Getting married! Let’s Party!

Two people from Buffalo, NY, met for the first time in Miami, Fl after a Buffalo Bills game on 9/20/21 (which makes our wedding date extra special). Altinise was tricked into coming to the after party (she thought her friend group was going to ride bikes on the beach), Keith knew one of her friends and sparked up conversation - it was dry, Altinise DID NOT want to be there, haha. The following week, Keith was on one of his routine trips to Buffalo and asked his mutual friend to connect him with Altinise. From that moment forward, it felt like it was meant to be; they talked for hours each night, learning of the multiple connections they shared. They officially became a couple during another Bills trip in Tampa and Altinise moved to MN 2 months later. Talk about fate and destiny! Shout out to the friends that faked the bike ride to put her in position to have a fairy tale ending.

Our first phone call took place at the Chicago airport, Altinise was leaving from a girls trip that went wrong and called Keith to vent, we talked for 4hrs. It made Chicago a special place for us, despite the circumstances. When it was time to propose, Keith wanted to do it somewhere that had meaning. Chicago came to mind, he could pop the question in the very city that sparked their deep connection. The plan went off without a hitch, Altinise was once again tricked (this time in a good way), she thought they were simply going to dinner and taking a stroll through Chicago’s honeycomb along the way. After taking in breathtaking views, a drone appeared in the sky carrying a letter with Altinise’s name on it. When she turned to grab the letter, Keith went down on one knee to pop the question. As she turned around, the shock and awe hit and she provided an excited YES! They went to dinner at The Signature Room, viewing the city’s skyline while recounting the events of the day. As they returned to the hotel room, the kids surprised Altinise with balloons and a huge congratulations sign. The nightcap was another surprise where Keith shared plans to keep the party going with plane tickets to Paris immediately after returning from the Chicago trip.

From the very beginning, we knew we wanted to provide an experience for our guests. What we didn’t know was what kind of experience we’d settle on. Our journey started with looking at Vineyards in California, Destination to the Bahamas, Mansion in the Hamptons, and here’s the kicker (this is when Keith tapped out), a Yoga Retreat in Montana. For whatever reason, each idea fell flat and just didn’t “stick” for Altinise. She got stuck on a Glamping experience and found Walden Retreats in good ole Hill Country Texas. She fell in love with the venue and we quickly paid the deposit before she could change her mind, haha.