Wedding Colors and Style

On Day 4 of our 31 Day Journey to the Altar, I thought I would talk about the overall style I hoped for our big day.

photo courtesy Kelly Hosch Photography

From the first moment I ever thought about what my wedding would be like, I knew I wanted it to be classic, understated, and elegant.  Now, an interesting tidbit about me is that I had always wanted a winter wedding, but with the timing of our meeting, engagement, and work schedule, a winter wedding just wouldn't work, so I let go of lots of my preconceived notions about the wedding and embraced the opportunities that a May wedding would bring, like peonies being in season!!  Before, when I considered winter, I thought of a wedding ceremony at night with candlelight filling the sanctuary, but now, that we were planning a Spring wedding, I hoped for a light and airy experience.  The wedding would take place during daylight and accentuate the church's beautiful stained glass, while my dreams of candlelight would play out at the reception as the sun set, allowing the glow of the centerpieces to take over.

photo courtesy Kelly Hosch Photography

Choosing my colors was something I thought long and hard about.  I knew I wanted more of a neutral palette and going with the light and airy idea, white and ivory seemed to be a perfect choice.  For a contrasting color, pewtery grey continued to rise in my mind and allow for lightness as well as the neutral feel I was hoping for.  Everything was coming together!  It still amazes me how different my wedding as a 32 year old bride was than all the other wedding ideas that had floated through my mind the previous years. :)

Stay tuned tomorrow for the journey to the wedding dress!

Wedding Colors and Style

On Day 4 of our 31 Day Journey to the Altar, I thought I would talk about the overall style I hoped for our big day.

photo courtesy Kelly Hosch Photography

From the first moment I ever thought about what my wedding would be like, I knew I wanted it to be classic, understated, and elegant.  Now, an interesting tidbit about me is that I had always wanted a winter wedding, but with the timing of our meeting, engagement, and work schedule, a winter wedding just wouldn't work, so I let go of lots of my preconceived notions about the wedding and embraced the opportunities that a May wedding would bring, like peonies being in season!!  Before, when I considered winter, I thought of a wedding ceremony at night with candlelight filling the sanctuary, but now, that we were planning a Spring wedding, I hoped for a light and airy experience.  The wedding would take place during daylight and accentuate the church's beautiful stained glass, while my dreams of candlelight would play out at the reception as the sun set, allowing the glow of the centerpieces to take over.

photo courtesy Kelly Hosch Photography

Choosing my colors was something I thought long and hard about.  I knew I wanted more of a neutral palette and going with the light and airy idea, white and ivory seemed to be a perfect choice.  For a contrasting color, pewtery grey continued to rise in my mind and allow for lightness as well as the neutral feel I was hoping for.  Everything was coming together!  It still amazes me how different my wedding as a 32 year old bride was than all the other wedding ideas that had floated through my mind the previous years. :)

Stay tuned tomorrow for the journey to the wedding dress!

A 31 Day Journey to the Altar: Where and When

When G and I began planning this blessed event, the first answer we needed was when?  We both thought about our work schedules and when we tend to be the busiest and what time of year would lend itself to taking a week off after the wedding for a little honeymoon, and we decided that the month of May would give us enough time to plan without feeling too rushed and hurried.  I had waited my turn for this little wedding to happen and I wanted to savor the planning process! :)  

The next thing I knew, I was calling the church I had been attending for a while and speaking with the secretary.  I asked what was available in May and after a few moments of consulting the church calendar, she said, "What about May 11?"  It was the only date available and this was 9 months prior in August!!  I'm so glad we thought to book the church first!  It certainly made selecting a date easy -- no options. :)  I remember telling Carol to put us down and then calling G and asking him how May 11 sounded to him!  I remember thinking how exciting it was that we actually had a date.  Somehow that made everything seem even more real!

We chose to get married in the town where we both live since we have each lived here for over 10 years.  Also, the church where we married is absolutely one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen!  It is a historic church that carries with it great personal meaning along with the beauty of the space.

photo courtesy Kelly Hosch Photography

The above photo is of the stained glass dome in the ceiling above the front of the sanctuary.  GORGEOUS!!

photo courtesy Kelly Hosch Photography

The outside of the church is beautiful, too, with its curved architecture.  I was so thankful that we were able to exchange such sacred vows in such a beautiful and holy place.

Once we had the date, my very next call was to my childhood pastor because if he wasn't available, we would just have to look at other months of the year!  He has been such an instrumental part of my faith journey throughout my life and I was so thankful he was able to perform the ceremony.

After determining the place for the ceremony and the officiant, we began looking at places for the reception.  We had a rough idea of the number of people we wanted to invite, so that played a role in finding the right space.  When we saw the Phoenix Ballroom, we knew we had found the perfect spot.

The natural light, the chandeliers, the wood floors and beams, and the exposed brick fireplace offered the perfect potential pallet for the beautiful evening of dinner and dancing I dreamed of.

 I knew that in May a roaring fire in the fireplace would not be possible, but perhaps lighted candles scattered about could offer a similar romantic ambiance!  I was elated to find out the Phoenix was available on our date and relieved to confirm our reservation.  The other wonderful part was that it was just a short walk from the church and right across the street from the hotel where we were planning to reserve a block of rooms!  Everything was coming together. :)

My Erin Condren planner was one of the best investments I made and over the next 9 months it certainly got a workout.  It was the perfect place to hold business cards, make to-do lists, and keep me on schedule!  I loved watching the days fill with wedding details.

I had dreamed about planning this wedding for a long time and from the beginning, it was a joy to see all the pieces begin to come together.  Thanks for joining me on this journey!

This post is Day 3 of a 31 day series with The Nester's 31 Days of Blogging.

A 31 Day Journey to the Altar: Where and When

When G and I began planning this blessed event, the first answer we needed was when?  We both thought about our work schedules and when we tend to be the busiest and what time of year would lend itself to taking a week off after the wedding for a little honeymoon, and we decided that the month of May would give us enough time to plan without feeling too rushed and hurried.  I had waited my turn for this little wedding to happen and I wanted to savor the planning process! :)  

The next thing I knew, I was calling the church I had been attending for a while and speaking with the secretary.  I asked what was available in May and after a few moments of consulting the church calendar, she said, "What about May 11?"  It was the only date available and this was 9 months prior in August!!  I'm so glad we thought to book the church first!  It certainly made selecting a date easy -- no options. :)  I remember telling Carol to put us down and then calling G and asking him how May 11 sounded to him!  I remember thinking how exciting it was that we actually had a date.  Somehow that made everything seem even more real!

We chose to get married in the town where we both live since we have each lived here for over 10 years.  Also, the church where we married is absolutely one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen!  It is a historic church that carries with it great personal meaning along with the beauty of the space.

photo courtesy Kelly Hosch Photography

The above photo is of the stained glass dome in the ceiling above the front of the sanctuary.  GORGEOUS!!

photo courtesy Kelly Hosch Photography

The outside of the church is beautiful, too, with its curved architecture.  I was so thankful that we were able to exchange such sacred vows in such a beautiful and holy place.

Once we had the date, my very next call was to my childhood pastor because if he wasn't available, we would just have to look at other months of the year!  He has been such an instrumental part of my faith journey throughout my life and I was so thankful he was able to perform the ceremony.

After determining the place for the ceremony and the officiant, we began looking at places for the reception.  We had a rough idea of the number of people we wanted to invite, so that played a role in finding the right space.  When we saw the Phoenix Ballroom, we knew we had found the perfect spot.

The natural light, the chandeliers, the wood floors and beams, and the exposed brick fireplace offered the perfect potential pallet for the beautiful evening of dinner and dancing I dreamed of.

 I knew that in May a roaring fire in the fireplace would not be possible, but perhaps lighted candles scattered about could offer a similar romantic ambiance!  I was elated to find out the Phoenix was available on our date and relieved to confirm our reservation.  The other wonderful part was that it was just a short walk from the church and right across the street from the hotel where we were planning to reserve a block of rooms!  Everything was coming together. :)

My Erin Condren planner was one of the best investments I made and over the next 9 months it certainly got a workout.  It was the perfect place to hold business cards, make to-do lists, and keep me on schedule!  I loved watching the days fill with wedding details.

I had dreamed about planning this wedding for a long time and from the beginning, it was a joy to see all the pieces begin to come together.  Thanks for joining me on this journey!

This post is Day 3 of a 31 day series with The Nester's 31 Days of Blogging.

The Proposal

In October, I linked up for 31 days with The Nester to talk about my wedding journey, so I thought I would share these posts now that we have Wedding Wednesday!  Thanks for hosting us, Jordan and Meredith!!  Today's post is all about the proposal, the true starting point of our wedding journey. :)

Mr. G has a great many gifts, but secret-keeping is not among them, so I had a little bit of an inkling that a big question was about to be asked when I went over to his house for our date on Saturday, August 18, 2012.  We had been discussing marriage and plans in a serious way and I was so ecstatic at the thought of spending the rest of my life with the man I loved.  However, I think you must never be quite ready for what the actual moment will be like.

With all of the over-the-top proposal stories you hear floating around, I think G was a little stressed about proposing in a way that would meet my expectations -- bless him!  I assured him over and over when he would tell me his concerns about the proposal that I knew whatever he did or said would be just right.  My parents' proposal story was sweet and simple, so I was quite sure Mr. G would find just the right way to ask and he did.

I remember parking my car and walking up to his adorable Tudor cottage with the rounded front door.  He opened the door and for the first time, rather than stepping back and granting me entrance, he closed the door behind him and stood outside with me.  I had never seen him quite so nervous!  Then, he asked me to close my eyes and he led me inside to his dining room.  When he said I could open my eyes, there before me  on the table was a beautiful vase of long-stemmed pink roses.  Then, Mr. G said the sweetest words about me and our relationship and then I remember him saying, "and now for the big question".  Before I knew it, he was on one knee asking me to marry him with a beautiful ring in his hand.  Of course, I immediately said yes.  Part of me was amazed that this was really happening while the other part could think of nothing more right all at once!  I was engaged!  After all those years of wondering, God has provided the right man and we were going to get married!  It was really happening!!!

Of course, I took some time to look at my ring and noticed it was different than the ones we had looked at together and it was just right.  It was so special to me that he chose it on his own and I loved watching it sparkle!

Next, I had to call some very special people and share our exciting news!!  It was so fun because some of my family were all eating at a restaurant together, so I was able to convey our happy tidings all at once. :)

Then, the rest of Mr. G's plan unfolded.  He took me to one of our favorite restaurants, the same one where he took me on our first Valentine's Day before surprising me with tickets to see Christ Botti in concert.  My mind was in a whirl trying to take in this wonderful event.

After a delicious dinner, he had one more surprise up his sleeve.  Now, a funny thing about this evening, too, is that a veritable monsoon began pouring outside while we were at dinner and in the excitement of the event, neither of us thought to grab an umbrella.  G wanted us to get a dessert that would truly bring the evening full circle from the first time we met, so we went to Chick Fil A to get milkshakes.  You see, when we met at the Baylor basketball game on January 14th, the fact that the Chick Fil A stand nearest his seats was out of milkshakes is truly the only reason he had to walk to the other side of the concourse and happen to meet me.  With the rain pouring that evening, an easy solution would be to go through the drive through, but G's car had just had its windows tinted, so we couldn't roll down the windows!  Poor thing was yet again undeterred in his milkshake quest, so we parked as close to the restaurant as we could and he ran inside, returning completely soaked to the bone, but with two beautiful milkshakes.

We enjoyed our milkshakes with the rain pattering outside the window, savoring all the fun in store for our future.

Day 1: Journey to the Altar

The Proposal

In October, I linked up for 31 days with The Nester to talk about my wedding journey, so I thought I would share these posts now that we have Wedding Wednesday!  Thanks for hosting us, Jordan and Meredith!!  Today's post is all about the proposal, the true starting point of our wedding journey. :)

Mr. G has a great many gifts, but secret-keeping is not among them, so I had a little bit of an inkling that a big question was about to be asked when I went over to his house for our date on Saturday, August 18, 2012.  We had been discussing marriage and plans in a serious way and I was so ecstatic at the thought of spending the rest of my life with the man I loved.  However, I think you must never be quite ready for what the actual moment will be like.

With all of the over-the-top proposal stories you hear floating around, I think G was a little stressed about proposing in a way that would meet my expectations -- bless him!  I assured him over and over when he would tell me his concerns about the proposal that I knew whatever he did or said would be just right.  My parents' proposal story was sweet and simple, so I was quite sure Mr. G would find just the right way to ask and he did.

I remember parking my car and walking up to his adorable Tudor cottage with the rounded front door.  He opened the door and for the first time, rather than stepping back and granting me entrance, he closed the door behind him and stood outside with me.  I had never seen him quite so nervous!  Then, he asked me to close my eyes and he led me inside to his dining room.  When he said I could open my eyes, there before me  on the table was a beautiful vase of long-stemmed pink roses.  Then, Mr. G said the sweetest words about me and our relationship and then I remember him saying, "and now for the big question".  Before I knew it, he was on one knee asking me to marry him with a beautiful ring in his hand.  Of course, I immediately said yes.  Part of me was amazed that this was really happening while the other part could think of nothing more right all at once!  I was engaged!  After all those years of wondering, God has provided the right man and we were going to get married!  It was really happening!!!

Of course, I took some time to look at my ring and noticed it was different than the ones we had looked at together and it was just right.  It was so special to me that he chose it on his own and I loved watching it sparkle!

Next, I had to call some very special people and share our exciting news!!  It was so fun because some of my family were all eating at a restaurant together, so I was able to convey our happy tidings all at once. :)

Then, the rest of Mr. G's plan unfolded.  He took me to one of our favorite restaurants, the same one where he took me on our first Valentine's Day before surprising me with tickets to see Christ Botti in concert.  My mind was in a whirl trying to take in this wonderful event.

After a delicious dinner, he had one more surprise up his sleeve.  Now, a funny thing about this evening, too, is that a veritable monsoon began pouring outside while we were at dinner and in the excitement of the event, neither of us thought to grab an umbrella.  G wanted us to get a dessert that would truly bring the evening full circle from the first time we met, so we went to Chick Fil A to get milkshakes.  You see, when we met at the Baylor basketball game on January 14th, the fact that the Chick Fil A stand nearest his seats was out of milkshakes is truly the only reason he had to walk to the other side of the concourse and happen to meet me.  With the rain pouring that evening, an easy solution would be to go through the drive through, but G's car had just had its windows tinted, so we couldn't roll down the windows!  Poor thing was yet again undeterred in his milkshake quest, so we parked as close to the restaurant as we could and he ran inside, returning completely soaked to the bone, but with two beautiful milkshakes.

We enjoyed our milkshakes with the rain pattering outside the window, savoring all the fun in store for our future.

Day 1: Journey to the Altar

Our Journey to the Altar

Day 1: Journey to the Altar
Day 2: The Proposal
Day 3: Where and When
Day 4: Wedding Colors and Style
Day 5: Saying Yes to the Dress
Day 6: Here Come the Bridesmaids!
Day 7: Shopping with the Mother of the Bride and the Mother of the Groom
Day 8: Wedding Music
Day 9: Wedding Flowers
Day 10: The Guys
Day 11: Wedding Papers
Day 12: Wedding Cake
Day 13: Wedding Registry
Day 14: Wedding Food
Day 15: Marriage Prep
Day 16: Engagement Photos
Day 17: Wedding Hair and Makeup
Day 18: Wedding Accessories
Day 19: Announcement Tea
Day 20: My Work Shower
Day 21: Dinner Party
Day 22: Hometown Shower
Day 23: Bridal Shower
Day 24: G's Work Shower
Day 25: Bridal Portraits
Day 26: Bridal Luncheon
Day 27: Rehearsal
Day 28: Getting Ready
Day 29: Pregame
Day 30: Saying "I do"
Day 31: Party Time!

When I saw that The Nester was hosting her 31 days of blogging series for the month of October, I thought this opportunity would be the perfect way for me to journal about all the details that went into planning our wedding last year.  I want to remember as much as possible and savor all the sweet memories, which seemed to be impossible to write about at the same time they were all happening, so I'm looking forward to the reliving these moments over the next month.  I've talked a little bit about our "how we met" story here, but here's a little back story on me...before I met Mr. G, I'd kind of given up.

I know, I know...I had only recently crossed the 30 line and still had many more wonderful years ahead of me in which to meet the man of my dreams, but a part of me really had decided that certainly a life lived alone could be as full and rich as those my precious friends and family were enjoying with a significant other and children of their own.  I'd decided that though I may have still engaged in bouts of sadness over wanting to share my life with someone, that in reality, the life God had given me was beautiful and fulfilling, whether it included that special someone or not.  In fact, God had given me the gifts of friendship and family that were irreplaceable.  And I still feel that way.  A life lived without a mate is meaningful and purposeful and beautiful.  I am so thankful that God brought Mr. G into my life, but had God had other plans for me, life would still be abundant.  I guess I just want to say that from the get go because I will be sharing all these fun details of wedding prep, so I can have a place to store these precious memories and return when I want to reminisce, but I just want to say that each of us has a story of God's faithfulness and no matter what it contains, it is as unique and special as the one who holds it.

And away we go!