G R A T I T U D E

If you follow me on Facebook, you will have already read my novella of a status update regarding my wedding this past Sunday. I can’t help re-post those words here, because I am still floating on cloud nine and astounded by the amount of people willing to volunteer to make our special day…a special day…in the fullest sense of the phrase.

I just want to take this moment to be overly sentimental, as well as express extreme gratitude toward everyone who was even remotely involved with our wedding.

To those who got up at 6 a.m. with us to load vehicles & pick up flowers; to those who showed up at the venue at 9 a.m. and stayed til 9 p.m.; to those who donated and/or spent hours picking and/or arranging flowers, heavy lifting, hanging decorations, moving, sweeping, pushing, taping, tying, modifying, adapting, etc.; to those who who volunteered their talent to capture the semi-mayhem, the controlled chaos, the beauty, & the emotion of the day; to those who had anything to do with food prep or food delivery throughout the entire weekend; to those who dealt with my constant, scattered brain and inevitible answer of ” I don’t know! I am the bride!” and occasional snappy retort; to those who had anything to do with our ceremony–from the music, the officiating, the rehearsing, the sound set-up–to all those who were in attendance to watch as I laugh-cried at my father’s corny jokes all the way down the aisle and then married my best friend; to my Russell/Holmquist family who blessed Seth and I so immensely; to all of our guests–our extended family and friends–local and out of state attendees alike; to everyone I just forgot to allude to because I am so tired right now….to the God that made me cry with happiness the entire drive over to the venue just because I had stepped outside and it was 70 degrees & partly cloudy (exactly what I asked for)…

THANK YOU.

It was the most beautiful day, and Seth and I are so thrilled to have had all of our creative vision and ideas for the day realized in such a perfect way. We are so blessed and fortunate to have shared September 1, 2013 with you all.

Honestly, I had a few things in mind about how I wanted my wedding to look, but I was never that girl who had the big day planned out in entirety since the age of eight. However, since getting engaged this last Christmas, I certainly had framed a picture of what I wanted to see come September 1st, the day of my wedding. Let me just tell you, it was everything I wanted and more. You know how you don’t even know fully what you want until you see it and suddenly yell, “THIS IS IT!” That is how my wedding day came together. I had laid the groundwork with all of my planning and crafting these last eight months, but being able to step back and let my family and friends take charge of decorating and pulling it all together was incredible. These people–these fantastic volunteers that spent so many hours helping to realize my wedding vision–they get me. They made it happen. When I emerged from my sequestered room, where I had been painstakingly applying fake eye lashes and curling my hair for hours, I was AMAZED to see how the venue had been transformed. I cannot wait to share more pictures. Here are a few iPhone shots of some of the things I had been working on for the last 8 months to whet your whistle for now. More pictures to come!

My mother-in-law and I spent HOURS layering acryclic paint on mason jars to get this neat ceramic finish effect.

I whipped up these tags in Photoshop and had them printed on this lovely recycled cardstock, and then cut them out/hole punched them to be tied on with twine. A lot of busy work, but the end justifies the means, no?

I think we painted 25 mason jars–quart to gal.– total. NEVER AGAIN. 🙂

Another quick photoshop project, printed and stapled onto these favor bags from the Party Fairy

I neurotically collected these recyled glass jars, buying them whenever I saw a few for sale at Marshalls or Homegoods. The best part is that they are now going to be a staple in my kitchen cupboard. Perfect for beer or milk, etc.

One of the arrangements, the day after the wedding. Still going strong! My parents’ friend Marsyl blew us away with her floral arrangements that she created for our wedding day! (wildflowers all donated by the groom’s family friend, Deb!)

This song by The Pines is very special to us. My sister and friend Matt played/sang this as I walked down the aisle. How PERFECT.