Rubystreak, the winery sounds great. If there’s any of everything that the wine guy turns out not to do, involve the bridegroom in what’s left. Involve him extensively.
Congratulations!
Tabby
You know, I had this “horrible” idea for wedding music for my own (eventual) nuptials that I shared with my fiance, and it was things like playing mostly Tom Waits’ more jazzy pieces… and possibly (if we had table assignments) naming the tables after his song titles.
I hate the wedding march, I don’t know what I’m going to do about this whole “walking down the aisle” thing, and I’m [marginally] obligated to have an attendant. Thing is, my best friends are mostly guys and none of them live near me anymore. I also hate most things that are girly, so this is going to make things more difficult. I understand where you’re coming from on the “let’s just have it in my back yard” idea, and it’s a great one. (I’m going to have to have mine on the beach or something, as nobody I could ask has a back yard, myself included.)
As for dresses that’d be appropriate, J. Crew’s site has a section for weddings, and there are at least a handful of attractive tea length dresses there that’d work. Bonus is that they’re pretty and somewhat fancy [yet understated] and they’re a hell of a lot less than some bridal shop frock.
Anyway, congrats on the engagement, and good luck on the planning!