Our Wedding Was Plan B
Recently I shared this post on my Facebook page about our beautiful morning wedding and brunch reception. It was a gorgeous, picturesque day...
Recently I shared this post on my Facebook page about our beautiful morning wedding and brunch reception. It was a gorgeous, picturesque day with an intimate guest list, but it was actually our Plan B.
Originally, we planned to elope!
Tom and I got engaged late in the summer after our college graduation. We were the last children to get married in each of our families, and several of our siblings and others who had been married for a while would often tell us "Just elope! Skip the whole big wedding, save the money, and just get married!"
Well, for once, we thought we'd listen. Though we were the party animals of our friend groups in school, when it came down to it, we just wanted to be married. We didn't need the day to revolve around us, we didn't need a great big party with lots of booze and gifts... we just wanted to be husband and wife.
This, of course, came as a shocker to our family and friends (the few that we told), but after having stood up in so many weddings when money was tight, and traveling to dozens of weddings over the course of two years, we thought we'd be different. We'd save people the hassle, the money, and the travel. We'd tell our parents the plan (even have them at the intimate ceremony), hire a photographer to take normal wedding photos, and then jet off on a honeymoon. Upon our arrival back home, we'd send out surprise announcements of our marriage (which wouldn't be all that surprising since everyone knew we were engaged) with a photo of our elopement, and invite everyone to a reception/party on an upcoming date with a casual, sweet, fun setting.
This plan (to us) was ultra romantic, surprising, happy, and unique. It felt very us. It was unpredictable, off the beaten path, and exciting!
In the end, we realized not everyone saw it that way. We completely understood the feelings of our loved ones and were happy with our Plan B, but boy... don't let anyone tell you a wedding is about you! Haha!
Our Plan B wedding was perfect too. We were engaged for eight months and had our reception at a stunning historic Villa overlooking Lake Michigan in Milwaukee. I'm glad we shared it with family and our closest friends and chose a brunch reception over a party till midnight... not because we aren't the type to dance till our feet fall off (because we definitely are), but because in the end, this union was between God, Tom, and me... yet I know it meant a lot to those who were there to witness it.
If you want to know the truth though? I'd still choose Plan A ;)
July | 2016
What a whirlwind of a month.
Oh, you too?
Those summer days, I tell ya. Especially July.
First off, let me share with you some of my current favorites:
This super cheap dress was the first item of clothing I've ever ordered off Amazon and I am super happy with it. If you check out my photos below, I'm wearing it in blue by Lake Michigan at our friend's rehearsal dinner. It's also on my Instagram.
The clock I pictured, isn't the exact one we own, but it's practically the same and it has added such a perfect minimal piece to our kitchen area. See this post for a photo of it in our home.
blogs to explore
I am totally crushing on Warmth & Whimsy which is a blog I recently discovered and I just can't get enough of! Katie talks about the importance of dating your spouse, gardening, confidence, etc.. a wide array of topics that I am finding so relatable.
Brunch on Chesnut is a larger blog, but her photos are so stunning and I adore how they're styled.
Boulevard House. Admittedly, I've hardly had a moment to read her posts in their entirety, but just based on the fact that she writes about making your house your own, I am bookmarking it to return!
latest adventures
We had a really fun July. Between being outside with friends for play or for the holiday, and a packed week in Wisconsin, we are pretty pooped. There were lots of memories made and laughter with the best people. I'm just going to give a winded synopsis of what went down this month...
- Spent the 4th with the best // Alex and her husband from The Berger Bungalow #bloggingbudsforlife! We also ventured north and went river tubing as couples and had a blast.
- Mooched off our awesome friends' pool // gosh, could we love them any more? Haha!
- Discovered this adorable hidden gem of a town near our home, that has an pretty lake and sweet locals.
- Grabbed a quick lunch with one of my best friends from college and her sweet baby girl // love!
- Spent a couple days with my sister and her family in their new house in Wisconsin, and finally got some cheese curds.
- Had a very adventurous long weekend north of Milwaukee for a wedding // and somewhere in there acquired THIRTY-THREE bug bites on my feet/ankles/lower calves alone. So itchy.
- We stayed in two different Airbnb's and, as usual, had some great experiences. Our host lived in the first one we stayed in, and she was a total delight to have talked to and been hosted by. Don't forget to use my code the first time you book an Airbnb for $30 off!
- Finally saw my all time favorite band play live in Chicago at the Bears Stadium // Coldplay! It was so incredible and a dream come true.
Here's a little photo tour of our month (click to enlarge):
The amazing thing about Coldplay's concert were the wristbands you were given upon entering. They changed color, blinked, etc... along with the beat of the songs. It was so magical to look across the expanse of this massive stadium and see the colorful lights in sync with the songs. Of course, during their song "Yellow" everyone's wristband turned yellow, which was fitting. Fireworks would shoot up behind the band on beat with some songs, and they had these giants balloons being tossed around the entire arena. In a word it was just incredible. Very, very fun concert. Check out my Instagram for another short video from the concert, and note the wristbands when the song picks up.