I think Packer Lake Lodge offers a very reasonable cost for vacation lodging. We do an annual trip to the Outer Banks of NC during the week preceding Labor Day. The cost of the OBX rental homes can go from $1,500 to $15,000 per week depending on the dates, location of the house (beach front, etc.), number of bedrooms, and other amenities. Our house is mid-range and we go during mid-season, We rent a beachfront house, 7 BR, 7 full bath, 3 masters with private baths, 2 queen bedrooms with a shared hall bath, 2 bunk rooms, 4 beds each room. The house has comfortable seating for 12-14 for meals, full kitchen, LR, greatroom. Best part is the ground floor "game room" with pool table, fooseball, TV, etc., along with a second small kitchen. Gives the kids a place to hang out at night as there really isn't much to do at night, other than mini golf. A small price to play for a visit to a very isolated beautiful part of the Country. Most of the homes in OBX now offer in-ground pools after the run of shark attacks a few years ago. We usually go with two other families, so it does make it more affordable and the kids love it. Our house is the norm of the rentals, there are much more ritzy homes with high end furniture, etc. I want to be able to relax and not worry that one of my kids will break something that I can't afford to pay for:From what I've seen of Packer Lake Lodge's website, I'd love to visit. Our family enjoys activity packed vacations. We love to be outdoors from sun up to sun down. Thanks for all of the info. Is it even possible to get cabins? I would love to propose this place for a year or two from now as it looks as though all of the weeks for this season are already taken.

I agree that there's not a polite way to ask people to pay for their own dinner at a wedding. I'm a believer in giving the party you can afford and leaving it at that. I would be way happier at a reception with cake only than at a reception where I'm expected to pay my own bill for dinner. I like joann's idea of simply serving cake immediately after the ceremony, with that being the end of the actual wedding. Then spread the word about where people are gathering for dinner later that evening, informally as joann suggested. Of course this somewhat depends on the time of the wedding. It would probably need to be early afternoon, maybe 1:00 or so. Then everyone comes to the wedding, eats some cake, and is ready for dinner at 7 pm. The wedding party has plenty of time to do photos on the mountain between the cake reception and dinner. And no one is obligated to attend the dinner. Those who wish to can, and those wish to go their separate way can. Just make sure that everyone is informed about the dinner location so that there are no hurt feelings later on since you're doing this by word of mouth.

Here is a home with a mix of white and wood trim - I would leave the beautiful trim wood, but if there are rooms with cheaper wood trim, those could go white. https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/Pacific-Grove-CA/fsba,fsbo,fore,cmsn_lt/pf,mmm_pt/house_type/19323966_zpid/33300_rid/globalrelevanceex_sort/36.65933,-121.861554,36.568252,-121.980858_rect/12_zm/? If you have solid wood doors, don't paint them, though do what you like to hollow core or MDF doors. Wood with white trim is a pretty combo: Painted wood panel doors can be a pain to upkeep - the painted door show more scratches and the wood moves with changes in temp and humidity causing hairline cracks at the joints. Wood paneled doors are classic - less susceptible to changes in paint / style trends I have a similar kitchen which I did in a vintage style without painting the cabinets. I used the Kohler Whitehaven "short apron" style farm sink which can be installed on a standard sink base cabinet: https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~93784356 https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~93784291 If you don't want to do a farm sink, but give the feel of one, curtain the sink base. This is my basement kitchenette which I put together with some of my original kitchen cabinets (refinished) and my old cast iron sink. https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~65270573 Some inexpensive ideas for decor are vintage china plates (I spent less then a few dollars on many of mine), botanical art, floral art and vintage finds.

It would take A LOT of cleaning out. The decor hides what might be a hidden gem. The B&B idea seems about its only hope.