Today we have hundreds of hydrangeas, burlap table runners, dozens of handmade touches (including the linen and unbleached muslin bouquets inspired by Etsy), mini Eiffel Tower keychain favors (the couple got engaged in Paris), and other Parisian infusions. Oh, and cowboy boots, lots and lots of cowboy boots! I think I have a thing for them…Or they for me. Too bad I don’t actually own a pair, but maybe that’ll change someday :) Anyway, this rustic spring blue and green wedding from Lauryn Galloway Photography is oh-so-pretty and like a breath of fresh air!

One Saturday morning four years ago, Chelsea went to the bank to start a savings account. The moment she stepped inside she wished she’d dressed better than “a typical Saturday morning” because there was a new bank boy…a cute new bank boy…who just so happened to be the one to help her open her savings account. They chatted a bunch and had so much in common that Chelsea couldn’t wait to make her next trip to the bank…with a deposit for her savings account being her top priority, of course.

Several trips later, Drew finally asked her out…on a group “thing” with some friends. Oh. The night before the big outing, Chelsea got a call from Drew saying that his friends couldn’t make it, but that he still wanted to take her out to dinner – just them – instead. Relieved that he wasn’t calling to cancel entirely, and that their new plans involved just them, she agreed.

Crazily enough, all of this really did happen on their first date… Without knowing it, Drew took Chelsea to her favorite restaurant for dinner. And because it went so well, they decided to go for drinks and watch the Tennessee football game at a local bar nearby. And because that went so well, they then decided to go 80’s dancing! They had a blast dancing the night away, and on the car ride home, they laughed and danced (along to the radio) some more. And when he walked her to her door late that night, he gave her the sweetest of goodnight kisses.

Drew and Chelsea have shared some pretty incredible memories together. They both LOVE to travel, they love road trips, and jammin’ along to music in the car. They’ve been to Boston, Aruba, Outer Banks, New Orleans, Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, West Virginia, Paris…just to name a few.

As crazy as it may seem, they both agree that it was close to “love at first date”. Drew swears he knew it was love two weeks in, thought he didn’t actually tell her until much later. Chelsea knew that after going through so many life experiences and always coming out hand-in-hand meant that no matter what, they could get through anything together.

Drew and his parents had been planning a trip to Paris for all of them for about a year, and they were all so looking forward to it. They all had been before but Chelsea never had, so they spent time planning the trip to make it extra special for her. In the back of her mind, Chelsea hoped that a proposal might be involved too!

The day they were set to leave, they were more than ready to go. Their plane on the other hand, was not. After an hour and a half delay in Richmond, they missed their connecting flight in Philadelphia to Paris. They managed to get onto another flight out of Philadelphia into Manchester before flying into Paris, leaving them only 12 hours behind schedule. It didn’t matter. It was Paris!!! And they were finally there! But their luggage was not. That mattered.

Chelsea threw a hissy fit (that she isn’t exactly proud of) that Drew took very much in stride. He immediately went down to the hotel gift shop and returned with a card that he asked her to read by the window which looked out onto the Eiffel Tower, promising that it would make her feel better. She began to cry as she read the sweet words he’d written inside. When she turned around to thank him, she found him on bended knee, holding out the most gorgeous ring to her, and asking her to marry him. Of course, she said yes! All the while saying a silent prayer that the ring had been safely tucked away in his mother’s carry-on, and not in the luggage that had gotten lost.

{From the Bride} Our wedding was simply amazing. All the beautiful details from hundreds of hydrangeas, burlap runners and wreaths, to Paris keychain favors, mini cupcakes, and homemade photo booth and cornhole came together perfectly, even if some things did not. 

The Thursday night before the wedding, I came down with the stomach flu. I was sick all the way through Friday morning and even had to be taken to the hospital for IV fluids. And because throwing up is MY BIGGEST FEAR, I had a major panic attack. My best friend and maid of honor, Lauren, took wonderful care of me, staying by my side the entire time, while my whole family and groom took care of all the rest of the details and setting up both the ceremony venue and reception. I finally recovered enough to go to the rehearsal but left early to rest.

I awoke on Saturday rested and feeling much better, but my mother and groom had come down with the same flu during the night. It was 8AM, the wedding was at 2PM, and both my mom and groom were sick as could be. We didn’t know how or even if we would pull it off. Many prayers and nothing short of a miracle later, my groom and mother arrived at the ceremony weak but standing with minutes to spare. 

We made it through the vows and communion before Drew had to sit down. But he was there and we were married, so it was perfect. We just had to battle through the whole “in sickness” bit a lot sooner than we originally thought.

Our first dance was “Somebody’s Chelsea” by Reba McEntire. I love this song about an old couple in love, and it has my name – how perfect! And we made it through the whole thing standing up. Even more perfect :) 

Our wedding day wasn’t everything I’d dreamed, but it was everything that mattered.

{Advice for Couples} Be best friends. Share every moment together – all the good and the bad ones. Do not leave anything left unsaid, over-communicate. Trust and believe that your marriage will be everything you dreamed it would be.

Congratulations, Chelsea and Drew, and so much love and luck to you! I can’t even believe you two were sick on the big day!!! It didn’t show at all – in fact, if you hadn’t told us, I don’t think anyone would ever have even known! Troopers, both of you :) And thank you, also, to the fabulous Lauryn Galloway for sharing with us their very special day! xoxo