Wedding Wednesday: Photographer Edition

I found our photographer! And I am obsessed!Her photos are exactly what I have been looking for!Finding the perfect photographer was a HUGE deal for me and the one element that I was really willing to splurge on.She is a pro at natural lighting, her photos are journalistic, natural and very organic.  None of that cheesy nonsense.I met with her last Sunday and knew right away that I was going to LOVE working with her!Anyone that suggests we meet for drinks is going to be an instant fave with me.Leslie that has been around the wedding industry for years and is able to be real with brides. She is one of those people that has a calming effect, which can be especially handy when we Brides get a little ridiculous.You know cause it can happen...she recommends having a mimosa in hand for times like those.Leslie has some of the best packages and price options that I have found!  and she travels all of the time! If any of you girls are interested!Check out her work! HERE. It's stunningly beautiful! 

 

and I am really loving the style of the bridesmaid dresses from her last two weddings.I cannot wait until we get to work with her for our engagement photos!On emore thing to officially mark off of the To-Do List!

Wedding Wednesday: Engagement Party Edition

Prepare yourself!  Picture overload headed your way!

I planned everything myself, so of course it looks like children's birthday party.  

I can't help it.  I just love bright colors!

We had it at Avondale Brewing in Birmingham, AL. (I told you it was our favorite!)  

With Saw's BBQ for lunch and snacks.

The first picture is when everyone first started arriving. 

Dad brought me scarf back from Saudi Arabia.  And then showing me how to properly wrap it.

Our family photo minus Sam's brother and fiancé who were unable to come.

she made me move so that she could stand next to HER "baby"

Our sweet friends gave us a framed picture from our engagement night

Charlie's Angels is back.

and my favorite! picture of the day

We had so much fun at our engagement party!  We are so lucky to have so many good friends and family that love us. Thanks again to all that came and helped us in celebrating the beginning of this new chapter in our lives!

Event photos by Ginnard Photography

I said Yes to THE Dress!

Last Sunday I gathered mi familia and we trekked up to Huntsville, AL 

to the most adorable family owned bridal boutique!

These girls were amazing!  They were so helpful, patient, and sweet!

This really was the best experience I could have ever imagined! 

hungover and exhausted from a weekend full of wedding festivities.

I have some serious anxiety about making big purchases when my mom is around already 

...and this was like the holy grail shopping trips!  

Last time it was when I was buying a car.  

I got so tired of listening to her that I just gave up and bought the most impractical car possible.  

A VW W3 Turbo Bug.  I drove it for three years.  Loved it and hated it all at the same time.

I was NOT going to let that happen!

She is horrible to shop with anyway so I brought my future MiL along to act as my buffer.  

I am so smart.  I know.

While I was at Kleinfeld with Morgan a couple of weeks ago I saw another bride trying on dresses and every dress she walked out in was more stunning than the last.  I asked the consultant who designed them and she told me they were all by Hayley Paige.  Who is this woman?! 

When I got home I looked up the dresses and found that there was only ONE boutique 

in Alabama or Tennessee that carried her dress lines.  

White Dresses in Huntsville.  AND they were going to be having a Trunk Show!

I immediately called and made an appointment!

  It made me feel even better to know that girls I am friends with have modeled for them 

and hearing how down to earth the owner's are.

My mom tried to get me to go try on dresses at another local boutique, 

but I wanted my appointment at White Dresses to be the first time I tried on dresses.

We got to Huntsville, all had lunch at a cute little cafe and then walked down the street to my appointment. They had the cute little chalkboard sign waiting outside with my name on it!  

It was such a sweet touch!

I told the girls the styles that I had in mind and what I did not want and we went from there.  I tried on around umpteen dresses and then went back to choose the second and third dresses that I tried on.

The second dress was really sweet, while the third one was a little bit edgier.

Before I went I asked Sam what kind of dress he would like and his only response was...

boobies.

Well alright then.  You got it buddy!

I chose the third dress!

And I am obsessed!  

The girls did not pressure me at all and really listened to me.

  I loved everything about this experience!

They really understand how big of a decision this is and give you the time to really think about it.

I loved even more that once I had made my final decsion they brought me a glass of wine!

I got to stand on the pedestal in front of the big mirror, in MY dress to be, drink my wine and just soak up the moment.

I am not one of those girls that has been dreaming about my wedding since I was a little. 

 But my dress is perfect! and everything I could have ever imagined it to be! 

It is different than the dresses that you see everyone and their sister wearing.  

It is beautifully simple.  Classy, yet shocking.  Elegant. Couture.  AND it has pockets!!  

I didn't let them take any pictures of me in it because I want to have that moment all over again...

 when I get to go to my fitting in a couple of months to try on MY WEDDING DRESS! 

Did I mention that I am obsessed?!

and so relieved! Seriously! Weight lifted off of my shoulders!  

Wedding Season is in full swing!

I have been so off my blogging game these past two weeks.  Not for lack of material, but because work has been crazy lately and two of our best friends and our go to double date got married this past Saturday.  Sorry for that guys!  I'm back now and promise to schedule posts when I will be away from now on!Thursday night the Bride's parents hosted a backyard BBQ for the wedding party...and us. Yeah we are that couple.  The life of the party!  If you want to guarantee a good time you should invite us to your next party! Trust me.  Even though you can't tell SamIam was even there based on these pictures.  Oopps!  He was probably off somewhere yelling Roll Tide. 

So many beautiful ladies!  Love them! I guess I was trying to hide my cup??

Then Friday night we had the Rehearsal Dinner.  The bride and groom found out where they were going on their honeymoon after dinner.  They are currently soaking up the sun in JAMAICA!

I'm a giant by the way. And yeah. There's a cigar in my boobs. Classy.

sober.
The dress the bride is wearing was her Grandmother's wedding dress
that she wore when she was 16!  Over 70 years ago!
It was shortened of course!  But WOW!

The bride's sweet aunt is a dancing machine!!

Then came the big day!!  

Check out my instagram and their wedding hashtag #nicndavesayido 

to see all of the fun pics from the night!

The ceremony was in Birmingham at Canterbury United Methodist,
 which is absolutely beautiful and has the most amazing stained glass windows!
 

Multitasking!  Doing the Groom's Mother and sister's makeup

See I told you.  I am super handy to have around.  I wore my Team Bride tank top from her bacchelorette party all day too.  I ran errands, did bridesmaid hair and makeup, helped with touch ups, did the hair of all FIVE flower girls, got them dressed and made sure their flower crowns were not coming off their heads, and then I hosted the ceremony and made sure that every guest signed the guestbook as they came in.  Their guestbook is so cute.  They made a coffee table photo book and had everyone sign around the pictures.

She is so beautiful!! It makes me teary eyed!  LOVE this girl! Hair and Makeup by Bbm Hair and Makeup

I love photo booths at weddings!
I stole the props and took them to the bar with me after! 

Such a fun wedding and such an amazing group of people!This was a really great experience.  I learned so much!   Most importantly though:  If something goes wrong...do NOT tell the bride!  Make it happen!  Keep her calm!  Make sure she is having fun! And that her glass is always full!I have a big announcement about my wedding to share with you guys tomorrow!  I am so excited!!

Wedding To Do List 2

May 17, 2014

Here we come!  There's so much to do!

Set a date

Book venue

Budget...there should be big black cloud over this guy

Book photographer

Book videographer?

Book caterer

Find bakery for cakes

Book Coordinator/Planner

Book bartender

Book music DJ/band ceremony and reception

Book officiant

Book makeup artist & hair stylist?- I could really do this myself

Ask bridal party to be in wedding in a cute way

Create wedding website

Register

Book florist

Say yes to the dress!

Veil?, Accesories, & Shoes

Take engagement pictures

Select bridesmaid dresses, shoes, jewelry

Select groom & groomsmen attire

Select Dad's attire

Finalize guest list

Order save the dates

Send save the dates-six months out 

Set up hotel room blocks

 Book wedding night hotel room

Order guest book photo-frame

Book rehearsal dinner venue

Rehearsal Dinner invitations

MOB & MOG dress shopping

Approve the Grandma's outfits

Order invitations

Hire Calligrapher

Mail invitations 

Order thank you notes

Hair and make up trial

Take bridal portraits

Find rehearsal dinner and going away dresses 

Rehearsal dinner seating chart

Finalize wedding-day timeline

Order ceremony programs

Figure out where everyone is getting ready

Book transportation for hotel guests

Bridal Shower

Bridal tea

Buy bridal party gifts

MOB & MOG gifts

Order wedding favors

Bachelorette party

Order wedding bands

Book transportation from reception for hotel guests

Book going away car

Book honeymoon

Buy plane tickets

Music selections to band and ceremony artist

Pick out first dance songs

Put together list of must takes for photographer

Get crafty! for the decor

Make centerpieces

Put together a few bathroom essentials for ladies bathroom

Welcome bags for out of town guests

Rehearsal dinner bouquet

Confirm throw bouquet

Find throw garter

Get marriage license

Make that ring spakle!

Put final payments and tips for each vendor asside

Confirm check-in/check-out with Wedding Night hotel

Say I do!

I am currently working on the items that are bold.

Oh you know. No big! Plus eleventee gazillion additional things that will pop up between now and then!  This is why a coordinator is going to be so very very important!  Whoever she is, she is going to be cheaper than the therapy I would undoubtably need if I tried to do this on my own!

The Wedding To Do List 1.

Alright.  Let's get this list going.  

May is over and we are now into June, 

that means there are only 11 months until I get to marry this guy and girl!

  Full blown wedding planning is now in effect! aka panic mode
Here is what I consider to be a short list of what I consider to be the MAJOR items...

• Pick a day  May 17, 2014!
• Find a venue for ceremony  Two Birds. One Stone.
• Find a venue for reception  both will be at Aldridge Gardens in Hoover, AL
• Find a caterer Cafe Iz
• Find a coordinator/planner...cross your fingers that I can sign the contract soon!
• Decide on a "theme" Surprise because I have changed it!...for the last time I swear!
• Find a photographer
• Find THE dress...booked an appointment the end of this month to try dresses on!
• Find a officiant for the ceremony
• Find a florist
• Find a bakery 

See the major things are almost done...and then it's on to the details. blahh!If you knew my mother then you would understand why all of this stresses me out.  Dealing with her is a chore in itself.  Our engagement party is this weekend so I will have a post dedicated to that next week!  We decided to make it as relaxed as possible and only invited our close friends and our parents.  It's going to be a backyard BBQ style party with yard games and beer!  I am pretty pumped!Both of our dads live about five hours away in opposite directions, so we are taking this opportunity for them to meet each other and each others moms.  Our moms have met and have been around each other several times.  They get along really well!  Which is awesome!  We knew they would though because they are a lot alike!  Our dads on the other hand are VERY different so it is going to be interesting for sure.  SamIam isn't worried though...he never is.I couldn't get it together today to finish this post.  Work has been crazy.  And to top it all off one of the girls that was out on maternity leave came in the office today to show off her baby...and turned in her notice.  Real great.  I almost started crying when she told me.  I'm not sure if it was because I was really disappointed she isn't coming back to entertain me or because I am going to have to continue to manage her client companies.  Either way it was depressing.
I am now going to fill my glass back up.  It's half way empty.  Cheers!