Monday Musings

Dear Credit Card Company, Spending $125 at the Walmart by my house is not fraudulent. It's pretty consistent for me actually. 

Dear Walmart, If you want me to keep shopping at your establishment, get on board with this new chip card reader thing. I can't scan my card any other way, so your chip reader needs to work.

Dear Neighbors, I apologize for the condition of our front flower beds. I promise we're going to figure this whole landscaping out in 2016.

Dear Car Manufacturers, You really should consult with the hardware stores about your designs. The average appliance box should fit in every four door vehicle you sell. Just saying.

Dear Macarons, My French professors would be appalled, but Ryan and I call you hamburgers, pronounced like Steve Martin does in Pink Panther. Sorry about that, but we can't help it. You're just so tiny and cute.

Dear Tree in our Backyard, Yesterday you looked like a fall version of rainbow sherbet. And it was glorious.

 

Ryan Quote of the Week: It's not my fault that you use my snacks as decoration! (I had popcorn kernels in a mason jar for part of our fall decor)

Fun Fact of the Week: I send myself emails whenever I'm out of the office and I need a reminder. So sometimes when I check email, literally half of them are from me! 

Sweet Tooth: Reese's Cheesecake Brownies

I'm going to apologize in advance for making you hungry today. But  I promise, you're going to want this recipe in your arsenal!

Cheesecake bars are a favorite of Ryan's. I made cookie dough cheesecake bars two years ago and it's been a common request ever since. And when I found these Reese's Cheesecake Brownies from Pip and Ebby, I figured it would be another home run.

Brownies are my current weakness and Reeses is my favorite way to eat peanut butter. Actually, it's just about the only way I like peanut butter. And this recipe is rich and creamy and delicious!

And the great thing about this recipe is you can either use a store-bought brownie mix or use this amazing and delicious homemade brownie mix. (Seriously, keep some of the dry mix in your cabinet for last minute get togethers! You'll thank me for it!)

I whipped up this recipe when we were invited over to someone's house for dinner. I wasn't able to chill it right away, so that's why the top looks a little melty. But the important part was that it was a really big hit. So head over to Pip and Ebby and print out this Reese's Cheesecake Brownie recipe. You'll be making it for the rest of your life!

Cynthia & Luis: Greenbrier Country Club Wedding

Bright beams of light shone through the trees. Crisp fall leaves crunched with every step. The tulle layers of her ballgown rustled as she walked towards the closed church doors. Inside, candles glimmered in the stained glass windows and the church was filled with beautiful roses, strings of ivy trailing from each bouquet. Lanterns hung from the rafters, throwing light in every direction. It was all the things you find in fairytales.

And then the doors opened and she crossed the threshold of the church, each step bringing her closer to her new life with the man she loved. And with each step, her heart echoed the promises she was about to make. To love him unconditionally. With her whole heart. For her whole life.

As they joined hands and she looked up at him through tear-filled eyes, she knew his heart was beating with the same promises, the same unconditional love. And as they spoke their vows to each other, a thousand more were spoken with the words of their hearts. 

Yes, this is what fairytales are made of. But this was a fairytale without magic wands or pixie dust. The stroke of midnight would not break the spell. This was not their fairytale ending. It was the first day of their new forever.

So as the sunlight faded into evening, the chill in the air only caused her to snuggle a bit closer to him. Because her heart had found a piece of itself. And now she was forever at home.

I loved Cynthia's vision for these "Cinderella stairs" at the Greenbrier Country Club. And how beautifully did the reception hall come together? The addition of the bows on each chair are the perfect touch and the key bottle openers are both romantic and useful!

Cynthia & Luis, It was such a joy to tell the story of your wedding day. Thank you for welcoming me into your lives for this special occasion! 

Amber, Thank you so much for all your help 2nd shooting this season! It's always a blast working next to you on the wedding day!

The Wedding Team:
Planning & Coordination: Sunkissed Events
Photography: Caitlin Gerres Photography
Ceremony Venue: St. Benedict's
Reception Venue: Greenbrier Country Club
Dress: Essence of Australia by Maya Couture
Bridesmaids: David's Bridal
Groomsmen: Men's Warehouse
Florals: Norfolk Wholesale Floral
DJ: Marcus from Astro Entertainment
Cake: Sugar Plum Bakery

Are you looking for a photographer for your 2016 wedding day? Contact me here! I'd love to hear all about your big day!

Our Story: Code Words & Crushes

I love a good love story. And that’s why I love nothing better than having a couple sit on my couch and tell me how their love story began. That simple question, “What’s your story?” brings smiles like no other as, in a split second, moments of their relationship pass by their eyes. The feeling of butterflies, the first kiss, the moment he knew she was the one. Hearing a couple tell their story tells you so much about who they are. So Ryan and I wanted to share our story too. From first crush to first day as Mr. & Mrs.

Part 1: When Boy Meets Girl
Part 2: Code Words & Crushes
Part 3: Class Rings & Field Trips
Part 4: A Christmas Gift
Part 5: The First Date Mistake
Part 6: Graduation Day
Part 7: Student IDs, Scantrons, & Schedules
Part 8: A Month Apart
Part 9: A Proposal
Part 10: I Now Pronounce You... Not Compatible
Part 11: Commencement
Part 12: A Lumpy Blue Couch
Part 13: Our Wedding Day

CODE WORDS & CRUSHES

Our story begins with a 5th grade class on their field trip to Jamestown. 

And in How I Met Your Mother fashion, I should say “Oh wait, kids. That was another field trip to Jamestown.”

According to our yearbook, we did go to Jamestown that year. But nothing of significance happened. Actually, I should say we all learned a whole lot about the early settlers of Virginia. But the quiet boy with freckles wasn’t interested in the bubbly little girl yet. And the bubbly little girl enjoyed whispered conversations and giggles with her friends about other boys. And the next segment of our story happens a couple years down the road...our 7th grade year.

Seventh grade… the year I chopped my hair off but still had no idea how to style it. I had upgraded my glasses to a more nondescript bronze pair, and I was scheduled to get braces in just a few months. That was the year Ryan decided to give basketball a try (it didn’t stick) and the year that I got cornered into joining the band and playing percussion. All the boys had newly discovered AXE body spray, quotes from Pirates of the Caribbean peppered our conversations, and the most important part of the day was changing your away message on IM.

Code words were all the rage, and my best friend and I had 6 of them. He, she, her, him, it, and they. Each pronoun stood for a specific person. We had almost created a secret language, a way to talk about our crushes in front of their faces and leave everyone completely confused. And my crush still wore glasses and was just as quiet as ever. His voice was deeper now, a clear smooth voice like a radio talk show host. And since he didn’t speak much, when he did, everyone stopped to listen. Listening to him talk always made me smile. And if he ever looked my way, butterflies jumped on trampolines in my stomach. I was as head over heels as anyone in 7th grade can ever be.

My best friend and I used our secret language, dropped hints, and maneuvered seating arrangements, but time passed and nothing came of it.

Hello, Off Season!

Off Season 2015-6.jpg

The last few weeks have definitely had their fill of work. Between fall weddings, new 2016 bookings, our behind the scenes video project (that's still not done), and redoing almost every page on our entire website, we've had our hands full!

It would be really easy to keep plowing full steam ahead. Because even though the off-season officially begins this week (just as soon as my final 2015 wedding gallery is delivered), my off-season to do list is nearly 3 pages long. But there has to be a time to slow down and recharge a bit!

So what can you expect from me the next few months? Instead of being in the office every day, I'll be cutting back to three days a week, so email responses may take 48 hours instead of my usual 24. But other than that, I don't think you'll notice much of a difference! I'll still be blogging 3 days a week and I will have some really exciting posts to share over the next few months (including more of our story)! I'll also be meeting with 2016 brides and making my way through my off season list.

Some of the biggest things I want to accomplish this off season:
- Finish our behind the scenes video
- Finish a comprehensive wedding guide filled with all the tips I usually send via email
- Evaluate every aspect of my business and make things even better for next year
- Set new goals for 2016

But one little to do list stands between me and my new off season hours, so I'd better get to it!

Check back Wednesday for the final wedding blog post of 2015 and Thursday for another yummy cheesecake recipe!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you're enjoying time with family and friends today! Ryan and I have banned work (and the computer in general) for the next few days. Instead I'm going to hug my brother for the first time in 2 months, tell my husband how lucky I am to have him, help my mom with the Thanksgiving meal, watch the parade and the football game, and eat both kinds of pie!

And then tomorrow Ryan and I will start pulling out the Christmas stuff and make #ourlittleyellowhouseinva look bright & festive!