wedding season

As the wedding crashers say, "It's wedding season!"  Over the past few months, I have celebrated 4 new marriages!  Last May Byron and I began summer with our own wedding and honeymoon, and after a year of marriage it’s been incredibly exciting to support such special people as they said their vows to begin their lives together.

In early June a group of teacher-friends celebrated Corey and Meredith in Fayetteville.  Meredith is one of the 4^th grade teachers at Knight.  She was an absolutely stunning bride.  Her dress was perfect for her and had such beautiful details.

Celebrating at Meredith's wedding with sweet teacher friends. 

One of my best friends growing up, Danielle, married her high school sweetheart in New York [unfortunately the same weekend as my cousin’s].  Since I wasn’t able to attend the ceremony, I was very thankful to be able to celebrate at her Bachelorette.  She is such a beautiful person and  I doubt I’ve ever wished so badly to be two places at once so I could’ve been there to see her become Mrs. Hunter Smiley.

Danielle was a beautiful bachelorette and an even more beautiful bride.

God didn’t give me a sister, but He did bless me with a cousin.  I remember us having our make-believe wedding ceremonies as kids, and I’m sure her beautiful wedding was everything she’s ever thought it’d be.  Katie and Andrew were married right outside of Athens, which couldn’t be more perfect for them, before the move to Oklahoma as the Taylor's.

I think it's safe to say Katie and Andrew are happy to be married!

After at least a year of Paige and I guessing when he'd pop the question, Will and Paige finally tied the knot this summer.  I am so thankful to have such an incredible friend to work with and couldn't have been happier to celebrate her marriage.  Paige's dress was incredible and the wedding was a blast!

I love it when weddings show the personalities of the bride and groom! :)

Welcome to married life, friends.  Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together!

we made it a year!

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:7

How has a year already passed since Byron and I got married?  When we talk about our first year of marriage, in some ways it's like we've been married much longer than that, and in others it seems as though we were saying our vows just yesterday.  We've had a crazy 365 days and it's funny to think about all that's changed for us in that time.

Our first year of marriage was busy, filled with the uncertainty of jobs, and provided us countless opportunities for us to trust that the Lord had something greater in store for us.  Byron and I have grown closer and stronger than we were a year ago as we've supported and encouraged each other in difficulties, prayed through the ups and downs, and praised God for the wonderful blessings we've received.  

I've been blessed with one of the best man in the world to call my husband.  A man who loves me when I'm completely undeserving and better than I've ever dreamt.  Someone with an uncanny ability to make me laugh when a smile hadn't surfaced all day.  He writes sweet notes with Scripture and hides them in my lunchbox.  How did I ever get lucky enough the snag this guy? 

Our anniversary began with a brunch of strawberry french toast and cafe au laits.  And bacon.  Of course there was bacon.  Byron surprised me with a new wakeboard vest -- I'm a lucky girl!

We went to Three Blind Mice for dinner, of course.  We discussed quite a few other places, but no where else is as perfect for us as Three Blind Mice.  Not everyone can go back to the place they celebrated their marriage for each anniversary, so why not take advantage of that?!  Not the mention, it's our favorite place anyway!

We sipped on celebratory champagne after dinner, then shared a slice of our original wedding cake, which had made itself quite comfortable for the past year in my parents' freezer!  Surprisingly, the cake was incredible.  Seriously, you never would've known it'd been frozen. Sugar Kneads gave us a top layer of our wedding cake as an anniversary gift.  They say, "Who wants to eat year-old cake?" [but they must not have tasted their own!] Naturally we wrapped the cake from our wedding back up and put it back in the freezer til next year!

The rain stopped long enough for us to make it to dinner.

This is the fresh cake...but the one from the freezer doesn't look too different!

I thank God every day for blessing me with such an incredible husband and I look forward to many, many more years together!

Bride to Bride: Wedding Planning Advice

When Byron and I were a newly engaged couple, a friend told me, 'If you can survive planning a wedding together, you can get through anything.'  I laughed and thought, She can't be serious.  The truth is, though, wedding planning is fun, but it's also hard work and stressful.  So for all of you brides-to-be, I thought I'd offer what little wedding planning wisdom I have with a list of what I think are helpful tips in keeping your wedding planning adventure as fun and stress-free as possible:

Have a Short Engagement: Our engagement was only 8 months, and I felt like it was too long!  You said yes when he asked you to marry him, right?  You know you want to be together, and the longer you're engaged the more times you can change your mind about wedding details.  During our 8 month engagement I planned 2 weddings.  In all honesty, it doesn't take that long to plan a wedding.
Top 5 Must-Haves: Before you do any planning, both you and your fiance should make individual lists for the top five things you want at your wedding and reception.  Byron and I did this from the beginning and it was a huge help [especially with all of my indecision].  We knew what was most important, so anything else was just icing on the cake.  When you're planning a wedding, it's easy to go overboard, so I felt like it kept things in perspective. [We also did this when planning the honeymoon!]
Time Without Wedding Talk: You want your hubby-to-be to still love you when you're walking down the aisle, so make sure that your engagement isn't one continuous wedding planning session.  Take time to just enjoy each other.  Byron and I established a code word [Apple Bottom], and if either of us was disinterested in wedding talk, we said the word and there was no more discussion on the topic.
Small Wedding Party: Everything gets more difficult with more people; the same goes for weddings.  We had 8 people [not including us] in our wedding party, and although we felt like we had friends we would have loved to include in that, 8 was plenty big!  Your closest friends and family will support, encourage, and join you in the wedding planning and festivities, regardless of their 'position' in the wedding.
Make a Budget & Stick to It: There's only so much money for the day, so you have to know how you're spending it.  I recommend lots of spreadsheets!
Involve Your Groom: It's his day, too!  Let him help make decisions and give him things to do!  Obviously most men don't care about flowers, but let him have a voice in the colors, venue, food, etc.  Byron actually picked out the invitations, decided on our venue, took care of the legal stuff, and planned our entire honeymoon!
Keep your Parents Informed (Especially your Dad): If they are paying for the wedding, this is a must!  I feel like most moms are pretty involved in the planning, so they know what's going on, but dads are lost in the land of wedding.  I know my dad didn't have a clue and I wish I'd kept him more up to date with the plans and details.
Let People Help You: As the wedding gets closer, people WILL ask what they can do to help -- tell them what they can do [and be specific about how you want things done]!  Setting tables, picking up flowers, cleaning up afterward, etc. -- you will need lots of assistance if you want everything to go smoothly, so gladly accept their offers.
Double Check Your Dress: Before you purchase your wedding gown, take it to alterations and make sure it can be altered to fit correctly!  I didn't do this, and had to frantically purchase a new dress a month before the wedding.  I've never heard of it happening to anyone else, but better to be safe!
Remember What the Wedding is REALLY About: It's very easy to get caught up in the reception, decorations, food, music, venue, etc., but remember that the day is about the commitment and covenant of marriage.  That's the reason you are celebrating.  At the end of the day you will be married, and that's all that matters.

cake & dancing with family & friends

After the ceremony, the guys loosened their ties while the bridesmaids and I traded in our heels for glittery TOMS.  The long skirt of my wedding dress detached to reveal a short, cocktail length dress for the reception.  Ready for a good time, we all jumped in the limo and headed to Three Blind Mice [Byron’s and my favorite restaurant].  The reception blew our expectations out of the water.

First Dance to Such Great Heights by Iron and Wine 

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart . . .

Proverbs 15:30

Dancing with my Daddy.

Byron dancing with his Mom.

We were anxious to see how the restaurant would suit our guests; it was perfect!  There was just enough seating and room on the dance floor.  I loved that the atmosphere wasn’t that of a typical wedding reception, but more laidback and fun.  Our DJ chose great music for dancing.  The food was to die for and the drinks [especially the signature punch – a pomegranate-peach mixture with Prosecco and vodka . . . mmm!] were delicious.  And the cakes were incredible -- the best I’ve ever tasted. 

Byron's cake was Red Velvet with cream cheese icing.
My cake had one tier with vanilla creme cake and lemon filling and two tiers with
strawberry cake and strawberry filling, all with buttercream frosting.
The silver figure on the table is the German Wedding cup we drank
from after my brother, Brad, toasted us.

I had such a great time talking, laughing, and dancing with all of our best friends and family.  Byron and I were able to finally meet a few of each other’s old friends and extended family.  We missed the friends that weren’t able to make it, but are so grateful to have been able to share the day with those who were there. 

I was very happy to be in TOMS and a short dress.

A happy heart makes the face cheerful. . .
Proverbs 15:13

I had a smile on my face all afternoon [except for when we cut the cake – I had to concentrate on that!] celebrating with everyone.  I cannot wait to see the moments captured by my photographer [she’s the best].  The reception turned out SO much better than I’d planned and honestly could not be more satisfied.

She became his wife, and he loved her.
Genesis 24:67

i said 'I DO' and he did, too

Byron and I could not be happier about our wedding day.  The ceremony was everything we’d hoped it would be.

I tried my best to get a good night’s rest and sleep until my alarm on Saturday morning, but instead I found myself wide-awake at 6:30.  After rolling around for half an hour, I grabbed my Bible and some shoes and headed outside for some time with the Lord as the sun lifted into the sky.

We took some photos at Stone Mountain before heading to the church.

By 8 am the day was already in full swing with breakfast, showers, make-up, and hair.  As soon as we’d finished our coffee, we began celebrating with mimosas. Before we knew it we were putting on our dresses and taking photos with the photographer. After photos we were off to the church for a quick lunch, more photos, and then . . . the ceremony!

My bridesmaids are awesome.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:7-8

Waiting on the ceremony!

Byron and I were married in the sanctuary of the church I grew up attending: Mountain Park United Methodist Church.  The notes of the organ spread through the church halls.  Instead of waiting patiently in the Bridal room, I snuck to the side doors of the sanctuary to peek through the cracks as the final guests were seated and the bridal party walked down the aisle.

When the doors opened and I saw Byron, I used all the strength in me not to cry.  Overcome with joy at the sight of him, I walked the aisle faster than I’d practiced.  My eyes were secured on Byron’s and I could not stop smiling.

I found the one my heart loves

Song of Solomon 3:4

Byron’s grandfather led a flawless ceremony, reading scriptures from 1 Corinthians 13 and Ephesians 5.  Byron and I also had Communion for the first time as a married couple and lit a unity candle.  The ceremony ended with the exchange of rings and a big kiss.  It was perfect.   

Answered Prayers at the Rehearsal Dinner

The week before the wedding was somewhat stressful.  It would have been 100 times worse had my mom not been so helpful.  Mid-week Stephen was informed that he would not be released for the weekend.  How could I get married without my brother there? Infuriated and upset, I cried for the rest of the week.  In between sobs I prayed.  I asked God for understanding and faith that He is in control.  I prayed for Him to make a way for Stephen to be at the wedding.  I told God I was mad and upset: that I didn’t understand.  I prayed for Him to speak to the heart of the person in charge.  He is All Powerful and for the first time in my life I asked for Him to do something for me requiring His power.  By Friday, though, I’d accepted Stephen wouldn’t be there and we made arrangements to Skype the ceremony so he could watch it. 

We started off the weekend with the rehearsal dinner on Friday night at Parker’s on Ponce.  The food was delectable and I was thrilled to spend our last un-wed evening with our closest friends and family.  In the midst of dinner, Stephen sent a text message saying he’d been released for the weekend and was on his was home.  Tears immediately burst from my eyes in joy and I thanked God without hesitation.  Stephen wouldn’t have been able to come home without the Lord working in hearts and changing decisions.  I know that for a fact.  There is no other way he made it to the wedding.

Listening to my sweet Grandfather's toast.

Rehearsing. . .

It’s crazy how God works.  He is always in control, presents Himself to hardened hearts, listens to prayers, and does the unfathomable.  We have a great God.  I entered the wedding weekend with a heart of greatest thanks and in awe of our powerful, loving Creator.  What a way to begin our wedding weekend.   

He is the one you praise; 

he is your God who performed for you those great 

and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.

Deuteronomy 10:21

Surprise Honeymoon!

I can't believe my wedding is in 2 days. I never ever want to plan another one! Good thing I won't have to! Growing up, I didn't think about my 'dream wedding' or what my perfect dress would be. Quite honestly, I'd never even looked at rings until Byron and I went [and I immediately learned his opinions about what I should wear were stronger than my own -- which is why he chose it . . . and I could not be happier with my ring!!]. Needless to say, wedding planning has been quite a bear considering I had no clue what I wanted! Instead of dreaming about my wedding, like most girls, I thought about the honeymoon! Unfortunately, though, in the midst of all the wedding planning it's difficult to get excited about planning a honeymoon, too. My sweet hubby-to-be quickly realized this and took the reigns.

Byron has planned the entire honeymoon for us . . . and he'd kept it a secret! [He's been practicing some serious will power because he doesn't usually keep secrets well!] Unfortunately, my soon-to-be father-in-law wasn't aware it was a secret, and spilled the beans on Sunday!! Although I do know where we'll be going, I know nothing more than that, so it really still is a surprise! I know not the city, where we're staying, what we'll be eating, or how we'll spend our days. I'm impressed with Byron's decision and proud of him for not telling me!

The items on my packing list and knowing that I'll need a passport gave clues to our unknown destination; my guess was that we're going to an island somewhere in the Caribbean, which hardly narrows down the possibility of places. I have complete faith in Byron and I know that it is going to be fantastic. Iam thrilled to see how he's planned for us to spend our first week as 'Mr. and Mrs. Livermore' . . . in ARUBA!!

Wedding Week!

I can't believe I'm getting married on Saturday!!!  AHHHH!!!!  It's crazy to think that it's almost here.  This week has been crazy.  There has been so much going on, even without the wedding!

My wedding week began on Sunday [Mother's Day] by celebrating my mom with a nice big breakfast and dinner with my soon-to-be mother-in-law, doubling as an early birthday dinner for Byron!  [Eating good food is always a nice way to celebrate anything.]  My Mom sweet Bridget even gave me a Mother's Day card!!  I could not ask for a more wonderful mom.  She's beautiful inside and out, more selfless than I will ever be, loves with her whole heart, understanding, supportive, and the perfect example of what God created mothers to be.  I hope one day I can be half the mother she's been to my brothers and me.

I have the best Mom in the world.

Her children arise and call her blessed; 

her husband also, and he praises her: 

"Many women do noble things, 

but you surpass them all."

Proverbs 31: 28-29

On Monday my mom and I went and got massages!  Neither of us had ever gotten a massage before; we loved it.  My mom isn't working this week, so she's running around like with a notebook of to-do's to get everything ready for the wedding.  I'd be a mess without her and words cannot express my gratitude for her help with everything.  She'll need another massage before the week's over.

Tuesday was a somewhat relaxing day.  While at school I was also informed that a few of my students EXCEEDED on the Math portion of the CRCT!  Whoop!  I could not be more excited and proud of their hard work.

After school on Wednesday, the teachers at my school threw a wedding shower for me.  I am so thankful and truly blessed to work with such generous and thoughtful teachers and staff.  This year has been wonderful and I am so glad I've been able to be part of a school as great as Knight.   My mom, Byron's mom, and Leanne [she'll become my sister-in-law on Saturday!] got our nails done after the shower . . . I never pamper myself so much in one week -- it's kind of exhausting!

Today is the day of catch-up.  We're working on everything that hasn't been accomplished yet.  And packing.  Oh, the packing!  I've made my decisions on what I''ll be taking with me [based on Byron's packing list for me] so I'm throwing it in the suitcase tonight!

The rehearsal dinner is tomorrow and I'll be spending the evening with my girls, before waking on Saturday to get married!!  I can't believe the day is finally almost here!

the blessing of friendship

I anticipated to write a few days ago, but it's been a crazy week . . . so here I sit on my Friday night, sipping on a glass of Moscato, to re-cap my weekend.  We'll see how this goes.

Last weekend I celebrated my upcoming wedding and marriage with a bridal luncheon and my bachelorette party!  Woo!  It was a busy weekend, pretty crazy, but SO . MUCH . FUN.

Saturday began by luncheoning [yes, I just made that a verb!] with my gorgeous bridesmaids and flower girl.  The food was delicious and the company was even better!

A friend is always a friend.
Proverbs 17:17 [CEV]

Afterwards, we headed into Atlanta to paint pottery [which was much more entertaining than I'd thought it would be - I had a blast and will do it again!].  We headed to Shout for dinner [mmmm!] and then out for a night of dancing.  Nothing too crazy, no naked bodies [thankfully!], and lots of laughs and white girl dance moves: perfect.

Mer,  me, Ashley, Lindsay, Karie, Danielle, Kaylee, & Jenny
before my Bachelorette!

God has blessed me with incredible girls women in my life.  I could not ask for better friends.  My 'old' friends from middle and high school and my 'new' friends from college are incredible: beautiful inside and out, supportive, encouraging, dependable, caring, genuine, and fun!  Spending my Saturday with most [a few could not make it] of my favorite girls in the world was perfect.

A true friend is closer than your own family.

Proverbs 18:24 [CEV]

april - what a month.

I can't believe April is almost over, holy moly. I anticipated it to be a quick month [since it IS the month before I get married!!], but whoa.  It's funny though, because every day still had 24 hours, just like every day in every other month.  Time does fly by when you're busy making last minute to-do lists, but even in the midst of all the wedding craziness, April has been an outstanding month.

1. Spring Break!!! What a way to welcome a month!

2. Passion Good Friday Incredible worship and a great reminder about why we really celebrate Easter.

3. Color Run!! So. Much. Fun.  I will definitely do it again.

4. Easter Sunrise Service at Stone Mountain with my wonderful fiancee', great family time, and some jelly beans, too.  [Easter IS the holiday with the best candy!]
5. Spring Flowers Have you noticed how long the flowers have been in bloom this Spring?  Incredible.  My favorite flowers [tulips] aren't in season in the late Spring/Summer, however they were on sale, so I bought some.  I discovered this year that we have roses hidden in our yard that have apparently been there for years.  Who knew?

6. Homemade Double Doozies Yes, I have the taste buds of a 5 year old -- no shame (both of my brothers and I share this love).  My favorite cookie is actually 2 sugar cookies, covered in sprinkles and stuck together with a heap of icing.  Mmmmmm.  Instead of making the trip to the mall [which would've resulted in spending money on clothing and cookies] I made them at home -- aren't I so frugal?!  Ha.  

These are worth the stomach ache.

7. Teacher Successes One of my students is a first grader whom I work with in reading one-on-one every day.  One month ago, she failed [with final averages of 0%] all of her word study and spelling tests.  Each day I spend 30 minutes teaching her strategies and working on phonics, and every Friday she takes a test with her class.  Her scores have been improving and SHE SCORED 100% on her test last Friday!!!!

8. Mid-week Surprise Dates with Byron He surprised me on Tuesday by coming into town unexpectedly and taking me on a date.  Yummy food, a good glass of wine, and my man . . . yes, please!

The flowers Byron brought me!

9. WE ARE GETTING MARRIED IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS!!!  and we have an apartment!  Whew.  Thanks for all the prayers -- God answered them and we won't be homeless!!  

10. God loves me.  I thought it was interesting that He gave me this verse last night since I'm on the homestretch to becoming a bride.  But it's so true.  

I celebrate and shout because of my Lord God.

His saving power and justice are the clothes I wear.

They are more beautiful than the jewelry worn by a bride or groom.

Isaiah 61:10 [CEV]

We finish up CRCT testing tomorrow [I'm more pumped than the kids are about that].  I have an incredible weekend to look forward to . . . and I'm sure it will be one for the record books. 

I said 'Yes' to the dress . . . Again.

On Tuesday evening, my mom and I went to get my dress altered.  After ninety minutes of tugging, pinning, pulling, and poking, the alterations lady surrendered to an impossible dress.  Unfortunately, my waist is too small and my hips are too low to keep the wedding gown I purchased in December from overexposing my goods.  My dress clearly did not say 'Yes' to me.  True Life: my dress dumped me six weeks before the wedding.  I became tearfully upset which led Bridezilla's first public appearance --  snatching gowns from racks and demanding a new fitting room and consultant ten minutes before closing.  Before we called it a night, I was able to find one [new] dress that I liked, thankfully!

My mom and my wonderful Maid of Honor, Lindsay, joined me tonight in search of a new wedding dress.  After 2 hours of trying on dresses and playing with accessories, I finally decided on my gown with a smile on my face.  It fits like a glove and will not require any alterations.  I could not be happier.  In fact, I like this dress more than the first.  It's sassy and fun, while being classy and chic.  It's perfect.

I really did like my first dress, but I absolutely love my new one!  I think it's funny how sometimes I get so worked up about things that are out of my control.  Then, in the midst of frustration and tears, God reveals something even better than what'd been originally planned.  Let's face it, there are only two details about the wedding that haven't changed throughout the engagement: 

     1. Byron and I are getting married.

     2. The date.

But all of the altered details are better now than they were in the beginning.  When am I going to learn to stop stressing and begin to accept that God changes things because He has better plans for me?

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."