skelly lodge. october seventeenth.

we did it! we booked out wedding and reception venue today! i called the lady at skelly lodge last night. she informed me that she only had one saturday in october available and there was another girl who was seriously considering it. i had planned to set up an appointment for friday when i am off work, but opted to go today at lunch instead. travis has the week off, so he was able to go with me as well.

when we pulled up to the lodge, i couldn't believe how beautiful it was. the pictures on the website don't do it justice. we looked all around the grounds, and spent much time talking to the director. she showed us the entire lodge -- a two story, eight bedroom hunting lodge built by former oilmen. there is so much history in the place! there is an original letter from 1815 of francis scott key, a book signed by houdini, another signed by amelia earhart, and several signed by presidents. there are a couple of deerheads that are from the original hunt in 1930. i know deerheads don't sound very romantic, but the place really is elegant and will be the perfect setting for our wedding.

there is a full kitchen with updated appliances, such as stainless steel warming drawers, stainless steel freezer drawers, a restaurant-sized refridgerator, among other things. there are eight bedrooms upstairs, and a beautiful balcony. five of the rooms have king size beds, one has a queen, another has a day bed with a trundle, and the last has three bunk beds. each of the rooms has an amazing view of the grounds, regardless of which way you're looking.

we have complete freedom to do whatever we want, bring in whatever caterer we want, provide our own liquor, and we also have the facility for 24 hours. we are considering adding an additional 24 hours so that we can go either a full day before or stay a full day after. it would be nice to have our families all together and have time to just relax and enjoy one another.

i think we were sold on the place from the beginning. finally travis asked me if i wanted him to go get the checkbook. when he got back, we signed the lease agreement, and i wrote one of the largest checks i've ever had to write. we were both a little giddy, and my stomach had tiny little flutters in it.

i called my parents, and i think they are beginning to get excited. i had wanted them to go with us, but they are busy preparing for the big new year's eve bash at the pool hall. my dad told me and then had my mom tell me that it didn't matter if they liked it; he wanted us to get something that we like. done and done. we are hoping to take them out later this week after new year's.

the lodge is in catoosa, so my only concern is that people will not want to drive out that far; i think the people that matter won't mind, though.

i still have to ask my bridesmaids to be a part of my wedding! i have something special up my sleeve for them, and that's why i've been a little slow to ask. now that the holidays and justin and lindsay's wedding are all over, i should be able to focus on our stuff a little more.

we'll keep you updated!