l.o.v.e.d my ER clinical :)

Today's clinical was in the ER and I LOVED it!!! Oh my gosh. If i can get a job in the ER, that would be awesome. I think this even tops my wishes to work in Oncology! It's just such a different type of nursing. AMAZING! I liked the fast pace. I liked the "adventure." I loved thinking on my feet and helping people who are scared. I just cant describe how excited I am after today! eeeeyyyyy!

I got an e-mail back from Natural Bridge hotel & conference center with their wedding package info attached. It definitely a reasonable option! Here's the approx. breakdown (for 75 people):

- Ceremony (under the Natural Bridge) = $1200.00
- Price for meal per person=                    $    37.00 [includes reception room fee & dance floor]
- Open bar option =                                $    14.00 per person (beer and wine only)
- Tax/service charge=                              $    27%
total                                                        64.77 per person (including the tax/service charge)

Grand total equals:  4857.75 food/bev + 1200.00 ceremony = $6057.75 

We will still need to purchase:

• chair covers/ colored linens (upwards of 150-$200.00 total)
• wedding cake (between 100.00- 400.00)
• hor dourves (???)
• champagne toast (24.95/bottle)
• photographer
• DJ
• Flowers
• stationary

However, With that said, I think we could still manage to stay within our budget. my only concern is the age of the hotel. The backdrop for the wedding would be awesome. It was be so picturesque...however, I read online a lot of negative reviews about the age of the hotel showing. Additionally, after getting quotes from so many other places that include a lot in their price, it's tough.

........................I also got an email back from Kelly at the Sheraton North with a sample proposal and with site, food, booze, cake, fruit display with chocolate fountain, linens, champagne toast, complimentary sleeping room for Bride and Groom and it's a newer hotel. The ceremony fee is $500.00. The approx cost per person is for everything 100.00 and the estimate's grand total was $8,003.21. That's a difference of $1946 that could be put towards all the things that aren't included in Natural Bridge's package. Even at the top of what i would consider acceptable for those items, I dont come close to nearly 2k in extras.

So, I think this summer Eric and I are going to need to see a couple places and make a decision. I haven't forgotten about the HH in F'burg either. That is still a viable contender, however, Eric wants us to keep that as a fall back option. The Gauntlet Golf Course offers a lot of good prices, as does Augustine Golf Course, which are close to home....and there are a lot of hotels around this area too (but that still requires getting in a car and driving after drinking, which is what I really want to avoid- I couldn't live with myself if something happened b/c people drank at my wedding and then got into a car and drove home/to a hotel).

Any feedback from my readers would be appreciated! Thanks!!