Today is going to me more pictures than words, if that’s alright with you.  My calendar says that I should be working remotely from our River House in Carolina today.  However this fella named Arthur has wrecked my plans.  Apparently Arthur thought he was invited to our Fourth of July festivities.  He wasn’t.  But he’s still crashing the party.  And not as a meek little depression.  But as a Category One Hurricane.  

So we must head to the river today.  Instead of drinking and sunbathing, we will be battening down the hatches.  And from the sounds of it, there will be plenty of hatches to batten.  Please stop by and give us a hand.  Or just do an anti-hurricane dance for me.  Gracias.

If you have been following along in my Wedding Wednesday Series - you’re starting to put all the pieces together.  We had a classic and glam but a twist of fun wedding theme.  Today I am going to show you the pictures that were taken from our first look.

As a traditional girl, I swore up and down that I would never, ever have a first look.  

However!

I’m a really good wedding planner {literally - it’s my profession} but there is one thing I missed.  

With a 4:30 Ceremony - If I wanted to have any pictures of Michael and I we needed to do a first look.  And in the end, I am incredibly thankful that we did do it.  It relieved so much stress.  I was sick on my wedding day.  No, that’s not slang for something.  I was seriously sick.  Most of the day is an absolute blur, not just because it was a wedding day, but because my head was beyond congested and vertigo was kicking my bootie.  {Thankfully by the reception, I was running on adrenaline and Gin + Tonic!}

So friends, family, loyal readers - I am about to bring you into one of the most private moments of our lives.  The moment that, since we HAD to do it, I didn’t want anyone other than our photographers and videographers to be present for.  

I’m out of here friends!  Gotta protect my fortress from King Arthur!

Think of us here in Coastal Virginia and Coastal Carolina for the next couple of days.  Just because it is only a Cat. One storm doesn’t mean it’s nothing to pay notice!  Let’s just all vote to postpone the Fourth to the Fifth please.  Sound like a plan to you?

All I have to say is it takes a village.

Seriously.  On your wedding day, don’t be one of those brides who thinks she can get herself prepped all by her lonesome.  It’s impossible.  You need to surround yourself with the folks who will keep you calm, who don’t mind holding your dress up when you have to pee, and those who may or may not have a background in girl scouts, tying knots.

Today is Wedding Wednesday!  I’ve decided to just bring you a quick tidbit on the dress and my family and friends’ first look.  {Next week you will see my first look with Michael.}

Get ready to oooh and ahhh a little bit.  I want you to meet the dress.  {Augusta Jones - Bobbi}  

{Remind me on another day to tell you all about the day I found my dress!  I kid you not, it involves a dog running into the bridal salon and peeing all over me and the sample gown!}

I’m a huge fan of macarons on your wedding day.  Not only because they are amazing and delicious and gluten free.  But because they make fun pictures.  And let’s give the hubs some credit here:  Didn’t Michael do a wonderful job with my engagement ring?  He stalked my pinterest boards enough to figure out exactly what I liked {classic, timeless, and glam} and then he even worked with the designer to tweak it so it was absolutely perfect for me!  {He was well aware of my clumsiness so he thoughtfully had the diamond lowered!} 

One of my many etsy purchases was my garter.  These were delicate and unique, yet full of quality and well made.  I purchased these through The BellaSposina Shop.  I highly recommend you check out all the colors and combinations they have to offer if you are in the market for a garter or two.

I’m a huge fan of my glittery gold heels, but I knew that my knees wouldn’t be able to handle heels all day long.  So I wore white glittery Toms at the reception.  I also gifted my bridesmaids these Toms to go with their gowns.

Like I said, it takes a village.  And a few girls who are awesome at macrame.  My Augusta Jones Bobbi Wedding Dress had an inner corset that had to be laced and tied in addition to everything else.  As a girl with a decent sized chest, finding a wedding dress that allowed me to go bra-less for a day was beyond glorious!

As much as I really wanted to wear some glittery, over the top jewelry on my wedding day, I decided to go simple.  I decided that I wanted something I could wear beyond my wedding day.  Something that was “me.”  On a whim, I found my necklace, earrings, and bracelet in a tiny bridal shop in Richmond, Virginia.  And I still get to wear them every now and then!

But I still needed bling.  So in that same shop we found a glorious wedding sash that was the perfect addition to my wedding gown.

I decided to have a “first look” with my dad.  Since my mom had already been coming and going from the bridal suite all morning, I thought it would be great to include my dad.  But not until I was dressed and ready, of course.

This is something that I encourage all of my clients to do as well.  It made for some great pictures and memories.

Just before I headed out to meet Michael, I got to show of my finished look to my bridesmaids!  Their reaction {and the oohs and aahs and singing} was priceless!

Until next time…

And the cake.  Let me just tell you!  Holy Statement Cake.  I googled many-a-cake but it didn’t matter.  I had a vision.  And luckily, I work with one of the best cake people in Hampton Roads {Cake Delights} and she made my vision come true!  With a fondant shell, and a dash of glitter here and there, this four tiered cake was perfect.

I could probably go on for hours, reminiscing on all of our wedding details.  Sadly Amazingly this post doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of the way-to-many tiny details I had scattered throughout the day for our guests.  Was it a bit over board?  Yeah, maybe.  Did it make me happy?  Definitely.

I wanted our wedding day to embrace southern but classic glam, with a dash of fun.  

I think I did an okay job at that.

Do what makes you happy {but fits in your budget!}  Don’t worry about what tradition says you have to have or have to do.  It’s your day.  Make it something that represents you and your significant other.  Make it something that makes you happy.

Today I am linking up with:

Until next time…