Wedding Week

Wedding Week

The week before the wedding, Chad and I both worked every day except Friday. We got all of his stuff moved into the apartment so we would not have to do that after the honeymoon. It was not fun, but we knew it would be so nice to return to Birmingham completely moved! 

I left work a little early Thursday to get my nails painted, eyebrows waxed, and begin packing. I packed for the wedding in Troy and for the honeymoon. At this point, I still wasn’t sure where we would be going for the honeymoon but Chad did tell me to pack for lows in the 70s and highs in the 80s. Some people would be nervous letting their fiancé surprise them with the honeymoon destination, but Chad loves traveling as much as I do so I wasn’t nervous at all. I just thought of it as one less wedding decision I would have to make. 

I thought I would be a little nervous the week of the wedding, but I never got cold feet. We left for Troy on Friday and stopped in Montgomery for my makeup lady to do a trial run on my makeup. She did an amazing job! We got to Troy around lunch and took a car load of stuff (monogram, old window seal, monogram cups, sparklers, wedding advice box, etc) to the Country Club for the wedding reception. After that we stopped by the university to see Chad’s mom. She was there with a few friends setting up for the rehearsal dinner. 

We headed back home to get dressed for the rehearsal at the church. Here I am with my dad, mom and Millie before the rehearsal.

 

Mrs. Betty Wagoner and the preacher led the rehearsal at the church. When Mrs. Wag talks, everyone listens. 

At the rehearsal with my BEAUTIFUL BRIDESMAIDS.

I saved tons of bows from some of my showers and my roommate / Maid of Honor (Allise) used them to make my bouquet for the rehearsal. I thought it turned our adorable!

After the rehearsal, we went to the new dining hall at the university. Mrs. Lisa rented out a dining room for the rehearsal dinner. Everyone had already RSVPed to the dinner selecting beef tenderloin or sea bass. Chad and I each picked our favorite desserts and those were the two desserts served. Chad selected banana pudding and I chose caramel cake. His mom had someone prepare a slide show and we each had 30 pictures from our childhood and 30 pictures together. Our slideshow songs were: Mumford and Sons – I Wait, Phillip Phillips – Home, and Brad Paisley – Then. 

The first picture from my childhood on the slideshow.

After the slideshow some of our friends and family gave a toast to us. The toasts were all so personal and meaningful. The rehearsal went great and the decorations were perfect. I loved the 'G' monograms on the doors.

 

When the dinner was over, the wedding party went to the Half Shell. I went home a little early to get plenty of sleep before waking up for the big day!

Bachelorette Weekend - St. Patty's Day

Bachelorette Weekend

St. Patty’s Day is one of my favorite holidays! My roommate/Maid of Honor decided that would be a good time to have my Bachelorette Party! We started with a Luncheon Bridal Shower at Rogue Tavern and then all headed to the brand new Marriot. 

All the girls changed into pink pajamas and threw a Surprise Lingerie Shower for me. Crystal and Allise ordered me a hot pink, polka dot BRIDE button up nightgown with my new ‘G’ initial to wear. The decorations were too cute and I loved the surprise!

That night we all got dressed. Everyone had a green tie dye shirt to wear however they wanted that night. Leah helped cut mine into a scarf. We ate at Todd’s English Pub. Dinner was delicious and our table received two complimentary appetizers that the chef was trying out and we all received a glass of champagne, my favorite celebration drink.

After dinner we all took the party bus to a few local bars. I had so much fun with everyone and we ended the night dancing. I feel so lucky to have shared this weekend with so many of my close friends! They almost all had to travel and the girls came in from all over (even Baton Rouge, Atlanta, Nashville)!

We woke up Sunday for a brunch at Silvertron before everyone headed home. 

 A few of us continued celebrating St. Patty’s Day at Black Market Bar where they had green beer and green mimosas. We tried some maple syrup sausage balls and Chad joined us when he returned from his Bachelor Weekend at Chris’s Cabin.

I love my friends and had an amazing Bachelorette Weekend!

 

March Wedding Showers

March has been full of Wedding Showers!
Chad and I are so blessed to have such wonderful friends, church families, and family friends.  

March 3^rd – Troy Shower 
 Our first wedding shower was in Troy on March 3^rd. It was given by some of the ladies from Park Memorial (the church I grew up in and our wedding ceremony site) as well as some of my mom's friends. They had a cheesecake bar setup which allowed everyone to get cheesecake and pick their own toppings. I had never seen that at a shower before and I thought it was such a neat idea! 

Here is a picture of me and my mom with almost all of the hostesses from the Troy Shower.

March 10^th – Birmingham Tea 
Our second shower was a tea in Birmingham and it was given by some of Chad’s family’s friends and his church family. My mom came up the day before and we finally found her dress for the wedding! We had lots of fun trying on several dresses in an oversized dressing room at Saks. As soon as she put on her dress, we knew it was the one. It is perfect and she looks amazing in it! 

decor from the Birmingham Tea

with Christina and Amanda

Leah (my future sister-in-law), me, and Michelle

mom and me

 opening the gifts from the hostesses before the tea

March 16^th – Birmingham Shower 
Four of my bridesmaids gave me a shower in Birmingham. The shower was at a tavern downtown in the loft district and the menu was very me. We had lettuce wraps with chicken and peppers, French fries, veggies, hummus, and rock candy. The décor was the best shower décor ever!! Thanks so much to Lacey for the décor part! She is insanely good at decorations.

 LOVED THE TIFFANY BLUE DECOR!

 with Lacey

Didi, Alecia, me, Lacey, and Amy

All the girls at the shower

March 20th – Atherotech Shower 
Chad’s work had a shower for us. It was the first time I was able to meet some of his co-workers. Everyone was extremely nice! The fingers foods were great, they had a mini wedding cake for us from Olexa’s, and they gave us our pots and pans as well as an Anthropologie gift card to help with our bedding!

March 27th – BBVA Shower 
A few of the people in my department at work took us to lunch at my favorite lunch spot – 26. They gave us the vacuum and a few other items we picked out from Bed, Bath and Beyond as well as a Lowe’s gift card.

We have received so much love during our engagement. We can’t get over all the gifts and support everyone has given us. People are extremely generous and we are blessed!

10

days until the wedding!

After today we will be in the single digits!