D & E Wedding Part I: Getting Ready + The First Look

I’m taking a deep breath as I sit here beginning to write about Eric and I’s big day. It seems like a big project because I’m so passionate about capturing the details, but I know having these memories written down will be so worth it.

My mind jumps from one moment to the next as I smile, laugh, and then tear up, all before smiling some more thinking about how it was truly my most favorite day ever!

E & I planned the whole celebration ourselves, with the support of some incredible vendors along the way! The party planner in me truly fell in love with the process. I know some couples say wedding planning was stressful or caused arguments, but even in planning a Texas wedding from Chicago, that was thankfully not the case for us.

So all that being said, to do the best day ever justice, I’ve decided a series of posts makes the most sense. Up first, Wedding Part I: Getting Ready + The First Look.

This day was a real life dream, and I so hope you enjoy reading about it as much I did writing it!

(Psst! Since I originally wrote this post, I’ve blogged our entire wedding day story, so if you’ve read about our favorite part of the whole day below, but perhaps missed a later post, see here: Part II – The Ceremony / Part III – Cocktail Hour / Part IV – The Reception)

*****

{Getting Ready}

We got married just outside of Austin, in a small town called Dripping Springs. I originally grew up in the Houston area, and E is from Dallas. Since we met while attending UT, Austin was our place and right in the middle of it all.

On Wedding’s Eve, the girls and I stayed overnight at a hotel near our venue, where we did hair, make-up, and sipped mimosas all morning. The incredible Makenzi Laine helped some of us get all dolled up. Having her calming presence with me to start the day was a blessing. I was completely in love with my hair/make-up!

All week, the forecast kept switching between scattered showers and clouds – I had my fingers crossed the weather would cooperate. It rained a bit in the morning, which I was fine with (rain is good luck on your wedding day I hear!), but I hoped it’d go away once it was time to get this show moving.

When it was time to check in, we made our way to Memory Lane (ML). I can’t rave about this venue enough – every person there was so amazing and helpful throughout our planning. Our day was actually perfect, and largely in part because of them.

We wanted our venue to have everything in one place to avoid traveling between locations. ML had it all – a gorgeous outdoor ceremony site, next to a beautiful wooden reception hall, and right across the big ranch house we finished getting ready in. The house doubled as post-wedding accommodations for our groomsmen and bridesmaids.

The boys has spent the night in Austin and arrived first, heading to the groom’s suite attached to the house to get dressed. The ladies arrived next, dashing up to the second floor bridal suite to change and add finishing touches. Eric surprised me with a gorgeous bouquet awaiting our arrival.

I loved these getting ready moments. It was so fun to laugh with my girls and bounce around in our robes.

These beautiful ladies are my family, friends, and some of my biggest inspirations and supporters. To have them alongside me in these minutes leading up to our first look will forever be one of my happiest memories!

During this time, E and I read cards and opened gifts from each other. He had been eyeing a Daniel Wellington watch for sometime, and I knew it would be the perfect piece for our wedding day.

E gave me my first set of real pearl earrings years back. They’re blush and he had handpicked them in Hawaii. I knew he’d gotten a third one then as well, but we never really made plans for it. On my wedding day, the gift I opened was the pearl set in a gorgeous rose gold band.

After this, my mama and sister/MOH helped me get dressed. I opted to just change with everyone there, rather than walk out afterwards. I’m not one to be shy, and couldn’t bear to part from anyone!

I will forever treasure these special memories Feather & Twine (F&T) captured of them helping me slip into my dress and put on my jewelry. I’ve raved about Kelsey (last month’s #girlboss!) and Talon of F&T before – they’re beyond talented, funny, and felt like our long lost friends when we first met about a year ago at our engagement shoot.

And of course, E got all snazzy too! *still swooning over these photos*

{First Look}

It was finally time! E and I were back and forth in the beginning as to whether or not we wanted to see each other before the ceremony. After chatting more with Kelsey and Talon, we decided a first look was something we definitely wanted – I’m so thankful we did!

It ended up being one off our favorite, if not our favorite, parts of the whole day. Having fifteen minutes to ourselves (with F&T and David, our wonderful videographer, of course) to freak out about everything finally happening and to soak up all the emotions…there’s just not a moment that compares.

The weather was cooperating – the sky was overcast and the light was beautiful. Kelsey and I made our way side by side through the grass, and I approached E from the back, embracing him with the tightest hug just before the big reveal.

We laughed and talked and gushed over each other as our friends snapped away. I’ll never forget these feelings.

Eventually, clouds began to roll in and the sky began to turn more gray.

I’ll never forget how sweet and detailed Talon was, not wanting to stop David and Kelsey from documenting, but counting down the seconds to the very moment he knew it’d began to rain according to his phone! He was spot on, and quickly whipped out a big clear umbrella.

At this point, we’re all laughing and hurrying as gracefully as possible back up to the house. I’m so glad we’ve got some snaps from this. If you would’ve told me this was going to happen two days before the wedding, I would’ve been worried.

In that moment though, nothing could feel wrong.

{Counting Down to the Ceremony}

The rain began to come down hard. Our families and wedding party gathered in the big house, chatting and waiting to see if it would let up for the ceremony to start in a half hour.

Unfortunately, it didn’t. Guests began to arrive and the ML staff ushered them into the dry warmth of the gorgeous wooden reception hall.

Kelsey, our day-of ML coordinators, and I began to discuss how to proceed –

Do we move the ceremony inside? How much longer could we wait on the rain so that we could still have time for photos after? Would it even stop?

I had no clue how to predict the rain or to know what was best! I remember a brief moment feeling overwhelmed and saying “What do you recommend? I’ve never gotten married before…Wait, where’s Eric?? I need to ask him what he thinks!”

This was another moment I was really thankful E and I had seen each other already.

He was able to come up to the bridal suite (making a ridiculous dancing entrance the resulted in screams and cheers) to help sort everything out. We all talked more and set a time when we’d make the final call. If it was still raining, we’d move the ceremony into the reception hall.

Spirits were easily kept high with jokes, more pictures, and lots of chatter. I expected to feel stressed, but I felt so at peace with all my people around me.

I was marrying my best friend today! No matter what, it would continue to be the perfect day.

And then, in a matter of seconds, the rain stopped and the clouds cleared. Sun showered into the room and graced the scenery outside with warm light.

Everyone jumped up. Our coordinators gave the signal to wipe down the outside seating and get us all ready to go.

It was time. We were doing this, people!!

*****

Whew, I knew Part I would take some time to write up, but I’m smiling from ear to ear. I have this little diary of the day and I’m so happy to be sharing it with you. So, if you’re still with me, props to you, friend!

New around here and want more? You can read about our engagement in Paris and the story of how we met.

Can’t wait to share Part II with you…hint hint the ceremony may or may not have involved a double rainbow!

P.S. I’ve blogged our whole dream of a wedding day since this original post – links below! Feel free to read on if you’re wanting more of the story, or some inspiration as you plan your own big day!

Part II – The Ceremony / Part III – Cocktail Hour / Part IV – The Reception