The Best Day EVER! - {The Ceremony -part 1}

press play

Butterfly Waltz - this was actually the song our parents and grandparents

were seated during.

I've always been in love with sappy love movies. I pretty much know all of them BY HEART. Seriously. I wanted to tie in my "fairytale love story movies" into our wedding decoration. So, my bridesmaid, Rach & I painted the boards with quotes from different movies. These quotes related to our relationship or defined us in some way. We used my handmade shower tree arrangements to give these signs a pop! I loved this. This said Jessica written all over it. Also pictured is our lemonade stand. My oldest niece and nephew served cups of lemonade as our guest walked up. It was a big hit!

Our Ceremony was one of my favorites parts of the day.

I thought I'd be ready for it to be over with but really...

it was special & so much fun.

{taken right before we walked out}

{stop right there, don't go any further... Turn OFF the other music,

you have to listen to the music as you read so press play.

everytime i hear this music, i melt completely

and these moments are played over and over in my head.

seriously, one of the best moments of my life, hands down.

The number one photo I wanted was to see his face when he first saw me. This is my most favorite part of any wedding. I always {as all three Moms are doing in this picture above} look at the groom when the bride enters because I feel that's the one true moment it really hits him.
In this case, he teared up  "like a baby", or say they say. Mama said she had to tell Mr. Paul {my FIL} to give him his hanky. Aaron says (and told everyone all night} "The gnats were bad. They loved my eyes." as he laughed about getting sappy.  The first picture is my first eye to eye look at Aaron. As you can see it took time getting to him & the aisle. Everyone could see me and my Dad but I couldn't see him until I turned the corner.  

I remember my heart racing as I struggled to hold my 12 lb bouquet along with the family tradition bible & hanky... with.one.hand but at the same time being extremely calm.
I also remember worrying because as soon as I hit grass my dress felt like as if I were dragging what I thought was my slip falling but really was my train dragging behind us.

I prayed and prayed for months that I wouldn't sob like a baby... because I always do in every movie or special moment, through the ceremony. I got a little teary eyed walking up to everyone and then remember getting super excited once I saw faces that looked fimiliar. As I turned the corner to the aisle and to see my handsome groom I got pretty teary eyed...


{to be cont'd} EXTRA INFORMATION: DIY: The Ceremony/Reception boards were bought at Hobby Lobby
& were marked down to 90%. Orignally had a westen/horse/cowboy look to it. However, I painted it with chalkboard paint & made it our own!

 ALL CEREMONY music was instrumental music
played by my Uncle Joe, our pianist DIY: Not the best picture of the boutonniere, but ALL of our boutonnieres were handmade {by me}. They represented each guy in some way. pictured above {My Dad, Aaron} is NASCAR Racing. It isn't a very good picture, but you will see more. Go to THIS post to see Aaron's boutonniere.  My bouquet: Yes made of broaches. It took LOTS of time to put this together but it was VERY special to me. You'll have to wait and see why later.  

... first time a bride is nervous. [today]

75 days to go...

For the most part everything is .... done. There are no more decisions. We just have to get it ready and prepared and finish making everything on my 2.5 page things to finish list.
Seeing I only had 75 days to go, I can say that today was the FIRST day my tummy was filled with butterflies. Is that good or bad?

 My Bridal Bash
[... was perfect]

June 4th - 12am

-a day for my maids & moms to gather around and work on wedding projects. Discuss the wedding day and wedding details.

Mom made us matching shirts & really out worked herself in order to make this day perfect for me. She had each of us a little bridesmaid dress cookie with our initials on them, they were adorable. She served a beautiful array of delicious appetizers and had tables set up where we all could interact with each other. She is so amazing. As the ladies arrived, my excitement grew beyond. I can't imagine how ill be on the big day. I was able to show them everything that had been in the making for the past few months; centerpieces, favors, arrangements, the guest book, and other small details. My favorite thing to share was our reception dinner table 'look'. All the girls fell in love which of course brought me to cloud nine. We ate then started on my table centerpieces. After that we worked on other small petty things that needed to be put together or tucked away in the "reception" / "ceremony" boxes. Time flew by but I can say I was able to sit back and soak in the moment of wedding galore. They even talked me into trying on my Maggie Sotterro. The day was perfect.



[each of these were hand made by Mama]


[just a few of the bridesmaids cookies]





[Mama, Me, Mrs Kandi, & Grammye]







Me & Dani - my maid of honor


My sister, Kim & also my Matron of Honor, Myself & Dani



Me & my Mama♥
Thank you so much Mama! :) Love you to the moon & back♥

What's been happening lately:

DIY PROJECTS:  are coming along. In the past month or two I've been working very hard on the small details of the wedding. The little things that most of my guests will not understand but when I look back it will have so much meaning to me. Most of everything I've picked out or created has a story to tell. It resembles something between Aaron and myself or defines us in some way or another. I wish I could share however you'll have to wait 73 days (+ some).  The Officiant: We met with our officiant back in May.

Dr. Joe Holloway, he is a preacher & also a teacher from our high school. Aaron and I didn't really know what to expect but maybe discuss vows and how the day will work out.

Little did we know, we'd be counseld. I knew Aaron was gonna give it to me as we sat in the car that night, however he felt the same way as I did. Very happy and really enjoyed the counseling session. Invitations: Were ordered, printed, & as soon as I got them in my hands I started addressing the envelopes. They are done. Waiting to be stamped and mailed out on July 1st. I'm very happy with the way they turned out. For not having a lot of high spirts with them in the beginning, I couldn't be happier. I will share them in a few weeks! Music: is finally ready. Even our first dance song! Yay! Favors: Remember we are doing two favors. I've probably put most thought & work into our music song choices and our favors. However, I'm VERY excited about these two things.

Upcoming Events:

Thursday: First Dress fitting/alterations. Remember back around THIS time, I did a whole lot of talking about getting rid of my armpit tit fat... okay, well was completely GONE when I tried it on at the bridal bash.Yay! My wedding weight loss goal was to loose 18 pounds. Happy to announce I'm 17 down and still have two months to go. Yay!

Sunday: My first shower; Around the Clock Shower. Bridget [Soon to be Sister in Law] & Lexy [Aaron's Cousin] are the hostess'. I'm pretty excited to see Aaron's family & family friends, and what time of the day everyone was given. Exciting!

... and last but NOT least.
Due to my lack of blog posts, I did not get to share my joy and happiness of Mrs Caitlin's Wedding [A Journey from Miss to Mrs]. Some of you may know her, she's a hometown friend who just experienced her fairytale wedding. June 10th she married her soul mate, Cliff. They had a beauitful rustic themed wedding. If you know Caitlin & read her blog, you will know she is very much a southern lady with a southern soul. 
 Here are just a few moments I was able to capture.


Mr & Mrs Cliff Young♥


Okay, so my camera isn't the best.
First Dance Song!


Grooms Cakes


Wedding Cake


I hate my arm in this picture.


Before leaving for the night...
Loved the streamers, very cute idea!



Off to honeymoon in ....
Mexico!
[They had no clue where they were going until .. Well I don't know really.. haha!]

... and of course, this is my & my love♥

Take THREE.....
He's trying very hard not to blink.

Well, that's all folks!

Unique ways to make your wedding day stand out

Total Days of Engagement= 252♥

... day 137♥

As of right now, we are dead in the middle of planning. Things are still going smooth. However, maybe feeling a little... I wouldn't call it stress, maybe intention? I don't know. Mine & Aaron's wedding day is right around the corner. We have accomplished so much, yet still have ways to go.
I will say that my wedding day is completely planned out. Everything is bought & purchased, [minus the itty bitty last minute stuff that must wait]. I've always been the type that knows what I want & how I want it. I owe my Mom my life. Thanks to her, we are able to be ahead of schedule with everything that needs to be done.
Our goal is to have everything [w/ reason] completely and ready to go, by August. Can we do it? Suuuuure!

I've never been the [hmmm, well... I don't know] or [Let me rest on it] kinda person. I'm quick to make decisions. I think it falls under the hyperactive part of me. Our check lists are made, therefore we know what needs to be done. Being our wedding is 75% handmade [DIY], we must get on the ball. My parents upstairs family room & our spare room is vomiting wedding all over the place. It's absurd.

My wedding experience has been the dream of mine since I was four years old [Thanks to "The Little Mermaid]. For years now I have been researching weddings, cutting out articles & clippings of ideas I loved. I had my own little notebook of wedding etiquette & pictures. I even had my bridal party picked out [which has changed] and where they would stand. Crazy, huh? The little things matter to me. They always have & always will. On the day of September 3, 2011 there will be all sorts of things symbolizing Mine & Aaron's relationship. Most people will not know what it is, but when I sit down with my little girl many years for now having that conversation that all little girls love, How Daddy & Mommy met & fell in love, I want my wedding album to tell a story. 
For the past weeks, I've been spending my weekends, [really enjoying down time] at home working on the this & thats, that are on my must have list. With a little painting, cutting, gluing, even designing, the project list goes on and on. Aaron thinks I'm nuttos, however he has his input and ends up loving the finish products. In June, My Mom is hosting a Bridal Bash at her house where all my maids will gather together for a brunch like day, working on different ceremony & reception projects. I am crazy excited, very much looking forward to this day. The ladies are pretty stoked about it as well. They've heard about the different ideas and thoughts I've had since we went wedding dress shopping together [back in February], however they haven't really seen much.

So for now, that's it. As much as I'd LOVE to share each project step by step. I'll have to wait until we are married and the party is over. Sad. I had all intentions in sharing. I didn't really care who saw what, because I feel on that day you will get a whole lot more out of it. Buuutttt.... It's better off this way. You'll just have to hear my words & thoughts. [B.O.R.I.N.G]

With that being said, you should know that you can do SOOO much in order to make your day so meaningful, original, & memorable.
Here's just a few. Take a look:

Guest Book Ideas:






Wedding Signs


Brides Bouquet





The Look & Feel....

Romantic Love


Would be cute, if the Mr & Mrs met at a carnival


A Country Kinda Love♥

Table Numbers








&&& There is many many other ideas. You just have to look. 
See ya next time♥

[Note: Tomorrow I go for my first hair trial. Yay!]
Happy Wednesday!