After years of musing about my dream wedding, here’s what I’ve come up with.
1) Ring: This has morphed and changed and done all sorts of things from the moment I started looking to now. I like several different styles: round brilliant (european cut) set in a thin platinum band with tapered baguettes, pear-shaped diamond with a thin pave diamond band and halo, oval-shaped diamond with a thin pave diamond band and halo, cushion-cut in an antique setting with little emerald stone bedecking it… Drew’s got options. We (sort of) decided on one final ring we both love, but we’ll see! :)
2) Dress: When I envision my wedding day, I am wearing a cream sweetheart one-shouldered mermaid dress with a small train. This has been the same since the first day I fell in love with a wedding gown (February 2008 - a spring ‘08 Vera gown spotlighted in a bridal show at the Hermitage Hotel), and I imagine will likely be what I choose. I want to try on multiple dresses to see what I really love ON… I like the look of frothy tulle gowns and big pouffy ballgowns and might even entertain the idea of sleeves (ok probably not), so it’ll be a process.
3) Veil: I used to want a birdcage veil, but I’ve grown a little torn in the past few months. I love the idea of a pretty, long veil (not too long) but couldn’t justify spending the ridiculous amounts of money most veils go for these days. If I can borrow a gorgeous long one I’d love to do that. We’ll see.
4) Place: I also used to be completely set in doing our wedding and reception at the Governor’s Club in Brentwood. I love that place and pass it frequently, staring at the gorgeous couples getting married on spring and fall Saturdays. Recently, however, at the urging of my future fiance, I have been tossing around the idea of getting married in my parents’ backyard. My sister had her reception there, and although I want to give it a Kelly twist, I just love it. We could say our I-do’s in the field behind our house, take pretty pictures in front of the evergreen trees and by the stables (Belle Meade Plantation much, anyone?), have “cocktails” (or mocktails and Guinness, as it will more likely be) on the back deck (strung with Italian string lights and tiny pearlized bulbs), and dance in the backyard out in front of “the swamp” under a tent (which would double as our ceremony rain plan). I don’t know how the logistics will make it perfectly happen, but I’d LOVE if it could!
5) Time/Date: Drew and I are both really in love with September as our future wedding date. (Maybe even September 29th, 2012… ;) I’ve toyed with the ideas of March or December (since I love winter weddings and I don’t want to be super-stressed out with work around MY wedding date, and September/October is HEAVY wedding season), so that’s also to be decided. 5 o’clock.
6) Colors: These have been unwavering for as long as I can remember (ok, so they changed since I was 14) - pale buttercream yellow and espresso brown.
7) Flowers: I love garden roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, all sorts of pretty things. I want them to be fairly simple but gorgeous.
8) Size of Bridal Party: This will likely be 6 or 7 apiece. As much as I prefer small bridal parties, it’s so hard to choose. {Dani (MOH), Laken (MOH), Laurajean, Katie, Julianna, Sarah, Heather.}
9) Chairs: I’d love the fruitwood folding chairs from a rental company. I also want pretty “chair swag” on Drew’s and my seats to designate us as bride and groom.
10) Drew’s Gift: I plan to present Drew with boudoir pictures as my wedding gift to him!
11) Favors: I think we’re going to serve homemade cookies with milk shots or something similar as our “favors.” Or perhaps s’mores!
12) Honeymoon Locale: I want to go to Mexico! A mexican resort. Not too pricey, way super gorgeous, heaven.
13) Bridesmaids Dresses: Haven’t decided for sure on these either. I would ideally have everyone wear dresses that are cream on top and brown on bottom, but haven’t been able to find any. They might just be variations on brown and cream, or pale yellow.
14) Lingerie: I like pieces that are feminine, retro, pretty, lacy but not exclusively, and things that have pretty satin bows (like maybe one bow, I don’t want to look like I’m 5). Color-wise, I like navy and black and plum and mint and cream and a little fuchsia. Still not fond of red.
15) Reception music: I prefer live band over DJ, but I may be restricted in what I can have space-wise or logistically. I just want good music.
16) Decorations: I want draping where I can have it, little lights everywhere, candles in mason jars hanging from trees, chandeliers if I can manage, crystal cut glass details, just a bunch of pretty things.
17) Videographer: I would love to have a videographer if I can afford one. FocalPoint Cinematic is the best in the business, but my friend Cassie Hodges would do a phenom job if she didn’t live in Arkansas. I may see how much she’d charge to fly in and do it, but if I can’t, I might try to get a Watkins student or suck it up and live without a video. :( Or, I could always have Daddy whip out the recorder like he did for Dani’s wedding. Home-style!
18) Photography: Kelly Cummings of Spindle Photography. First person I’m calling after I’m engaged. Ok maybe after my parents & sister.: )
19) Reveal: We are most certainly doing a first look. Location TBD after we pick out our final wedding venue!
20) Readings: Oooh, I need to start collecting these and picking out who will do them.
21) Vows: Personalized but not self-written vows.
22) Food/Drink: Catering is also undecided. I’d love to incorporate a grits bar! We might have limited wine, but we’ll definitely have Guinness Stout for Drew. I’d like to have champagne (one bottle of Veuve Cliquot) for toasting. Maybe I could have a signature mint mimosa as a drinking option? No one can get drunk on mimosas.
23) Toast: Stephen (Best Man) and Dani will be giving toasts. It will be a riot undoubtedly.
24) Music: There are certain songs that must be played— “In My Arms” by Jon Foreman will be our first dance. We also want to play “Over the Hills and Far Away” and “Wonderful Tonight.” I might want to do “Another One Bites the Dust” for my bouquet toss and “It’s Raining Men” for the garter toss. Is that gay? Haha.
25) Number of guests: 150?
26) Hair & Makeup: Dani’s doing my makeup, Laken’s doing my hair. Unless I magically come up with $260 to hire Amy Lynn Larwig, but my matrons of honor are amazing.
27) Ring Bearers/Flower Girls: Two (or three) flowergirls, two (or three) bell ringers. The (or three) refers to my unborn future niece or nephew… my sister is with child! {Laney, Della, James, Riley, and Bippity Boppity Boudreau.}
28) Car: If we have the wedding at Governor’s Club, we’re borrowing Drew’s dad’s Porche or Mercedes to getaway. If we have it at home, we’re probably going away in my Yaris. Haha.
29): Wedding Night Suite: I think I’d like to stay at Opryland Hotel the night before we leave for our honeymoon!
30) Wedding Preparation Workout: Hot Yoga + Pure Barre.
31) Cake: I can never decide on cake. I love coconut cake, white wedding cake, chocolate cake, infused cake. All I know is I want it simple, elegant, delicious, and frosted with buttercream!
32) Groom’s Cake: Drew wants my father’s signature cheesecake. Done and done.
33) Guestbook: I think we’d like a picture book of our engagement shots, or something meaningful that we’ll actually look at.
34) Walk down aisle: I’ll be walking down the aisle to “Finding Hope,” written by Drew.
35) Coordinator: This is one of those things I KNOW I need, but have no idea who to use.
36) Formal exit: I like sparklers, but it’s overdone. I like glitter, but don’t want my dress to be covered in it for all time. I like confetti, but it’s so-so. I do NOT like bubbles. Exit TBD.
37) Menswear: The men of our wedding will be wearing gray suits with suspenders, bowties, maybe cowboy boots. :) Maybe just Drew!
38) Linens: I think I’d like ivory linens with pale yellow seersucker napkins. This may be a DIY project!
Pictures to come!
