Wedding Wednesday... Naked!

I've really been admiring this new naked trend lately. So much so, that I think I'm going to jump on board with it for my upcoming wedding. What's underneath is so beautiful and unique looking. I never would have thought to take off all of the layers. I'm so excited to have stumbled upon...

 

"Naked" Wedding Cakes

 

There's a new wedding cake in town, and it's becoming increasingly popular. It's basically a cake without the frosting; hence the word "naked".

 

What exactly did you think I was talking about?

 

Such dirty minds. 

 

  Anyways, now that we've got that established... on to the cakes!

 

Here are a few of my favorites thus far:

 

 ...and my top three favorites, I saved for last

So, what are your thoughts on this new cake trend for weddings? Do you love it or hate it?

 

It's different; simple yet elegant, and very much unique. I think it would fit perfectly with the rustic / boho / whimsical theme we have going for the wedding. I love simple, and really love unique. It's perfect. Not to mention, we'll be saving money because it's cheaper to make. Score!



Wedding Wednesday!

I've got to be honest... This whole wedding planning thing is not at all what it's cracked up to be. I'm so over it. Wedding planning is so much fun they said. You'll love it they said. I'm not entirely sure who they are, maybe someone who hired a wedding planner to do all of the work, or maybe someone who loves being stressed to the hilt, but whoever they may be, they are liars! This process has not at all been fun, and I can promise you that I don't love it. Not one bit. It's tough stuff, there are too many details to keep track of, I'm handing over money left and right, and I've never been so stressed out in my life!

 

Seriously people, I'm about ready to throw in the towel, say screw the deposits that's been made, and high tail it to Vegas and get married by "Elvis". Yep, I'm so close to that breaking point, and I still have eight months to go! Sometimes I ask myself if it's even worth it. All of this work, stressing out, a year and a half worth of planning... for one day. Not even an entire day, more like a few hours. All of this for a few HOURS! At the end of the day, I'll be married to my best friend, but we can save a shit ton of money by eloping and still be married. 

 

Anyways, on to the positives of wedding planning...

 

All of my bridesmaids have purchased their dresses. I've found all of the flower girl dresses, and those will be purchased soon. K and I have decided on a cake, and made the deposit on it - I'm excited for the cake tasting portion. We have spent the past two weeks listening to songs, and choosing our ceremony music along with some reception music. The DJ has already been reserved, so that has been checked off of our list. I had lunch with our photographer a couple of weeks ago, and discussed thoughts and ideas for the wedding and engagement session. We're making headway on the major decisions.

 

The biggest obstacle thus far is finding a florist. I've contacted at least five, and have only gotten responses from two. We're getting married out of state, so it's been tough searching for vendors in the small town we're hosting the wedding. I'd rather not pay travel fees, so I'm going to plan a girl's trip to where the wedding will be, and drive around looking for florists. I have decided on the flowers I want, I just need to find a company and get pricing lists. So, if you know of any great florists in South Georgia... help a sister out, and send me the info, please.

 

This is my absolute favorite bouquet:

 

These two come in at a close second:

 

I plan to make the bridesmaids bouquets myself. I'm thinking something along the lines of a thick bouquet of baby's breath, maybe add in a couple of pink garden roses to give it a little something extra... I'm still playing around with the idea.  

 

As for the boutonniere's, I plan to do those myself as well. For K, I am thinking of a garden rose with a touch of baby's breath or even pieces of wheat grass. Here are a few ideas that I like for him...

 

And these are the ideas for the groomsmen:

 

Most all floral pieces have been decided upon, now, if we can just find a florist to bring it all to life. I have chosen centerpiece styles, but will save that to share for a later post. 

 

The planning process has had its dreadful moments, but we have had pleasant moments grace us as well, and believe me, I do cherish those.



Wedding Wednesday!

Today has found me browsing wedding cake after wedding cake in search of styles that I like. I've found quite a few that I could see being displayed on the cake table for our wedding.

 

A friend that I went to school with, has started and owns her own bakery. Every year I have her bake Kaylee's birthday cakes, or desserts for any parties that I may host. She's unbelievably talented and loves what she does; it really shows in her finished products. I knew without a doubt, she would be the baker for our wedding cake and dessert table. If you are getting married in the Florida Panhandle area, having a party, or looking for a caterer, give Heather, the owner of A Bite of Delight a ring, and she will hook you up!
 

So, my day has went a little something like this... Browsing page after page on Google Images and wedding blogs, oooh that's a pretty one!, save picture to the "Wedding" folder on my Desktop, pull up email, send to K for his input, get negative response, browse page after page again, find another pretty one, save to Desktop folder, email to K, met with another negative response... Do you see the pattern here? My guy would be the only one out there to care about what the cake looks like. How lovely. "That one is too plain" "You've shown me better ones in the past" "No way, I don't like that one" "Can't you find something better?". Men can be so infuriating delightful.

Something simple yet beautiful is what I'm in search for. I don't want or need anything fancy or unpretentiously over the top. Simplicity is key.

Here are a select few of the cakes I've sent K today...

1) This was the "plain" cake (his words). I love it, but would downsize it to only three tiers as opposed to the five.

2) I really love the ruffle style of this one. Very simple yet so pretty!

3) I think this is one of my favorites. Again, I think three tiers would suffice, but even with the fourth tier, it doesn't look enormous or overwhelming. I would change some of the flowers to go more with our style being used.

 4) My second favorite. A favorite verse of mine, and I may or may not have already designed the flag toppers in Publisher! The only thing I would do different is add one more tier. 

5) I think this cake is very rustic chic. However, I would want all three tiers to reflect the style of the middle layer.

What are your thoughts on these cake choices? Do you have any cake choices of your own that you'd like to share? Click on Contact page, and send them my way. If you've already experienced this, how did you and your fiancé fair through the cake selection process?
 

 If choosing a style of cake has been this much fun, I don't even want to think about the tasting and selecting a flavor portion. Heaven help me.

I'll gladly accept any words of wisdom during the course of my wedding planning journey. Believe you me; it has been a journey up to this point. I can only imagine how the next nine months are going to be. I can't wait!

Have a lovely Wednesday ladies.


Wedding Wednesday!

Flower Girls: (noun) Quite possibly the cutest and sweetest roles taking part in the wedding ceremony.

 

K and I are including his four precious little nieces in our wedding. Flower girls are the cutest to me; I always love watching them walk down the aisle and toss their little flower petals, making their way to wedding party. So sweet. I love that K has such a big family, and that we're including each girl in our special day. I've always envisioned a handful of flower girls walking down the aisle before myself.

 

 Each one of these sweet girls hold a special place in my heart. I introduce to you, our Flower Girls!

 

Allie and Averie

 

Aubrey Jo

 

Arabella

We've got our girls; now we just have to find the dresses. I had envisioned something with a vintage/boho vibe, definitely lace, combined with a pair of ballerina flats, and flower crown. I just love this woodsy look.

 

Photo Source: Tea Princess

 

Photo Source: Ruffled

 

I've voiced my opinion previously on the whole cowgirl boots in a wedding debacle... BUT since running across this picture on Pinterest a couple of months ago, I'm now envisioning cowgirl boots for the flower girls. This dress has to be the most adorable thing I've ever seen. Swoon.

 

Photo Source: Tea Princess

 

So, I of course am now at a crossroad. Do I go with the country chic, or boho chic? Everyone who knows me, knows I've never really been "country". So me having a rustic style wedding, and getting married in a barn (a very nice barn I might add), has been a bit of a shock. Luckily we don't have to purchase the flower girl dresses right this moment, so this decision has a little bit of time for me to make a choice.

 

What will it be?

 

Happy Hump Day loves.

Wedding... Thursday?!?

Hi Friends! I couldn't dare miss a Wedding Wednesday! Yesterday was hectic to say the least, I never caught a break.  Therefore, today welcomes Wedding... Thursday? Doesn't have the same ring to it, but hey, it will work out just fine for today.

For today's lovely wedding edition, let's talk ceremony arches, shall we.

K and I have decided to hold the ceremony overlooking the lake in front of the barn, and the reception in the barn. Here is a somewhat picture of the view of the lake.

 

So, I originally wanted my hubby-to-be to build an arch big enough to have a chandelier hang from the middle, above where we would be standing. I've found a few that I like, and one that I really LOVE. This being the loved one...

 

 

 

Gorgeous right? You can't help but to swoon over this one! I think it would be perfect overlooking the lake. My only worry on this piece is transporting it for that two hour drive. Hmm... There's still a possibility we could make this work. Somehow.

 

While touring the grounds of the Peach Barn, the owners revealed the storage shed, used for all of their décor items that's included when renting the facility. I couldn't believe all that was stored in this place; wooden church pews, crates, shepherd's hooks, wooden tree slices, wooden signs, etc. While browsing their selection, in the very back corner sat an enormous wooden cross! We asked if that could be used, and were told yes, that their Father built it for one of their weddings as their ceremony "arch". Score.

 

We could easily use this for our ceremony instead of building one. It's completely opposite of what I was originally envisioning, but this might could work. Of course, I went to Google and begun researching "wedding ceremony cross", and I indeed found a few that I really liked, and are so beautiful with the added touch of the flowers.

 

 

I really like the idea of a ceremony cross overlooking the lake, but I really love the wooden arch with the chandelier. This one is going to be a tough choice. I should totally be thinking logically and going with the cross. It's free, already on the property, and we could make it beautiful. I really love the symbolism of the cross.

 

On the other hand, K and I could build our own, it would be meaningful to us, and I could have what I've envisioned from the beginning. This option would also cost us more money that we could use towards other things, and the time to build it. We can't forget about transporting this two hours away, and bringing it back home with us. Then, what are we supposed to do with it after the wedding? Sell it? Store it?

 

We all know the logical thing to do here. Go with the cross. DUH. I'm just not a logical person, and I can be a bit difficult at times.

 

Decisions, decisions.

 

I'll be sure to keep you all posted on the final outcome of this one.

 

Have a lovely Thursday!

 

 

 

 

Baby Babble

Let's rewind to seven and a half years ago... young love resulting in us finding out we were expecting. You remember the K-I-S-S-I-N-G song you sung as a child; first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in a baby carriage. We're taught about tradition as young kids. Well, K and I didn't take the traditional route. We were young, and as much as I hate admitting this, Kaylee wasn't planned. Do we love her any different? Absolutely NOT. She's our world, and the most important thing in each of our lives. 

 

With that said, I've always wanted more than one child, four to be exact. After having Kaylee, I thought to myself, I don't know if I can do this three more times. What was I thinking wanting four children? One is a lot of work, and kids definitely aren't cheap. How could I give four the attention needed? If we're being honest, Kaylee is now six years old... Do I really want to start this whole baby process over again? Needless to say, K and I have been pretty set on Kaylee being an only child.

 

Kaylee has asked plenty of times for a little brother or sister, and then it turned in to a brother and sister. This talk begun around four years old when she started school... so we bought her a puppy. This ceased the baby talk for a good 8 months, then she slowly eased back in to asking again. This time she only wanted a brother. Explaining to a five year old that you don't get to choose what you have was quite the experience; very entertaining that conversation was. Around that fifth year, she somehow managed to get her Dad on board with this whole baby situation. I just wasn't ready; financially, mentally, and emotionally. I couldn't take away from Kaylee, and not give all of my attention to her, solely. She's my baby.

 

Last summer while driving home from the grocery store, Kaylee and I were talking about Jesus, and she said, "Momma you know what I'm going to do tonight?" "What's that?', I say. "I'm going to pray to Jesus and ask him to please, please give me a brother or sister." What do you even say back to that? I can't tell her not to pray, or go against what she's asking of Jesus. I can't deny that request. That's when I really started thinking about the possibility of another baby. I don't want her to be alone in this world. When K and I grow old and gray, she won't have any brother or sisters to lean on, it will just be her, alone. I don't want that.

 

With the possibility of planning for another child, I had to share the plans with my family. All were excited, and thought it was a great idea. Everyone but my Daddy. He told me that Kaylee is too old for a sibling, that they wouldn't be close, it was too late for us to have another baby. So, I then, started thinking we waited too long, and she was in deed too old. I spoke with a few co-workers about this, along with friends, and they completely disagreed. It's all about how you raise your children to be close to one another. A friend of mine is very close to her siblings, and there's an eight year gap between them. Hope. After these conversations, hope had been restored.

 

We were back on the baby subject, weighing our options, the point we were in our lives, and if we should try or not. Then, K proposed. FINALLY. Now our time and money is going to planning our wedding, on top of Kaylee, and her extracurricular activities. So, another year is being pushed back on the baby talk. A year longer. This is where I'm remembering my Daddy's words; Kaylee being too old for a sibling. It keeps playing in my mind.

 

K and I talked over the weekend, and the topic of another baby made its way into the conversation. We brought Kaylee in to talk it over with us, and as a family of three, we decided that we ARE going to try for baby number two after the wedding! Kaylee will be seven when K and I get married, so there will be about an eight year difference between the two. She will be old enough to help out with the baby, and able to understand that the baby will need attention the same as her.

 

 I asked her why she wanted a little brother or sister so badly, and her response was, "So that I can help feed him, change his diaper, and have someone to play with." Melt. My. Heart! How could I ever say no to that?