Real Wedding: Chelsea + Gavin

Vendors

Wedding Planner: Elegant Affairs // Photographer: Wyat L. Taylor // Florist: Flora D’Amore Floral Artistry // Beauty: Studio Donna Salon Spa // Venue: Monte Cristo Ballroom

I don’t think I have ever laughed as hard while at a wedding than I did at Chelsea and Gavin’s. All day was fun of fun and laughter. It also helps when you know almost all the bridesmaids for several years as well as the bride.

Chelsea was another sorority sister of mine from WSU that I advised and was elated when her mom reached out to me about helping her plan her daughter’s wedding. We loved working with this Lori as she was a meticulous planner and it was our job to take all of her hard work and attention to detail and execute it. And believe me, this Mother of the Bride was beyond organized and her notes were on fire!

Wedding Day was just fun and didn’t even seem like work. We started our day helping the bride into her dress followed by finalizing all venue decor details and prepping for guest arrival. The most important part of our job was to make sure that the groom was using mouthwash after eating and drinking before he could kiss his lovely bride who suffers from Celiac Disease. This meant keeping several travel bottles of mouthwash in our fanny packs and always checking in with the groom.

Speaking of the groom he had one of my major highlights from the day when he and his fraternity brothers decided to serenade the bride followed by a personal dance. Trust me in saying it was pretty hot!

The True Meaning of Christmas

Normally I don’t get too personal here on our blog but today I felt that it was the time to change it up as I wanted to share with you my meaning of Christmas.

Growing up I knew what Christmas was all about and the reason why we celebrated. I attended Sunday School at my family parish and even served as a Shepard in the Nativity Story (yes I am still bitter I was the only girl who was a Shepard and I was desperate to play Mary but I was stuck wearing a boy’s robe).

But it wasn’t until I was a mother when I truly understand this day.

In 1991, I was 12 years old and we had finished opening presents and getting ready to celebrate with my dad’s side of the family when the phone rang.  I clearly remember answering and it was my aunt whom I could tell was crying. The next thing I heard was my mom scream and I knew something was wrong. It was my cousin Amy who was 7 and had passed away.

Amy was born with down syndrome and dealt with various health issues. Sadly she passed away after suffering a seizure. To understand death at 12 and the death of someone so young was so hard but truly not until I became a mother and how much you could truly love a being more than anything. It took me a very long time to come to grips of the loss of Amy and for a long time I was so angry at God for taking her away from us and on Christmas. It wasn’t fair and still not fair to this day 27 years later. Amy had so much life to give and we all loved this little blonde hair blue-eyed ballerina.

It was at this point Christmas was more than just a story and presents, it was about the love of family and friends and we need to take the time to celebrate that. Truly we should celebrate our relationships more than just on Holidays.

When I had our boys I knew they were everything to me and I remind myself to hug them everyday and tell them I love them. As they grow older and don’t want to hug me as long as I want to I treasure these moments because before I know it they will have their own families.

I reflect on this day now as not a sad one but a happy one knowing I will see Amy again and get to introduce her to my boys and that makes me smile.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!

Lori

Real Wedding: Tanya + Joe

Wedding Planner: Elegant Affairs  //  Photographer:  Amy Galbraith Photography  //  Videographer: Tennison Films  //  Venue: Brown Family Homestead //  Rentals: Vintage Ambiance
Catering: Son of a Brisket Catering  //  DJ: JMG Entertainment  //  Flowers: Flower Lab   

It’s not every day you get a phone call from a bride 3 weeks before her wedding desperate for help. And surprisingly this happened to us not once, but twice in 2018.

We were referred to Tanya by another wedding planner friend of ours and as soon as the two of us chatted on the phone I could tell she already felt relieved.

This was our first wedding over in Leavenworth and now are hooked especially after working at the Brown Family Homestead From the stunning views to the quaint venue and the horses this was the perfect site for Tanya + Joe to say their I Do.

This wedding had so many highlights: From the bride’s kids walking her down the aisle to her father who also served as officiant officially kicking off the reception by popping a beer thrown by the groom’s dad and chugging it.

The best part of the day was seeing Tanya and Joe truly enjoy their wedding and not having to worry about anything.