My Wedding Day Part Four?

I'm starting to lose count of wedding posts. 

Sorry, about that. 

I really want to make sure I write down everything I remember! 

Feel free to blow through the abundance of wedding blah. 

Guests were arriving.

So, the wedding guild members had come for my mom and my maids. 

I met my dad at the end of the stairs, and we walked down through the breeze way to the side door of the church. In front of me were my bridesmaids lined up and ready to go. 

Perpendicular to them, 

C's groomsmen lined up and ready to go. 

Our priests (yes, we had two), our awesome bagpiper and other members of our full processional were also on standby. It wasn't long before I heard the music that I had chosen for the seating of the mothers start up. 

If there is one thing that I loved about our church; it is the organ. Y'all that thing can make some music -- some loud, beautiful music. Thinking about hearing those songs I listened to on YouTube so, so, so many times being played by that organ, the sign that things were really getting started, gives me chills. 

side note: my sweet 10-year-old nephew sat my mother. 

It was really sweet. 

Then the bagpiper's tune began. Boy, was it awesome. He played Love Divine, one of my favorites. He played as he processed down the aisle, finished his tune in front of the altar, and then escaped from view out of a side door. 

Next, the bridal party's march began and slowly the groomsman started to disappear from my view.

My girls began to turn around, blow kisses, wave goodbye, whisper "I love you", and start their procession to the altar. Soon, all that was left was my sweet big sister, my Matron of Honor. 

A wedding guild member escorted us out of the cold and breezy breezeway, and we made our way to the aisle.

We stopped. 

I locked eyes with C, well, because I was pretty sure it was the only way I was going to be able to make it down that aisle. For those not-yet-weds, I don't know how to explain this moment. Literally, all eyes are on you. I mean look, my dad's eyes are even on me at this point. I had to keep my eyes on C. I had to keep my eyes on the prize; 

and we were off, 

all while I was whispering to Dad "slowly, daddy, very slowly".

The sequins on my shoes were sticking to tulle of my dress! 

Somehow, we managed to make it up there. 

Dad did such a great job, and he even remembered his line: "her mother and I do"; he had a hard time with that one at rehearsal. 

We exchanged traditional wedding vows from the Book of Common Prayer. 

We had two lesson readings and one Gospel reading. 

We prayed. 

We exchanged rings.

And we were married!

We marched on outta there, and C only tripped on my dress once!

We escaped to the back of the church, made this thing legal with a few signatures, and ran off to take photos. The formal shots our photographer got of me at the altar are amazing. I may love them more than my bridals. 

Our church is located only a block from the most beautiful place in Charleston, the College of Charleston's Cistern Yard. The entire wedding party walked over to take photos there, and I think the photos from our little jaunt are the cutest!

 

After the photos were done; we headed to the trolley. We took photos of just the two of us at the very end, so at this point our bridal party was waiting for us aboard. We were greeted by this!

Cheers!!

We were officially husband and wife. It was time to get this party started, and what better way to begin a classy occasion that with some ice-cold Natural Lights?

Before we knew it we were at Society Hall. I handed my beer to my Mama and we loaded off. 

My sweet groom lent me a hand. 

xo, 

Mrs. H

My Wedding Day Part Three

The trolley arrived at the church for us to find that we were locked out.

I specifically remember our wedding guild member telling us to go to this exact door,

but it was locked. A mild freak out and a few phone calls later, we were finally in.

We headed up stairs to get ready, while the trolley headed to pick up C and his boys.

We walked into the bridal suite to find our flowers waiting,

I am still in awe of how beautiful they were.

My Zeta ladies worked extra hard to get their pins onto their bouquet wraps :)

Really hope they all remembered to take them off that night... 

My bouquet must have weighed 30 lbs, but it was worth every second of the arm strain.

Seriously, so pretty. 

It was a serious group effort getting me dressed.

I know I have been doing a lot of talking so I will let the photos help...

Mom zipped me up and did my corset.

Alex tackled those silly buttons.

Ladies, one piece of advice... don't forget to bring a crochet needle!

I love this photo of Lucy holding my arms up while my sister tries to adjust the sides of my dress.

I especially love my mom, dad and nephew in the background.

Mom putting on the veil.

 

After we were all dressed and ready, Lucy took on her duties. She ran downstairs to make sure everything was as it should be and to deliver my gift to C.

Love this of the two of them.

And then she brought my gift up to me.

Exactly what I wanted; my new monogram.

Meanwhile, my stomach is still hurting/dying.

I actually recall telling my mother:

"I may throw up on the altar".

Thank God above, that did not happen.

It was not long before the guild members were upstairs telling my mom and then the rest of my girls it was time to go. Then, they were back. For me this time.

I met my dad at the bottom of the stairs and it was time to go.

xo,

Mrs. H

Our Wedding Photos

I apologize,

my wedding posts have been so out of order and crazy.

I promise to start back up with the detailed day of posts soon,

but I wated to quickly show you some of the professional shots from

the details we have covered already!

Here they are:

all photos courtesy of Manukin Photography

 



Happy Mother's Day

To my sweet, sweet Mama!

C and I hosted our first little family function as a married couple yesterday. 

We had my mom, sister, BIL and nephew over for supper! 

Don't worry we didn't leave dad out on purpose; he was in Darlington for the big NASCAR race. :) 

My sister marinated some mojo chicken and made a fresh salad from her garden. 

I whipped up this yummy mac-n-cheese found on pinterest 

and this delicious chocolate brownie trifle stolen from my girl Megan. 

I was so excited to put my new trifle bowl from Alex to good use! 

I will say it was a great success -- I received compliment from both mom and sis on my two dishes. That's a big deal, y'all. They are both super cooks. Then C and I volunteered to keep my sweet nephew for the night as a happy mother's day gift to my sister. 

I know, I know, we are too good to her. :)

Now, we are off to celebrate with  C's mom for Sunday Supper. 

Hope you all had a great Mother's Day!

xo,

Mrs. H

My Wedding Day: Part Two

Before I get going again, I have to tell y'all that I attempted to read Part One to C last night. I don't know why I thought that was a good idea, maybe it was the three glasses of wine I consumed while cooking supper, but C thought it was just about the most boring thing ever.

Why are boys so strange?!?

It is seriously beyond me.

Anywho, back where I left off.

The taxis arrived, two mini vans, and we all piled in with our day of essentials packed into the bags I gifted to the bridesmaids. Here is a picture of Alex's. So glad she has been using it post wedding!

The salon was so great! We arrived a few minutes early and all of the stylists were standing at their stations just waiting to work their magic on us. We had the salon to ourselves for the majority of our 4 hour appointment. We were joined by another bride and her mother for the last hour or so.  My mom and sister made me a plate of one of my all time favorite foods, Ms. Hamby's chicken salad sandwiches. Y'all, these things are to die for. If you are from Charleston and you have not had them, give me a ring, I will ship you a box.  A plate of Ms. Hamby's in one hand and a mimosa in the other, I was a happy, happy girl as the hair teasing began.

My tummy was still feeling a little uneasy, those nervous butterflies can really get the best of you! Time flew by as my hair and makeup were taking place. Our photographer joined us at the salon and was busy documenting every moment. I cannot wait to share these photos with yall! Once my beautification process was complete, I had a chance to walk around andvisit with everyone else while they finished up their own hair and makeup. I was really glad that I was the first to be complete! When everyone was done we took a few last minute photos of the entire group, fresh-faced and ready to go! One last cheers with our mimosas and before we knew it the trolley was out front waiting on us!

Here is a photo of a trolley like the one we had.

We all loaded up and headed to the church!

More to come..

xo,

Mrs. H

My Wedding Day Part One

I will warn you now, this post is pretty much lacking photos.

I wanted to take a chance to document the actual day of my wedding.

Although a month has passed, I think I can still remember the little details of the day.

So, here we go.

I woke up EVERY hour on the hour from about 4:30am to 7:30am.

At 7:30am, I could hear a band playing out on the street (we stayed at my friend's home South of Broad) so Broad Street festivities for the Cooper River Bridge Run were already taking place.

At this point, I gave up and climbed out of bed.  I had spent the night in a twin size bed, with my bestie girl, Marla, just a few feet away in a twin of her own. I crept out of the room as to not disturb because she seemed to be snoozing peacefully. I made my way down two flights of stairs to the kitchen/ sun room to get a glass of water. Much to her demise, my bestie Alex was snoozing on the sun room couch.

At first, I tried to be quiet, but then she stirred, lifted her eye-mask, and I took full advantage of the situation: "Al, are you awake?!" Groggy Al responded with a huh? and I immediately sat down for a chat.

When she realized what time it was she told me that I better be glad it was my wedding day, otherwise she may have hurt me. Such a sweet girl.

We chatted about God only knows what and took some last minute peaks at my registries. Last minute shoppers always leave a bride on her toes. My mom still says it is not fair that you can view what someone has purchased. I say.. I love it.  We waited patiently for the delivery person to arrive from the bagel shop. I had ordered bagels, cream cheese and coffee for all of my ladies to start their mornings off. Poor delivery person had to WALK to us because of the bridge run, but I made sure we tipped her well for her hard work. Finally, she arrived and I dove into a bagel and made a delightful cup of coffee in the sweet Mrs. coffee mug that Alex made me.

I don't have a photo of mine on hand, but this is similar.

Mine is better of course, because Al made it :)

All of the other bridesmaids slowly began to wake up and join Alex and I for breakfast.

We chatted and talked about the day's events.

A while later, I hopped in the shower, blow dried my hair, clipped it up in a mess, and put on my getting ready outfit, an over sized men's oxford with my soon to be monogram on the pocket with leggings and Jack Rogers. I got these shirts made for all of the bridesmaids and for my mom. They were given as bridesmaids gifts.

Here they are before I gifted them, my girl Frances over at Barry Beaux made them for me!

Mine on the day of.

Everyone else showered and prepared themselves for the day while Marla, Paige, Courtney and I ventured over to our reception venue, South Carolina Society Hall, to drop off some last minute items. These included our toasting flutes, a couple extra handles of Maker's Mark, my bridal portrait, and the sparklers for the send off.  We giggled and danced around the empty ballroom before heading back over to the house. 

It wasn't long after we arrived at the house that my mom and sister arrived with the food and mimosas for the salon, we all sat around and chatted some more while we waited for the taxis to arrive to take us to the salon. Meanwhile, I should mention, I am a NERVOUS wreck. Actually, that may be an understatement. I was just so ready to see C that I thought I may pass out/throw up. Is that normal??? I drank water/ and chewed ginger gum until the taxis arrived.

We piled in and headed to the salon, more on that tomorrow!

xo,

Mrs. H

Wedding Advice

With almost four whole weeks of marriage under our belts,

I have started to reflect back on some of the little and not so little things

that I loved and did not love about our wedding day.

I thought it would be nice to share some of these things with y'all

so that if you are planning your own wedding, helping your bff plans hers,

or just dreaming of a big day, some day, you could have a little insight.

So here it goes:

1. We did not do a first look, and I stand by that decision 100%. I absolutely loved seeing C for the first time when I rounded the corner to walk down that big, beautiful aisle.

2. If you are a bride, you have most certainly heard this one before, but I have to say it:

Shit will go wrong. A lot of this shit you will not even notice, but inevitably it will happen.

I diligently planned for 2 photographers for 10 hours on the day of our wedding.

Photog number 2's child drank something from under the sink the morning of our wedding.

Therefore, we were left with just 1 photographer, and I am sure that I will still be very happy with our professional photos, but of course, had we had 2 photographers, we would have more photos.

3. We did not hire a coordinator. Granted, our caterer was a full-service catering company and they provided us with a sort of go to guy for the reception. This worked out fine. BUT, be sure you prepare a detailed timeline. Make sure your band has it, your go to guy has it, and your photog. has it. Make sure they make you stick to it! That being said, if my budget had allowed for the hiring of a profession day of wedding coordinator, I would have certainly hired one.

4. Make sure your dad knows that you two dance right after you and your groom are finished.

My old man was hanging out by the bar snacking on some celery when it was time for his big moment.

I stood in the middle of the dance floor like a lost puppy waiting on him.

I'm sure that made for some great photos.

5. Do not get sick the week before your wedding and lose more weight than you had anticipated. Your dress will be too big, and you will see yourself pulling that baby up a million times in your video.

After getting into this post, I decided this may be a two-part deal.

These five should be enough for you to sink your mind into for today.

More to come soon!

xo,

Mrs. H