A bride can change her mind, can't she?

I have been doing some thinking lately. I know, I know, this seems like a dangerous thing to do, especially since we just decided on our venue. But, there I was, giving it some more thought as we perused the contract that was sent to us. Is this going to cost too much money. Is this venue too far away? Do we really want to host a wedding for an entire weekend? Is this the best place for us?

All these questions came up as the contract sat staring up at us. And of course my love for anything wedding television hasn't helped the situation either. After a particular episode of Say Yes to the Dress, where a wedding takes place at Oheka Castle, I start to think that maybe there are other options out there. I was so focused on the idea of a wedding by the water, which I still love, that I wasn't being flexible. But now I think I can be flexible. I mean, I can get married at a castle or a mansion. No need to be picky.

So over the weekend Graig and I took a tour of the Vanderbilt Mansion. As we walked around the grounds of this beautiful mansion, with views of the water, we fell in love with the open air courtyard for the ceremony and reception. With the cobblestone ground, the arched doorways and the outdoor staircases, it has an almost Spanish-style feel to it. The reflecting pool and fountain would be perfect for the cocktail hour. This could definitely be an option.