Registry can be found at AllisonJohn.com
John and I (Allison) are both vegan, meaning we don't consume or purchase anything that includes animal byproducts. We don't eat cow cheese or McDonalds chicken nuggets, and we don't purchase leather jackets or down blankets. However, that doesn't mean we don't enjoy vegan alternatives of our old favorites. Anyone who knows me well knows that I have no shortage of vegan strawberry milkshakes, burgers, pesto pasta, and grilled cheeses. I even started an Instagram/Facebook page called @TheSanfordVegan to highlight all the amazing vegan food in North Orlando. We knew from the beginning that we wanted our wedding to be vegan since this aligns with our personal lifestyles, and because we are passionate about plant-based food (often interchangeable with "vegan"). There will be no animal food products available at the wedding; all meals will be entirely plant-based from the hor d'oeuvres to the wine. We hope we surprise you with how delicious the Italian reception dinner is! I can't wait :)
From the beginning of wedding planning, I (Allison) knew I wanted to center the wedding around two themes: local and natural. "Local" means having gratitude for and investing in our Sanford community. We consciously decided to have the wedding venue in Downtown Sanford, just a few blocks from where our home is being built. Another few blocks in the other direction is the High School John and I met each other at (Crooms AOIT). We are utilizing as many local business vendors as possible, with particular emphasis given to women-owned or led businesses. This includes the florist, the favor-makers, the caterers, and the venue itself. "Natural" means finding inspiration in nature, from the plant-based food being offered at the wedding to the decor. No crazy bright colors, no polluting glitter, no obnoxious music. Returning to the source. To the extent possible, we are also trying to limit the amount of waste created at the wedding. Local and natural, for John and I, is a way of life.
After much back and forth, John and I felt that having a dancefloor and DJ at the wedding would be disingenuous. From Day 1, we have felt compelled to instrumental music from classical tunes by Bach to modern covers of musicals. Truth be told, at all the school dances John and I went to (and there were a lot) we mostly connected on the sides of the room, rather than in the center dancing. For these reasons (and many others), we decided to opt for an option we both LOVED instead of settling for one we disliked because of "tradition". Instead of having a typical dancefloor and DJ, we will have a full band of instrumentalists covering many of our favorite tunes. Feel free to get up and dance if you'd like, but there will not be a designated time to "boogie" :)
Yes, the entire event will take place at Venue 1902.