Springfield, MO, USA < change city >

Ceremony:

Historic Firehouse

Hotel:

Residence Inn by Marriott

Rehearsal Dinner:

Bar Venice

Rehearsal Dinner:

Washington Park

Favorite Bars:

Martha's Vineyard

"Essentially the only gay bar in Springfield, a dance club, with Drag shows generally every Friday night. Not a place to find a good stout, but you may find a fruity shot in a test tube for $1. Can get crowded, generally a $5-$10 cover."

Favorite Bars:

Mud Lounge

"A great place for conversation, they have an outdoor deck (the only place you may smoke, indoors is non-smoking), food menu includes hummus and sandwiches, drink menus include espresso martinis, a few wines, a nice list of imported beers, and about 20 single malt scotches."

Favorite Bars:

Tipsy Turtle

"Quite the little dive bar with its gravel parking lot and entrance downstairs in the back, some of the cheapest drinks in town, the option to autograph the brick walls, karaoke on some nights. This was the site of our engagement party shenanigans."

Favorite Bars:

Uncle Bently's Pub & Lounge

"This bar is just down the street from the hotel, and Zio's where Anonymous works as a bartender. This is the bar we go to when we get off work. Featuring a popcorn machine with complimentary popcorn, darts, pool tables, table-top shuffle board. It's high ceilings make it less smokey than some smaller bars. I've never ordered off any kind of menu here. Average drink prices."

Restaurant:

Casper's

"In a metal dome shaped building, on a piece of downtown that some developer would love to get a hold of, Caspers has those thin greasy burgers, chili and good down-home diner food, the local place that Steak-N-Shake wishes it were, and one of Anonymous's favorites."

Restaurant:

Gailey's Breakfast Cafe

"Also owned by the same guys as the Mudhouse and Mud Lounge (some of the hippie and gay friendliest businesses in town). When we lived downtown Anonymous & I used to walk or ride our bikes down to Gailey's every Sunday for breakfast - if you do so, please enter into it with a relaxed timeline - they are a small place that gets very busy on the weekends, so be prepared to wait, and to have to stand to do so, and once at a table be prepared to wait longer still, but the coffee is great, the live music is calming and smile inspiring, all in all a great way to start a sunday, our version of church."

Restaurant:

Haruno Japanese Sushi Bar

"I'm sure those of you from the coasts may not think a land-locked place like springfield is any place to go for sushi, but for those of us who reside here, we've got to get our fix somewhere. I wouldn't suggest going just anywhere in town, I've heard some stories, but Haruno, and its sister resturant downtown, Kai, have some really amazing sushi, as well as some other more cooked and familiar japenese cuisine including chicken and steaks. My favorite is the Jurassic Park Roll, Anonymous and I always savor some White Tuna Nigiri, and Anonymous's fav. is the Oh My God Roll (careful, we think this is the one that comes with pyrotechnics)."

Restaurant:

Kai

"This is the resturant we went out to on our 2 year anniversary when I wanted to propose. They have the largest Sake menu I've found in Springfield, and a really chic decor. Only open for dinner (at least they used to be, I've heard they might be open for lunch) and the later it gets the more crowded it is. One of the swankier places in town. See it's sister location, Haruno, on the south side of town near the hotel on Fremont."

Restaurant:

Maria's Mexican Restaurant Llc

"This is our favorite Mexican Restaurant. We get the Burrito Ordinario, bean & cheese, downtown style (smothered in melted queso), and their quacamole and goat cheese and chorizo appetizers. It's not a very big restaurant, but we like it."

Restaurant:

Thai Pepper

"This is where Anonymous and I had our first date-date. Every time we go we share a curry with tofu, though for you meat lovers out there those are definitely available. I especially enjoy the avocado curry. Careful, its a hard place to turn into as its very near an intersection median on a rather busy street. Their thai food is very good, a friend of ours got chicken fingers and said they were weird, we couldn't figure out why she tried to order mac and cheese and chicken fingers at a thai resturant. Its a tiny place, with a small parking lot, not much to look at, and the service may not be what you're used to, but it's a really good place to eat."

Restaurant:

Zio's Italian Kitchen

"I would be remiss in not map pointing my place of employment and the closest restaurant to the hotel. Be warned, this may not be the best place to grab a bite if you like variety, they are likely catering appetizers at the reception (i got an employee discount) Yet if you choose to dine at Zio's on a Friday or Saturday night, call ahead or a reservation would be in your best interest. My personal favorites on the menu are Chicken Marsala, Chicken Parmesan, Strawberry Field Salad and the California Pizza. I enjoy our Calamari and Italian Stuffed Mushrooms as appetizers. My favorite dessert is the Oreo Mountain, however our Apple Pie is freaking amazing, and our Wedding Cake is delectable. We do offer room service at the Residence Inn that is billed to the room and delivered, but not past about 9pm. PS, please still tip your delivery person, though a gratuity is added, it is split with the hotel, and amounts to a measly 10% for gathering your meal and walking it across the parking lot and then navigating the hotel. You may order bottled waters, wine by the bottle, and 6-packs of beer, which can be convinient but sometimes not the thriftiest way to drink at the hotel, keep in mind alcohol is sold at most all gas stations, grocery stores, and liquor stores in Missouri. (there is a conoco just on the other side of zio's, and a price cutter grocery less than a block south on national)"

Good Parks:

Lake Springfield Park

"I took Anonymous here on our first date, along with my dog Shaquille, it's a big park, with lots of hills, and a big lake (I strongly urge you not to get in the water, I had a drunken skinny dipping birthday in this lake that still grosses me out.) Anonymous urges you to use the facilities before you visit, on our date there were no bathrooms and she spent the whole date having to pee. Note to all you single ladies out there, your date having to meet your parents b/c their house is the closest restroom is not the best way to win a girl over, I don't know how I made it to date #2. I know they built a big lodge or something there, they may have addressed the lack of bathroom issue. My little brother, my dad, and I once got locked in this park when we went sledding, so watch for what time they close."

Good Parks:

Phelps Grove Park

"Our engagement photos that you can find on our website were taken here this past fall, it is a beautiful park with large pavilion and a rose garden, you will find lots of neighborhood folk walking their dogs and jogging around the trail."

Good Parks:

Sequiota Park

"The park I, Anonymous, most often went to as a kid, some great play equipment, good rocks to climb on, some neat wooded trails, a couple of caves, and plenty of ducks if you have a slice of bread in your pocket. Just south a little bit is a bike riding trail. There's a place to rent bikes just across from the park."

Best Coffee:

Big Momma's Coffee & Expresso

"Just a hop skip and a jump from our wedding location, Big Momma's has some great sandwiches, great people, and tasty coffee. We picked this place to meet with our officiant and our band both for the first time. They also opened a second location in the office of our apartment complex, they're so thoughtful."

Best Coffee:

Mudhouse

"Owned by the same people as the Mud Lounge (one of our fav. bars) this chill downtown location offers a wall of loose leaf teas, salads and sandwiches along with cookies and muffins, and free wifi. Frequently voted #1 by 417 magazine readers."

Best Coffee:

Starbucks Coffee Co Inc

"For those of you who love your Starbucks. I gotta say, I understand it, but in my personal opinion, Starbucks has wondered a little wayward. This is the one I used to work at, you can try saying my name, Anonymous, but few are still there who know me, there is not enough room for more than 6 cars in the drive-thru so be cautious at rush hour."

Best Coffee:

Starbucks Coffee Co Inc

"The Starbucks that just laid off one of my good friends, even gourmet coffee is not immune from this recession. Besides the three on this map, any Starbucks you may find is a licensed store owned by the entity that houses it, such as Target, Price Cutter, Bass Pro, so I shall make no recommendations to these places."

Best Coffee:

Starbucks Coffee Shop

"The closest Starbucks to the hotel."