My Christmas gift to you all is to happily inform you that not only has an official date been chosen, but the location of not only the wedding but the reception has been as well. Tracy and I are happy to announce that we have chosen a very unique location to have our wedding. The choice of locations was actually difficult and the road to our selection was riddled with obstacles. First there was a pricing problem, many of the locations we were interested in had a minimum bill of $10,000 attached to them, and that was the minimum. While I want Tracy to have a wedding to remember, spending that kind of cash just seems excessive for folks of our age; not that we are old, but we aren't 25 either.

The next obstacle we encountered was physical in nature. We had wanted to get a quote from our favorite winery in Rockwall, but alas, while they were interested in having the wedding they just didn't think they could handle the event yet. They might be able to, depending on whether their new facility is complete in November, but didn't feel it fair to put our wedding in such uncontrolled peril. The wedding there would also have been on the expensive side, while cheaper than some other options we looked at in Dallas.

Finally an idea that had popped up early on in the decision making process reappeared. The location is far less traditional than even the winery would have been, but the establishment has charm and character and has the benefit of being someplace the two of us already enjoy. I actually eat lunch there all the time and have been a regular customer now for nearly 2 1/2 years. This establishment also plays into a recurring theme of our wedding... Ireland. If you know me at all and live in Dallas then you may have already determined that the location I am referring to is Trinity Hall at Mockingbird Station.

Trinity Hall is an Irish Pub designed in the tradition of the actual pubs of Ireland and England. The floors and bars are all made of solid wood and the entire place just has a certain special feeling about it. I know the owners fairly well and they have agreed to host our wedding. We have yet to work out all of the particulars, but we do know the event will be on Nov. 5th, 2006 and be held in the afternoon. More than that I can not yet say, but details should now be more forth coming.

Right now you are thinking, "A pub? Are they nuts?" Well, maybe so, but with my Irish blood and an engagement ring that came from my Irish great grandmother (for whom I was named, Madden) it does just seem like the perfect location. We plan to hold both the wedding and the reception there making the event as easy as possible on our guests. There is plenty of parking, and it is covered to boot (no fees either). Tracy loves the idea and most of those we have spoken to about it feel it an excellent location, all-be-it a strange one. Most are more surprised about having the ceremony there than the reception, but to us having the two events at separate locations just creates more problems for everyone than is necessary.

There is one other benefit too. Each time I go in there over the next year I will know that Trinity Hall is where I am to be married; and once I am married I will be able to go in there anytime and say, "I was married here," to myself. Most don't often get a chance to return to where they celebrated their wedding.

So, whether you are shocked or just think the idea grand, our wedding will be held at Trinity Hall in Dallas. If you haven't been there, I can promise you that it is a wonderful place and they will take first class care of us during the whole event.

We wanted you all to know the important news and we felt telling you on Christmas was a perfect time. We have a long road ahead of us, but we feel the managers and employees of Trinity Hall are an excellent choice to help us achieve our goal of having a fun and friendly wedding.