Let’s start at the very beginning. It’s a very good place to start.

So, the guy has been met. Love has happened, and the engagement ring is shimmering oh so proudly on my finger. Bliss.
But now what? Where do you start with something so big? I mean, movies have been made, books have been written, fairy tales have been told and retold a million times over. Someone feeling a little bit of pressure? I mean, it is, after all, my wedding day! The day little girls across the world dream of, the day I get to be a queen the entire day, and in my books, the 3 weeks leading up to it as well, I mean you have to milk it a bit… The day I have to plan?

I mean if this day is filled with so much magic, and centers around me, why do I have to do all the work? All the stressing? All the planning and crying? But alas, such is life. So I put on some comfort pants and march determinedly to my mountains of bridal magazines, some sadly dating back to 2003… pages of saved bookmarks on my laptop, and the voices of advice of every friend of mine that’s walked this slippery slope. But I am filled with hope, because no matter what, on 30 October 2010, I get to walk down the aisle, be it beach, church, desert or town hall, and marry the love of my life.
So where is the beginning for me? The venue.

My requirements? I want outside, but not to be totally left to the mercy of the elements. There’s nothing like forced cheeriness from guests shivering in sundresses while the storms of the oceans splash them with fury, and I won’t allow anyone to leave because if I said I’m having a beach wedding, we will stay on the beach the entire time and have a beach wedding!

I want a beach wedding, but I want to wear heels. No barefoot, being one with nature for me, thank you very much. I don’t want the wind to blow too much, because I cannot stand sand being blown against me or my hair being blown into my lip gloss, because we all know when they say all day gloss, they mean all day gloss, the sun can’t shine too fiercely, as my squint is not the most attractive thing to see, and there’s just something about staring deep into your beloveds eyes, and saying: Hold on, let me just grab my sunnies…

So, where do I find such a perfect space and harmony of the elements? Probably only in my dreams, but that doesn’t mean I won’t go searching…

So hang on to your handbags ladies, I’m going venue hunting!