Nazareth Hall

Craig and I got out for a really fun lunch date today. I read in a local paper that Nazareth Hall (where we were married) in Grand Rapids hosts a Sunday Brunch every weekend between November and Mother's Day. They serve a buffet breakfast/lunch in the Cadet West ballroom where our reception was held for a very reasonable price. We made a noon reservation, got a babysitter for the kids, and made the beautiful, 45-minute, winding drive out there along the river.

You can read about the interesting history of Nazareth Hall (originally a Catholic boys boarding school built in the 1920's) at nazarethhall.com and also see pictures of the ballroom as I don't have any good shots that offer a broad glimpse of how pretty the room is from the inside.

After brunch, we walked through the building to check out the dressing room where my bridesmaids and I gathered before the ceremony and then outside to the grotto where our wedding was held. It was really fun to see and I even snuck in a smooch right on the spot where we said 'I do' 5 1/2 years ago.


It would have been nice to come back here on an actual wedding anniversary, but ours is October 2nd and that's not within the dates that they offer the brunch. So instead I picked this weekend because we're coming up on another (not-so-acknowledged-anymore) anniversary this week. On the evening of April 15, 1997 (Casey's birthday!), Craig asked me to be his girlfriend after our high school track meet. I was a sophomore; he was a senior. So today we celebrated our nearly 13 years together!

Here are a couple pictures we took today. Behind Craig is the winding path that leads down to the grotto. Not the best of either of us, but the only one of us together.

This is the bridge I walked across to enter the wedding ceremony, so technically it was part of my "aisle".

And this one is just from up one of the little hiking paths overlooking the grotto.

Uh-oh. I'm feeling on the verge... of posting a lot of pictures! I forgot my Flashback Friday last week and I'm just itching to post some flashbacks from our wedding at Nazareth Hall... I don't know... should I? Okay I will. You know I can't resist sharing pictures. Don't worry, I won't go overboard. I'll only post the ones that help showcase the grounds/hall.

Here's the front of the building on October 2, 2004. Our photographer was trying to get artsy-fartsy and the picture is somehow curved.

A view from the side - you can see the round part all the way to the left with the arched windows... that's Cadet West ballroom from the outside.

Some of my bridesmaids in the dressing room before the wedding. Pictured from left: Kelly, Molly, Brittany, Casey and Julie.

Love the light on this one. Dressed and ready to get married!

Gorgeous blue skies on October 2nd! Some of our friends and family walk down the path to the ceremony. There was a golf cart on hand to drive anyone not up for the walk.

A view from below looking up towards the hall.

Family walking across that bridge to be seated.

After a ride down in the golf cart, we snuck into a tent they had set up off to the side so as not to be seen.

Another "artistic" shot of the aisle.

Our original guest list was trimmed down from about 600 to about 300. We packed them into a very small area!

Love this picture of Craig. And I also love to see how young and different my brothers look (far right).

Ahh! I cannot believe how beautiful the day turned out to be despite the forecast. I LOVE the fall and we so desperately wanted an outdoor ceremony. It was perfect! At this moment, Enya's "Only Time" was played as my dad waited for me to meet him across the bridge where he escorted me the rest of the way.

I loved this day and wouldn't change a thing. I always say I wouldn't do it over again because I want to remember the day exactly as it was. I was so calm! Surrounded by family and friends, outside on a beautiful fall day. We wrote our own vows and had a wonderful celebration that followed.

Our bridal party on the bridge.

So much fun with my best girlfriends, taking LOTS of pictures!

We're married!!!

Okay, so clearly I'm not doing a very good job keeping my flashbacks to just one or two pictures. I'll really try to work on that this week. :)