Daily Doily

Wedding Portraits + Our Reception...

We had guests sign quilt squares for the "guest book" that I will sew into a quilt.

Our first dance was to "Just One Thing" by My Morning Jacket.

Each table had a different penny candy so guests could find their table + we had mini brown bags so they could take some home.  I always loved going to candy stores when I was little + filling my own bag.

We wanted to keep the menu simple + southern.  Zac + I picked out some of out favorites including deviled eggs, watermelon mint julep fruit skewers, cucumber tea sandwiches, heirloom tomato salad, chicken + dumplins, beef tenderloin filet, lima beans, mac + cheese and cornbread.

Our wedding cake was traditional white cake with butter cream icing, but between the layers we had lemon + raspberry filling.  It was decorated with fondant vintage buttons + lace.  Instead of a groom's cake, we opted for a dessert bar with assorted mini cupcakes, mini pecan pies (Zac's favorite), mini blackberry cobblers (my favorite) and mini cinnamon sugar doughnuts.

I wish I could go back + experience it all again.  It was the best night ever.  Looking back, it feels like it was a dream.

We spent the night at The River Inn of Harbor Town in the Grand Suite overlooking the Mississippi River.  I remember looking out the window at the rain thinking how magical the night was + being so happy that the rain came once the night was coming to an end.  The day was perfect + I couldn't have asked for anything more.  Thank you to everyone who made it so special + to my husband who I will cherish for the rest of my life.

♥Photos by Tec Petaja.

Wedding Party, Family + Our Ceremony...

We took pictures before the ceremony so we would have more time just the two of us after the wedding + everyone else could go ahead to the "cocktail hour".

The guys wore Van's classic slip-ons.

Our colors were aubergine, mustard + bright blue.

I made vintage button earrings for my bridesmaids to wear.

Unfortunately, my Grandpa didn't make it to the wedding :(  But I'm so happy that my grandmother was there.  I always hoped she would make it to my wedding day.

This is one of the moments I will always remember.  When my Dad + I got closer to the ceremony I started crying.  At that one moment it felt so real.  I was so happy, everything was so perfect + I was ready to marry my best friend.

I made the program fans + my sweet cousin passed them out along with vintage handkerchiefs for tears of joy.  We also had lemonade + rose flavored water for our guests.

I made pinwheels to line the aisle with doilies + buttons.

I was so excited + in the moment that I don't remember much, haha.  I remember my hand was shaking because my bouquet was so heavy, looking into Zac's eyes, trying not to tear up, squeezing each others hands, how long the lord's prayer song was + finally getting to kiss my groom!!!

I love this picture :)  We were so happy + glad the ceremony was over. I think we were both so nervous because we don't like to be in the spotlight, but on your wedding day everyone else seems to disappear + it's about just the two of you.

I had a spider on my veil + a butterfly on my bouquet which are all signs of good luck.  I loved that :)

♥Photos by Tec Petaja.

Getting Ready + The First Look...

Zac + I ate breakfast at our favorite local diner the morning of our wedding.  Yes(gasp!), we saw each other before the wedding.  It wasn't planned, but it just seemed so natural + perfect for us.  I'm so happy we got to spend a few relaxing moments just the two of us before all of the wedding excitement.

I was relaxed at first, but then it seemed like everything happened so fast once it got closer.  I remember being pretty frantic towards the end of getting ready, haha. 

My something old was having part of my great grandmother's wedding dress wrapped around my bouquet.

My something new was my dress + garter.

My something borrowed were earrings, necklace + bracelet from my sweet grandmother.

My something blue was my toe nails being painted with Essie's borrowed + blue polish.

Zac + I decided to have a private "first look" where we saw each other for the first time before we took wedding photos with our wedding party + family.  I'm so glad we did because a lot of them were my favorite photos of the day.  I remember walking to Zac with my bare feet in the cool grass + hoping he would love the dress I picked.  He looked so handsome (it was the first time I had seen him in a suit).  We looked each other up + down, he twirled me around, pulled me close + kissed me.  So sweet.  I think I melted right then + there.  It was so surreal.

♥Photos by Tec Petaja.

Our Rehearsal + Rehearsal Dinner...

Looking back on the rehearsal I just remember being so excited + having so many butterflies in my tummy.  I was so nervous + thinking about how everything was going to go on our wedding day.  Many of the decorations were diy projects that I had been working on, so I dropped most of those off.  It was a relief to be able to not worry about what I had or hadn't done, because it wasn't getting done.  Haha.

Our rehearsal dinner was at River Hall overlooking the Mississippi River.  It was the perfect night.  Our friends + families gave sweet toasts that I will cherish forever. 

Our Engagement Photos

♥In celebration of Zac + I's one year anniversary coming up (this Monday!!!) I thought it would be fun to post about our wedding festivities each day leading up to 5.21♥

But first...

Photos by Tec Petaja.

The Honeymoon in IPhone Photos

Zac + I had such an amazing time on our honeymoon.  After the wedding, we were so happy to relax + go on adventures.  We went to London + Paris.  I will do a larger post later, but I wanted to share a few pics...

(On the plane to London)

 
 (sweet wedding bands)

(roses in a park by our hotel in London)

 

(train station)

 

(sittin on the patio of our Paris hotel [mama shelter] + drinking Peronis)

 

 

(pocketbooth app... i ♥ it!!! almost as good as the real deal)

 

 

(lemonade [aka Sprite] at a cafe)

 

(at Cafe' Palomar [across from Moulin Rouge] in Montmartre *our favorite day*) 

(it was a cold day, so we warmed up by the fire in our hotel [Hoxton] in London) 

(Zac at Geales [yummy fish n' chips...the bloody marys weren't bad either]) 

 

...that's it for now :)

more here.

Saturday- April 23

Zac + I went to pick up our wedding bands :), but then we had to leave them to be engraved :(

  

I loved mine more than I thought I would!  We ordered it without even seeing it, but I think it's perfect for me.  I didn't take a picture of Zac's, but he really liked his too!

 

That night, we went downtown to meet with friends before the game. 

 

We won!!!  Go Grizz!!!

 

 

 

Planning

This wedding planning stuff is CRAZY!!!  Picking a date is so tough!  I thought we had picked it for sure + now the venue we were thinking is possibly not available.  Which has me now thinking about other places!  I've got the theme + design for the reception in my mind.  Then there's the decision should I do my own stationery or have someone do it?  The only thing I know for sure is my photographer (which could change if I don't set the date soon! yikes).

Aside from all that I just keep thinking how I'm the luckiest!  I would have never thought I would be here right now with such an amazing person- my soul mate, my best friend, my love.  He makes me so happy!  I wonder what I would have said if someone pointed to Zac while walking the halls of elementary, middle or high school and told me, "that's the guy you're going to marry."? Haha.  I always thought he was cute, but this I could never have imagined.  Thanks to him and thanks to karma, fate + whatever else makes this crazy world turn.

Us at the last Memphis home game ☺♥ 

Portland Trip + I'm engaged!!!

Feb 10th-

• Woke up at the crack of dawn to catch a plane to Portland.  The plane was empty.  We had a connecting flight in Minnesota/St.Paul.  Zac slept the whole time while I read "Dear John".
• Portland was cold + rainy.  We picked up our blue Sienna van + headed to the Columbia River Gorge/Mt. Hood area.  It was the most beautiful place I've ever seen.  The trees were huge, moss + lichen + ferns were everywhere.  The mountains, cliffs + views were breathtaking.  We took the Historic Columbia River Scenic Highway.  We stopped at a few lookout spots:

 

• We stopped at Lautorell Falls.  Hiked to the bottom + climbed under the falls.  It was breathtaking.  The wind, rush + cold water from the fall took your breath away.  I almost cried.  One of the coolest thing I have EVER done.  A moment to never forget.  We got soaking wet + froze!
• There was waterfall after waterfall.  We made it to Multnomah Falls + had lunch. I got a charm in the gift shop (I'm collecting charms from every place zac + I go).

 

• It got cold fast as we headed up the mountain. The Sienna barely made it. The area said to carry chains.

• We made it to the Resort at the Mountain.  It was really nice + we had our own fireplace.
• I went to the local grocery store.  It was quaint.  I imagined living there.
• We ate dinner at a local mexican restaurant called El Burro Loco.  It was really good.  I got a blood orange margharita (they were in season).

Feb 11th-

• We woke up + got ready for snowboarding.  Ate breakfast at the hotel.  Headed up the mountain again to Timberline.  We rented our boots + boards.  It took me a lil while to catch on.  One of the lifts was so fast + at the end it had a ramp which made you fly off.  I fell the second time + didn't feel good :(  We rode back to the lodge + got the famous Snowcap Dream (hot chocolate) at Timberline Lodge.
• Ate dinner at Rendezvous Grill + Tavern that night.  We had local, homemade huckleberry (in season) ice cream. 

Feb 12th-

  

Packed our bags.  Checked out.  Road sign said chains required to travel to Timberline.  We bought chains (ended up not needed them + returning them).  Got gas (they pump it for you in Oregon + you can get a ticket if you do it yourself). 

Snowboarded for a few hours.  Went down mainly blues.  Had more fun that day.  Zac messed his knee up a little + it was so windy + a whiteout, so we called it quits.  Had lunch at the top of Timberline Lodge + got the Snowcap Dream again :)  I got a Timberline + Mount Hood charm at the gift store.  Returned our gear.

Headed back to Portland.  Stopped by the Multnomah Falls again + climbed to the bridge this time + took some pics.

Saw lots of rainbows.

Made it to the Hotel Monaco.  Had a hard time finding it, haha.  Tired of driving.  Didn't have our reservation, but had a room available.  The room was nice + big. 

We walked to dinner at Red Star.  They had balloons all over the ceiling for Valentine's weekend.

We walked back to the hotel.  Modeled our animal print robes.  There was a teddy bear on the bed too.  Haha:

 

Feb 13th-

The first full day in Portland we woke up + packed our stuff to move to the Ace Hotel. We drove to the Byways Cafe for breakfast. I got the famous Blue Cornmeal cakes :) They were really good, but different.

Drove to NW 23rd st near Nob Hill + did some shopping (it was my favorite!).  Zac + I got a pair of shoes at clogs-n-more.  I got a bunch of cute stuff at Urban Outfitters. 

Drove to Hawthorne Ave.  Walked around + stopped at Bridgeport Ale House for pizza + beer.

Stopped in Jackpot Records.  I got My Morning Jacket-It Still Moves + Dan Auerbach-Keep It Hid.  This girl was in there snatching up records I was looking at.  She got the Bon Iver-For Emma + I was pretty pissed. :(  Zac said she had a The Raconteurs album too, but I didn't see it.  Ahh!

Checked in to the Ace Hotel + got ready for dinner.  We decided to just walk around + find something.  We settled on Isabel.  Walked back to the hotel + had our pics taken in the photobooth :)

We listened + danced to our records.  Went to bed.  

Feb 14th-

Woke up, kissed each other + wished each other a Happy Valentine's Day.

Got in the shower + when I got out Zac had a teddy bear + chocolates on the bed. SO cute.

I gave Zac his mixed cd + card that I made.  He said he would have cried if he was a crier it was so sweet :)

We walked to VooDoo donuts, but the line was so long we decided to walk to Blueplate, but they were closed, so we went to the Morning Star Cafe. 

Walked back to the car.  Drove to Flutter, North Alberta, + Ink + Peat.  Went to Pix + got violette (my fav!!!) + passion fruit macaroons.

Went back to Hawthorne Ave.- went into a HUGE antique mall + record store.  I got My Morning Jacket - Z + Zac got a  Bob Dylan + Rolling Stones record. 

Drove to VooDoo donuts (too).  Got  a VooDoo dozen.  So good! My fav was the cereal covered.

Arrived at hotel + got ready for dinner.

 

 

Valentine's Night (the proposal):

We listened to the CD I made Zac for Valentine's Day on the way to dinner.  We wanted to stop at a bridge (Portland has so many!) and take pictures of the skyline before dinner.  We parked the car and walked to the Broadway Bridge.  It was off Lovejoy St.  Zac said I was his little lovejoy .  So sweet.  We stopped at the middle of the bridge and I took some pictures of the Portland skyline.  (Men on bikes kept passing us with flowers to take home- so cute.)  Zac put my hands inside his jacket and around him; He was sweaty and I could feel his heart beating through his chest, haha.  He was fumbling around and saying sweet things.  Then he held my hands, got down on one knee and propsed.  I said absolutely!!!  It was so sweet, romantic, sincere and amazing.  The ring was beautiful.  He picked it out all by himself.  We were both so happy and giddy.  We got in the car and he immediatly played "Just One Thing" by My Morning Jacket.  We drove to Pailey's Place for dinner where I ordered a Tennessee Rose to drink.  We talked all about the proposal over dinner and made lovey-dovey faces at each other for the rest of the night.  Listened to the cd on the way back to the hotel + had our pics taken in the photobooth :)  Danced to the record player :)

Feb 15th-

• Woke up + made calls to our family.
• Listened to music + packed.
• Ate breakfast at Flavourspot (a waffle "cart").  We sat at a picnic table.
• Went to REI + Patagonia.
• Ate lunch at Blueplate.  I got a tooted fruit soda + grilled cheese w/ tomato soup.
• Stopped at a jewelry store + I got a button charm that says cute as a button :)
• Went to  Anthropologie + North Face Store.  I got a cute rain jacket. 
• Stopped in Powell's bookstore.  I looked at the crafts section + then I was excited to find the wedding section.  I looked for a little while + then Zac looked with me.  He grabbed a groom book to buy which I thought was the cutest thing!  It's just another one of the many reasons why he's the one.  He's the sweetest, most caring, considerate man I've ever met!  I got a wedding planning book + some wedding magazines + some japanese stickers.  Zac got the groom book, a coin book, a hiking book, burried treasure book + a waterproof journal for me :)
• Walked back to the hotel.  Looked at our books until we got hungry.  Tried to find some mexican places, but ended up going to Serratto.  This lady had her dog with her inside eating dinner, which I thought was so cool! 
• Went back to hotel, took photobooth pics, watched tv + went to bed.

 
Feb 16th-

• Woke up early for our flight.
• Got gas, returned car + headed to airport.
• Ate lunch at Ruby's Diner in the airport.
• Made it to the gate + I saw a made in portland gift shop.  I was looking for a rose charm + found it :) Yay!
• Got on the plane headed to Las Vegas + then Memphis.
• So sad to leave Portland.  It was an AMAZING trip!!!