04.12.2014 {{Cake Cutting}}

After the first dances were complete (and some mingling and socializing had taken place), it was time for the cake cutting. I absolutely loved our wedding cake! I wanted something simple yet elegant, and that is exactly what Gia from Gia's Cakes created for us.

I'm not a huge fan of fake flowers on a wedding cake, so I requested that we have an understated cascade of real flowers towering down the cake. The beautiful flowers combined with the elegant gold borders around each layer made this cake everything and more that I had hoped for. Most importantly, it was the best wedding cake that I have ever tasted. Delicious! 

I warned Steven throughout our engagement that he had to be nice when he was fed me my piece of cake. I didn't want to have to touch up my makeup or scrub wedding cake out of my dress after the cake cutting. I again warned him as he was putting the fork up to my face, and thankfully, he stuck to my wishes feeding me very gently. 

I, on the other hand, wasn't so nice. I figured well, he's already fed me my bite so what do I have to lose?! He could see it in my eyes that I wasn't going to play fair. 

After the bridal cake was cut, it was time for me to surprise my groom with his groom's cake. Since day one he had been very specific on what kind of groom's cake he wanted. He wanted a very bright and loud Tennessee cake (gross!). As much as it pained me to have to have anything Tennessee related at my wedding, I knew it was something he really wanted. I took his cake suggestions with me to the cake designer, but I didn't tell him what the cake would look like. Even at the wedding, the cake was tucked away in the barn with the doors closed until it was time to reveal it. 

Needless to say, Steven loved his Tennessee groom's cake. I figured if we are going to do this horrible cake, we may as well go all out with it, including the inside of the cake. The inside mimicked the orange and white checkerboard that was designed on the outside of the cake.   

 

Being the Tennessee hater that I am, I had absolutely no desire to eat of piece of that cake. I mean, wasn't designing the horrible orange and white cake enough?! Obviously not. My new husband had every intention of feeding me a piece of that cake. You can see by my face that it wasn't an easy task. In the end however, I ate the cake. The lengths we go to for love!

 Venue || The Oaks Plantation

Flowers || Hot House Studio

Design || Christopher Confero

Dress || Lazaro 

Photographer || Armosa Studios
Catering || Kathy G. & Company

Cakes || Gia's Cakes

Check out the rest of our wedding day recap:

{{Wedding Day Preparation}}

{{Ceremony}}

{{The Reception Venue}}

{{The Dinner}}

{{The First Dances}}

Linking up for Wedding Wednesday

Time To Giveaway Some Cold, Hard Cash!

Please excuse my absence from the blog yesterday. It will probably be like that for most of the week because I'm gearing up for a much needed mini-vacation this weekend. Vacations are great, but preparing for said vacation is such a hassle. To apologize for my lack of presence around here this week, I've teamed up with a few amazing ladies to bring one lucky reader $130 in cold, hard cash. I can think of quite a few items I could purchase with that money! For your chance to win, enter via the rafflecopter below. Good luck!

The Girl who Loved to Write | Meg in Training | Believe in the Sparks | Rad Maverix

{the farmer's wife} | As the Wine Cork Turns

Classy Living | september FARM

Heaven with a Wild Side | The Crazy Wise Woman | The Butcher's Niche | Rose Gold & Ringlets

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pinterest: An Addiction I Just Can't Quit

To say that I'm addicted to Pinterest would be a vast understatement. I think my 7,000+ pins speaks for itself, but I'm pretty obsessed. My newest nightly routine includes my husband watching Sons of Anarchy on Netflix (another addiction that we can discuss on another day) while I sit with iPad in hand pinning away. So, since I can't go buy all the pretty clothes on Pinterest, or cook all the delicious food, or make my home look like all the flawless homes.. I'll just show off my favorite recent pins on his here blog. 

One.

Everything from the lighting to the frames behind the bed scream perfection. I've been looking for inspiration to finish off our bedroom, and I think these frames will do just the trick. Looks like the husband just got one more thing added to his honey (please) do list!

via

Two.

The only thing more adorable than a grown man in a button down shirt is a baby in a button down shirt. Bonus points for an Alabama button down. I think I may just have to purchase this for my Godson to sport this fall (sorry, Cort!).

via

Three.

That face! I laughed at this one for a good ten minutes. Hilarious! 

via

Four.

It's not too late in the summer to add these beauties to my closet, is it? Good. I didn't think so either.

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Five.

I love the bright, bold colors of this romper! I also love the long sleeves on it. This is definitely a piece that can easily transition into fall and then be pulled back out again early spring. Love it!

via

linking up for Oh Hey, Friday!

Every Blogger Needs This + A Giveaway!

// Life planner. Two words: Erin Condren. If you don't have an Erin Condren planner, well then, I just don't know how you manage to do life. I've yet to fork over the $50 for said Erin Condren life planner because it literally pains me to think of spending $50 on paper, but don't fret. I suspect by January I will have given into temptation and ordered myself the planner... Maybe.

// Twitter and Instagram. How do people even communicate outside of the Twitter and Instagram world? If you can't say it using 140 characters or less, it doesn't need to be said. If you can't take a picture of your Starbucks, designer sunglasses, and said life planner perfectly centered (or not. Because, negative space) and filtered to perfection, then you just need to put away your camera because obviously your doing life all wrong.

// PicMonkey. What's the actual point of taking pictures if you can't edit it down and add words to it? There is no point. We must take pictures of all the things and then use the magic site that is PicMonkey to edit said pictures.

// Dogs and/or babies. My dogs are far more popular on social media and on the blog than I am. If I want more likes on Instagram, I take a picture of one of my dogs doing something adorable (i.e. sleeping on the couch), add a filter, and press post.

// A love/hate relationship with chevron, mason jars, burlap, Starbucks, selfies, Lululemon, and brunch. Ok I take that back. Everyone loves brunch.

// Thick skin and a sense of humor. Thick skin so you won't be offended by sarcastic posts such as this one, and a sense at humor so you can laugh at said post and laugh at yourself for also agreeing with the above. We all do it. No need to feel ashamed!

// DSLR camera. Now this is something we really do all need. Don't have one of those yet? No worries! I've teamed up with a group of fabulous ladies to bring one lucky reader their very own Canon Rebel T3i. Enter using the rafflecopter below and good luck!

Life Could Be a Dream // Dearest Love // Simply Clarke // Rachel Rewritten Casual Claire // My New Lines // Happily Ever After // The Wetherills Say I Do Wearable. // Two Places at Once // Believe in the Sparks // Just a Trace He and I // Chez•Nemmar // Oh Simple Thoughts // Elizabeth Loves Rad Maverix // A Faithful Passion // Health, Love & Fire // The Ashley Maria Blog Lot48 // Homegrown State of Mind // So Fill Your Heart

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway will run from 12:00 am EST on July 24th until 11:59 pm EST on July 30th and is open to U.S. residents only. Good luck!

04.12.2014 {{The First Dances}}

As dinner concluded, my dad made his way to the stage to give the sweetest speech and introduce us as the first time as husband and wife. It was extra special to have my dad as the one to introduce us at the reception, and it meant so much to both, Steven and I to have our families so involved on our day. 

As my dad introduced us, Steven and I began to make our way to the dance floor. We both gave my dad a big hug and the band began to play our first dance song, You Look Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton.

For us, coming up with a first dance song was no easy task. All of the songs that we would consider "our songs" are far too fast to dance to and not quite as romantic as we were going for (most of "our songs" are modern day country party songs). 

One night while I was out of town on a work trip I had a dream that Steven and I were dancing on our wedding night to You Look Wonderful Tonight. I called Steven as soon as I woke up the next morning to tell him about my dream, and he immediately blurted out "that's it! That's the song!" We took it as a sign, and sure enough, that is what we danced to on our wedding night.

After mine and Steven's dance ended my dad made his way to the dance floor to dance with his little girl (I'll forever be a daddy's girl!). My dad gave Steven a hug and then the band began to play I Loved Her First by Heartland. 

I vividly remember hearing this song for the first time when I was in high school. After listening to it I remember texting my dad and telling him that he needed to find the song and listen to it because it would be the song that we would one day in the future dance to at my wedding. Sure enough, eight or so years later, that was the song that we danced to at my wedding. 

My dad and I each listened to this song over and over again throughout my engagement thinking that if we listened to it enough times before we danced to it that neither of us would cry. It didn't work. I cried every single time I listened to it. To keep from crying while we were dancing at the wedding we talked through the song. We talked about how beautiful and perfect the ceremony was, how many people were there to celebrate with us, how amazing the entire day was, and so forth. Anything we could do to keep from focusing on the sweet, tear jerking lyrics. 

And we made it through without crying... much.

Once our song ended my dad and I made our way off the dance floor and Steven and his mom made their way onto it. The band soon began to play Forever Young by Rod Stewart and they shared their dance. It was so sweet to see Steven dancing with his mom out there. They were both laughing and smiling the entire dance. It was pure happiness.

 After their dance was over, there was still just one more dance to go. Our wedding would not have been possible without the love and support of our parents, so they deserved a dance too. My mom and dad made their way out on the dance floor as the band began to play You & Me by Dave Matthews. The first time my mom heard this song when it was released she immediately exclaimed that was her and my dad's new song, and sure enough, it has been "their song" ever since. 

After a minute or so into the song Steven's parents joined them on the dance floor to finish it out. It's not often that both, the bride and the groom, have parents that are still together and so in love like our both of our parents are, so it was wonderful to see our role models and biggest support system all out there together dancing. 

As the song concluded Steven and I made our way out to the dance floor to dance out the ending of the song with them. It felt like that very moment was when our two families joined together as one. Steven and I are so lucky to have so much love surrounding us.

Our parents are a prime example of what a marriage is all about. They prove to us every single day that it is possible, and we owe so much to them.

 Venue || The Oaks Plantation

Flowers || Hot House Studio

Design || Christopher Confero

Dress || Lazaro 

Photographer || Armosa Studios
Catering || Kathy G. & Company

Check out the rest of our wedding day recap:

{{Wedding Day Preparation}}

{{Ceremony}}

{{The Reception Venue}}

{{The Dinner}}

Linking up for Wedding Wednesday

The Blogmopolitan Quiz

Belk 2014 Fall Fashion Most Wanted List

This past Tuesday I had the pleasure to attend Arlene's Fall Fashion Tour sponsored by Belk. Arlene Goldstein is the Vice President of Trend Marketing and Fashion Direction for Belk. Goldstein is a phenomenal fashion forecaster and trend expert who brings a certain southern flare to the industry. Each season, Arlene and her team forecast the biggest trends of the season and then put together a list of Belk's 'Most Wanted' items of the season. 

Personally, I look forward to the unveiling of the most wanted list every season. It's my belief that if I can purchase a few items each season from the most wanted list and combine them with what I currently have in my closet, I can rest assured that I will be fashion forward all season long. 

Fall is one of my favorite seasons, particularly when it comes to fashion. I adore all things boots, scarves, and layers, so you can imagine my excitement when I was invited to hear Arlene present on fall's hottest trends. Some trends from last year are sticking around another season, which I'm over the moon excited about, but this season we are also introduced to new and exciting trends.

So, without further adieu I present to you Belk's 'Most Wanted' for fall 2014. 

Soft Pant - Easy elegance is a given with a bottom that will bring a big bang to any wardrobe; softly structured and often athletic inspired. Start with solids and work your way up to bold patterns. Fem is fresher than ever with a sporty attitude.

Left // Top // Bottom

Longer Skirts - Go over the knee, mid-calf or all the way. These new lengths are fast becoming show stopping style staples.

 

Top Left // Bottom Left // Top Right // Bottom Right

Creative Cardigan -This sweater is the season’s must have completer piece with fresh shapes, clever trims and interesting textures. Let the layering begin!

Top Left // Bottom Left // Top Right // Bottom Right

Novelty Vest - Who Wore What When? Well who knows, but if she wore it with a vest--furry, fluffy, quilted or tailored--then the look was on its way to awesome. Try it! Pair it with a longer skirt for extra style points.

Left // Top // Bottom

Fashion Sweatshirt - On loan from the gym, this item has had more staying power than anyone could have predicted. Fabric blocking and luxe embellishments have elevated this top from “so so” to seriously chic.

Right // Left

Tunic Top - No bells, no whistles. Go glam in a top that is pure perfection with its practical polish. High-low hems continue, while novelty fabrics feel so right.

Top Left // Bottom Left // Top Right // Middle Right // Bottom Right

Midi Length Sheath - Take a look at a twist on a tried and true silhouette. This is the dress that turns a classic into a cause for celebration.

Left // Right

Statement Neck - Logical or luxurious? Both! Bold stones, chain details and burnished metals. This jewelry item can update and refresh any old frock!

Top Left // Middle Left // Bottom Left // Top Right // Middle Right // Bottom Right

Over the Knee Boots - Strut your stuff in this fall fashion phenomenon. They feel modern and look so stylish. Worn with slim pants or skirt, it will most definitely deserve a selfie.

Top Left // Bottom Left // Top Right // Bottom Right

Satchel - With its simple shape and subtle details, this classic bag captures an “of the moment” fashion vibe. Perfect to add a pop of color to any look.

Top Left // Bottom Left // Top Right // Bottom Right

Are you excited about this fall's fashion trends?

What items are on your must have list for fall?

All products shown here can be found on www.belk.com.

All information on the 'Most Wanted' items was provided to me via Belk.

& found in this press release.