18 Question to Ask When Looking for a Wedding Ceremony Location

Not only did Zach and I recently book our reception venue (See: 22 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Reception Venue), we also booked our ceremony venue!

Now, let me prelude this “informative blog” by saying that neither Zach or I consider ourselves “religious.” We do not belong to a church in Madison, and do not associate ourselves with a particular denomination. I think the process of figuring out where you want to have your wedding ceremony varies greatly depending on the couple, so please note: this was only our experience. These were the questions that were important and applicable for US. 🙂

Zach and I went back and forth between having an outdoor ceremony or having a ceremony at a church. Ultimately, we decided it would be easier and less stressful to have it at a church, so really, that’s how we started narrowing it down. We ultimately choose our location because of the beautiful architecture, the warm welcoming of people of all different backgrounds/beliefs, and the close proximity to our reception venue.

Here are the questions I found helpful when searching for a ceremony location…

1. Is our date available?
2. What is the room capacity?
3. Do we need to become members?
4. What is the fee for having our wedding ceremony here? What does that all include?
5. How many hours will we have the facility? (Is that enough time for setting up/taking down any decorations and photography?)
6. Are there any decorating restrictions?
7. How many cars does the parking lot accommodate?
8. How many events are held at once? Will there be more than one wedding going on at one time (if there are multiple rooms)?
9. Will we be required to do pre-marriage counseling? What does that entail?
10. Can we bring in our own officiant? Is there an additional fee to use the church’s officiant?
11. Does the church have multiple officiants that we can be “matched up” with based on what kind of a ceremony we’re looking for?
12. Does the church have musicians? What is their fee?
13. Can we bring in an outside musician? Is there an additional fee?
14. Are there any photography/videography restrictions?
15. What kind of payments are accepted? What is the payment schedule?
16. What is the cancellation policy?
17. Is there an area for the bride to get ready? Is there an area for the groom to get ready?
18. How much time is allotted for a rehearsal?

Again, these are the questions that were important for me to find out. I’m sure this process is either way more difficult or way easier for couples depending on their situation. 🙂

-Sara

No More Cold Coffee with Contigo Mugs

While I love nothing more than proudly sporting my cat coffee mug at work, my busy days often leave me with a pretty mug full of very cold coffee. Disgustingly enough, I’ve actually become somewhat accustomed to cold coffee due to my lack of ambition to get up and go rewarm the thing. Really gross, I know…

This week, Zach made coffee at home and had extra so I decided to bring it with me to work in one of the travel mugs his parents got us for Christmas. Little did I know that this mug was made for people like me who get busy at work and forget about their coffee until it’s too late it’s no longer warm. These mugs legit keep your coffee warm for HOURS!

The mug has an autoseal, so you need to press a button to take a drink… leaving absolutely no room for your coffee to catch some air and cool down. The autoseal doubles as a spill preventer. I don’t normally have spilling issues, but it is nice at the end of the day when I toss my mug into the back of my car… No last drips of coffee pour over onto my seats.

The Contigo website backs up my revelation stating the mug keeps drinks hot for up to 7 hours and cold for up to 20 hours, without sweat.

I will definitely be using these mugs more often. Now, if they could just make one with cats on it, I’d be one happy lady.

-Sara

 

22 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Wedding Reception Venue

After touring just about every country club in Madison, Zach and I finally decided on and signed a contract for our reception venue!! With that being said, we will officially be tying the knot on June 13, 2015! 😀

Searching for a venue for your wedding reception is not a small undertaking. I was lucky enough to kind of know that I wanted it at a country club, but we did check out a few other places just to be sure. The best advice I received for searching for the perfect place to have your wedding reception was, “Forget about money. Choose the place you want.” The reception venue is arguably the MOST IMPORTANT part of planning your wedding. Where you choose to have your reception ultimately affects so many other aspects of your special day… the food, photos, overall organization and flow of the day, and so forth. The reception venue is what your guests will remember and talk about after the fact, so you want to make sure you book the place that feels right to you!

Since choosing your reception venue is so important, it is imperative to ask all the right questions. Of course, these questions will vary from person-to-person, but there are some general questions that I think are important for everyone to ask.

1. Do you have my date available?
2. What is the room capacity? How many parking spots are available for guests?
3. What is the service charge and tax that will be applied to all food/beverages?
4. Is there a room rental fee? What does it all include (i.e. linens, place settings, chairs, any decorations, time slot, etc.)? Is the room rental fee refundable?
5. What is the deposit? Is it refundable? Does it apply to your overall food/beverage total?
6. Are there any restrictions around decorating? Do they have any decorations in house for use? What is the charge for using those?
7. Is there air conditioning?
8. If applicable, is the facility handicap accessible?
9. Are there any photography/videography restrictions?
10. How much time will you have to set up and take down decorations? Do they have staff available to help set up/tear down? Is there an additional charge for assistance?
11. Do they have a preferred vendors list? Is there a charge for using vendors not on the list?
12. Can we bring in our own caterer? Is there an additional cost?
13. What is the serving staff to guest ratio?
14. Is there a tasting prior to choosing the menu options?
15. Is there a charge for offering more than one option for dinner? How much?
16. If desired, is the chef willing to work to create any custom appetizers/entrees?
17. Do you offer late night snack options?
18. How far are the nearest hotels? Do they offer shuttle services for guests?
19. Are there noise restrictions?
20. What forms of payment do you take? What does the payment schedule look like?
21. Will there be a designated coordinator who I will work with throughout the entire planning process? Will that person be there the day of the wedding to ensure all goes according to plan?
22. What is the cancellation policy?

Also, if there is something you have your heart on (i.e. you want guests to have sparklers or light chinese laterns, etc.), be sure you ask if that will be allowed at the facility. You’d rather find out those deal breakers early on rather than later.

-Sara

Product Review: Dial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap

Another day, another product testing kit from Purex Insiders! I LOVE this program! 🙂

The latest product I got to test was Dial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap. This line of hand soaps is meant to be “premium” with vibrant smells and a micro-scrubber formula which moisturizes the skin. This product is available in Water Blossoms, Coconut Lime Verbena, and Yellow Raspberry & Black Sugar.

Here’s what I liked about Dial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap:

• I loved the fragrances. I haven’t smelled the coconut lime verbena, but the other two scents are very clean and enjoyable. I also think they are very “gender-neutral” scents, so, ladies, your husbands don’t need to worry about smelly too “girly.” I have a feeling the other fragrance is probably just as great, so I can’t wait to try it!
• The soap makes your hands feel soft. I’m usually pretty skeptical when products claim they are “moisturizing,” but this soap actually did leave my hands feeling smoother and silkier… as if I had just put on lotion. Cheaper soaps tend to dry out my hands easily, so I really appreciated the extra moisturizer.
• The micro-scrubber formula does make my hands feel cleaner. So, I don’t know if it actually does make your hands cleaner, but I do enjoy when products have these “micro-scrubbers.” I tends to wash my hands longer when using a mirco-scrub formula, so it’s possible that’s why they feel cleaner. 😉

What I didn’t like about Dial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap:

• It’s pricier than typical hand soaps. Usually I get cheap soap in bulk, so paying nearly $2 for hand soap seems like a lot to me, personally. But, I do think the extra moisturizer will save you money in lotion. Also, I see a lot of Dial coupons in the newspaper and online, so you can definitely save on this soap if you want.
• It’d hard to find in stores. Since this was a product test and thus the product is new, that could be why I had a hard time finding it, but I did have to go to three stores to find it. They don’t carry it at my local Walgreens or Target, but I did find it at Walmart.

Overall, I would definitely buy this product! I recommend trying it, especially if you have dry hands like myself. 🙂

If you’re interested in trying this new product, please leave a comment below. I will be giving away some FREE coupons!

-Sara

Tried and True: Thai Coconut Curry Recipe

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOOOOVVVEEEEE CURRY! 😀

After spending way more money than I’d like to admit on take-out, I finally took on the task of trying to make my own curry… Let’s just say it took a few times to find a recipe I actually liked…

…but I’ve made this recipe twice now, and it’s official: I LOVE THIS RECIPE! If you’re a red curry fan, I think you’ll enjoy it too…

Ingredients

2 tbsp Red Curry Paste
1 can light Coconut Milk
1/4 c Fresh Basil
1/2 Bamboo Shoot
1 tbsp Fish Sauce
2 tbsp Brown Sugar
1/3 c Chicken Stock
1/2 c Mushrooms, sliced
1/2 Red Pepper, sliced into strips
1/2 Green Pepper, sliced into strips
1/2 Yellow Onion, chopped
2 Chicken Breasts, cubed

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, combine curry paste with coconut milk. Simmer for 5 minutes.
2. Add basil, bamboo shoot, fish sauce, brown sugar, chicken stock and mushrooms to saucepan. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
3. In a frying pan or wok lightly covered in olive oil, saute chopped peppers and onion. Add lightly peppered chicken until cooked through.
4. Serve over rice.

Really, you can add whatever vegetables you want to this. I also like to add zucchini, but I think carrot and snap peas would be tasty as well.

Enjoy,

Sara

Product Review: Purex Crystals

As you may recall, I am a part of the Purex Insiders group and do product testing for them on occasions. It’s a great program that I would recommend to anyone who is open to trying new products!

I recently got to try out the brand new *Purex Crystals in Fresh Mountain Breeze. This product is meant to be used along with your normal laundry detergent in order to give your laundry that extra burst of freshness.

Here’s what I liked about Purex Crystals:

• I loved the Fresh Mountain Breeze fragrance. It smelled super fresh and wasn’t too strong. The first load of laundry I did, I used less of the crystals because I wasn’t sure how strong the scent would be, but you can definitely use more rather than less.
• It’s very easy to use. To use Purex Crystals, you simply measure out the correct amount based on the size of your load with the included measuring cup, and sprinkle the crystals directly on your laundry. Yes, it’s that easy.

What I didn’t like about Purex Crystals:

• I wish the scent was longer lasting. The product claims to keep your clothes smelling fresh for weeks, but I did not have that experience. I thought my clothes smelled really good when I took them out of the wash and put them into the dryer. They smelled a little fresher than normal after they finished drying, but by the time I wore a shirt from that load, I didn’t think they smelled any fresher than normal.
• I wish this was part of an “all-in-one” product. I also felt like your laundry detergent should already make your clothes smell fresh… like you shouldn’t need to buy an ADDITIONAL product for fresh-smelling laundry.

All in all, while I really enjoyed the smell of the new Purex Crystals, I wish it would have lasted as long as the product claims.

If you’re interested in trying out this new product, enter in the new Purex Sweepstakes. They are giving away a $500 grand price and 100 free coupons. You can enter for a chance to win here: Purex Crystals Fresh Mountain Breeze Sweepstakes

Also, if you’re interested in receiving a coupon for a free sample, leave a comment letting me know why you want to try Purex Crystals, and I’ll be giving away three free coupons!

April Update: I also got to try out the limited edition Fabulously Fresh Purex Crystals, and these also smell really good! I am officially addicted to laundry crystals. 🙂

-Sara

*Disclosure: The Purex brand provided me with a sample of Purex Crystals in exchange for a product review. However, all the opinions expressed here are my own.

 

 

White Chocolate Cherry Shortbread

Let the holiday baking begin! I saw these beautiful cookies in Better Homes & Gardens and needed to make them. They’re pretty easy to make… Although, cutting in the butter is always a pain. They also taste amazing. 🙂

Ingredients

1/2 c Maraschino Cherries, drained and finely chopped
2 1/2 c All-Purpose Flour
1/2 c Sugar
1 c Butter, cold
12 oz White Chocolate Baking Squares w/ cocoa butter
1/2 tsp Almond Extract
2 drops Red Food Coloring (optional)
2 tsp Shortening
Sprinkles (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spread cherries on paper towels to drain well.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar. Cut butter into dry mixture until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in drained cherries and 4 oz of chopped white chocolate. Stir in the almond extract and food coloring. Knead mixture until it forms a smooth ball.
3. Shape dough into 3/4 inch balls. Place ball two inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Using the bottom of a drinking glass dipped in sugar. Flatten to 1 1/2 inch rounds.
4. Bake in a preheated oven for 12 minutes. Cool for one minute on a cookie sheet and transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.
5. In a small saucepan, combine remaining 8 oz of white chocolate and shortening. Cook and stir over low heat until melted. Dip half of each cookie in chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. Roll dipped edge in sprinkles. Place cookies on wax paper until chocolate is set.

-Sara

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE Fall baking? I just love all the warm flavors of pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon… Nom, nom, nom! My most recent concoction was Pumkpin Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese frosting. This recipe is delicious! The cupcakes were perfectly moist and flavorful. The only change I would make is to add more maple syrup to the frosting. The frosting recipe was tasty as is, but I would’ve like just a little extra of that maple flavor.

I made these to bring to work, and added little rings which I got from Jo-Ann Fabrics on top to celebrate my and Zach’s recent engagement! Eek! Prepare yourself for blogs around wedding planning! 🙂

Cupcake Ingredients

2 c All-Purpose Flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Coarse Salt
1 tsp ground Cinnamon
1 tsp ground Ginger
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground Allspice
1 c Light Brown Sugar, packed
1 c Granulated Sugar
1 c (2 sticks) Unsalted Butter, melted and cooled
4 large Eggs, lightly beaten
1 can (15 oz) Pumpkin Puree (Pure Pumpkin)

Frosting Ingredients

1 package (8 oz) Cream Cheese, room temperature
1/2 c (1 stick) Unsalted Butter, room temperature
1 tbsp Pure Maple Syrup
12 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
2 c Powdered Sugar

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter and eggs. Add dry ingredients, and whisk until smooth. Whisk in pumpkin puree.
3. Spoon batter into each liner, filling about halfway. Bake for 20 minutes or until you can stick a toothpick in the center and it comes out clean.
4. Allow cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
5. For frosting, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add maple syrup, vanilla and powdered sugar; continue to beat until well combined and smooth.

What are your favorite baking recipes during the Fall/Winter?

-Sara

MGMT Concert | The Orpheum Theater

Zach and I don’t go to many concert, but last week we couldn’t turn down the opportunity to go to two concerts here in Madison. As you may recall, we rocked out with Skrillex on Monday night and then we went and saw MGMT on Wednesday night at The Orpheum Theater.

Neither of us consider ourselves die head MGMT fans, by no means, but we do enjoy a lot of their tunes. The crowd at MGMT was a little closer to our age range as compared to the Skrillex crowd, which was nice. It also started earlier and ended earlier, which I was very thankful for as I was still tired from the Skrillex concert on Monday. (I’m lame; I know.)

Kuroma opened up for MGMT, which was just not the style of music I typically listen to. I wasn’t a fan of Hank Sullivant’s voice… It was kinda whiny. Just my opinion. 🙂

MGMT, if you’ve never listened to them, is described as an “American Psychodelic Rock Band.” You’ve probably heard one of their hit songs like, “Kids,” “Electric Feel,” or “Time to Pretend” …All of which are from their 2008 album “Oracular Spectacular.” I have to say, I loved that album, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of any other album they’ve put out.

Regardless, the concert was good. The music was great, but the stage presence was a little lacking. I was probably skewed  because I thought Skrillex had done such a great job keeping the crowd amped up two days earlier. I’m definitely glad we went to the show. Although, I probably wouldn’t go see them again unless they were at a festival.

Here’s a video clip from their show in Madison last week. Again, I apologize for the video quality.

Here’s a link to my photos from the show as well on Facebook: MGMT | 2013

-Sara

Skrillex Concert | The Oprheum Theater, Madison

My typical Monday nights usually consist of skipping a workout and vegging on the couch all night. Whelp, I’d say this past Monday night was slightly more eventful.

Zach and I could not turn down an invitation to go see Skrillex live at The Opheum Theater in Madison, WI. We’re both Skrillex fans and neither of us have seen him live before. It was quite the experience, to say the least!

I’ve been to many different types of shows from Eric Church to Britney Spears to Marilyn Manson… I don’t discriminate when it comes to music. I love it all, and will jump at the chance to see any of my favorite artists live. But, this was the first EDM concert I have ever attended, and it was unlike anything I have seen before! Mind = Blown.

My age became quite apparent to me at this concert as well. Some examples:

• I wondered why Zach and I were some of the few people who were drinking when I quickly realized most of the other attendees were between the ages of 18-20.
• When it became a little too crowded by the stage, Zach and I retreated to the back where we found all the other people who were old enough to drink.
• I found myself incredibly intrigued by people’s fashion choices. Fuzzy leg warmers? Shirts with slits (in the front!)? Galaxy cat shirts? (Ok, maybe I liked the last one.)
• I was deeply concerned with how everyone was getting home safely after the amount of molly they had clearly done.
• I feared that if I got a random drug test at work, I would fail from secondhand smoke inhalation.
• At one point, I got a little woozy from the bright lights and loud music.
• We left before the concert was over because it was getting just a tad too late for us to be out.

Regardless, Skrillex put on an amazing show! He was actually ranked #42 as one of the Top 50 Greatest Live Acts, and for good reason. Sonny really knows how to keep a crowd pumped up. The visuals effects and lights were right on par with the music, and I found myself dancing uncontrollable throughout the majority of the show.

Here’s a video I took at the show. I apologize for the quality… I had troubles dancing and taking video at the same time.

Feel free to check out more images from the show in my Facebook album: Skrillex | 2013

-Sara