Wednesday, January 26, 2011
More Fun & Excitement
In the past week, items have flown across the wedding desk at a rate that would overwhelm the New York Times' Business Bureau Chief. Carrie and I (along with Linda) have been tasting with the caterer in Tahoe (a seven course extravaganza), we've met with the photographer, chosen our save the dates and researched live entertainment. The incredible Mike Ferrier wooed our palettes with a dazzling array of appetizers, salads and entrees starting with roasted chicken breast jack scallions in a quesadilla under a cilantro lime sauce, parmesan risotto cakes topped by smoked chicken-apple sausage under a marsala honey glaze, phylo cups filled with gorgonzola, leeks, pine nuts and a cider reduction, citrus smoked diver scallops with a chipotle lime aioli on a pita chip, a baby green salad with sherry maple vinaigrette, sun dried pears, gorgonzola and toasted pecans, grilled chicken breast with a mushroom marsala sauce and finally the grilled Atlantic salmon with tomato caper relish under an orange pesto glaze. We've opted to work with the incredibly innovative and lovely Penny Sylvia to capture the inexplicable highlights of the day. Penny has a charismatic energy that goes far beyond the proverbial "extra mile". I'm confident that she will seamlessly transfer some of the most memorable moments of our lives into a forever state that we'll always be able to reflect upon.
This is a picture of Carrie and I in the kitchen at As You Wish Catering while sampling the incredible, succulent and delicious menu. We hope that your lodging plans are solidifying as we type this blog. We are excited to provide you with more information soon.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
The West Shore is The Best Shore
We hope you all had a great three day weekend. Carrie and I were fortunate enough to both have the time off from work. We were able to escape the morbid tule fog in the central valley and spend some efficient yet enjoyable time in Tahoe. Dave, Linda, Carrie and I met with the infamous and amazing Alison Ulshoffer and Gina at Granlibakken Lodge & Ski Resort on Saturday morning. After a thorough inspection, all parties agreed that Granlibakken was just not capable of accommodating (or should I say, containing) us. We spent the rest of the day enjoying blue skies and bright sun that would make any San Diegan jealous, really the stuff that California is famous for. We pulled out the snowshoes and hiked over miles of foot deep packed snow to survey sites for our ceremony and reception and after some adventure, we availed. Contracts will likely be signed later this week and, naturally, the exact locations will become public. Tahoe in August can be similar to Times Square on New Years Eve (minus all the faux, environmentally hazardous glitter, confetti, litter, dazzling lights and audacious ball atop a flagpole) or Yosemite in July. Lodging sometimes books, literally, years in advance. Do not be discouraged, just be aware that it can be an issue for those with the tendency to procrastinate. I've listed a few lodging options here and will list more in the future, but this should be a solid starting point, PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE BOOKING for any further disclaimers.
Top Notch - Sunnyside Steakhouse, Lodge and Marina
B & B - Tahoma Meadows Cottages
Budget - Pepper Tree Inn
Budget - Tahoe City Inn
Please keep in mind that this is not the "Official List" of our approved/preferred lodging suggestions, just a starting point for those of you who are ready to jump. Below are some pictures from our weekend. Perhaps you'll recognize this in August?
Top Notch - Sunnyside Steakhouse, Lodge and Marina
B & B - Tahoma Meadows Cottages
Budget - Pepper Tree Inn
Budget - Tahoe City Inn
Please keep in mind that this is not the "Official List" of our approved/preferred lodging suggestions, just a starting point for those of you who are ready to jump. Below are some pictures from our weekend. Perhaps you'll recognize this in August?
When you planned your wedding, did your site selection involve snowshoeing?
Thursday, January 13, 2011
The Dress
This just in, Carrie found the dress. I know nothing, apparently it's pink, fluffy and has bells, but I think that's misleading sarcasm. We're headed to Tahoe this weekend, meeting with representatives at our venue sites. We'll certainly keep you posted.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Save the Date
Ealier today we learned that Friday, August 19th 2011 has been secured for our wedding in Tahoe. You'll all know more as soon as I do.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Pictures
Several of you have expressed your disdain over a lack of pictures. I actually meant to include some pictures with my first post (see "Welcome") but forgot, possibly related to the time of the post being 0436 AM, Oh the joys of shift work. Never the less, ask and ye shall receive, the picture of the two of us in the carriage was taken in July of 2006 near the Bijou shores area close to the Nevada/California border on the South shore of Lake Tahoe.
The picture of the two of us snowboarding was taken the day we got engaged, two or three hours prior to the proposal at Homewood Mountain Resort on the West shore of Lake Tahoe. Surely, there will be more to come in the near future.
The picture of the two of us snowboarding was taken the day we got engaged, two or three hours prior to the proposal at Homewood Mountain Resort on the West shore of Lake Tahoe. Surely, there will be more to come in the near future.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Welcome
Hi everyone, welcome to our wedding blog. Hopefully if you're reading this it's because you are one of our friends, relatives, co-workers and you're looking for information and humor about Carrie and I. If you don't know me or Carrie, please don't be creepy, stalk another couple. I know... We're cool, we're attractive, we're in love, we lead very active, interesting lives and we're just generally awesome, but please, browse elsewhere.
Okay, now that we're past that (and FYI this text box format won't let me indent, so don't hold it against me). For those of you who have not met both of us or who are unfamiliar with our story, here is a brief dossier;
Carrie and I met through mutual friends in Sacramento in July of 2004. After a significant amount of convincing she agreed to a first date in December 2005. Our first date consisted of driving around the few infamous Christmas crazy neighborhoods of Sacramento, Roseville and Rocklin, looking at Christmas light displays followed by dessert at Rick's Dessert Diner (where Carrie, naturally refused to eat anything in front of me). In the months to follow we continued dating and not too long after our second or third date, an ultimatum was proposed. Not by Carrie, but her mother, Linda. Apparently if I had any desire to continue seeing her daughter, my attendance at a family dinner was necessary. Little did this only child know what he was signing up for when he agreed to family dinner with the mom, three sisters and dad. In February of 2005 I went to Dinner at Dave and Linda's (now soon to be my Mother-in-law and Father-in-law) for the first time. I didn't know it was possible for one dinner to change my life, but it had a lasting impact. I was overwhelmed by constant boyish and boisterous conversation between the four sisters and a moderate level of inquiry from everyone, at the time I was still a fairly plain eater, my diet consisting of mostly Kraft macaroni and cheese, Foster Farms corn dogs, bagel dogs, pizza, Chipotle and most foods commonly transferred from the freezer to the microwave with an occasional dabble into the realm of the Mongolian BBQ (I assure you, not the case today, thanks to Carrie and the girls). I was exposed to Pear Salad, before that night, the thought of sitting down to eat a salad was about as much fun as airport security the day before Thanksgiving. Dave, Linda, Natalie, Alex and Stephanie were extremely gracious hosts and Pear Salad became a daily lunch for the next few years. Apparently my behavior, demeanor, general appearance and odor were not so obtrusive that I was forbidden from seeing Carrie again.
In June of 2005, my work led me to Lake Tahoe. Carrie and I spent a great deal of time along the West shore throughout the Summer as dating led to a very unexpected exclusive relationship.
Carrie moved to San Diego for her freshman year of college in August of 2005, we decided to try and maintain a long distance relationship. Over the next four years our relationship grew stronger. We both moved numerous times to multiple cities. Between Tahoe, San Diego, Moraga, Oakland, Roseville and Sacramento we managed to see each other every second we could and valued the time we spent together immensely. In May of 2009 Carrie graduated from Nursing School in Oakland. She moved to Sacramento, rented an apartment downtown and took a job at a hospital in Roseville. For the first time in nearly five years, we lived close to one another and worked similar hours. We always discussed the fact that our relationship was effectively a cooperative of love. In order for it to flourish, we each had to contribute to it equally and before we could contribute to a relationship or to one another, we needed to be self sufficient and independent. We really have fallen in love together and we haven't strayed from that philosophy since day one. While we both enjoy our friendships with others, we really have found a best friend in each other.
On December 15th of 2010 we spent the day snowboarding at Homewood Mountain Resort. The day was idyllic, the kind of day that can't adequately be described by words, the skies were baby blue with a few peppered clouds that looked like puffs of smoke from an old locomotive, thanks to an unprecedented early winter storm the previous night, the movement of air over your lips as you whisper the word "wind" was the only semblance of it, the landscape was engulfed by fluffy, white powder, not the usual sierra cement, high water content concrete snow that is typical in the Sierras but the lighter than air, large picturesque unpacked construction paper cutout flakes of bottomless airy white snow. The waiting period at the lifts was the amount of time it took to get from top to bottom. It was an EPIC day, incredible conditions that you're lucky to see once a year, maybe. At the end of the day, on our last run down the mountain on Rainbow Ridge in a clear cut between The Ivory Face and Zari's run at an elevation of 7300 feet, nearly 1100 feet above the most photographed lake in the country, the jewel of the sierras, we stopped to take a picture. While Carrie was trying to switch the camera to the appropriate setting, I got down on one knee, removed a little black box and presented a ring, I told her that I loved her more than anything, I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her and asked her to marry me. Fortunately she said yes (hence our "wedding blog"). Also in my handy dandy camel back was a bottle of 2006 Schramsberg blanc de noirs
Prior to that day, I had asked Dave and Linda for their blessing, I called Natalie, Alex and Stephanie and ran it by each of them for a final stamp of approval. Short of the amazing conditions snowboarding all day, in the hours leading up to the big question, my nerves of steel turned to a flimsy aluminum foil and I was so nervous that I had stomach pains (bearable) for most of the day. The hours and days following were a flurry of elated phone calls to relatives, friends, family and other loved ones to share the news.
We are currently planning our wedding. It is fun, stressful and exciting at the same time. Stay tuned to our blog for further details.
Okay, now that we're past that (and FYI this text box format won't let me indent, so don't hold it against me). For those of you who have not met both of us or who are unfamiliar with our story, here is a brief dossier;
Carrie and I met through mutual friends in Sacramento in July of 2004. After a significant amount of convincing she agreed to a first date in December 2005. Our first date consisted of driving around the few infamous Christmas crazy neighborhoods of Sacramento, Roseville and Rocklin, looking at Christmas light displays followed by dessert at Rick's Dessert Diner (where Carrie, naturally refused to eat anything in front of me). In the months to follow we continued dating and not too long after our second or third date, an ultimatum was proposed. Not by Carrie, but her mother, Linda. Apparently if I had any desire to continue seeing her daughter, my attendance at a family dinner was necessary. Little did this only child know what he was signing up for when he agreed to family dinner with the mom, three sisters and dad. In February of 2005 I went to Dinner at Dave and Linda's (now soon to be my Mother-in-law and Father-in-law) for the first time. I didn't know it was possible for one dinner to change my life, but it had a lasting impact. I was overwhelmed by constant boyish and boisterous conversation between the four sisters and a moderate level of inquiry from everyone, at the time I was still a fairly plain eater, my diet consisting of mostly Kraft macaroni and cheese, Foster Farms corn dogs, bagel dogs, pizza, Chipotle and most foods commonly transferred from the freezer to the microwave with an occasional dabble into the realm of the Mongolian BBQ (I assure you, not the case today, thanks to Carrie and the girls). I was exposed to Pear Salad, before that night, the thought of sitting down to eat a salad was about as much fun as airport security the day before Thanksgiving. Dave, Linda, Natalie, Alex and Stephanie were extremely gracious hosts and Pear Salad became a daily lunch for the next few years. Apparently my behavior, demeanor, general appearance and odor were not so obtrusive that I was forbidden from seeing Carrie again.
In June of 2005, my work led me to Lake Tahoe. Carrie and I spent a great deal of time along the West shore throughout the Summer as dating led to a very unexpected exclusive relationship.
Carrie moved to San Diego for her freshman year of college in August of 2005, we decided to try and maintain a long distance relationship. Over the next four years our relationship grew stronger. We both moved numerous times to multiple cities. Between Tahoe, San Diego, Moraga, Oakland, Roseville and Sacramento we managed to see each other every second we could and valued the time we spent together immensely. In May of 2009 Carrie graduated from Nursing School in Oakland. She moved to Sacramento, rented an apartment downtown and took a job at a hospital in Roseville. For the first time in nearly five years, we lived close to one another and worked similar hours. We always discussed the fact that our relationship was effectively a cooperative of love. In order for it to flourish, we each had to contribute to it equally and before we could contribute to a relationship or to one another, we needed to be self sufficient and independent. We really have fallen in love together and we haven't strayed from that philosophy since day one. While we both enjoy our friendships with others, we really have found a best friend in each other.
On December 15th of 2010 we spent the day snowboarding at Homewood Mountain Resort. The day was idyllic, the kind of day that can't adequately be described by words, the skies were baby blue with a few peppered clouds that looked like puffs of smoke from an old locomotive, thanks to an unprecedented early winter storm the previous night, the movement of air over your lips as you whisper the word "wind" was the only semblance of it, the landscape was engulfed by fluffy, white powder, not the usual sierra cement, high water content concrete snow that is typical in the Sierras but the lighter than air, large picturesque unpacked construction paper cutout flakes of bottomless airy white snow. The waiting period at the lifts was the amount of time it took to get from top to bottom. It was an EPIC day, incredible conditions that you're lucky to see once a year, maybe. At the end of the day, on our last run down the mountain on Rainbow Ridge in a clear cut between The Ivory Face and Zari's run at an elevation of 7300 feet, nearly 1100 feet above the most photographed lake in the country, the jewel of the sierras, we stopped to take a picture. While Carrie was trying to switch the camera to the appropriate setting, I got down on one knee, removed a little black box and presented a ring, I told her that I loved her more than anything, I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her and asked her to marry me. Fortunately she said yes (hence our "wedding blog"). Also in my handy dandy camel back was a bottle of 2006 Schramsberg blanc de noirs
Prior to that day, I had asked Dave and Linda for their blessing, I called Natalie, Alex and Stephanie and ran it by each of them for a final stamp of approval. Short of the amazing conditions snowboarding all day, in the hours leading up to the big question, my nerves of steel turned to a flimsy aluminum foil and I was so nervous that I had stomach pains (bearable) for most of the day. The hours and days following were a flurry of elated phone calls to relatives, friends, family and other loved ones to share the news.
We are currently planning our wedding. It is fun, stressful and exciting at the same time. Stay tuned to our blog for further details.
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