Post-PAX

Well Georgia has been through quite bit lately. We had snow, then an ice storm that left many with no power, then earthquakes. My family was one of the lucky ones who kept power the whole time and this especially great bc we didn't have to use the generator for my dad.
Side note, I have no idea what PAX means so if someone would tell me that would be great I am just assuming it's in reference to the storm. Besides that I sick of talking about the weather. So let's agree not to do anymore.

Also if you want a new blog to follow that isn't consumed with wedding planning at the moment, follow my friend Nicole. She's crafty and smart and should keep you entertained.

But if you want to hear about my wedding read on...

The ice days were actually very productive for me. I got almost all of our invites made and sent. I am so proud of them and thankful for help for stacking, tying, and addressing from my fiance and some of my bridesmaids.

I have learned A LOT the past few weeks when it comes to planning nuptials. Some graphic design knowledge, some from other brides advice, and some basic-duh-stuff that I should have been doing for years. Either way I feel the need to share some. It's lengthy so bear with me.

Lessons Learned (So far)

• Get a planner. This falls under the duh category. I am not an organized person or a list person but you have to become one. So at 22 years of age I finally getting my life together and not forgetting appointments.

My planner is from a company called momAgenda but they have a myAgenda selection which is what I have and I seriously love this thing.

• The people who you can pick... choose them wisely. I hit a jackpot with my bridesmaids. My maid of honor goes above and beyond with everything I ask her do and it worked out nicely that she comes with a wedding director, another bridesmaid, and a groomsmen. And I'd stay away from the people you feel like you "have" to ask. That backfires don't do it.
• Use the different talents of your bridesmaid to your advantage. One is making a decorative pillow for mine and Tyler's future house, one helped me with invitations, and they all listen to me complain and one point or another. Again this is why you should choose wisely, as selfish as it may seem, if they have nothing to offer you leading up your wedding day, why bother? *But keep in mind LISTENING and ENCOURAGEMENT is a huge quality to offer
• Decide early on what is important to you and your groom. Be clear on non-negotiables. Example, as a photographer and graphic designer, our pictures and basically anything printed is very important to me. I designed our invites and printed them at my school and if people knew the hours I spent what is really a simple design they would think I was a psycho. At one point Tyler called me out on the fact that I claim to not be detail oriented but I insisted the spacing between the letters on each separate piece match. But that is what is important to me. Tyler said from the beginning that he wanted his brother to officiate the wedding, it was important to him

Our invitation paper that I think is way more important that it actually is.

• On the flip side decide what your cool letting the reins go with and letting someone else be in charge. I honestly couldn't make myself care what the bridesmaids were wearing so I got the MOH to pick them. I like flowers but once I met the florist I loved him and totally trusted him, therefore I haven't spoken to him since. He's a professional and I trust him to get the job done.
• Ask other recent brides or even people who have been married for years for advice on registering. Seriously, t has been one the greatest helps to get feedback from ppl besides the store workers. Things like "Don't go cheap on knives," and "Register for at least two sets of sheets for every bed," have been incredibly helpful.

• Possibly the biggest advice. Every suggestion that anybody has, groom/family/friends, wait 24 hours before you say yes or no to it. This keep you from saying yes to too much (also spending too much) and from prematurely turning down a potential great idea. As someone who truly struggles with thinking I have the only good ideas in the world this is big one. 

* As I look back over post I noticed most pictures are related to my invitations... Consider it proof how obsessive I was over them

Procrastination

I have some school things I need to do, so naturally I am doing something else.

We had a snow day! It was beautiful and perfect.

Can't wait to marry him :)

I'm wearing pants I swear

*Sigh of Relief*

Well, we made it through the holidays :)

I am still editing a few families photos and some Christmas decorations still haven't come down. (Whoops)

Christmas wasn't ideal, my dad was the hospital but it was kinda fun because I got to watch A LOT of Christmas movies on ABC, which was of course the best.
Overall, it was a great lesson for me in what do I actually think Christmas is? It surprising how much weight I put in the decorations and traditions.
On the bright side I spent Christmas Eve with some friends and we went to iHop... further confirmation I surround myself with the right people.

Tyler's Christmas gift was a trip to Atlanta for the Chicfila Bowl Game with some friends. This game took the Aggie fans through every emotion possible. They came back from a rough beginning and it amounted to the most fun I have had a football game. Also this could have been Johnny Manziel's last game so it feels pretty special that A) it was in Georgia B) we got to seem it in all it's Johnny Football glory.

Nice Chelsea.

*Publicly making fun of Chelsea and Matt- They have been dating one year, if you follow them on either Twitter or Instagram, you know this about six times over, if you don't then here's great couple who's been dating for a year.*

New Years Eve/ New Years rocked, And that Whoop-ing in the picture is going to make a great husband.

Doesn't get better

I have a lot of photo work left to do but I am taking a small break for some stuff that is slightly more exciting :)

Tyler proposed several weeks ago. He had to jump through several hoops to do it because I was terribly sick at the time but it was perfect he had gotten some of closest friends to have a party back at my house and I found out later my boss had been hiding and photographing the whole time.

Things have been coming together very well so far. I am encouraged by how many people have stepped forward simply wanted to help in anyway they can. I feel incredibly supported and loved and (possibly best of all) minimally stressed.

So many major roles and jobs are being handled by close friends and I LOVE that. We are surrounded by a wonderful church and community and I know we couldn't do it without them.

I am learning a lot about myself through planning a wedding. Tyler and I see eye-to-eye on things 90% of the time so planning with him is fun. I was never the girl who had a "dream wedding" in mind. My wedding pinterest board had maybe 30 posts and most were pose ideas for pictures. This all made me think "Oh it'll be easy to plan a wedding for me because I'm laid back."

Wrong.

My whole life I have insisted on doing things different. I LOATHED doing things just because other people did them (i.e. my random tiedye phase that lasted all middle school and half of highschool).

It really wasn't until college that I realized dressing cute and wearing makeup didn't make me a drone of the world's standards, it just meant I was hoping to be employed one day. 

But this desire to be different has indeed stretched over into my wedding planning. I know I am driving a few people crazy when my reasoning for not wanting to do things is "So-and-so already did that," or "No, pinterest killed that." Or the fan favorite, "No, I hate that."

In conclusion, if you want to find out exactly how picky and high maintenance you are... start planning a wedding.

And be ready to stand your ground when people try to change your mind because they will but also be open to when people actually have better ideas.

At the end of the day I confidently say I have my Manly, my family, my friends, my dress, and my photographer. If the cakes falls over and the chairs get delivered to the wrong place, I will still be loving every minute.

Some Music because I miss Blogging

I really had thought I posted this song but I can't find it so I'll post it now. I saw this band in Texas and they were great. They are called Dogwood and Holly and I highly recommend you look them up. And look up their song El Shaddai on Youtube