Weddingbee Blog

I can truly say that as a kid I never thought about my wedding. Like most little girls, I played house with my dolls and knew I wanted the real version of this marriage/kids situation someday. But, for whatever reason, I never imagined the wedding part.

I was never really interested in the whole “princess for a day” notion of a wedding. I still, to this day, don’t get it—why does marrying someone turn you into a princess? (Unless your husband is a prince, Kate Middleton.) I never oohed and ahhed when we drove by a wedding party or bride. I wasn’t even a tomboy; I just was unfazed by such things. I think I was too busy eating Yodels or something.

Mmmm, Yodels / Image via Drakes Cakes Online

So, when we got engaged I was sort of starting from the beginning.

After I realized Mr. Porcupine would truly never be cool with an elopement (yeah, like I said I’m an oddity—*I* want to elope and he does not), I started doing some research. It was then that I discovered sites like Style Me Pretty and learned about the whole rustic-chic, barnyard, farm, DIY wedding style that existed. Call me clueless, but growing up in NYC I never knew this was something people did.

Image via Green Wedding Shoes / Photo by Cameron Ingalls

Image via Style Me Pretty / Photo by Jessica Smith Photography

Image via Style Me Pretty / Photo by Candi Coffman Photography / Event planning & design by Zinke Design

I quickly realized this style does not exist, really at all, in NYC. Although I love a huge bash at a catering hall, the whole catering hall/classic ballroom style, which is most popular and readily available here, just doesn’t seem to fit us. (I see all my friends rolling their eyes right now—so guys, I SEE you. Quit it.) I also didn’t want a restaurant or loft wedding. Too artsy and modern for us. There are some rustic-type options outside of the city on Long Island and in New Jersey, but they were not exactly right or on the affordable end. (Long Island vineyards—YES! Price tag—NO. *Snookie wahhh*) I was never set on the idea of getting married in NYC, and this sealed the deal.

After three and a half years of dating Mr. Porcupine, I was pretty sure I liked the idea of getting married in Pennsylvania, where he grew up. His brother’s wedding was a tented reception on a giant farm and, yes, this city girl loved the country feel even though I’m pretty sure I am made out of concrete. Plus, there is something so refreshing and relaxing about whenever we get the chance to get out of the city and spend some time in Pennsylvania.

Luckily, Mr. Porcupine was fine with this. He liked the rustic idea I was throwing at him. He also agreed that the classic ballroom thing wasn’t really us. I did some Knot searches for venues in the area by his town (pre my discovery of Weddingbee). I found a few places I loved and showed them to Mr. Porcupine. He’s pretty laid back, so there was a lot of nodding, OK-ing, and “sounds good”-ing before he went back to reading Sports Illustrated headlines online.

So off we went a few weeks after our engagement to check out our top four or five. We didn’t plan to book one. We had already made plans pre-engagement to go down to visit Mr. Porcupine’s family. We figured, while we were there, why not look at a few places? We each already had a favorite we were leaning toward.

Was your venue search a mutual agreement?