Picking a Wedding Style

Ideally, one of the very first things a couple decides on when wedding planning is a wedding style. However, John and I may have done things a bit backwards, because we didn't really intentionally hone in on the overall style we wanted to achieve until after picking a venue (which definitely affects the style) and setting a date (which obviously determines the season, which affects the style).  
The date, my parents' anniversary, was obviously super important to me; it was kind of a no-brainer for us. Okay, technically, it was a no-brainer for me because of the anniversary thing... Honestly, John just wanted a summer wedding because he wanted to get married before football season started... Yep. 

Hehe.

The venue was almost as easy to choose as the date. When we visited Vesuvius Vineyards for the first time, we knew we'd found somewhere special. You can read more about how we picked our venue here. 

Simple yet grand house in black and white- the two most versatile colors ever- plus naturally pretty grounds? It doesn't get much better than this!
Even though John and I weren't intentionally thinking about our wedding style when we picked Vesuvius, we picked a place that spoke to both of us- a place that fits the combination of our tastes. It's the perfect balance between down-home Southern charm and Old South swank. 
Obviously, our venue inspired us while we thought of our wedding style, but so did all the weddings we went to this summer. We were able to go to weddings, see what we loved, and make mental notes of those things. Seeing other weddings got us asking questions like, "When we get married, will it be a big party, or a small celebration? Will it be modern or traditional? What kind of dancing will there be?" 
Obviously, there is a lot to decide on when planning a wedding. Here are the basics we decided on together:

• We want the whole day to be a joyful celebration with our closest friends and family. Our list quickly grew with big families and fabulous friends, and it wasn't easy, but we finally settled at 200 invitees. 
• We want our ceremony to reflect our genuine love for one another and our beliefs about the meaning of marriage. 
• We want everyone to have a good time. To John, that means lots of food and drinks. For me, that means lots of dancing and cake. 

More than anything else, I knew the style of our wedding needed to be classic and southern. I cannot even explain how many times I've used those words to describe my vision to people. Here's my position on wedding trends, no matter how cute and genius they are: fads may come and go, but pictures are forever. I know it's inevitable that one day our wedding will look outdated, but I am attempting to avoid trendy and cheesy at almost all costs... Minus sparklers. John has warned me they're definitely trendy, but I just can't get enough of 'em! I love love love sparkler exits, and I have such happy memories of sparklers with John, so they're definitely going to be our exception to the rule. 
Figuring out our style has been an interesting process, but the bigger challenge was (and still is!) nailing down a specific theme.... Stay tuned for that, but expect a Five on Friday post first! That's right- everyone's favorite Friday linkup is back, and I can't wait to join in! One sleep until the weekend, friends!

When September Ends

Okay, let's address the whole "I haven't blogged in three weeks" thing.... I'm about to take it back to 2005 (oh hey, brace-faced Chelsea!) and ask if y'all remember the Green Day song Wake Me Up When September Ends... I know, super lame, but when I was thinking about how to sum up this whole month, that song title quickly came to mind. I've just been ready for this month to be over. 
Now, I realize this is not a super positive way to welcome you back to my corner of the internet, but it's kind of true! Let me explain.... 
School has been good, but that doesn't mean I haven't been overwhelmed at times. It's been tricky to balance being a student at Clemson half the time and a first grade student-teacher the other half. It's incredibly rewarding, but tricky. 
Since I've just been getting in the swing of things school-wise, my brain is a little tired.  I'll have random urges to write a blog post during the day, but honestly, by the time I get home, the only thing I really want to do is turn on the TV and mindlessly watch Law & Order (my new obsession). 

Yeah... I need to start running again...

I let myself use "I'm too tired" as an excuse for not blogging for a few weeks, but then I realized something: blogging isn't a chore. It's something that brings me much more happiness and fulfillment than an episode of Law & Order ever could! I need to take some advice from Lara Casey and make what matters happen. 

Via Lara Casey

After several tragic deaths of Clemson students in the past month, I've realized just how important it is to do this. To make our lives what God intended for them to be- full. Full of love, full of grace, full of happiness, full of Him.  
I can't say I intended for this post to get so "real" but that's the point of having this blog, isn't it? To show my real self and share it with friends. I'm definitely looking forward to October to begin, but sometimes I need Septembers to appreciate what I have. This past month was a reminder that life can be hard, but it is far too short to spend all of it curled up on my bed watching criminal justice dramas from the '90s. 

Via Lara Casey

Since I'm trying to make the most of my time, you'll be seeing a lot more of my real life here on the blog! I cannot wait to share more of my life with y'all! On a related note, does anyone know of any 12 step programs for Law & Order addicts? ;)  

Out With the Old (But Not Just Yet!)

Hi, sweet blog friends! It's been a while since I've posted, but not intentionally! I've just spent so much time getting settled into my new apartment and getting all my ducks in a row for my classes. I can't believe this is my FIFTH and final year of undergrad! Since it's almost time to say goodbye to college life and single life, I figured I'd leave college with the same kind of decor I started with: pink, pink, pink! Most 22 year olds probably wouldn't adore my style, but I'm going to soak up living in my favorite hue for as long as I can before tying the knot. I mean, let's face it: John would probably die before we had a pink-filled house!   Here's my last girly-as-it-gets room: 

Walking in.... Does a two year old live here, or a twenty-two year old?

Last chance to use my maiden-name monogram canvas from Morgan... Sniff sniff! 

One of the things I may miss most: my card ribbon! I put all of my recent (and favorite) cards on there- right now there are several engagement congratulations cards!

Closet numero uno...

And closet dos! Yes, this room has two closets, and no, I don't know what I'll do when there's one closet for two people, not vice-versa... 

I didn't take pictures of the wall across from my bed, but I figured y'all probably got the gist of the room! (Plus, my dresser, TV, and storage ottoman aren't that exciting...) Most of this girly goodness will get the boot at the end of this year, but I think John may have to give me at least a little space in our future place for some of these things.... After all, where else will I store my wrapping paper collection?!   

I don't think it's too much to ask for a separate room for crafting and creativity.... ;)

While I may not be quite ready to part with my old bedroom, I was definitely ready for a change in my blog design! On a whim last week, I decided to get rid of my old template and just improvise a temporary design before finding a new look. Honestly, I'm kind of digging this spur-of-the-moment, makeshift one, though, so I haven't been in a rush to replace it... What do y'all think?