Refusing the Cookie Cutter

we are 90 days away from our wedding day 

mom and I just made a 7 page to-do list 

(handwritten and front page only--don't freak Jared) 

lots and lots of little tiny details left

this brings me to the post topic...

I am super duper anti-cookie-cutter-wedding

meaning a one-stop wedding venue

where they do essentially everything for you 

and every other wedding that is held there looks the same  

is just not for us 

yes, it would make this planning process a whole crap ton easier 

but where is the fun in that? 

I pride myself on being different and having a lot of my own ideas 

of course I will admit that a few have been taken from Pinterest 

but I have continuously added "our spin" on things 

honestly, I think the only thing were not making or personally designing ourselves 

is the food and party rentals 

even those have a dash of us in them 

when we first discussed theme we wanted to have 

"a southern garden party with a backyard on the water feel"

(seeing it in writing, it sounds a little ridiculous) 

but it made sense at the time and we had a stern vision in mind 

the more we looked and planned however, our ideas changed and molded into something different 

now when people ask theme or colors

(originally coral and navy--now a very neutral base palette using flowers to add color)

we say our wedding is going to be us, just dressed up

here are a few of the things I have been doing since at home Wilmington for two weeks... 

 distressed metal buckets 

use Lysol toilet bowl cleaner and steel wool 

coat and scrub metal 

leave in sun for few hours 

and voilà

handmade one of our favors 

not pictured because it is a surprise 

mom dedicated a room in her house to wedding only supplies 

this will be quickly consumed 

designed our wedding suite and wine labels 

not pictured again because it is a surprise 

I have a week left in Wilmington

a week to plan, plan, plan 

a week to prepare for my first big girl nurse job 

a week to relax and enjoy the sun 

only 3 more days until Jared and I are reunited after a week and a half a part 

Stock the Bar!

this weekend my lovely bridesmaids hosted a "Stock the Bar" shower in mine and Jared's honor

this was our first official wedding shower 

for those that don't know

a shower like this is to provide gifts to "stock the bar" of the bride and groom to be 

usually people bring an alcohol that the couple enjoys 

(we got tons of wine and bourbon) 

but also to bring bar related accessories like glasses or a bar tool set 

(we received both with our new co-monogram!) 

basically it is a good excuse to get friends together to celebrate with good food and drinks :) 

my bridesmaids (and my MOH's mom) out did themselves on this event

we had such a wonderful time with our really close family and friends

here is a picture montage of the nights events 

the wine bottles in the top right were hand painted by one of my bridesmaids, Layne! 

they will definitely be used for later wedding festivities 

bride and groom to be (eep)

with the wonderful hostesses and worlds best bridesmaids 

just missing Miss Charli Kay! 

the groom with some of his handsome groomsmen 

and Will in the middle, not groomsman, but off to Costa Rica for 6 weeks to work for Chiquita 

looks like a Vineyard Vines advertisement 

 

photo opps with two bridesmaids and my sweet bestie from nursing school 

with the two sets of newlyweds 

gifts galore! 

so blessed to have such great friends 

then we took a party bus to the bar 

did some karaoke on the ride there 

K-Ci and JoJo was a must-play for the night 

my awesome brothers

sad we didn't do our totem pose

 

with the only four men I need in my life

James of course had to photobomb the picture with the MOH

Kim, that mini sombrero is too much 

 

maid of honor, best friend, other half, partner in crime, sister...

thank you for everything this weekend and for making this time in my life so special

Jared and I are so truly grateful for the friends that came out to support and celebrate us 

we can't thank you enough for the memories and new additions to our bar 

now I am back in Wilmington for two more weeks of straight wedding planning 

(and beach days)

my mom has dedicated a room in her house to only wedding things 

if that tells you anything about how serious we are getting 

Wonderful Weekend

Oh I hate when the glorious weekends come to an end

back to work and real life 

it was especially hard to let go of this weekend 

Friday 

we received all of our engagement pictures back 

I spend a lot of time bragging about our photographer Libby McGowan 

we can't say enough about how awesome she is

her pictures speak for themselves 

here are a few of my favorites that weren't in the sneak peek 

we have also been on the hunt for our centerpiece glass 

we hit up both Goodwills in Winston-Salem and found amazing deals on unique glass 

this is just the beginning of what we need

Saturday 

was a gorgeous day 

the weather couldn't of been more perfect for a BBQ

Jared smoked pig 

 and it was so delicious

I cleaned the house before we had a few friends over 

finally got our diplomas hung 

my sweet future mother in law had these professionally and custom framed for us a year ago

we added these Southern accents to the house too 

can't go wrong with mason jars and pig shaped chalkboards

what goes good with smoked pig?

Southern Sangria of course! 

well I call it southern because it was a little redneck-ish-ly made and then I put it in a mason jar

super simple to make 

strawberries, pineapple, blueberries soaked in sauvignon blanc overnight 

topped with lemon lime soda just before serving 

Jared's friend from work brought a puppy

and we got our fix in 

love these of Jared with the puppy 

we were twins that day 

and Beau was determined to be in the picture too 

after stuffing our faces 

Jared strummed the guitar 

of course 

then we headed downtown to Gwyn's apartment to hang out on the roof 

Sunday 

spent the day on the couch 

this weekend was simply wonderful 

I love this time of year 

Now this is my last four days with the sweet baby have been taking care of 

it will be hard to say goodbye 

so I am trying to soak up all the time with her that I can 

Just hit me

we have been planning this wedding on and off for the past 9-ish months now 

however, less than 4 months away and it is now hitting me 

were getting married in 114 days 

thank you knot.com for the daily reminder of how close we are 

it has always been real 

I have known this whole time were getting married 

but now I really know because...

we freak when we find steal-worthy prices on decorations 

we picked out our wedding bands 

we reserved the beach house for us and the wedding party the week before the wedding 

our wedding is the next one we will be attending 

we designed our wedding favors (and they are awesome) 

we I am going gah-gah over bridesmaids & groomsmen gifts

we designed the invitations and are getting ready to print and send them 

we are basically consumed with the wedding related topics

we met with our new caterer and created the most unique menu 

phew

lots more to do 

as much as I want to be married now 

I don't want to wish this time away 

it goes fast and I want to soak it all in 

this only happens once after all 

 

us at Dockside in Wilmington after a day full of planning
drinks were much needed