WEDDING PHOTOS: BRIDE + GROOM

One of the biggest disappointments in taking a hiatus from this blog was knowing I'd miss getting to share all of the wedding planning we did and the outcome of it all. I decided I wanted to share our wedding photos here because, well why not? The day was nothing short of perfect. Of course it didn't go completely planned, but I am okay with that now. These photos just make my heart so happy. I loved getting to share this special day with so many friends and family members, and being married to this guy is so much more fulfilling than I could have ever imagined.

I'll be breaking these posts up into different categories and posting them once a month. That way it's not overwhelming, but I want to have these in this space. That's important to me. I think these might be my favorite of all of them. The secret meeting, the hands thrown in the air in celebration. The lip gloss stain on the collar of his vest. The stolen kisses in between shots. The look on his face, staring at his new wife. It's bee a little over 6 months since we got married, and I've only fallen more in love. Going through these pictures felt so good. I was able to relive that day, and I swear I even felt the same butterflies I felt standing at the top of the walkway moments before I heard the knee weakening sound of "Your Hand in Mine" start playing. I think I will insist that we do that each and ever year our anniversary comes around. Look at these pictures. Relive the day, and fall in love all over again. 

Happiness comes in leaps in bounds

Today was supposed to be easy going and fun. Dakota and I had no set plans today so I planned to sleep as late as she did, then get up and fix a big pot of coffee for me (some mini pancakes + juice for her) and head to our secret little thrift spot. Well we did get to sleep in, until 9:38 to be exact!, but when we got up my mom called needing our help at work because she needed to be somewhere by a certain time. I didn't mind helping, and she always pays me really well, so Dakota and I packed up and went to help. By the time we were done it was time for Dakotas nap, so we couldn't really thrift then either and I told myself we would after she woke up.  While she was not napping for over an hour in her room I went from perfectly fine to having an awful headache within what seemed like 15 minutes. (I think it was because my bun was too tight, ha.) So when I finally realized Dakota wasn't napping today, I got her out of the crib and we spent the rest of the afternoon watching Yo Gabba Gabba because my head hurt way to bad to do anything else, and we didn't have any medicine, anywhere. I texted Angela and begged her to bring me some when she got off. She did, just like she always does anytime I ask something of her, and by the time Bean got off of work I was feeling quite a bit better. 

We had plans to go to Food Truck Thursday in hopes of finding someone to cater our wedding. The top three people we wanted to do it for us ended up already being booked on that date, or just being too shady to ever give me a call back. Our menu plan was fair foods: corn dogs, corn on the cob (fair style, because that's my favorite!), and friend pickles. Turns out it's harder than you think to make these things, and even if someone can make them, they don't really want to do it! We did get to go the food trucks, but when we got there we felt totally out of place.  We browsed around and none of them had what we were looking for, and then we saw it. A pizza food truck with an ACTUAL brick oven inside of it. Fire and logs and all. Amazing right? I quickly ran up and asked them if they did weddings, and they did!! I got their card and didn't even think to get a pizza to make sure it was good before we booked with them. Bean luckily thought of it, and ordered a sausage pizza. Talk about good, Dakota ate all of it before he even could! I went back and ordered a pepperoni, and we devoured it too. Best part of it all, aside from the working brick oven of course, was that they only do personal pizzas. This seems so ingenious to me for weddings. Each person can order whatever pizza they want and choose from a selection of toppings. Oh, and each pizza is ready in 7 minutes! I am so excited about this! I am a little bummed about not having "fair foods," but I'm pretty sure by this weekend I'll be over it. Besides, they sell pizza at the fair anyway, don't they? ;)

To top the night off, Bean went running with me! Can I just tell you how happy this makes me? Angela and I were supposed to go, but our times didn't match up. Bean didn't want me going alone, so he came with while Jared stayed here with Dakota. We just got back and we're about to devour the cupcakes we got from Lucy and Leo's Cupcakes, a local place in town. They have the cutest shop, and an even more cute trailer.  Bean got carrot cake and I got Classic!

Tomorrow is going to be great too, because I'm meeting with a friend (the leader of the bible study that I've been attending) so she can shellac my nails. She's been raving about it and I'm excited to try it! I'm also picking up some frozen yogurt as a treat! Turns out we both love the Taro with strawberries on top. Yum! I'm really happy with how today played out, and even more happy that we finally have a caterer! xxo, Meghan

What I Wore: Flower Shop Girl

Lately I have been in love with layering dresses over fancy tops with collars! There is something so feminine about a pretty blouse on top of a dress. I don't know why, but wearing this made me feel super fancy. I think it was a combination of the pleats, the lace, the collar, and the fact that I was going to chat about wedding flowers. Yes, that was probably it. For a long while I used to shy away from wearing any type of shirt under a dress, because I thought it seemed fairly juvenile, but I'm glad to say I don't think that at all anymore! And not just because I usually wear a really fancy top, because a few days ago I paired a floral dress over my favorite Bob Dylan tee and was in love with it. Basically, what I'm trying to say here is that I've found confidence in a new type of layering and I want to shout it to the rooftops! 

Dress w/belt, Forever 21

Lace Top, Forever 21

Socks, Forever 21

Oxfords, Target

How was your weekend?  xo, Meghan

This Week I:

-Have really been enjoying the bible study I am apart of.
-Have been calling food trucks non stop. The one we really wanted is booked, and now we have to find a replacement. Wah.
-Got some beautiful new shoes!
-Ordered + printed samples of our wedding invitations! -I can't wait to start addressing them!!
-Attempted to dye my hair with Angela. I wanted a pastel pink strip, and she wanted a lilac one. 2 hours and 25 dollars later, we still have blonde hair. We plan on trying it again soon though!
-Have wanted to buy this dress so many times. -it would be perfect for the rehearsal dinner!
-Received our first wedding order! So exciting!
-Went and shopped around for the different parts of the boys outfits.
-Have continued on my fitness kick/plan with Angela. We rode bikes, and went running (using the Endomondo app) and today we do the kettle bell again. Beach body 2015 here I come ;)
-Have been spending my nights with Bean, at the computer look up things, writing down plans, ideas, and to-do lists. It's been so fun. This really is one of the best times of our lives!
-along with Angela are hosting a giveaway over at Brock Paper Scissors, quick, you can still enter!

This week has me feeling super grateful + sappy. I've actually been feeling this way for a few weeks now, and I don't want it to go away! Like the other day, I was started crying for no reason, other than being happy. If you  know me, this is not something  I normally do, so I am okay with feeling this way! Today my cousin is having her baby. I can't wait to go up and see little David. I'm having a little baby fever here lately! Happy Friday! xo, Meghan

Songbird Saturday:

Well hello Saturday! So good to see you! Today Bean is off, and I am so glad. We plan to make leaps in bounds in the wedding department; including making a registry. I remember making one for Dakota before she was born, and it was so fun. Now this will be stuff for us, not baby! I'd like to open up the comments to any tips or ideas when registering. Are there really any rules? I know it's been a while since I've done a playlist (shame shame) but I wanted to share one I've been listening to a lot this week. Hope you enjoy and have a lovely Saturday! xo. 

Wedding Planning: Dresses

I can't believe that in two days, we will be 6 months away from our wedding date! That is super exciting, and a little bit scary. I am a chronic procrastinator. I love the idea of being on top of everything, and I always am. I take notes, draw up designs, or prep whatever it is I'm working on, but chances are you can find me hours before whatever deadline I have working hard to complete the task. I don't know why I do this, but I do know that I don't want this to happen in regards to our wedding! I do not want to be stressed the day of, or even weeks before! (No bride + groom really want to be stressed, do they?)

So when it came to the dress, I knew I wanted to have it in my hands way before the wedding date. To leave room for alterations, freak accidents, and anything else that can/will go wrong. Truthfully, I had been stalking a dress on pinterest long before Bean and I got engaged. My heart has been set on this dress, and this one alone. I've searched online for one just like it, searched stores locally and in the town our wedding will be held at. I even went with my mom and Angela last week to try on dresses. Just to reassure myself that no other dress + style would compare. The only thing holding me back from hitting the "purchase" button (like yesterday) is that there are no refunds. NO REFUNDS. While in my heart, I am 110% certain this is the dress for me, my mind is having a hard time paying such a hefty price for something that I cannot return if something happens. I've pretty much talked myself into taking the risk, because it's what I love, and I can't find it anywhere else. I thought it would be fun to share a few of the other dresses I was seriously considering!

 Dress A // Dress B

Dress C // Dress D

THE DRESS

I obviously have a very persistent style I am looking for. Knee/Tea length, lace, 50's inspired. What I especially like about this dress is that you can add 3/4 th sleeves; which I will be doing! And, you can add pockets. I am a firm believer that pockets make any dress that much better. If you have any experience with purchasing a wedding dress online, or know someone who does, I'd love to hear from you. Is this the smartest thing to do? I have butterflies, so I think it is! XO.

Wedding Planning: Location, Location, Location

Back story: I've lived in Tallahassee for almost all of my life, and I'm ashamed to say that I had never visited this place until last summer. It's not in Tallahassee, it's actually in a small town in Georgia, but still...I had passed it lots of times and even after making plans to go I never went. Until October. We went on Family Day, because it was free, and got to tour the main house and explore the 3000+ acres of another time. I fell in love instantly, and I just knew that if I ever got married this would be my *dream* location. Even though we weren't talking or planning a wedding, Bean and I came home and looked up all the info.♥

Fast forward to today: When we got engaged (only two months later!) this was the first thing I mentioned! We looked at other places in town, places on the outskirts of town, up, down and everywhere we could look but nothing came close to being as charming as this place. It's a massive, beautifully maintained southern horse plantation. There was only one problem, the insurance lease agreement. Has anyone ever planned/planning a wedding heard of this? I had no idea it existed! The place we want to rent for has a mandatory $300,000 policy, meaning that we have to put our house deed (which um, hello, we do not have!) on the line just to have a wedding. Luckily they offer bonds for people in our situation (read: people who don't own a house)
for the day of your wedding. 

The thing I love most about it though, is that it reminds me of some fancy palace they'd have in England. It has a grass tennis court, a maze, a blacksmith shop, concrete pathways and lots of horses!  Each and every room in the main house had a different wallpaper, and there are well over 15 rooms to the house. My favorite room is the "Native American" Room. It's filled with old guns, so many arrowheads, and has a massive mural painting of an actual battle that the Native Americans were involved in. But all of the rooms are noteworthy.

We've picked a date*, we've picked a theme, we've pretty much picked a bridal party, we've picked a budget, the colors, the dress, the menu, and even the place  but the one thing we are having a hard time picking is where to have the ceremony. There are two beautiful spots: the Main House and the Kitchen Garden. Bean likes the garden, I like the house. I guess it was bound to happen at some point that we would have differing ideas about something! 

*We have a tentative date set for the second weekend in September! The only problem is that another bride wants the second weekend in September. Both the first and second weekend's are open, but it's basically whoever pays first gets to choose. Now, we wouldn't be heartbroken if we had to go with the first weekend (Sept. 1) instead of the second (Sept. 8), but obviously, we'd rather have the second. It all comes down to, like I said, who pays first. We were completely ready to sign the lease agreement, but we are waiting on Bean to get paid before we can move forward. I know that God will provide and have a hedge of protection over us as we try and reserve our date! 

I'm so excited about this, can you tell? I can't wait to go back! ;) xo, Meghan

Wedding Planning: And so it begins

source

It is perfectly okay to be talking about wedding planning, right? We've set a date, and therefor I believe it is completely acceptable to be dreaming up the perfect day! Oh, did I mention it's in 8 months? EIGHT months!!! I've already scribbled down pages and pages into my journal, and devoted an entire board on my Pinterest to the wedding of our dreams! To say I am over the moon excited is an understatement. I plan on sharing our ideas here, just so that I can have another outlet besides my journal, and Pinterest. Kind of like a combination of the two in one place...here.

Anyway, enough of me validating my reasons for why I think I should share this.....and onto the sharing! We've basically got our color scheme, "theme" if you will, ideas for entertainment, dresses and suits (or lack there of!), and venue picked out, but one thing we haven't yet talked about or even taken photos for is Save the Dates/Engagement Photos. I've been poking around, trying to find exactly what we are looking for, but it's sooo hard to choose. There are so many lovely artists, DIY Save the Dates, engagement announcements, types of paper, and commercial places to choose from! These are a few of my most favorite ones:

One // Two♥ // Three // Four //  Five  // Six // Seven + Eight (not pictured!)

See what I mean when I say it's so hard to choose? Aren't they all so adorable? I kind of favor number two because of the story...it's actually true in our case. I haven't told anyone that, but it is! I wonder what people would think if they received that one in the mail? And the ones on the bottom (5 + 6) Are so completely simple, but so cute. We've got a lot of deciding to do! I can't wait! Maybe you know of some awesome sites that do save the dates/invitations? I'd love a link if you do. xo. 

PS, in case you didn't know, those color block sections are our wedding colors! Yellows, Reds, Blues, Creams, and Pinks! When you see what our "theme" is, it will make much more sense.

It's Official...

We are engaged! I'll write more about it sometime this week. But last night, Bean proposed! I am so over the moon and head over heels. I couldn't be more happy! xo, Meg