Location. Location. Location.

At the top of every couple’s Wedding To-Do checklist is deciding on the venue. It’s among the first things you need to secure right away because wedding venues get booked super fast—as in a year or more in advance!

Bernie and I already decided earlier on that we wanted to have our wedding at a winery or a private garden estate.

Our first and top choice was the Grand Tradition Estate and Garden Wedding venue. However, they required a minimum of 75 guests. Bernie and I are sure we wouldn’t have that many people coming to the wedding so that was a clear ‘NOPE’.

I was disappointed though because I really fell in love with the place from the moment I saw the pictures and videos on their website.

But… as with everything else… Bernie and I stand by this guiding principle that if it’s not God’s will, then we need to be okay with it.

So… next!

We were scheduled to take a tour of Lake Oak Meadows Winery on February 19, 2021 at 11 AM.

As soon as we came down the steps leading to the lake, Bernie and I knew, “This is it. This is our venue!”.

Bernie loves woodsy landscapes. I go gaga over lush greenery and breathtaking water features. Lake Oak Meadows Winery gives us all that.

Would you believe that we didn’t really shop around much for venues? In fact, Lake Oak Meadows was just the second venue we’ve actually visited and toured.

But hey… sometimes you just know when you’ve found what you’re looking for. And when you do, what’s the point of continuing to ‘explore other options’?

When you find your perfect location, you just don’t see the need to look any further.

Very much like how our love story began… ❤️❤️❤️