This past weekend we went to a different kind of winter wonderland. Instead of celebrating first birthdays, we were celebrating a wedding!
It's been a while since I've been at a wedding where I wasn't in the bridal party (or the bride!) but this one was so much fun (and less stressful!). It was weird, because for the first time we had to worry about who was watching the tiny human we'd brought along with us, but luckily some planning ahead of time minimized that problem as well.
A year ago today, we were married! Surrounded by our friends and family, it was the most perfect day. However, that's not where my focus is today. Instead, I want to talk about what the year since that day has been like. After all that's the point, right? It's not the wedding, but the marriage that's important.
The reception! Here it is! After spending more than a year planning it, picking out centerpieces, designing guest books, creating favors, mapping out seating charts, it was finally time. It felt almost surreal to realize that we were about to walk in and see all of our hard work displayed out. Would it look put together? Would something be missing? Would it be what we were hoping for? It was time to find out!
We're getting so close I can SEE it! (ha, Synesthesia joke there...)
I'm so overwhelmed, and for once it isn't because of things that need to be done. Oh there's always more that can be done, but due to my insane necessity for planning I'm doing okay in that area now. (Here's where I should just apologize to Tom, my entire family, all the bridesmaids, and probably the groomsmen - but seriously, thank you for putting up with my need to plan the bachelor(ette) a YEAR in advance...)
I originally assumed I wouldn't have a bridal shower, and when my maid of honor asked me about it months ago, I told her I didn't want one. Sitting in a room with all the women wedding guests playing odd games while the men are off somewhere else didn't feel like me. However, my best friend always knows exactly what to do. She informed me that "of course you're having a shower!" and promptly declared she would host it herself.
I've gotten a few comments lately about the magazine you received after you sent in your RSVP. I'm so glad you're all liking it so much! The entire process started as an idea for a keepsake for us. A way to capture a moment in time and be able to share it with our future children. We then realized that it might be a fun way for all of our guests to get to know us as a couple, especially if they only knew one of us really well.
We just got back from a wonderful weekend in Vermont celebrating the marriage of Nicole and Stephen. It was beautiful, tons of fun, and everything we could have hoped for. To read more about the wedding, check out Tom's recap here. We're currently awaiting Nicole and Stephen's return from their honeymoon in St. Lucia. WE MISS YOU GUYS!
Marriage is a funny thing. You start a new family as a combination of two already established families. You're creating something new, yet carrying with you all of the history that came before you. In the middle of planning all of the food, seating charts and music options, there was this one big decision that kept bothering us. After the big party was over, and our focus turns to the real reason for this wedding - our marriage - how would we define ourselves?
I've heard from a few of you that you're enjoying this blog as a peek into our wedding planning process, and its been a fun way to stay updated. Usually I blog about whatever we've been up to, or if something was particularly fun, but I'm sure I've skipped over a few things (like all of the many packages from etsy that have been showing up at our door lately..)
A few weeks ago we had our dinner tasting with the Top of the Hub, who will be catering our reception. I'm pretty sure it was Tom's dream come true. We tried 6 different appetizers, different salads, first courses, and three main dishes. Everything was so delicious, I'm not sure how I'll pick which one I want to eat on the big day! (Or I'll just have to steal bites from everyone else's plate - come on, you know you won't say no to the bride!)
Even though we haven't posted any updates here in a while, rest assured that there are many things happening behind the scenes! We'll definitely share more details when they're finalized.
One thing I can share, though, is that we've booked our honeymoon! There were many places we looked at, but there was one place that kept coming up in recommendations, especially from Ryan, Becca, Brooke and Joanie (thanks guys!).
I've had a few people ask me what the point of engagement pictures are. They're certainly not necessary and a lot of people have gotten married without them. Sure they're useful if you want to send out a save the date (we do) or you want to build a super fun website (obviously), but again they're not required.
Hidden away down a dirt road in Northern Vermont, you'll find what the locals refer to as "The Sunhouse." Built by Caitlin's father, and located about a mile from the Canadian boarder, this is the home that Caitlin grew up in. Decorated with suns, hot pepper lights and Caitlin's childhood artwork, you'll find plenty of birds in the yard but no red squirrels :)