself a babysitter don't be surprised if you find yourself eating at a table in the dark recesses of the furnace room). There is a new link on the side of the blog so folks can see the new location.


In other good news Silver Falls very generously agreed to refund all but $50 of our deposit! Amazing! I wasn't sure what to do about it, and I was ready to lose it. Several people suggested that I make up a really sad story. Sorry, can't do that. As a lawyer lying is a breach of our professional code of responsibility. Plus, karma is a bitch. My friend's mom suggested I ask if I could get a credit in that amount instead. I let that morph into an idea that I thought would be even better. Instead of a credit that I would use, what if I got gift certificates and was able to donate them to various auctions around town? That seemed like the best of both worlds.

When I called I was prepared to explain that I simply didn't think my family could handle a trip to Silver Falls for my wedding. And I seriously don't. My parents are getting up there in years (sorry mom and dad, but even you will admit it's true!). It's a lot to ask your parents, not to mention my sister Maria and her husband and 2 kids, to fly across the country to a strange place, be surrounded by a lot of craziness like the rehearsal dinner, meeting Grant's parents, dozens of friends, etc., then after 3 days shove them into a couple of cars for an hour and a 1/2 trip to someplace where they can stay overnight for one night, have the wedding, then get up early the next morning and pack up, cram them back into a car and then shove them on a plane for an overnight flight to NY! I want them to enjoy their time here, and I think it would just be overwhelming for them.

When I called Silver Falls and explained who I was and started out by saying that I had to cancel the wedding. The woman on the other line was silent and then came out with, "Oh, I'm so sorry." I explained that I was as well. Before I got to the reason I said that I knew the deposit was not refundable and told her what I wanted to do. The woman I was speaking with said that she would talk to the owner and get back to me. She called later that day and said they would give back all but $50! It was such unexpected news, I almost started crying! I told her that and she said "Oh no! Please don't cry!" I thanked her profusely.

But as we hung up she said something odd. She said "Have a good life." I said I knew I would. And then it hit me. They thought I had been jilted! They felt sorry for me so they gave back the money! At least, I am pretty sure they did. What am I supposed to do at that point? Call them back and say, "Hey, I think you gave me this money back because you think I got jilted! That's not what actually happened. Do you want the money back?" Ummm, no, I don't see myself doing that. Besides, what if they didn't think that? What if they refunded the money simply because it was the right thing to do 11 months before the wedding? Wouldn't that be insulting? It would be as if I were doubting their motive for this kind act. That would be just plain rude! And I really wouldn't want to do that.

However, I do foresee myself buying a gift certificate for a weekend at Silver Falls and donating it to an upcoming auction. :)