I'm experimenting with cake decorating and will be making the wedding cake. Rachel and I went last weekend to scope out some possible sites for the wedding/reception. We visited St.James,MO and went to the Meramac Winery (nice atrium area, zero parking), then over to the Three Squirrels Winery (down the same road, a few miles further) and they have a covered deck area but it didn't look very stable, it does overlook the vineyards and they are lovely. Rachel wants an outdoor wedding but an indoor reception so that site won't work. Then after a wine tasting at that winery, we went over to Sybil's and had lunch while we checked it out. The place is really lovely, it looks like a really big house and has plenty of parking, the interior is decorated tastefully and upscale. The rooms are smaller than we would like for the reception but it would work great for the rehearsal dinner. We also went and visited Joe at his work and then checked out a place a block away from there called the Public Brewing House. There is really only parking for about 5 cars (no joke) and it seems a little small and dark - ok for a small and intimate party but not nearly open or festive enough for a wedding reception - some of their beer was palletable.
Anyway, that is an update. Rachel and Joe have been checking out some sites while she is on spring break and she is going to come show me some pictures of a place that is past Meramac Springs Park. It is the site of the oldest building in Crawford County, Missouri and is supposedly haunted.