Dream Venue + Wedding Planning Woes

It's so crazy that our wedding date is still 15 months away, yet we have a lot of the *big* details (and even a few details) planned. We have a caterer (my dad, actually!), our wedding party is pretty much all picked (yay!), a photographer, a possible videographer, invites + programs are being designed right now, we're working on the venue (it's proving to be the most stressful part), and we've got a lot of our music planned out. 

It is incredibly exciting, and such a happy time - I just want it all to go by so much faster. I'm not taking my time and actually enjoying it... I've been so excited about getting married and having a wedding since I was like two years old, so I'm ready to get the party started! I thought that I would enjoy the whole planning process, but as it turns out - I'm just stressed out (and so is my momma! haha!) But - it doesn't matter how it happens or when it happens, I just want to get married to Blake. That's all that matters. :) 

The photos are all from our dream wedding venue, Miss Gilmore's Carriage House. I had no idea this place even existed until I searched high and low on Google, and just stumbled upon it. I blogged about this a few weeks ago, but we went and visited it while Claire was in town and we fell.in.love. While we were there, the woman who runs the venue kept mentioning that she hated her website. Well, my dad's best friend is a graphic designer (and is designing our invites) and he offered to completely redesign her website in exchange for the wedding venue for our wedding. I was ecstatic when I heard that he was willing to offer that to her, and yesterday I got the news that they brought up the offer to her...and she hired someone to do a new website last week. Imagine my bummed out attitude while I was out at the movies with Blake! All I wanted to do was get out of there. I feel bad for being so bummed out about it for so long yesterday, because I know that being sad about things (while useful for some, it never helps me), doesn't get anything done. And just because she couldn't accept the offer, it doesn't mean we have to give up the venue! It just means we're going to have to move things around in our budget and continue sweet talking my dad. The only other option if all that doesn't work out is moving our wedding date so we can have our original wedding location. So nervous, but I know it'll all work out the way it's supposed to. 

And like I said - in the end, I get to marry Blake and that's all that matters. :) 

Thanks for letting me vent! Sometimes I just need to write it all down and get it out of my system - plus, it'll be great to read back on all these wedding woes after we're married and get a good laugh out of it. :)

xo Haley

*Photos from @alissaclaire on Instagram :) 

Wedding planning, thus far.

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We have a date! We were wanting a June wedding, but the heat so far this June (and it's only the fifth!) has us convinced otherwise. Our families both agreed upon September 28, 2013. So we have fifteen months to go! Hopefully you'll stick around for the journey! I definitely plan on posting progress of planning as we go along. And I'm super excited!

Anyways, we originally picked June 22, 2013. Come to find out, Dad apparently has a "BBQ competition" already scheduled for that date. What? Seriously? So, we nixed that date. It wasn't until this past weekend we started tossing the idea around of a wedding in September. It seemed to be the least busy month for my family, so we scouted out some dates. After some talking, we had our hearts set on September 28th. Why? Because it's my grandparent's anniversary. (And grandma is SO excited to share!) 

Our first choice location isn't available on that date because of a fall craft festival (that I NEVER miss, but it looks like I'll be missing it next year...). So, it looks like we'll have to search elsewhere. Last night, my mom and I started a list of places we want to visit. I think we are going to try and fit in a visit or two this weekend while one of my bridesmaids (Claire!!) is in town. Excited to start the planning process for real!

We haven't even talked about size OR budget yet (scary topics we are avoiding, yikes!) ... so that may influence a few choices of venue. 

Did your first choice venue ever fall through? What did you do?

xo Haley

I Have Bridesmaids!

 I've been browsing wedding blogs long enough to know that I needed a super good way to ask my bff's to be in my wedding. I actually had a completely different idea in mind when I walked into Hobby Lobby but walked out with supplies to make something entirely different. Here's what I came up with:

A bracelet was pretty much a no brainer as a gift for Breigh; we like to have little BFF type trinkets like this (I got us bracelets once that we both wore until they literally were falling apart). I decided to keep all of the bracelets the same for all the girls and make secret message bracelets! Good news: they loved them, and I am so happy with the way they turned out! I gave Breigh's hers first, and she was so surprised when she got it. I sent Claire's in the mail, along with her graduation card, so I'm pretty sure it came as a surprise to her, too. ;) And I gave Cassie her's last night! She'd seen Breigh wearing her bracelet and begged to know where she got it, but Breigh wouldn't tell her, so she was so happy when I gave her one of her own! I just thought this was a perfect, simple little keepsake to remember the whole planning process!
Colby is also a part of my wedding party, but I didn't think that a bracelet was quite fitting for him, so I just flat out asked him... he said yes and then asked what he could wear. Love him!

So there you have it! My side of the wedding party is official! I'm so excited and I can't wait to plan this little shindig with my best friends! I love you Breigh, Claire, Cassie and Colby! ♥

xo Haley
(and of course... we Instagrammed every time they got their little present!)

(Claire lives in Arkansas so I had to send hers in the mail! But she just told me today that she'll be visiting in the summer to help me plan! I'm so happy to have her by my side during all of this!)

May.

May is for planning. Planning for the summer. Planning for weddings (and learning the art of screen printing for wedding purposes!). May is for silly chick flicks and girls nights. May is for spending time with my best friends. May is for spending time with my fiance. I am a happy girl. Things couldn't be better.

Blake and I have just chilled out and watched a lot of tv today. We've been going nonstop since we got to St. Louis, so it's nice to just relax. We've spent a lot of time watching Pregnant in Heels & Bridezillas. My choice, not his. Although, we are currently watching The Last Song and he is happily watching it with me. :)

xo Haley

Hello, April.

April is for rainy days spent painting and listening to music. Hanging out with my best friends. Going to see movies at The Moxie. April is for planning summer fun with Blake. Meeting Miss Amelia. Finally seeing Florence and the Machine.* April is for not stressing over my final speech of the semester. For making plans for a school transfer. For changing majors.
April is definitely my month for planning. I hope it all goes well.

xo Haley

Today.

This weekend I...

*spent my Friday night with my best friend at our high school's basketball game. We did not win.
*dyed my hair a tad darker.
*had some serious life talks with Breigh. Those are my favorites.
*Watched (or rather listened, since I couldn't actually see them) the Midwest Indies at Boca Mocha on Saturday.
*found my new favorite outfit to wear.
*Had breakfast for lunch with Blake's parents after church (those little dates are the best. I love them a lot!)

Today I'm...
*working! I currently only work 2 days a week, and I miss my kiddos so much when I'm not working!
*working on school things.. I have my first math test this week... no bueno. Wish me luck!
*going to take a nap. I can't seem to sleep between the hours of 2 and 4 am.

This week I will...
*Start (or rather, finish) reading Breaking Dawn. I need to know what happens before the last movie comes out!
*Blog more. Hopefully.
*Do an outfit post, or two.
*Force Blake on a date to see This Means War (those darn chick flicks, he loves them!)

xo Haley

p.s. stop by Janel's blog and a) wish her luck! 9 days until the baby is here!! b) donate to bring Amelia home!!