"Things I Wish I'd Known Before We Got Married"

Marriage or any relationship takes effort, kindness, forgiveness, understanding, patience, and so much more. I am not an expert, but I do have a minor in Psychology, plus my husband and I are almost at our 3 year anniversary come July, so we are doing something right. I've also kept my friendships between many of my childhood friends, as well as, new friends. I love being able to share our life challenges, struggles, marriage, divorce, birth, and loss. Yah, I know I'm getting TOO deep here, but I wanted to introduce this post well. I recently finished reading, "Things I Wish I'd Known Before We Got Married" by Gary Chapman and here are some key points from this book. I recommend anyone who is single, dating, engaged, or married read this book. He brings up many great points, some are religious so I don't want you to think I'm pushing any sort of personal religious beliefs, since I myself am not very religious but do have faith and I am spiritual. This book isn't that long, but has very well worth while points.....

"We will have conflicts. Conflicts are not a sign that you have married the wrong person. They simply affirm that you are human. What we fail to recognize is that our spouse has the same opinion of their ideas. Their logic will not agree with your logic, and their emotions will not mirror your own".

"Talking without listening leads to arguments".

{Real Wedding} Jenny & Robin

Jenny & Robin's wedding was very sentimental for many reasons, they were one of the 1st clients that I signed, I helped them and Alexis for their engagement pictures, and they had one of the most personalized sentimental wedding ceremony that brought tears to many there. These first images are a sampling of their engagement pictures by Alexis Sweet. I have become good friends with Alexis as she is the one who I worked with for the boho beach styled shoot. For their engagement session we walked through downtown with their two adorable corgis and I was the "dog handler extraordinaire". Their doggies are very important to them and had to be part of their special day. Aren't they adorable!!?

Jenny & Robin's wedding was very intimate with around 20 friends and family who traveled from Florida and all over, even London, England! Alexis captured the first look in Forsyth Park and luckily the Fragrant Garden was open for them, which you can see in the first 3 pictures below. Their ceremony was held at Wormsloe Plantation around sunset, then the guest departed for dinner at Moon River Brewery. Here are the vendors who helped make this wedding happen:

Ceremony location: Wormsloe Plantation

Reception location: Moon River Brewery

Wedding Planner, Florist, and Stylist: Simply Savannah Events/All the Little Details Designs

Photographer: Alexis Sweet Photography

Officiant: Savannah Dan

Cake & Cake Pops: Addy B

Makeup: Beyond Beautiful by Heather

Rentals: In Any Event 

Eco-friendly details: supporting etsy and small business owners, favors for guests from local stores, incorporated family heirlooms and vintage items, non-diamond engagement ring, flowers bought directly from wholesaler, reused glass containers for flowers, stayed at a dog friendly vacation rental, and "green" wedding photographer.

The Details!

Many of the details for this wedding were bought from etsy vendors or items that Jenny & Robin already had or my vintage chic collection. They had a rustic honey, "Love is Sweet" theme which included their banner, honey sticks, jars of honey, bee necklace, bee stamped burlap bags, etc. Nicole, my assistant, and I had a great time setting up their 2 tables with all these fun decor items. Plus I did all the mason jar flower arrangements, the bridal bouquet, and groom's boutonniere. Jenny and I had been working together to figure out the best color combination and which flowers she wanted to include. Don't you just love her choices!? After their ceremony they brought the mason jar flowers to Moon River, cut their cake, and ate dinner. Look closely at their wedding cake toppers, it's personalized characters of Jenny, Robin, and their 2 doggies! When I've been working for so long with couples and the wedding day finally approaches, and then they're happily married, I get a huge satisfaction of knowing we helped make their day beautiful, but then I get sad that it's over since I'll miss them. 

Best wishes to a happy marriage, Jenny & Robin and keep in touch <3

{Pin it Friday} Petticoats

Source: onefabday.com via Layla on Pinterest

I'm always on the look out for fun unique wedding ideas. This one from onefabday.com has vintage dresses and fluffed them up with petticoats to give that swing look. Love their hair too! 

Well, I'm off to a wedding today, have a fabulous weekend!

{Organic Wednesday} Green Field Paper Company

So once I run out of my thank you cards I plan to purchase these beautiful cards. 

As you know I love flowers and sharing my love to others would be perfect. 

It is so neat to be able to put this card into some soil, give it water and sun, then watch it grow!

"At Green Field Paper, we are all about the paper- tree free paper. We offer both handmade paper and machine made hemp paper. It is our fine tactile Seed Embedded Paper (embedded with wildflower seeds) that we are known for throughout the world. Since 1992, Green Field Paper handmade paper has been crafted one sheet at a time here in San Diego, California. Our machine-made Hemp Heritage paper is manufactured in New England, home of the first American paper mills".

Eco-friendly Thank You Cards... 100% recycled ingredients, using no chemicals, dyes or additives. 

Plantable... Each card is embedded with a colorful array of wildflower seeds. The recipient can plant the card in the ground and watch it grow. Planting instructions are printed on the back of every card along with the seed mixture.  
Package of 5 (Price $13.95)

WRITE IT - GIFT IT - PLANT

Two gifts in one! If you buy a lot of gift cards for people, why don't you buy a bunch of these plantable gift card holders so they can enjoy shopping and growing a new plant! Or maybe get a gift card to a Spa for a massage or pedicure and give it to your bridal party or mother. Or give it to the Bride! Price: $4.50

A FIRST CLASS USE FOR THIRD CLASS MAIL 

It's not too early to buy your holiday cards now!

Saving the landfill & the trees... 

This is the ultimate tree-free paper created with the junk mail collected by Green Field Paper employees, clients and friends.

Unique... A truly original concept, shredded junk mail is combined with post consumer pulp to create this distinctive paper- no two sheets are alike.  You can even recognize fragments of actual junk mail in this confetti-laden paper. 25 Card Bulk Pack & Envelopes (Price $62.50)

www.greenfieldpaper.com

858-565-2585

ALSO REMEMBER Earth Day 2012 will be April 21st in Forsyth Park www.earthdaysavannah.org

{the Not Wedding} part four

If you were not able to attend the Atlanta event, you can now enjoy the video of the event created by 
White Dress Media:

The NotWedding // Atlanta, 2012 from White Dress Media on Vimeo.

www.whitedressmedia.com 

Participating 2012 Wedding Vendors (Atlanta, GA):

Wedding Venue: Ambient + Studio / Sign Paper Goods: Honey Bee Invites / Wedding Photographer: Ian Bicknell Photography (Bridal Portraits), Rustic White Photography (Engagement Session + all images above), and Sarah Esther Photography (Rehearsal Dinner) / Wedding Dress: Laurel and Fife / Bridal Accessories: Fine and Fleurie / Bridesmaids’ Attire: CORE Bridesmaid Couture / Event Coordination and Registration Area Design: Signature Weddings and Events / Stage Design:Ashley Pepitone Design / Event Design: Atlanta Event Studio, Nikki’s Event Planning, Buzzy Craftery / Wedding Flowers: Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio and Juli Vaughn Designs / Invitations: Julia’s Poppies / Menus: Studio Four Three / Wedding Caterer: Sun in my Belly / Wedding Cake: B. Sweet Cake Boutique / Chocolate Fountain and Candy Bar: Oakwood Occasions / Bartending and Signature Cocktails: The Perfect Bartender / Chair Rentals:Goodwin Events / Vintage Rentals and Lounge Area Design: Four Inch Fold / Printed Banners: Liddabits / Handheld Signs: Miss Wyolene / Hair and Makeup: Raney O’Keefe / Media Sponsor: Occasions Magazine / Photobooth: The Majestic Photobooth Co. / Videobooth: The GuestBox / Videographer: White Dress Media / Registry: Bloomingdale’s Lenox Square / Travel Agency: Columbus Travel / Entertainment: A-Town A-List / DJ: DJ Josh Whitlock / Ceremony Music: Emily Hearn

{Bright Idea Thursday} Group Hug Photos

I am definitely a hugger so when I see big group hugs it makes me smile. People are letting go of their stress, having a good time and enjoying the moment. Those are some of the best wedding moments for me to witness. ((((BIG HUG))))

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{Real Wedding} Andrea & David

It was a beautiful day in Savannah for the Becker/Walter wedding at The Mackey House! So many great vendors came together to make their day special, Shannon Christopher took the amazing photos, Buckin’ Hamm Catering provided the Low Country Boil, Cissy Bates one of the bridesmaids baked the cake and delicious cupcakes, Garden on the Square made the bridal flowers, plus a family friend- Jackie Brooks arranged the ceremony/reception flowers, bridesmaids bouquets, as well as provided much of the decor details, Barstars Bartending kept the drinks flowing, The Vistas played live music to dance to, and a trolley picked up the bridal party at the end of the night to take them on a bar crawl!! Now that's how to party! Plus they stayed at one of the Savannah Villas on Broughton Street and fully enjoyed the St. Patty's Day Parade, the day after the wedding! Thank you also to Thrive Cafe for providing the food for their rehearsal dinner which you can see below. I had a wonderful time helping with all the wedding details throughout the wedding planning process, then finally putting it all together on the day of. My assistant, Nicole, was a tremendous help, as usual. 
Everyone was such a pleasure to work with especially the happy couple!

Eco-friendly details: organic caterer for rehearsal dinner, ceremony & reception in the same location, supporting small business owners, handmade favors for guests, incorporated family heirlooms and vintage items, reused glass containers for flowers, and "green" wedding photographer.

Here are some of the wedding pictures from this gorgeous day:

LOVE

~ They Lived Happily Ever After ~