Well, we were actually supposed to be fixed up... unknown to either of us... by our mutual friends Gary and Shelly. Before they had the opportunity to do so, they ran into each other at Sparetime in Seward where Kristi was a bartender. They chatted a bit and at the end of the night Bobby left his phone # on Kristi's car (he knew better than to ask for it IN the bar)... written on a Husker Football Ticket... talk about writing on gold! Kristi called him that night after she closed the bar and they talked for 4 hours... Two days later they had their first date to the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo. Bobby's friend Chad, his wife Jana and their toddler Kendall happened to pull into the parking lot about a minute after they did, so they spent the first part of their date with them. That night, when Kristi went back up to Sparetime to work, her friend Shelly pointed Bobby out to Kristi and told her that she wanted to introduce them... Kristi just smiled and informed Shelly "We spent the whole day at the Zoo!" Later, when Kristi decided to move back to Perryville to start her photography studio, Bobby realized that he couldn't stand to lose her, and moved to Perryville as well.

Ok Folks! We've decided on a wedding site! We've known for a while that we'd like to get married somewhere outside. Since summers in MO are miserably hot and humid, we've opted for a fall wedding! Bobby and I went to two different places to see if they'd work for a ceremony site. The first would have worked, but there was a big machine shed right next to it... Romantic? I think NOT!!! So, then we drove out to Frohna to the Saxon Memorial Village. I loved it and Bobby agreed that it would work and be really pretty!

So! We decided to go for it!

It's all very historic and these are all original buildings that were moved from their original homesteads!

We will be having our reception at the VFW in Chester, Illinois. I'm sure to most people, this sounds like quite a drive... Missouri to Illinois just for a reception!!! In all reality, it's only about a 10 mile drive from the ceremony to the reception, and another 10-12 miles from the reception back to Perryville.

My cousin Jason and his wife Beth had their reception there, and it was pretty fun! So, I hope you're all ready to do the Cha Cha slide, and a few other fun dances. We're gonna party hard people!!!

Because of the locations of everything, we'd recommend that all of the out of towners stay at motels in Perryville. I say motels because my siblings all coming in from out of town, our house will be too full to take on any extras! Sorry!

So, here is the contact info that you'll need to make reservations:

COMFORT INN: 573-547-1727 Ask for the Thole/Stell Wedding Rate (they will have to look this up under Thole) Smoking and Non-smoking available. Breakfast and Internet available (bring your own internet cord) $67.49 + tax

SUPER 8: 573-517-7888 Smoking and Non-Smoking available. Breakfast, Wireless Internet and Indoor Pool. $65.69 + tax

There is also a Travelodge: 573-547-1091 I know they have Internet, I don't have a group reservation here, so I don't know what the rate will be.

For those of you BRAVE SOULS: there is a KOA. They have tent and camper spots available, and they also have cabins to rent. (573) 547-8303. I don't know rates or anything. But you can always call and check yourself!



All three of these hotels are fairly close together. The Comfort Inn and Super 8 actually share a 'backyard' so if people want to get together to visit and hang out, these would be the closest options, and people with kids who want to visit other kids can get together by themselves without having to cross a highway. KOA is about a mile or so away from them.

So, this is what's available! If you're planning on staying in one of them, I recommend calling and making your reservation as soon as possible. The 'block hold' on these rooms will be dropped 1 week before the wedding. Meaning that you can still get one if rooms are available, but I don't know about getting the group rate. In addition to this, if I can check with the motels and see who's made reservations, I'll know who else may need one and can add rooms to the 'block hold'.

So, hope this helps all of you who will be traveling!

We are both so excited to have all of our closest family and friends join us in celebrating this first step in the rest of our lives! We can't wait to see all of you!