2 years ago: Getting Ready

What with the recent holiday combined with the usual busy-ness of the summer, I've gotten a little behind in up-to-date postings. So I'm going to do my best to get things up to date around here. Starting with where I left off with our wedding posts (I know, I know it was 2 years ago and now a few weeks late, but whatever, it's my blog lol)

The morning started off with all the girls at my house. They all slept over, minus the moms and our flower girl (who is one of the cutest little girls I know!)

Although there was tons of food...I didn't realize until later that day (after I had downed a couple cocktails) that I hadn't eaten anything!

My bestie was not only the best Personal Attendant I couldn't asked for, she is also my favorite hair-magician :)

 These ladies were awesome and came out to my house to help all the girls get ready! Sooo convenient and helped to greatly minimize my stress!

I LOVED my make-up!

My beautiful mom

Lots of last minute beautify-ing going on

My beautiful sister!

Who was also my maid-of-honor

Abby, our flower girl. Isn't she adorable?!?

LOVE LOVE LOVE her dress. Her dad helped her pick it out (without me) and I couldn't have been happier! Side note: when Matt and I were choosing colors for our wedding, he had one request: no pink. Well technically he said no pink for the bridesmaids and groomsmen...but I never heard anything about the flower girl ;)

She had brought 2 options for her hair: a plain headband and a headband with a big, sparkly flower. After seeing that I had put a flower in my hair, she wanted to wear the flowered headband :)

Of course I HAD to go over the checklist one more time before we left. I was so paranoid about forgetting something.

And what were the guys doing this whole time??? They were at Matt's parents' house, down the road from the ceremony site, hanging out. It's so unfair that guys have less to do when getting ready!

Matt's dad loves card tricks, so he was their entertainment :)

Our niece, Lillie, was about 8 weeks old then. I forget how small she was!

Someone thought it would be funny to write out the itinterary that I had given them

Because I really wanted to capture each "getting ready" location one photographer went to each house and then met up again when we went to the ceremony location. What I didn't know, until we arrived at the ceremony location, was that the photographer (who was at the house with the guys) was now 8 months pregnant! She hadn't come to our engagement photos 3 months prior and no one mentioned she was pregnant! So there was one of our photographers, 8 months pregnant, on one of the hottest days of the summer walking around, squatting down, kneeling, and basically doing anything to get great photos!

Wordy Wednesday

 The heat has been kind of excessive lately. So although we have our a/c on and the pups are really loving the fact that they don't feel like they are going to pass out from heatstroke (which makes me feel better too!)...Hank still feels the need move the living room curtains aside and keep an eye on the pesky birds that he loves to chase.

2 years ago (continued)

The next day (which was the day before our wedding) was spent running around, as expected.

I gathered some ladies: my mom, Matt's sister, Matt's brother's girlfriend, and another bridesmaid to help decorate our reception venue (which was a local ski resort).

Although these Martha Stewart tissue paper pom-poms were a pain, I loved them!

The gorgeous memorial flowers for the alter that my mom spent forever ordering and re-ordering (after I changed my mind at the last minute), love her!

I loved that I got things to do special place settings for the kids

 The name cards were all attached to wine bottle corks!

After decorating the reception site, it was time for the Rehearsal out at the gardens

The wonderful rehearsal dinner was held at Matt's parents' place. Such good food and delicious cake!

2 years ago...

It was just 2 short years ago that I had the best 11 days ever!

It started with what we called our Wedding-Party Party: sort of a combo bachelorette/bachelor party, but really just a get together of family and friends who came into town (or were already in town) for our wedding in a couple days. We started with a grill out at our home and then loaded onto a "party bus" (aka a school bus that we rented to drive us around).

 We stopped at a few bars...

 had a few more cocktails...

And some ended their night like this...

yep, that's Matt's best man...passed out on the dog's bed haha
Wedding Weekend stories to continue...

Family Photos

O.M.G! I am so in love with the results of our family photo session. This past week I shared how ridiculous the weather was during the session and was surprised if any even turned out ok.

Well not only did some turn out ok, they turned out b-e-a-utiful!

These are just from the sneak peak she posted. When we get the cd of the rest I'll be sure to add more. (ps I put them in collage form so that they'd fit better here).

Inspiration

Sometimes inspiration comes in the most random-est of places. I know it's so odd, but I am completely in love with the colors and design of our latest kleenex box...it actually helped with the latest blog revamping.

P.S. yes, this is on the upstairs toilet

Northwoods Promo Event

A few weeks ago I was invited to participate in a promo event that the shelter was participating in. Although I suspect they invited me so that they could get photos...but I'm ok with it.

It was a lot of fun...except that our table was set up next to the kid bouncy castle...yep we were this:close to dozens of screaming, shreiking, yelling children...with our 2 dogs. To say it was overwhelming at times is an understatement. I tried very hard to not get annoyed at the parents who weren't paying attention to their own kids and be a nice representative of the shelter. But when I felt my control slipping...I walked away to "get photos from a distance".  :)

See, I said we were this:close to that thing

Griffin is actually a shelter alum

This is Mr. Harley being so very good! He truly was a great puppy (9 months young) and presented at this event WAAAY better than he does at the shelter.

All in all it was a great time. Yes, I was annoyed at times, but then again, when you combine crowds of people, unsupervised childen who are getting hopped up on candy and bouncing til they (almost) throw up...WITH 2 dogs...I guess I really shouldn't have been expecting a calm afternoon. But it was fun! :)