OUR WEDDING PHOTOS ARE HERE!
I have been looking forward to this moment since the wedding. Pat and I were so in love with the venue and how beautiful nature was all around us. And all our family and friends made the reception tent look like an extension of our garden wedding. We just knew all the wonder and magic would shine through the photos and we were right!
I had quite a few questions come through on social media and from family, so I thought I would put together a little q&a on our wedding and answer them for you guys!
PLANNING AND EXECUTION
What was the one unexpected thing you didn’t plan for that happened?
We forgot the Bible in my car for the ceremony readings, so when my Officiant called to our readers to step forward and read their excerpts…there was nothing to read. Luckily, my mom (the first reader) had a version of it on her phone so she read from that. Sadly, my beautiful niece who was so excited to read wasn’t so lucky so the officiant had to wing the reading. Haha!
Did you plan by yourself or hire a wedding planner?
I planned all of it with Pat but we did have a ‘month-of-planner’. She ensured that during the final month, we had a bit more peace of mind. We also had one of our vendors get an attitude with us for asking questions about logistics so she helped step in and get them to see why we needed to know the answers to the questions.
How many guests were invited/attended?
We had 150 guests in total in attendance. We probably invited close to 170, but not all at once. About 70 invitations were sent at first (with +1s), knowing that we would likely get people saying they couldn’t come; especially on my side of the family. Most of my family is elderly and didn’t feel comfortable with travel during the pandemic. Because many seats opened up, we were able to invite some of our other friends who were able to join us on our wedding day.
Did you have a male bridesmaid?
I did – but we dubbed him a ‘bridesman’! He was one of my best friends at my first job and I had the pleasure of going to his wedding a few years back. I always teased him saying that he would be a bridesmaid for me someday. So, when it was my turn to propose to my bridesmaids, I asked him! His wife was an honorary bridesmaid – She came on my bachelorette trip and made the best biscuits + gravy I’ve ever had. Plus, this husband and wife duo are apparently flower arrangement wizards! They helped put together most of the bouquets and some floral pieces. If you guys are reading this, love you!
How long did your wedding take to plan?
It took us roughly nine months to plan. I was spending a lot of time DIY-ing the decor and execution of our plans.
Is there is one thing you could do differently from your wedding day and/or planning what would it be?
I think it would have been better if we had gone even earlier to the venue. Starting to decorate at 8 am was not early enough. I also had too much decor (better too much than not enough) but I wish I had condensed it down a bit more. There was a lot to get through while we also needed to be getting ready.
PERSONAL PREFERENCES
First look or no first look?
I wanted Pat to see me for the first time (in the dress,) as I was coming down the aisle. I guess I am a bit more traditional than I had thought! But we also didn’t spend the night away from each other because my bridesmaids were staying in my house and we all needed to decorate the venue in the morning. It didn’t make sense to sleep apart.
Instead of a first look with Pat, I did a first reveal with my dad! It was so cute. You can’t really tell in the photos, but I’ll never forget my Dad’s eyes welling up with tears when he turned around to look at me. I also took that time to give both my dad and my mom gifts. I bought these super cute handkerchiefs off Etsy and personalized them.
Did your wedding party all stand up with you or did you have them sit during the ceremony?
We had everyone stand up with us! We barely had any room on the raised stage/platform area, so they stood slightly below us. But everyone looked so great and I wanted them to be a big part of our day.
When and where did you do the bouquet toss? Did you do a garter toss?
I did my bouquet toss towards the end of the evening on our outdoor dance floor. It was a bit tricky because there were hanging market lights but I managed to arch the bouquet throw just right! We did do a garter toss, though. Pat and I felt that it was something fun for the single ladies and guys to do, and we both were comfortable and happy with our decision. We did not make the catchers dance together, or even take photos together – we thought it would be too weird. There are plenty of weddings that only do the bouquet toss and that’s also okay! Do what you are comfortable with – it’s your wedding after all.
RELATIONSHIP
What has changed in your relationship with your husband after being married?
Literally nothing. He was my best friend before and still is. 🙂 We did upgrade our pet names for each other, though. I’ll spare you the embarrassing details.
What was your most favorite moment of the entire day?
I think my favorite moment(s) were the speeches. Our Best Man, Maid of Honor, and my dad killed their speeches. All three of them made Pat and me both cry like babies. Though we did not have a videographer, we did have a friend record the speeches so we can rewatch whenever we want.
Number 1 tip for a great relationship?
Communication. No one is a mind-reader. If something bugs you, speak up. If something excites you, share! But also, know that kindness goes a long way. No one likes being around people who are always brutally honest. Being a good communicator is knowing your audience and how they would best react and receive a message.
How did he propose?
Read all about that HERE.
FASHION
What shoes did you wear?
I wore Charlotte Olympia x Puma Sneakers and Neil Lane x Nine West Embellished Pumps in White.
Who designed your headpiece?
How did you choose your dress?
Read about the whole experience HERE.
Who designed your jewelry?
My matching sapphire and white gold teardrop earrings/necklace are from Helzberg Diamonds.
VENDOR INFORMATION
Photographer: Noir9 Creatives |
Photobooth: Bunn DJ Company |
Venue: Morning Glory Farm |
Flowers: FiftyFlowers |
Catering: QC Catering |
Cake: Publix Bakery |
Coordinator: A Simple Affair Events |
Wedding Gown: Amsale |
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I’m happy to say that I was able to have fun on my wedding day. I understand there aren’t many brides who can say that because the day is honestly stressful and jam-packed. While it was definitely stressful and packed with many things to do, Pat took the brunt of it on in the morning. I am beyond grateful for him and every single person who helped us pick up breakfast/lunch, the cake, decorate, etc. We were able to have our dream wedding because of everyone taking my prep work and floor plans and putting everything together. I am so blessed to be loved by such wonderful friends and family.
xo,
