semi-planning a wedding...... the location.

isn't this what you start with first? or is it you pick a date first? either way, I've got nothing. i know what i want.... or do i? well i like garden style weddings. i think that they are beautiful and there are a couple of location around here that fit my liking, like this one.... Hummingbird House....

or like this one.... Rancho Llano DE Los Robles.....

then there is another part of me saying that because I'm in wine country why cant you have it at a winery? a lot of the places are VERY pretty. the perfect time to have one would be in the fall, but for us that is a bad time of year.... everyone in our family has a birthday in the fall/winter. but the problem for me is how pricey it is. i know of one that is so pretty, but because it is also a bed and breakfast, you have to rent the whole place( rooms included) if you are going to have a wedding/reception past 4 pm. like to the tune of 30k. too rich for my blood . at most of the wineries you can only drink their wine and champagne (understandable, they run a business not a charity)and you can't have hard alcohol ( i thought this was a celebration) and some allow beer (whoo hoo). it 's not a huge deal i know, but my family isn't the wine type so now this REALLY wouldn't work.

but there is also the beach. we live SO CLOSE to the beach , it would almost be a crime not to do it there. but there are a few things detouring me from this option. 1. the weather, it can be so unpredictable. windy, foggy, rainy, extremely hot. 2. you couldn't have a reception there, so that's 2 sets of directions you have to give people who have already driven hundreds of miles to see you. 3. there are miles of beautiful coastline how could i pick just one spot.

argh. too many choices for this very indecisive mind of mine. help!