Hello everyone.
Where do I begin? We just got
home from Williamsburg and all I can say is, what just happened?! I say that in
the best possible way because we did so much in such a short amount of time
with all things WEDDING! Here is a little peak into the last week of our lives
and as well as an update! So sorry this is long but this is also for posterity
sake, so we can look back and reminisce on this time in our lives.
Shannon and I flew to
Williamsburg on Friday, August 24th and did not get home until a
little after 1 a.m. We awoke early the next morning to begin the first round of
interviews with vendors, first up, florist. After an amazing meeting, where
everything I have been dreaming about and obsessing over on pinterest began to
come alive before our eyes. We began to talk about what we envisioned for the
day when we finally become Mr. & Mrs.!! When Shannon and I first talked
about the wedding, we thought we might do it mid-summer since I teach. We imagined
a Great Gatsby garden party with peach and coral undertones. However, we
quickly realized that neither of us do well in the heat. After this trip,
Shannon finally got to experience what Williamsburg is like, humidity and all
and needless to say, we were both very happy that we chose an October date. It
definitely suites us better. As our
first meeting went on, for the first time since we got engaged, something about
our wedding began to feel very real. Here we were talking about the flowers
that would create my bouquet, Shannon’s boutonniere, the bridal/groom’s party
flowers, our mom's corsages and the centerpieces, it was really happening and
more importantly coming together just as we imagined it! (Good to know that I wasn’t
too out of touch with what I was creating in my mind lol!)
Next, we went to our venue and
had an amazing wine tasting and tour at The Williamsburg Winery. Shannon and my
father had never been there and they were both truly taken aback by the beauty
of the location. Shannon totally trusted my taste and agreed to the winery
without ever seeing it and his reaction to the space surpassed anything I could
have hoped for! It made me so happy to see him excited about the location where
we will become man and wife. We had a brilliant tour guide that was a biology
professor at William and Mary by the name of Joe Scott! We highly recommend
him! We sampled some amazing wines in the wine cellar (and got some ideas for
where to take pictures post ceremony!)
On Monday, my mom, Tiffany and
I went to Richmond to wedding dress shop. In 2 ½ hours, we found my gown and
accessories as well as Tiffany’s dress and accessories. The experience was
wonderful and my bridal consultant was amazing and he is the reigning Mr. Gay
Virginia! It was such an amazing experience to have one of my best friends and
my mom there to experience this with me. By the end of the appointment we had a
small entourage of consultants around us who stayed to just watch me play dress
up. One even commented that she should be working but we were so nice that she
wanted to stay and watch for a bit! We just had the most amazing time, only to
followed with lunch with one of my mom’s oldest, nearest and dearest friends,
my Uncle Bryant! All in all, it was a day that I will never forget and could
not have asked more from! The support and love felt was unparalleled!
On Tuesday we interviewed the
DJ’s. We definitely saw what we liked and what we did not. It became very clear
that it is so important to find vendors that align with who you are as a couple
and maybe more importantly who you are not! Our DJ is so great and we got along
from the moment we started chatting. She came highly recommended and was
everything we had hoped for. We know she is going to do an amazing job and will
blend beautifully with our friends and family and strike the balance of fun and
elegant … what more can you ask for?!
On Wednesday, we met with
photographers. The ones we met with were exceptional. Again, getting someone
that aligns with your personal taste and style is so important. We have said it
before and we will say it again, the overarching theme of the wedding is simple
and elegant. We do not want or need overstated photographs. We want the classic
moments captured alongside the ones that could easily be missed if someone wasn’t
documenting it. We think that the person we are going with is going to do just
that and we could not be more thrilled.
On Thursday, we began our day
with the caterers. We discussed the menu for cocktail hour, starters and main
courses as well as the décor they supply including sinner chairs, linens,
napkins etc. (When we saw what the food being offered will be more or less, we
were salivating! I want that dinner now quite frankly hahaha.) Next, we met
with my Mate of Honor and cake man, David Garrett and we sampled cakes. We
solidified the cake and grooms cake and both Shannon and I are beyond thrilled
with the options we chose! As I write this, I am a little sad that I don’t have
any to eat right now haha.
After solidifying the food we
ran home to prep for our Engagement Photo shoot. Tiffany Rudy of Tiffany Rudy
Photography a.k.a. my Matron of Honor took our photos all over the campus of
William and Mary and Colonial Williamsburg. We have gotten a sneak peak and we
are in awe of how she captured us as a couple. I love knowing that one day our
children will look at these photos and we ourselves will look back at the beginning
of the rest of our lives. How much these pictures have captured of who we are
now and all I can think of is where we are heading!
Friday, Shannon and I ran
errands for my parents, as we prepared for our Engagement Party hosted by my mom
and dad at our home on Saturday evening. Having our nearest and dearest friends
from home come together with my amazing family to celebrate this monumental
milestone in me and Shannon’s lives meant more to us than words could ever
express. The love felt that night doesn’t compare and all I can say is how
lucky we are to have such amazing people in our lives. The hugs, laughter,
stories and my mom’s toast will live in our memory and made the evening that
much more special. The only thing that would have made it better would be if
Shannon’s family and friends could have been there to celebrate as well … but
now we have something to look forward to with all these amazing people
converging on Williamsburg to share our wedding with us!
A huge THANK YOU to my parents,
David & Tiffany who spent so much time with us over the week. And, an added
thank you for giving us such amazing recommendations. You helped to hone this
entire process, making it possible for us to plan almost an entire wedding in a
week lol! I also need to thank our amazing family and friends, who made the
time and effort to celebrate with us, it means more than any of you will ever
know!
With all that said, now Shannon
and I will hopefully settle into a somewhat normal routine. I will be splitting
my time between 2 preschools, both are amazing and I am looking forward to the
upcoming school year. That is all for now. Thank you for reading this insanely
long entry but I hope it was mildly entertaining and more importantly
informative, so everyone is up to date with the awesome craziness that is our
lives!
As of today, we have 410 days
to go … but who is counting hahahaha! J
Best Always,
Kate
At The Winery.
In Wessex Hall!
Dress Shopping!
Sneal Peek At The Engagement Photos!
Toasting!
My Mom Giving The Toast (Made Me Cry!)!
Chantilly Cake!!
The Family At The Engagement Party!
