Colors: Spring Green, Yarrow, Antique Gray, Amber Honey

This gorgeous bouquet is so lush with its amazing dark green leaves (magnolia maybe?) and pops of bright yellow billy buttons and yarrow. It really is the perfect complement to the antique gold of the bridesmaid’s dress. Sweet (local) honey makes a really nice favor for weddings and are a simple DIY to do too. The antiqued box is a great way to present drinks for your guests. Love the pop of green from the ribbon! The green chevron stripy straws would make a great addition to the drinks in the vintage crate, don’t you think? The centerpieces with snapdragons and other wildflowers add texture to the buckets in antique gold. Something different from the regular ol’ galvanized bucket. And this drink looks absolutely luscious, and dare I say, thirst quenching.

Does this wedding inspiration board leave you “green” with envy for a wedding as fresh as this?

xoxo

Row 1: Bridesmaid by J Henderson Studios via Wedding Chicks, Honey Wedding Favors captured by This Love of Yours Photography via 100 Layer Cake, Ribbon Box captured by Kate Grewal Photography via Wedding Chicks

Row 2: Green Chevron Straws via The TomKat Studio, Centerpiece captured by Paperlily Photography via Southern Weddings, Drink captured by Nancy Neil Photography via Santa Barbara Chic

When it comes to planning a wedding, color is one of three things (style and theme being the other two) that you need to first seriously consider. Everything else, your bridesmaids dresses, your flowers, your invitations, stems from knowing those three things. Because MagnetStreet knows how important colors are to a bride (they also bring meaning, help set the tone, and create feeling), they built a color swatch maker/finder into their website (beginning right on the main page). Choose your colors (or create your very own custom color) and see them previewed in the designs as you shop online!! Better still, they’ll send you these FREE Color Swatch Cards so you can see how it all goes together in person! (Being a very visual person, this only makes complete sense to me, and my heart happy.) MagnetStreet will even print additional swatches so you can share with your bridal party and vendors too!! Cool, right? Yeah, we thought so too :)

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Think MagnetStreet is pretty fabulous? They are!! Want beautiful stationery that celebrates your colors and style? You do!! The lovely folks at MagnetStreet would like to offer one lucky Heart Love Weddings-reading lady a $250 Wedding Stationery Shopping Spree!! The Giveaway Code will be emailed to the winner (randomly chosen by random.org) and must be used by October 31, 2013. Please note that the Code is valued up to $250 and is for one use only.

THE SHOPPING SPREE GIVEAWAY starts today and goes until next Tuesday, June 25th at 12AM EST. Winner will be randomly chosen by random.org and announced by 3PM EST on Tuesday, June 25th!!

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment on this post telling us and MagnetStreet which design is your favorite and how you would personalize it with your colors! This is your OFFICIAL (ONE-TIME) entry into the giveaway, and you must leave your email address. It will not be shared, used for promotional purposes, or anything other than for us to contact the winner.

FOR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:

• Like MagnetStreet Weddings and Heart Love Weddings on Facebook
• Share this Giveaway on Facebook. Be sure to either tag Heart Love Weddings or share directly from our Facebook page so we can keep track of you!!
• Follow @MagnetStreetWed and @HeartLoveWed on Twitter
• Share this Giveaway on Twitter with the following: “I’ve entered to win the @HeatLoveWed + @MagnetStreetWed Shopping Spree Giveaway!! (insert link here) #SHOPSPREE
• Be sure to come back and leave another comment for each of the above actions you take.

All my love and luck, girlies!! xoxo

Amanda and Jason met about 10 years ago through a mutual friend. They both had significant others at the time, but secretly thought the other was cute. There was definitely a connection though, and finally, in early 2011, their timing worked out perfectly. This was a year after they were supposed to go on a first date but Amanda cancelled. Jason saw that her relationship status was single and decided to try again. Amanda’s quite happy that he persisted :)

They went out on Superbowl Sunday. Amanda remembers her brother telling her that if a guy takes you out on Superbowl Sunday, he must really like you. That was definitely true. Jason was a real gentleman that night, but when he went to give her a kiss on the cheek goodnight, Amanda snuck one in for real!!

Her favorite date (and when she realized she was falling in love) was at a Rascal Flatts concert in Manchester, New Hampshire. They both love country music and had such a great time. They danced and sang the lyrics to each other – to them it felt like they were the only two people at the concert.

While she tried to keep it cool in the beginning, the more time Amanda spent with Jason, the more she wanted to be around him, and the feeling was completely mutual.

Jason popped the question on April 14th on a long weekend in Stowe, Vermont. Amanda had had her suspicions for a while, but did her best not to get her hopes up in case it didn’t happen. Meanwhile, Jason had gone with Amanda’s brother to the jeweler to pick out the ring a few weeks before, and had kept it hidden in the house ever since. He’d called for reservations at one of the best restaurants in Stowe and asked for an extra nice table because he planned to propose. The chef even sent out complimentary champagne and strawberries (after she’d said yes that is)!!

{From the Bride} Our wedding day was a dream!! We could not have asked for more perfect weather for a Maine wedding at the beach.

We knew we wanted to get married in 2012, so we started planning right away. We totally lucked out with our date because the venue had had a cancellation. So we put it together in 4 months!! We could not have done it without our stellar wedding planner, Diana from Diana Ma Weddings – she was a lifesaver!

My favorite memory is our First Look. I am so glad that Deborah suggested it because it was everything she described. It was amazing to have that private moment just Jason and I, and totally helped calm both our nerves. And we have that intimate moment captured on film forever!

Our first dance was “Your Everything” by Keith Urban. We both picked that song because it’s how we feel about each other. We just had so much fun during the wedding and didn’t sweat the small stuff. We had faith in our amazing vendors and they took such great care of us!

At the end of the night, Jason suggested we “escape” up to our hotel room before things officially ended. So we said goodnight to our parents and disappeared. Best. idea. ever. We got to watch people leave from our balcony (they didn’t see us) and bask in our post-wedding glow.

{Advice for Couples} Communicate, communicate, communicate! That is key :) No one is a mind reader, so you need to ask for what you need and that’s ok. As far as the wedding planning goes – remember that it is about the two of you, and that in the end, you get to marry the man/woman of your dreams. It will be stressful, but you’ll get through it. We really had the wedding that we both wanted because we made it totally about us.

Congratulations, Amanda and Jason! Thank you so much for sharing your wedding and love story with us!! We wish you both so much love and laughter in the many years you’ll share together! Many, many thanks to Deborah Zoe for sharing their very special day with us today!! xoxo

Our wedding was pretty basic, simple and straightforward. Nothing out of the ordinary for the early ‘80s and New England. Total overall cost: approximately $3,000. Memories: Priceless. Yeah, I went there. I’m going to share, in bullet form, how it all played out. Because really it’s the best way. That’s me. My parents largely paid for our wedding. It’s the way things were done. They of course, had a lot of say and control. Made sense to us. So here’s how it all played out… Some of the more memorable details and planning that is.

Rental Hall – Free! There was no discussion. A German club, where my parents were members, would fit the bill.

Photographer – a friend of my hubby who was a professional and cut us a deal. We paid $500 and got to keep the negatives. Gasp! That was just not done. Brides today are soooo lucky.

Wedding Planner – say what? Nada. Actually, that would be me. And yes, I realize that many young ladies don’t have a wedding planner now. I just needed to clarify it.

Guest List – this was probably one of the only real challenges that we faced in our wedding planning. We were on a budget. One hundred people max. We were at 120. Why? Because my hubby’s father had to invite his golfing buddies. Why? Because. No matter of convincing could diswade him. It was a battle and we lost. Sigh. However, at least 10 were no-shows – thank you - and those that did come, well, let’s just say that their gifts were interesting. Nothing off the registry. The most memorable – (1) white bath towel with (1) white face cloth. Did they not realize that they were going to a wedding with two people? Yes, these towels came in quite handy to dry the dog. :) We were very grateful, she says with tongue in cheek and rolling eyes.

Those are our wedding rings and Alexandra’s Paloma’s Nest ring bearer bowl – I took the picture though.

Invitations – less than  $75. Plain beige parchment paper with poo brown printing. That’s it. Nothing fancy. Really quite ugly. My mom got a deal on all the paper products because she knew the printer. It included the standard package – invitations, response card, cocktail napkins, matchbooks and thank you notes. Yes, that is the way it was done. The invitations were also my mother’s biggest stress. She freaked at the initial price of over $100! Why? Because she miscounted the guest list. She counted everyone. Instead of counting couples and families as one. We had a real good giggle over that one, and she was soooo relieved when the price came down.

Flowers – You’re going to love this one. I wanted a silk flower bouquet that I could hand down to my daughter someday. Alexandra? Are you listening? Oh, yes, it was so pretty with peach flowers that she could exchange for whatever she wanted!!. Someday. You should see Alexandra’s face when I tell her that story. Priceless! I also had a basket of peach silk flowers made so my maid of honor could use it again for her dining room table. Once she had a dining room table. Hey, Janet, you still have that basket, right? ;)

Yes, this is the infamous bouquet. In perfect condition after 32 years. Isn’t it pretty? Guess I’m going to save it for my granddaughter. :)

Wedding Attire – I made my dress. Yep. Made it. And I will admit that most would have thought this stressful but I did not. I allowed myself plenty of time and did a little every day. Cost: $95 for all the material including the lace and train. My grandmother added a few touches to dress it up, like fabric covered buttons to the sleeves and train. My veil was a gift from an aunt in Germany. It wasn’t quite what I wanted but I made it work. :) I did buy brand new shoes. White.

Now here’s some fun info. Remember, many, many brides will utter the most famous and favorite words that every bridesmaid and maid of honor loves to hear: “Oh, you can wear your dress again later! It’s perfect!” Well, I kind of did it a little differently. My MOH was my best friend. She wore a very pretty peach dress to prom four years earlier. “Hey, I love that dress! Janet, why not wear that for your MOH dress? You haven’t worn it since, so it’ll totally work!!” Tee-hee.

My hubby had a John Travolta, disco, “Staying Alive” suit (yes, be sure to check it out in the movie). No sweat there. We just bought him one of those fancy shirts from the tux store which by the way was ordered in January 1981 and it arrived two days before we were married June 12th, 1982.

Food – this was the one area that Fred had to have control of. He was going to cook. Yep. He cooked. I resisted at first, thinking he was not going to be able to pull it off especially since he wanted to golf before he got married – a lifelong dream of his. Golf before getting married. Fortunately he quit after 16 holes to finish cooking. We served fruit cup from a can, fresh salad, prime rib (which Fred did have a friend who was a chef finish off while we were at church – getting married), baked potato, some kind of vegetable, and a rum cake for our wedding cake. I am not fond of rum cake but my parents sure were.

Most of our wedding really went along without a hitch and was planned in less than six months. We did do a first look! Gasp! This was unheard of!! I dare say it was the first and only one of its kind in 1981. We did it because we wanted photos at our favorite park, and since we got married at 5:30, didn’t want to run the risk of it getting too dark afterwards. Plus, we didn’t want to keep our guests waiting. What trendsetters we were.

Those are our wedding rings and Alexandra’s Paloma’s Nest ring bearer bowl – I took the picture though

Now, I do have to tell you a little funny about our wedding night. Nothing personal, promise. We closed out the wedding at around midnight, changed, grabbed our bags, and went to my in-laws to say goodbye; where my brother-in-law noticed we had a bulging tire. Okay. Let’s get this puppy fixed… Check. We then drove to Rockport, MA, where my cousin had a beautiful B&B. (We were on our way to Maine for our honeymoon.) It was a two and a half hour drive. Fred had been up for 24 hours by this time and I couldn’t drive his stick shift car. Yeah, that was a fun drive for the last 40 minutes. Think of me, whacking his leg and snapping my fingers to keep him awake. We get to the B&B around 4:30 am. I ask: “Honey? Do we want to take the bags and very expensive camera equipment up to our room with us?” NO, was the answer. Okayyy, I’ll just grab it. Picture this, me with two duffle bags, camera bag, pushing, dragging Fred up two flights of stairs to our room. Which was lovely by the way with roses and champagne. I dropped everything, including Fred, on the bed, and went to change into something a little more … I told you I wouldn’t share anything personal. :) I come out of the bathroom and Fred is out cold. Fully clothed, boots and all. I had to check and see if he was still breathing. Barely. I left him there. Like that. Sigh. I changed into flannel PJ’s (we were going up to Maine. In June. It’s still cold there) and went to sleep. We tried again in the morning. <giggle>

Alexandra took this picture of us on Wednesday with her iPhone.

What We’ve Learned in 32 Years Marriage

I’m not going to sugar coat it. We’ve all seen the tips – fight fair, treat each other with respect, don’t go to bed mad, blah blah blah-bitty blah. I’m not saying we haven’t done that, but sometimes you won’t fight fair, harsh words will be said without thinking, you’re going to go to bed mad. Anybody that says they never did that, is, well, frankly, fibbing a little.

Two things that we do follow religiously is saying “I love you” everyday. Okay, well, I say it everyday. I’m a girl. He’s a boy. Enough said. :) He makes up for it in other ways. Usually. And surprisingly. But the number one rule that we have followed, and boy, has it come in handy a couple of times – now listen closely because it’s a big one – “Divorce in NOT an option!” Whenever we’ve had some bad times, and there have been a couple, we remind ourselves, that divorce is not an option. While it was not the automatic healing salve right away, once we were able to gain calmer perspectives, that phrase alone has dug us out of some serious situations. And for this I (we) are truly grateful. Please let it be known, that I am not advocating our rule in the event of infidelity or if you are in any kind of abusive relationship. But I have noticed, over the years, that many young couples seem to give up on their marriages all too soon. To make it this far takes a lot of hard work. It’s not always fun, easy, or pretty, but along the way, it is worth it. All I (we) know is that I (we) don’t want to go through life with anyone except each other and don’t know what we would do without the other. Amen!

I hope you’ve hung in there with me and our love story journey thus far. We don’t have all the answers when it comes to relationships, but we are loving the places we have been and where we’re going. We look forward to adding many, many more years to our love story. We’re in this thing for the long haul :)

xoxo

Eric and Jenna never truly met because they grew up together. Their families have known each other for forever, and they were always at the same church and school functions. Eric was actually more of Jenna’s brother’s friend until his senior year (her junior year) of high school when their friends began to hang out more. They don’t know how it happened. They were suddenly just always together! They spent so much time together in a group that they can’t remember their first official date!!! But their first kiss however, they do remember!! They were on their way back from a church trip on a charter bus, Jenna was sleeping, and Eric surprised her with a kiss!

After graduating high school, Jenna went off to college and nursing school, while Eric joined the US Coast Guard. Eric had already told Jenna earlier on in their relationship that he loved her, but had yet to hear Jenna say it back. When he left for boot camp, Jenna gave him a letter that he wasn’t allowed to read until he got on the plane. In the letter, she told him just how much he meant to her, how much she loved him, and how hard the next eight weeks would be without talking to him.

In November of 2007, Eric moved to Long Island. For the next three and a half years, Jenna and Eric were separated by about 500 miles. They learned A LOT during that time. He would come home when he could, and she would head straight for New York on any break from school she got! They have so many special memories in New York like going into the city and driving out to the Hamptons. They learned so much about relationships and patience during their time apart, but firmly believe that the distance is what made their hearts grow even fonder.

In July of 2010, Eric finally moved back home to North Carolina. Jenna says he was always the thoughtful guy who would do anything for anybody. He’s quiet unless he’s got something to say and never ceases to remind Jenna how much he truly loves her.

In April of 2012, Jenna was getting ready to graduate nursing school, and Eric had just graduated from law enforcement training. On April 20th, he told her they were going to visit the Coast Guard station in Wilmington, North Carolina (but that was just an excuse to get her to the beach).

They ended up driving right up onto the beach and sitting on the tailgate of Eric’s truck to look out at the ocean. She started to notice that Eric’s voice was growing shaky and he seemed uneasy. About that time, he dropped to one knee with the most beautiful engagement ring Jenna had ever seen and began to tell her that he couldn’t imagine his life with anyone but her.

After so many years (six and a half to be exact), the ring made it well worth the wait!!

{From the Bride} I wanted our wedding to be so personal for everybody involved and I believe it was! I used to work for my florist, used to babysit for my wedding planner, my cousin monogrammed all the bridesmaids and parents gifts, and my photographer became a great friend during the planning process!

For most aspects of the wedding, I had a picture in my head of exactly what I wanted everything to look like. However, I am a visual person and had a really hard time with some decisions. I wanted everything to be PERFECT and turn out like I had envisioned it…and it did. Like most recent and current brides, Pinterest became my best friend!

My favorite moment has to be when I started walking down the aisle with my dad and Eric and I saw each other for the first time. We held it together for a moment but then we both began to cry. So much time and so many trials had led us to our wedding day, and to finally be in that moment marrying the man God made for me was completely overwhelming! We decided against a first look because I, in many ways, am very traditional, and I wanted that feeling of anticipation when I would first see Eric at the other end of the aisle.

Our first dance was to Brad Paisley’s “Then” because it represents how our relationship has grown thus far.

Our wedding day was the most beautiful day in every aspect! From the weather to the smallest details, everything was wonderful. We wanted our day to be about love and it certainly was. My heart was so full of joy when I left!

{Advice for Couples} I would tell brides to pick vendors whom they absolutely trust! There is enough stress involved in planning a wedding, there is no sense in stressing if your vendors will do their job correctly when you’re paying them! Soak up every single moment because it goes by way too fast! Remember the day is about you and your husband and nothing else matters. Focus on each other!

Congratulations, Eric and Jenna! Thank you so much for sharing your wedding and love story with us!! We wish you both so much love and laughter in the many years you’ll share together! Many thanks to Ginny Corbett for sharing their very special day with us today! xoxo

{Who is Stephanie} She is a California grown country girl, a hopeless romantic, and thoroughly obsessed with love stories and weddings! She married her wonderful husband, Thomas, in August of 2012. They live in Northern California with their kitty, Ella. She loves the outdoors, drive-in movies, pretty flowers, chocolate, organization, the ocean, babies, rain, shoes, Christmas, Disney, laughter, and all things vintage. When she’s not crafting her heart out, she can usually be found dancing (tap and ballet are her favorite), or singing (at the top of her lungs). She is a firm believer in following your dreams, doing what makes you happy, and loving as much as humanly possible.

{How Did She Get Started} “I have always had a passion for weddings, all things vintage, and crafting. It was only obvious that when it came time for my own wedding, those three things came into play perfectly. I designed and handcrafted almost every aspect of our wedding. The response and love I received from family and friends was overwhelming. That was when I realized that I could turn my inherent talent and attention to detail into a business. The thought of creating beautiful, handmade decor and accessories for the most special moments in other people’s lives made me oh so happy! And so, after months of planning and brainstorming, Belle Amour Designs opened shop on February 17, 2013. Since then I have felt so blessed to be doing something that I love and that makes other people happy.”

{Her Etsy Shop} Belle Amour Designs is all about love. The name itself means: “Beautiful Love.” Stephanie handcrafts custom vintage inspired decor and accessories for the most beautiful, special moments in a person’s life. She works with couples to ensure that their wedding decor perfectly reflects their personalities and wedding vision. While she specializes in weddings, she also offers custom accessories for babies and special holidays we well. All of these things are just bursting at the seams with the most beautiful love there is.

{Why You Will Love Her} “I know how special each couple’s wedding is to them, and so I treat every item as if I were making it for my own wedding. I love working with brides, and customizing orders to fit their personality and wedding vision. I believe that the most special day of your life should also be the most beautiful, and I absolutely love that I get to help make it that way!”

{Who is Her Ideal Bride} “My ideal bride is a lover, a dreamer, a hopeless romantic, and she’s got a heart a “country mile wide”. She grew up swooning over all those old classic romantic movies and dreaming of the day her own love story would come to life. Now that she has found her Prince Charming and said yes to his undoubtedly heart melting proposal, she is ready to start planning the day she has always dreamed of. She wants a wedding that is romantic, elegant, and filled with gorgeous vintage inspired details, but still stays sweet, simple, and true to her country roots. Most of all, she wants her wedding to reflect the beautiful love that she and her fiancé share, and the beautiful life that they are starting together.”

{Most Frequently Asked Question From Brides – Can you customize this item to match my wedding style/colors?} “ABSOLUTELY! One of my very favorite things to do is work with a bride’s vision to create something new and beautiful to reflect the couple’s personality and fit their wedding. If you have a specific vision, I can create exactly what you want, or if you just have a general idea, I will take that and create something I think you will love. I will continue working with you and sending pictures until it is perfect!”

{Tips & Advice for Brides} “When it comes to wedding decor, I am a fan of the “less is more” approach. Your wedding is about the two of you and the beautiful love that you share. Don’t underestimate the power and elegance of sweet simplicity! Most importantly, just make sure that your wedding reflects your personalities and who you are as a couple. As long as you do that, it will be perfect!

Enjoy every second of the big day! Being engaged and planning a wedding is one of the most exciting times of your life. It can (and will) become stressful at times, but it is so important to remember that this is a once in a lifetime experience. I can almost guarantee that you will miss planning once it’s all over! So breathe, take it all in, consult wedding professionals whenever possible, and keep giving your loving, supportive fiancé the attention he deserves. Remember that you get to marry the love of your life and that is the most important thing. All of the other details will fall into place.”

{What She Loves Most About Weddings} “I have a hard time picking my favorite thing about weddings, because I love EVERYTHING about weddings! I love what they represent: Two people, so in love that they are vowing to spend the rest of their lives together, putting each others needs before their own, protecting each other, honoring each other, and making each other smile forever. I love the details too! The dress, the flowers, the cake, the decor, the way that friends and family all come together to share in that special day. Oh, and the look on the groom’s face when he sees his bride start down that aisle makes me weak in the knees every time!”

{What Inspires Her Professionally} “I am so inspired by love in general. Love is the reason that people vow to spend their lives together in marriage. Love is the reason people have weddings. Love is the reason that I get to do what I love to do. It is such an honor to be even a small part of someone’s love story, and it is for this reason that I pour so much love into every single one of my designs.”

{Her Favorite Love Song} Make You Feel My Love written by Bob Dylan, performed by Adele

{Need to Know} Pricing for all handmade vintage-inspired decor and accessories falls within the $15 – $150 range. All products are made to order and can be customized just for you! Stephanie loves to work with brides to ensure that every piece fits with their personality and wedding vision. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions at all!

If you would like to see more of Stephanie’s gorgeous designs and purchase your own, please visit the Belle Amour Designs Etsy Shop! Don’t forget to ‘heart’ your favorite pieces!! :) Stephanie would love to have a conversation with you on Etsy. You can also seek her out on Facebook or email her directly. She’s the absolute sweetest, and we know you’ll love her even more than we do (hard to imagine but I know it’ll be true)!! xoxo

Colors: Flame Red, Gingham Blue, Granny Smith Apple, Caramel

We definitely would have a smaller, more intimate wedding. Family and a few close friends only. It would be a casual, rustic, picnic by a lake, ceremony and reception. We would have lots of color in the decor (hence the bright DIY banner), summer garden bouquets, and of course, lots and lots of twinkle lights! Because the guest list would be so small, my hubby-to-be, my family and I would actually create the menu and cook the meal. (You’ll find out on Friday that we actually did this the first time around too, just not as gracefully.) Everything would be served family style, utilizing a vintage truck for appetizers (you know how much I love vintage trucks) and farm tables with mismatched chairs for the reception. Dessert would include cupcakes, like these amazing apple pie ones, and homemade vanilla ice cream from the Granville Scoop (local hole-in-the-wall hot spot). We’d have a live small country band so that we could really kick up our heels, line dance all night long and have TONS of fun. Fred would wear jeans, a white oxford shirt with rolled up sleeves. I might even be able to convince him to wear a cute bow tie. Operative word: cute. I would wear a short wedding dress, probably one that I made, with a denim vest. No veil but a small flower in my hair. And the shoes, well, they would have to be cute, maybe Keds. In hot pink :) Oh, and I almost forgot! How could I??! I would use mason jars as vases, lanterns, and drinking glasses filled with sparkling strawberry lemonade! (If I’d done that then, I would have been a trend setter back in 1981!!) And our wedding would definitely be in the fall (not June). This I know for sure :)

I can’t wait to tell you more on Friday!

xoxo

Row 1: Vintage Truck captured by Laura Moss via Rustic Wedding Chic, Rustic Table Centerpiece and Family Style Meal captured by Danielle Capito Photography via 100 Layer Cake

Row 2: Twinkle Lights captured by Lisa Wise Photography via Apple Brides, Apple Pie Cupcakes via Inspired Taste, Bright Fabric DIY Banner via Chickabug

I met my husband when I was a young teen. Didn’t think much about it then. He was just a friend’s brother who would on occasion give me (plus a bunch of other girlfriends) a ride home from swim practice. Move ahead a couple of years and our paths crossed at a YMCA lifesaving class. That is when it hit me. Really. Like Cupid’s arrow. Oh, this is going to sound really corny. But I looked across the group and BAM!. I knew I was going to marry this fellow. I didn’t know why, how or when. Especially since he was 7 1/2 years older (I was sixteen then; do the math), he was in a very serious relationship (almost engaged), and I hated the fact that he and I were matched as lifesaving partners. It wasn’t that I hated him, but my husband is dead weight in chlorinated water and we were the only male/female partners. Can you say cross chest carry awkwardness? We got over that pretty quickly, and Fred (ever the gentleman) always kicked off the bottom of the pool to help with his dead weight. Summer flew by, we passed our lifesaving test and moved on. However, since I went to high school with his sister, I would on occasion ask her about him. In a nonchalant kind of way, of course. Two years passed, I was getting ready to graduate high school and I asked again about my friend’s brother and found out that he was no longer seeing someone. (Really, really bad breakup.) Say what?? I was looking for a summer job and my friend suggested that I apply at Riverside Park (now Six Flags) and that her brother had an “in” and could get me a job.

A little sneak into our scrapbook. Pardon the corny pictures and quality. It was the ’70′s after all.

Things get a little more interesting then. Needless to say, I got the job, started at the front gate ticket booth, and didn’t see hide nor hair of this man until July 7th, 1977. Yes, this is significant. 7/7/77. Get it? I happened to look at my horoscope on that day in the newspaper and guess what it said? You will meet your true love today. Not. Kidding. Gosh, I wish I had saved that clipping. Doesn’t Fred come to my booth and ask me to go water skiing on the weekend with him? Just out of the blue. Now mind you. I did not think this was a date. No way. No how. I thought he was just asking me to go on a family outing since I knew his sister. I did not consider this a first date. Nope. A few days later, I actually called his house and declined the invite since I didn’t really want to go water skiing. Not my thing. But, Fred was persistent and persuaded me to go. This was not a first date, okay? He picked me up, we went to the lake and no family. Couples only. What?? This is a date? O. M. G. What did I get myself into? I’m wearing a bikini!! This was awkward. I may have not really wanted to sit near him. Either on the boat or at the picnic table. I also kept my t-shirt on, most of the time. When he dropped me off, I couldn’t get out of the car fast enough. Much, much later I found out that Fred was really disappointed that I didn’t give him a kiss. This was not a first date. So a week goes by and he calls to go to the movies. Mmmmmm. Sigh. Okay. He picked me up, met my parents and we went to the movie “A Bridge Too Far”. And a movie too long. We were late and entered in the dark. That’s when Fred touched my back (ever the gentleman) to make sure I didn’t trip in the dark. I freaked. He touched me! The electricity that I felt was just not normal. :) And yes, he did get a first kiss. On the cheek.

My parents were curious about this young man, especially his age. He looked older. Acted older. Owned a car. I was eighteen. “How old is he?”, they asked. Oh, 22, I think. (I’ll hang my head in shame now.) Oh. Each time we went out on a date, he aged a year. Until, finally I got him caught up. His birthday is in July. Remember we started “dating” in July? It took a few dates. He was rapidly aging. I had to ease my parents into it. They were really good about it. Never said a word.

Fred asked me out on a second “date”. To the beach. I declined. Yep, did that. Again. And yet, he was persuasive, again. And I went. This time, we had a really, really good time. Mmmmm, maybe this could work. But wait. I was going off to college. UConn. Not very far away, but nonetheless, away. Maybe this is not the best time to get involved. Nope. We dated that summer and I went to school. But I admit, I was smitten, and going away to school was hard.

Now, if you can imagine, we did not have cell phones. I didn’t even have a phone in my room. Had to use the dorm phone. Truck down four flights of stairs. Timed calls. No computers. How would we communicate? Love letters. Cards. Once a week phone calls. Weekends home. And one thing that Fred would do was, once a week, on a Thursday, come down to UConn and visit. First, it was always a surprise. I. Had. NO. Idea. We would talk, walk to the pond and listen to the ducks tell jokes (that’s what Fred used to say their quacking was all about) and get Subway grinders (from one of the first Subway shops). It was wonderful. I was falling in love. We were falling in love.

One of my most favorite and memorable dates was when I came home for Christmas. Fred surprised me with tickets to “A Christmas Carol” at a local theater. One of the best evenings we ever spent. Dinner and the theater. I was in love. With him. His present to me for Christmas, a Hummel figurine that was of a little girl pulling daisies that said “Does he love me? Does he not?”. Mmmmm. We spent a lot of time together that winter break. Learned to cross country ski, hung out and made grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches, went to the movies. Played Pong on an Atari. We said “I love you” for the first time. I went back to school and sobbed. Not pretty. For my birthday, he came to school and gave me a big box. I unwrapped a total of 12 boxes. Yep, twelve. Some even handmade. The final box, diamond, heart shaped earrings. So sweet. I think I was more enamored with the effort that it took and the time to wrap than I was with the earrings. At first. My Fred, Mr. Persistent. And patient.

By the end of the semester, I decided that I no longer wanted to be away from home and applied to a local college. But not before I went off to Europe for ten days with the marching band. And everything changed. I came back, full of new dreams. Excitement. Fred looked at that enthusiasm and did not want to interfere in my dreams and hold me back. So he withdrew. We dated but something was different. It took several months (a year or more) to settle down again. Also at that time, Fred was going through a tough time. Unemployed and facing major surgery on his jaw. But, I knew I was supposed to be with him. I was persistent. 

Fast forward to January 1980. We’d been dating for almost three years. Fred was facing his surgery. He was extremely agitated and nervous about it. Our relationship suffered. We broke up. Yep, a week before his surgery. I was done. I told him he had to figure things out. Nobody knew. I cried by myself. Fred had surgery. Major surgery and alone in a hospital. I paced for several days, wondering if I should go see him. I finally did and found him with his mouth wired shut and wearing strained peas all over his hospital gown. I was relieved to see him despite his looks. He looked like he’d been hit by a truck. Black, blue, yellow, purple – from the top of his head to his chest. He could only communicate via a Superman write on, lift off tablet. He was happy to see me!

Now things get interesting.. I only saw Fred one more time at the hospital. We were after all, not together and nobody knew that. Nobody. Fred was discharged and I went on with life. My birthday is on February 15th. On Valentine’s Day, I came home from working out, all sweaty, and Fred’s car was in the driveway. What? Why? He was sitting with my parents and grandmother at the kitchen table. I had so many questions. He said nothing. Remember, his mouth was wired shut. He pointed to me to sit down. Instructed me to close my eyes. Placed cards and a box in front of me and tapped me on the shoulder to open my eyes again. I opened a Valentine’s Day card. Sweet. I opened a birthday card. Sweet. I opened the box. O. M. G. A ring!!! Say what? A friendship ring? Noooooo! I looked at Fred and said “Is this what I think it is? Are you sure?” He just nodded, a twinkle in his eye (yes, a twinkle, ok? Like Santa Claus. Ok, maybe not). Okay, so he never actually asked me to marry him. It’s a standing joke in our house. But he put the ring on my finger and that was that. You see the reason I thought it was a friendship ring was because they were very popular back then and the setting of my ring was very unique. Picture Fred going to a jewelry store with his dad, signing and writing down his request looking like he did. My ring is a single solitaire surrounded on each side with our birthstones, amethyst and ruby.

Sparkly. Pretty. Perfect. – Best. Day. Ever.

Our Engagement Photo – notice the chubby cheeks on Fred. The coloring under his chin is true however.

On Friday, I’ll give you a little more of our love story, our wedding planning and details, and how life and love is now after 32 years of marriage. I can’t wait to tell you more!

xoxo

Chris and Kim both work for the same company, which is how they met eight years ago. To say they didn’t get off to the best start is an understatement, at least from Kim’s point-of-view (Chris has an entirely different version of how they met). While she wasn’t new to the company, she was new to the department that Chris worked in. It was her first week in her new job and she must have messed something up specific to one of his client’s because Chris (who wasn’t shy about letting her know about it) came over to her desk yelling at her over it. That was her very first encounter with him, and from that point on, she thought he was arrogant, self-centered, and a couple of other choice words we won’t mention here. For the next several years, they would remain acquaintances, exchanging polite conversations every now and again, but that was the extent of it. Chris, on the other hand, will tell you that he looked up her photo on the company directory after learning the names of the new recruits for the department. He’ll tell you it was love at first sight, and that he waited patiently for her to realize that they were meant to be together.

Everyone keeps asking what changed, or how it happened, how they fell in love, and the simple answer is, “It just did.” About a year ago, Kim moved into another position in the department, which was closer in proximity to Chris’ desk. Within the first few weeks, Chris seemed to stop by Kim’s desk every day, and vice versa. At first, the conversations were strictly work related, and then slowly turned to more personal topics. She was starting to get the feeling that he may be interested in her. And grew still more suspicious when she received a LinkedIn invitation from him, which she accepted.

A few days later, Kim received an email from him at her personal address (which she still has). He told her he’d gotten her email from her LinkedIn profile (smart guy) and asked if it would be ok to have her phone number. That evening, while driving home from her sister’s house, he called. They talked on the phone for almost four hours that night about anything and everything: past relationships, family, childhoods, future dreams, etc. A few days later, they went to lunch together.  And a few days after that, they went on their first official date.

They went to dinner at a very quaint, “hole in the wall” Italian restaurant, which they now fondly refer to as “their” place. Chris was so nervous that he accidentally set his napkin on fire from the candle on the table. After dinner, they went to get frozen yogurt and then on to a movie. Kim was so nervous the entire drive home about whether or not he was going to kiss her. Just like their first meeting, the two have very different recollections of how their first kiss went down. Chris would tell you that he wasn’t nervous at all, that he knew he was going to ask if it was OK to kiss me. He would also tell you that he wasn’t even able to get the entire question out before she grabbed him and went in for the kiss… Kim, on the other hand, would tell you that she has no recollection of what was actually said, or who kissed whom first, but that he completely swept her off her feet, and life hasn’t been the same since.

Chris popped the question in March of last year. They have date night every Friday evening – they hadn’t missed one since they started seeing each other. But this particular Friday, Chris cancelled the plans they had made, saying something came up at work that he had to take care of (she later found out that he was taking her parents to dinner to ask for their blessing). Kim was staying at his place that weekend, so she just went straight there after work and waited for him to come home. On Saturday morning, Chris told Kim that she was going to have to leave the house for a couple of hours because he had a project he needed to work on (she later found out that he needed to take pictures of the ring he had purchased and text them to her family for input). So, like any girl with a couple of hours to kill, she decided to go shopping. By Sunday, Chris was just not acting like himself, and she thought for sure he was going to break up with her.

That evening, as Kim was getting ready to head back to her house, Chris asked her to sit down on the couch, that there was something he wanted to show her. He turned on the television. The video that he and his brothers made a couple years prior for their parents’ 40th wedding anniversary came on. It was a video montage of his parent’s courtship and wedding and their family growing up over the years. It also included interviews of Chris and his two brothers talking about what their parents had taught them about love, marriage, and family. The video ended with photos of Chris’ brothers, their weddings, and photos of their children. By the end of the video, Chris looked like he was either ready to throw up or cry. He stood up for a moment, then quickly turned around, dropped to his knees, and said, “The only thing missing from this video is our family, will you please marry me?” She doesn’t remember much after this point, only that she said yes!!

{From the Bride} We both knew that we wanted our wedding to be very small and intimate. Only immediate family and a handful of very close friends, which we felt had a meaningful impact on the two of us during out courtship, were in attendance. We started talking about having the wedding in my husband’s hometown almost immediately. We decided to go to Okoboji in May to explore the possibility of having the wedding there, check out some locations, and let me get a feel for the place. I have to say that it was not “love at first sight” and that our trip got off to a very rocky start. Our plane was struck by lightning three times, it was pouring rain and very turbulent for the last part of the flight, and the pilot had to make multiple attempts at landing. I am not the best flyer and therefore spent the entire last hour of the flight in tears, begging for Chris to get me off the plane. 

For two out of the three days of our trip, it was raining off and on, with grey, gloomy skies and highs in the 30’s. Being an Arizona native, it was a definite shock to my system. All of the boats were out of the water, there were boat hoists lying all over the backyards, and all the trees were bare. It was very hard to get a feel for the actual space that you would have to work with, or what the area truly looked like. For these reasons, I had gone to bed that Saturday pretty certain that Iowa just wasn’t going to work for the wedding. The last day of our trip can only be explained by divine intervention. We woke Sunday morning, and there was sun shining into the bedroom. We went downstairs and somehow, most of the boat hoists were “magically” in the water, the lake was glistening, the birds were chirping…it was amazing. I was finally able to see just how beautiful the area was, and knew from that moment on, this is where we were meant to be married.

It’s true what they say, your wedding day passes by in the blink of an eye. Although I do remember, vividly, everything that transpired that day. Our wedding was a true family affair; we couldn’t have done it without them. Every aspect of our wedding was directly impacted by either a family member, or one of our close friends. From the catering, to the reception supplies, the decorations, the photography, the time everyone took off from work to travel, just for us. We have never felt so loved; it was truly an amazing experience. 

I remember waking up the morning our wedding day to a pretty empty house. Chris and I had rented a house on the lake for my family to stay at while in town. Everyone was either at my in-laws home, setting up for the reception in the backyard, or at the slew behind the church, setting up for the ceremony. I had my first appointment early in the afternoon with my mom to have our makeup done. I then came back to the house and did my hair with the help of my sister and sister-in-law.

Chris and I are both pretty traditional, and decided that we didn’t want to do the “first look” photos that seem to be so popular these days. We did however talk to each other before the ceremony. There was a door between the two of us, so that we couldn’t see each other. I would say that is probably the most memorable moment I have of the day. I cried, while my husband feverishly tried to make me laugh in an effort to stop the tears. The entire moment was captured by our photographer; I think they are probably some of my favorite images from the day.

The ceremony itself was held in the slew behind the family church. We were surrounded by tall grass fields and there was a giant barn in the background. I walked down the aisle to “Marry Me” by Train. We didn’t have a wedding party so to speak, it was just Chris and I, although our niece and nephews served as flower girl, ring bearer, and sign carrier during the ceremony. We wanted the reception to just feel like a big family dinner, so that it what we did. Frank Sinatra was playing in the background while dinner was served, buffet style. A few well-wishers drove past the reception on their boats and honked their horns as a way to say congratulations. It was a beautiful evening, surrounded by the people we love most in life.

{Advice for Couples} The best things in life truly are worth waiting for, and as you get older, you will look back on your past and realize how times seems to telescope. There are very few things in life worth getting upset over, so don’t be petty with your spouse… Slow and steady wins the race. Be patient. Be kind. Be understanding. Know how to pick your battles and learn to truly compromise with one another, otherwise your journey will be a short one… Say I love you every day… and mean it!! View your spouse as the awe inspiring  spectacle that they are and accept them completely that way… After all, life is a journey not a destination… Don’t be afraid or ashamed to display your exuberance for one another. Communicate – that means listening too! Talk to one another, not at one another… Don’t play gamers, you’re either in it or you’re not. Love, love, love!

Congratulations, Kim and Chris! Thank you so much for sharing your wedding and love story with us!! We wish you both so much love and laughter in the many years you’ll share together! Many thanks to Shaun Bailey for sharing their very special day with us today! xoxo

Chili’s Margaritas

Here’s how I would plan it:

First, I would choose an area that has several of your favorite restaurants. We have a really cool college town, Northampton, MA, not too far from us that has an awesome assortment of restaurants. Italian, Mexican, Japanese, so much “good eats” in one place – oh my!! You can either plan ahead or just go with the flow. In Northampton, you can park your car and then start walking. Pick your first restaurant and enjoy a drink – relax! You’ve got the whole evening ahead of you. Next, you find a restaurant for soup or salad (an appetizer is ok too). Salad al fresco during the beautiful summer evenings, soup in the cooler months next to a cozy fire. Moving on to the main course, find a restaurant that doesn’t serve ginormous meals because you must leave room for dessert :) Although I suppose you could always take leftovers home… Dessert can be over the top, like a flambe or an awesome hot fudge sundae for two!!

Carrabba’s Pasta

Some variations could be starting at home with a drink, like this awesome Cranberry Vodka Spritzer. Head out to your first stop, a restaurant that serves an amazing soup, salad or appetizer. Then you’re off to the main course and topping it off with dessert. You could also start by going out and then ending the night with dessert at home, like this decadent Nutella Chocolate Torte. Don’t forget the bubbly on the side!! Remember, you’re home now ;)

Applebee’s Triple Chocolate Meltdown

No matter how you start or end the evening, enjoy the whole evening!! Put your phones on silent (unless of course you have wee ones that are with a sitter – I know you want to be available if need be) and be in the moment with the love of your life. And you know, this would even be a fun girls’ night out or bachelorette party!! Just saying… ;)

Have you started thinking about your progressive dinner date? Where will you go? Will it be for a special occasion or just celebrating everyday love? We like both options!!

Enjoy!

xoxo