Formals Part 2 -Choosing Marriage

Dress & Veil: Fantasy Bridal
Suit: Macy's
Mitch's Shoes: Nordstrom Rack
Bouquet: The Potted Pansy

Once again, I can't say enough times how fantastic of a photographer Cecilia is, truly. The moments she captures are magic. Also, these photos have got me reminiscing hard core. Not on this moment surprisingly, or even our wedding, but on our dating life and engagement. Reflecting back on who we were and how we were when we were first dating is fun because looking back on those moments, I realize we were so awkward and I have no idea how we ever made it to this point, haha. I don't know why but it's always a shock to me that people, Mitch and I included, can get to know each other and fall in love in so little time. It's an amazing thing, though! I also think back on when we first got engaged and picked our wedding date to be in 7 months. So many people told us we were crazy and that it was such a long time to wait, and there definitely were days when it felt like a long time and foolhardy decision, but now that we're two weeks into marriage I feel like those 7 months FLEW by. In so many ways I needed those 7 months. It truly could not have been a more perfect decision, and being here, two weeks married, I can't say I regret that choice one little bit. 

Also, a little marriage update. First, marriage is the best and happiest life change imaginable. Seriously, if you are on the fence about marriage, DO IT! I mean, obviously you need another person in the equation to be able to just do it, but I mean, at the very least make up your mind that you want it and work toward it! I promise you it will be the best decision of your life! Before meeting Mitch, in my early twenties (20 to about 22), I knew I eventually wanted marriage but I wasn't dating in a way that would get me there because, well, the idea of marriage was quite frankly just an after-thought at the time. I guess I was too busy screaming my lungs out at concerts, dancing up a storm at parties, going on drives, and just adventuring in general. That's beside the point, though. What I'm trying to get at here, though, is that when I was at the tail end of 22 about to be 23 I started thinking about it more seriously. I don't know how or why but I reached this point when I realized that marriage was 1,000% where I wanted my life to be. I wanted it right that instant. But I hadn't really done anything to be there. I'd only ever dated casually, made zero effort, and been shallow in my choices of guys. 

It was about that time that I realized I needed to start being more serious. I started seeing the guys I was dating as potential serious-relationship-material and putting more effort into getting to know them and letting them get to know me. I stopped focusing solely on outward appearance and putting more value on character and spirit. I have to be honest, I got my heart stomped on a couple of times but hey, that's dating. After about almost a year of this, and feeling honestly frustrated I had this moment of clarity after General Conference. I can't remember specific talks that stood out to me in that Fall session but I do remember finishing that session just feeling enormous gratitude for my life and the people in it. I remember kneeling down after the final session and just pouring everything out. As I was laying out my desire for marriage all of my experiences from that year started coming to mind and I thought of each of the friends and family members in my life and my love for them. As I did this I realized just how happy I was and how fulfilled I felt with the relationships in my life. And instead of demanding that marriage happen for me right then, as had been my intention when I started my prayer, I gave thanks for my beautiful life and told Heavenly Father that I would be patient. If it wasn't my time for marriage yet, I could wait, my life was happy and fulfilling as it was. When I finished that prayer, I stood up, fully prepared to wait years for marriage to come into my life not knowing that just a month later I would start dating Mitch.

I guess what I want to say with all this is to not give up on working toward marriage. Everyone's timing is different and for some it happens fast and for others it takes a little time but however long or short the wait is, it's worth it. Don't write it off, don't stop trying, and BE HAPPY.

Alright, I guess I'm done preaching now, haha. Sorry for that. That's not where I saw this post going when I first started writing but that's where it went.

Much love!

The First Look

Dress & Veil: Fantasy Bridal
Mitch's Suit: Macy's
Photos: Cecilia Harvard Photography

These photos, you guys!! Cecilia is seriously phenomenal! Gah! All the heart eyes! Getting ready for the first look moment was so much work, mostly because Mitch and I are probably the most nit-picky, detail oriented, mildly vain humans hahaha. Not even kidding when I say that we debated for WEEKS on what tie to get him. Feel free to roll your eyes now, haha. 

For me, finding my dress took some effort too. I initially wanted a fitted as can be, lace dress but after my first appointment at a bridal shop I realized that an a-line was MA JAM. Three or four shops later, though, and I still hadn't found "the dress". Well, I had found a dress that I loved at a shop but it was about $2,800. YIKES. Feeling kind of defeated I went to Fantasy Bridal and my consultant suggested I try separates and essentially, "build my own dress". I looked through their selection of bottoms and absolutely fell in love with this dreamy champagne English tulle skirt. I looked through the tops with my sister and together we found a lace high-back top that was both unique and would bring in the lace that I always wanted. I tried both on together and BOOM. The stars aligned. This was MY dress. Four months later it was all put together and I had my DREAM custom dress that I couldn't wait to show Mitch. 

Taking that walk up to him was so exciting! I hadn't seen him in his suit up to that point either so I was just as excited to see him as I was for him to see me! The moment when he turned around and saw me in my dress, as his bride, for the very first time was priceless! He was fully expecting a fitted dress so seeing me in my poofy a-line was a big surprise. Honestly, I thought he looked pretty dang good too, haha! These photos were so much fun. Twirling around in a golden field in our wedding gear, full of anticipation for our actual wedding day was just the best! I also really love the shot of us exchanging rings! Nothing can compare to the moment at the end of our temple ceremony when we exchanged rings for real, though. So special! Also, it would be amiss for me to end this post without giving an ENORMOUS shout out to my amazing big sister, Allison, who lovingly did my makeup for this day, accompanied me to the shoot to help me with my dress, and filmed the whole first look! There aren't words in existence to express how much I love her! 

Much love!

 

Pocket full of Sunshine

Dress: available at Bohme // Location: Albion Basin

My dreamboat fiancé bought me this dress, and my oh my do I love it! Not only do I love wearing it because it's cute as heck and I get 1,000 compliments on it, but I also love wearing it because it makes me think of Mitch and the fact that he was sweet enough to think of me, get me something I like (clothes), and actually has pretty dang good taste. ;) I definitely feel like a lucky girl. Also, prior to being in a relationship I'd always look at huge bloggers whose husbands took such dang good photos of them, and seemed to do it happily, and wonder what kind of magic man they had to be to do it (hello, Barefoot Blonde and her hubby David) because most of the time I'd hear about fellow bloggers whose husbands weren't terribly excited about taking their photos. I mean, if I were a husband I honestly probably wouldn't be too thrilled about doing it either, haha. Anyway, the last couple of months of having Mitch take my blog photos has made me realize I got lucky and got one of those magic guys who is all about taking photos for their girl. (This isn't to say, however, that husbands or boyfriends who don't do this aren't totally amazing in their own rights, either because they are.) Anyway, I love that Mitch is surprisingly good at taking photos for this ol' blog and that he always is so happy about doing it! He never makes me feel awkward or like it's lame and I love him for it. Anyway, I really don't have anything else to say, sorry! BUT, if any of you could work on coming up with a milkshake that doesn't have any calories and instead of making you a chunk a chunk gives you a six pack, I would love you forever. Heeheehee. 

Much love!