Our Wedding Day... Details and Getting Ready

Hi! Is anyone still there? I know it's been nearly 100 years since I even wrote a blog post. How do I do this again? I have so much to update on... my mom's house renovation, our home remodel, and our wedding day are just a few important things I can think of. Let's start with our wedding day...

Our venue was a mansion located on Table Rock Lake. We chose this as our venue because we knew we wanted to have an intimate wedding with a small guest list. We had a lot of hurdles to jump in order for this venue to work for us but in the end everything was great. Our entire wedding party was able to stay in the house with us (as well as both of our mom's) so it made the whole weekend much less stressful for mostly everyone involved. The reception was held here, also, so there was no traveling to and from a church or reception venue. Everything and everyone was right here.

We chose October 24, 2015 as our wedding date for a few reasons. The first reason being that it was literally one of the only weekends we had available in the year 2015. We got engaged on Christmas of 2014 so when we sat down to decide on a date it either had to be 10/24/2015 or sometime in March of 2016. Tyson decided on the 24th. That was also special to us because Tyson's mom and dad got married in October.

This photo is so special to me because I told my photographer, Jared of J Design Studios I would like a photo of our rings on a newspaper that had our wedding date on it. I asked my future brother-in-law to try to find one when he went in to Branson the morning of the wedding. What he didn't know was he got the one newspaper that my dad used to read every single day for 20 years. Any time I see a USA Today I think of him so this photo turned out more perfect than I could have ever imagined!

Our wedding invitations printed by Minted.

Coasters by For Your Party.

My engagement and wedding band from Newton's Jewelers in Joplin, Missouri. Shoes are "Kiara" by Badgley Mischka.

I didn't wear these for the wedding. I ordered them to wear during a few posed photos but they didn't end up matching my dress so we just took a couple photos of them.

These are the shoes I wore. They are by Lauren Lorraine but it looks like they are no longer available.

Tyson actually made himself a wedding band with the machinery we have at the shop. It turned out really good but what he didn't know is that I ordered him a wedding band from Tiffany's. I gave it to him the morning before our wedding. It was really special.

I hired a makeup artist and hair stylist to come to the house to do our makeup and hair. The younger girls were thrilled. They had never had their makeup done before!

Looking on Pinterest, of course, to find cute hairstyles.

I wanted my hair to be a huge bun high on my head. Missy at High Volume Salon was really focusing on getting it right!

It wasn't quite big enough for me. So she started over and teased the snot out of my hair to get it BIG!

Mission accomplished!

This is one of the funniest photos from our wedding day. All the girls were in the master bathroom watching everyone get their hair and makeup done. There wasn't room for 15 chairs so the girls sat in the bath tub.

Tabitha of Makeup by Tabitha did an amazing job making myself and all my girls look beautiful.

I got my bridal party men's button-front shirts from Life's a Stitch to wear as we got ready. They turned out perfect and were so comfy to wear with black leggings and slippers.

My maid of honor had her first baby, Addison, just four months prior to our wedding so little miss Addison got to hang out with the girls for a little bit on wedding day. Here she is with Justine.

Such a cutie girl!

There was the most adorable wet bar in the master bedroom so I put together a fun little mimosa station for the bridal party.

Of course I had to bust the Cricut out and personalize everyone's champagne glasses.

Personalized coffee cups for AM caffeine.

The master bedroom.

Mine and my bridesmaids dresses.

Hangers by Hanger Design Center on Etsy.

I am so glad I decided to do mis-matched dresses for my bridal party. I chose the color and length (and required there be nothing strapless) and let them choose their own dresses. It turned out so beautiful and unique and each girl looked amazing in her selection.

My dress was a Demetrio's v-neck a-line satin gown with a crystal belt sewn on right below the bust. It had a long train and buttons up the back. It was not the dress I imagined myself in. I initially thought I wanted a lace mermaid style gown. Boy was I wrong. The moment I put the lace dress on, myself and all my girls knew it wasn't the one. I left my first dress appointment without buying a dress but my favorite dress from that day was an a-line satin strapless dress. I knew I didn't want a strapless dress so when a strapless dress was the best dress that store had, I knew I better not buy anything. A few weeks later I drove to a store in St. Louis (by myself) and tried again. I found this dress there and ended up buying the dress I wore from Tradesy.com. A girl ordered this dress but never wore it. (She ended up buying a different dress.) So I got my dress for $1,000 less than what it would have cost me had I bought it at the store. Total score! I had to have it altered and the straps lengthened but it was so perfect in the end.

I knew that I wanted to do a few special things to remember my dad on that day. He passed away on January 21, 2013. I took one of his button-front work shirts and cut out a heart. I hand stitched his initials on to the heart and then hand stitched the heart on to the back left inside of my dress so he was right there by my heart. I also printed a small photo of him and made a charm on my bouquet. It was the most perfect way to have him there to walk with my down the aisle.

The parlor. This entire house was incredible.

We served margaritas as our signature cocktail so someone had to cut up about 100 limes and lemons.

Signs were designed by Remember November. I had the signs printed at Walgreens and VistaPrint. Frame from Michael's.

We decorated the mantle with photos of both of our dad's who had passed away. I bought the wooden sign from In the Dust Designs.

I rented my tables, chairs, etc from Branson Party Rentals. They were also my florist and wedding coordinator. They did an incredible job. Everything was perfect.

I got each of the groomsmen and our officiant ties, pocket squares, and socks and wrapped them up in gift boxes.

I went with mismatched ties for the groomsmen, too. I love that they all were different textures and had different designs. All of the ties and pocket squares were from The Tie Bar.

I also made the whole wedding party a wedding day schedule.

My goal was that everyone knew exactly what was happening all day long.

I found these blank programs at Wal-Mart in the clearance aisle. They matched our invitations perfectly so I was able to print our programs at home.

Let's get this wedding started...

My Wedding Shoes

I ordered my wedding shoes yesterday! I found these sandals when I was surfing through Instagram.

They are so blinged-out and they are the exact style of sandal that I wear all summer long. I knew they would be my wedding shoes!

The designer is Lauren Lorraine and they are called the 'Ibiza' Sandal.

I ordered mine in the tan/natural color.

I can't wait to get them!! What shoes did you wear for your wedding?

My Easter Tree and Easter Decorations

I've had so much fun decorating my holiday tree for Easter. I love eggs and pastel colors and it's such a nice way to welcome Spring. So I thought I would share with you where I got all these cute little ornaments and decorations!

I got the tree at Pier One last year the day after Christmas for 50% off. It was originally $40 so I got it for $20. All of the hanging egg ornaments are from Hobby Lobby. The sequin eggs were in a package of 12 for $2.39. The larger matte finish eggs were in a package of 12 for $4.19.

The eggs with glitter and beading on them I bought individually for $1.79 each. The crosses were in a package of 6 for $0.88 cents. The moss underneath the tree was in a 6' roll for $5.99.

This Easter bunny ornament was $2.39. My favorite ornament is this fuzzy baby chick with a crown on it's head. I got it at Pier 1 for $3.95.

Moving over to the Eater basket...

I got the white basket at Hobby Lobby for $4.49 but I can't find the link for it. The three carrots are from Pier 1 for $4.95. I got the grass last year from Target on clearance and the eggs are old and I don't know where they are from.

And that's it! So in total I spent about $35 dollars decorating my sideboard for Easter which I think is just fine considering I will use these ornaments every year for a long time. Every time I walk by it I smile. It makes me so hoppy! (Hehe... see what I did there!?)

Confessional Friday

Hi ladies! Leslie isn't doing a link up this week but I still wanted to catch up with you a little bit. A lot has been going on around here so let's begin!

// Last week was suuuuper stressful. I visited my venue on Monday and had to make a decision on Tuesday on whether to book it or not. I was seriously freaking out. I want our venue to be special but I also don't want to have logistical issues like with parking cars and people having trouble finding the place. Even my nail lady could tell I wasn't right. I seriously felt like I was losing my mind. Then I went to St. Louis on Friday to try on dresses and that was MORE stress. But I think I solved my stress issue by hanging out with some of my girlfriends at the lake last weekend. Sometimes it's best to take a break and have a little fun.

We had the whole lake to ourselves.

// My future SIL made corned beef and cabbage and a bunch of other delicious Irish food on Sunday for St. Patrick's day. It was seriously SO GOOD.

// I BOUGHT A WEDDING DRESS!!! It's beautiful and I can't wait for it to arrive. It should be here any day now! Here's one that didn't make the cut. Just for your viewing pleasure.

Buying my dress was not your average wedding-dress-buying-story. But I don't feel like telling that story today. It still stresses me out just thinking about it!

// I got my Save-The-Dates! They are so pretty! I can't send them out until my new return address label stamp arrives. Did I mention I like stationary? I like, love stationary.

// Taz got a new toy! We bought him a cat tower for the office. Yes, he's slightly spoiled. And if you are ever cat-tower-shopping, definitely buy them off Amazon. WAY better pricing than at local pet stores.

// I hate to bore you with more wedding talk but I decided I'm going to get mis-matched china for my dessert plates for the reception. I think this look is super cute and adds a personalized touch to the standard white serving plates. Plus it will be a conversation piece. I can't wait to get my hands on a bunch of pretty gold/pink/silver/floral plates! Look out, vintage stores!

// I decorated for Easter and I'm a little obsessed with this tree and basket. Neely and I bought these trees after Christmas last year and we both have had so much fun decorating them for each holiday. But there is just something about pretty pastel eggs and fluffy chicks that really tripped my happy trigger!

// And lastly, I will leave you with this girl that has two babies trapped in her knees.

Happy Weekend!

Friday Catch-Up

Holy smokes it's been *cough cough* 3 weeks since we talked!

bad girl, Tristan. bad..

I can assure you I have not just been lounging around in bed and relaxing. I have been running my little ass off for the last three weeks.

// We bought a new truck exactly ONE day before we left for Miami. She's a beeeeast.

// The day that we actually left town I retrieved approximately 500 hats and shirts to sell at the boat show.

// We drove to Miami for the boat show. This was home for 5 days.

// Then a few days later I helped throw a double birthday party on the boat with around 40 people on board. The cakes were awesome!

// On our way home I finally got to stop in Orlando to visit the Victoria's Secret Outlet. It was HUUUUGE!!

// We arrived home last Wednesday the 18th. On Thursday around 5:30pm our friend, Jim, called and asked us to fly back to Florida to get out his big boat, Freedom. We agreed and were on a flight at 6am Friday morning.

steamy, warm Florida... not

// We took a little drive down to Islamorada to hang out with our boating buddies that went on the poker run.

// Sunday we took a little cruise around South Miami and I still can't believe I captured this shot...

Yes, my friends, that's a mom and baby dolphin. I die. Dolphins are my favorite!!

// We have been home since Monday and I'm so glad! Traveling is exhausting. Sometimes I can be such a homebody.

// And today I am going to head up to the lake to see my mom and my bestie is having her gender reveal party! I literally can not wait to find out if she is having a girl or a boy!!

Have a great weekend!

Weekly Tidbits

Hi there! It's Friday and I'm soooo excited!! We've had a lot going on around here so I thought I would give you some tidbits!

// We are heading to the Miami Boat show in 3 days! I decided to help out my favorite boat builder by starting them a new line of clothing to sell at the show. Talk about stressful! Designing quality clothing for the masses IS NOT EASY. Whew!!

// We bought a house for my mom! It's definitely in need of some work. Starting with ripping off the lath and plaster walls.

Did I mention someone was murdered in this house? Yeah. Not kidding. We found some blood splatter.

// I got my hair cut! I seriously have not had a hair cut in over a year. I was trying to grow out my layers and the back of my head-hairs listened but the front hairs did not! We cut off about 4 inches!

// My bridesmaids and I are heading to Kansas City tonight for some dress shopping tomorrow! I can't wait to spend time with these ladies and for them all to get to know each other a little bit. We are going to have so much fun!

Have a great weekend!

Box of Sunshine

If you want to absolutely make someone's day, send them a Box of Sunshine!

Unless said person lives nearby, then just take them a bottle of wine and watch a fun movie with them.

In my case, I couldn't just pop in with wine and a movie so I sent a good friend of mine a box with a bunch of yellow goodies inside.

I might have went a little cray.

 I sent a little note indicating what the items could be used for...

Baby Shampoo to clean your makeup brushes

Hand cream for your dry winter hands

Burt’s Bees chapstick to give you soft lips

Wet Ones for clean hands on-the-go

A loofah to keep you clean

Post-It notes so you remember

A rubber ducky for baby's bathtime

A duck wash cloth to keep baby clean

A giraffe rattler for baby to play with

A candle to make your home smell amazing

Doggy treats for the poochies

Juicy Fruit for yummy breath

Peanut butter cookies for a yummy snack

Starburst for when you are craving candy

Milky Ways for when you are craving chocolate

I made this PDF and printed it on yellow paper and wrapped each goodie individually in yellow tissue paper.

And then I filled the voids with packing peanuts.

Because who doesn't love packing peanuts!?

And then I shipped that baby off without warning so it would be a surprise!