Our Ridiculous Wedding Wish. Please share.

*If you’re viewing this in a reader/have your images turned off, you might want to head to the original post to see the pretty pictures*

If you’ve spent any time with me, you’ve probably heard me say, “No matter how ridiculous it sounds, just put it in the universe.  You never know.”  That’s how I’ve lived my life for the past eight-ish years, starting with me sitting on my couch after being let go from my last 9 to 5 and making a list of things I wished I could get paid to do [playing board games on my couch with strangers, what?! Resulted in a job that’s not a job and is the best thing that ever happened to me].  And continuing with Housing Criteria [resulted in a converted toy-factory loft], Boyfriend Criteria [resulted in a best-friend turned Fiance and a custom-made cologne], putting on my website that I’m a speaker not because I am but because that lifestyle of traveling to talk about what you love sounds amazing [resulted in two days later getting my first speaking gig in front of 300 at the Museum of Contemporary Art] …

More often than not, not only do things work out, they exceed expectations.  Here’s to hoping that can happen again.  Because Friends, we need us a miracle.

Engagement party invitation created by the sweetest, most creative person in the world (who is also an amazing real estate agent!)

I am recently engaged.  It’s the traditional tale –

• December 2009: Boy attends one of Girl’s events after seeing her post on an improv message board
• With forty strangers in slippers at her home, Girl runs around chopping cheese and handing out nametags, and doesn’t much remember initial meeting of Boy
• Boy sticks around at end of evening and catches Girl’s attention via her love of organization and good food with talk of his spreadsheet ranking Chicago BBQ joints
• Three weeks later, Girl goes to Boy’s improv show
• Two weeks later, Boy and Girl go to a neurofeedback workshop which Boy considers Date #1
• A few days later, Boy and Girl go to an improv show which Girl considers Date #1
• Vase of Fig Newtowns for Valentine’s Day.  Trip to Amsterdam.  Move in together.  Perform on stage in front of 750+.  Proposal in front of a North Carolina waterfall.  The rest as they say is history…

And thus the wedding planning begins and where putting ridiculousness out in the universe comes in.

Our wish – to find a privately-owned gorgeous North Shore North Shore or Chicago house for a low-key backyard wedding 

The Sticking Points 

a) we don’t know any owners of gorgeous North Shore [Evanston to Lake Forest]/Chicago houses,

b) we’re paying for the wedding ourselves and don’t have a lot of disposable income, don’t want to incur any debt, and don’t want to/can’t spend ANYWHERE near the average cost ($27000 nationally!  $53000 Chicagoly!)

Ridiculousness We’re Putting Out in the Universe – an angel to say, “Sure!  I’ll let strangers use my house for their wedding!  For free, for a barter, for a low low price!”

What We Can Offer 

• Chicago Bike ‘n Beer Tour: visit breweries, take a class on home-brewing, sample beers unavailable commercially 
• Workplace Improv: Pete comes to your company and uses improv as a tool for professional development, team building, ideation and problem solving, improving client relations…
• Event in the City: whether it be a night of comedy or inspirational speakers, a hands-on cooking experience or an underground supper club, Saya curates an event for you and your friends in a converted toy-factory loft
• Inpsirational Speaking: Saya comes to your group to talk about how you can live your passions and live a Life of Yes!
• Retreat: Saya curates an opportunity for rejuvenation, escape, learning, connections-making, and inspiration
• Opportunity for you to speak at Potluck!, Ignite, or any other Mac ‘n Cheese/TeamPete offerings
• Marketing: use of our expansive networks to promo your business/your cause/your ______ via e-newsletters, social media, and blogs
• Money-ish
• What else?!?  Let’s brainstorm!

Wedding Wishes* [*beggars can’t be choosers; we’re very flexible and open to creative suggestions] 

• Date: ideal timeframe Spring 2013 to Fall 2013 (ideal month September 2013)
• Number of guests: 120-180
• Backyard to hold late-afternoon into evening ceremony and reception
• Access to kitchen and bathrooms

Getting to Know Saya & Pete

[slideshow]

• Pete
  • 33 years old
  • Director of Financial Aid at University of Chicago’s Business School and Founder of TeamPete
  • From Monroe, Louisiana, where his parents still live
  • Undergrad: Vanderbilt; Grad: University of Illinois
  • Has one brother, a professor of African-American history in Georgia
  • Passions: improv, biking, tech tools that increase efficiency, craft beer, college football, hugs, and chubby animals
  • Accolades of which he’s most proud – Read the Most Books Award, 2nd grade, Jack Hayes Elementary and Takes Care of His/Her Horse the Best Award at Horsey Day Camp
  • Proof you can trust this guy: LinkedIn, TeamPete testimonials
• Saya
  • 33 years old
  • Self-employed, Mac ‘n Cheese Productions [helps folk enhance their lives]
  • From Evanston, Illinois, where her mom still lives
  • Undergrad: Boston College; Grad: University of Chicago* [*this is a lie; see her Wish List]
  • Only child
  • Passions: improv, biking, tech tools that increase efficiency, all things-entrepreneurial, connections-making, working with students from under-resourced communities, and looking in windows of beautiful houses at night
  • Accolades of which she’s most proud – Martin Luther King Scholarship Recipient and one of Brazen Careerist’s Top Twenty Young Professionals to Watch in 2012
  • Proof you can trust this gal: LinkedIn, Mac ‘n Cheese testimonials

So there you have it.  Ridiculousness.  If you’re an angel, please get in touch!  If you’re friends of an angel, please share!  If you have any DIY/budget tips or resources, we’d love to hear them in the comment section.

If this doesn’t work out, we’ll go to Plan B or Plan C, without tears or curses, reminding ourselves that it’s not about the day, but about being with your best friend for the rest of your life, regardless of venue, shrimp cocktails, and empire-waists.  But thought we’d try.