I wanted to thank all of my wonderful readers that followed me through all the ups and downs that come with wedding planning. It is really flattering to see that I am still getting comments on my many projects that I have posted, and I love having this blog as a memento of the wedding planning process. As Thom and I approach our second anniversary, it is fun to look back at what we were doing a 2 years ago at this time, and reflect on the stress, and excitement. After about a year's hiatus from blogging, we have decided that it's time to start sharing the next chapter of our lives. Two Steps Forward and I'm Not Looking Back is our story of life as newlyweds. Just like Our Day (In the Making) there will be DIY projects as I continue to personalize our home. There will also be recipes, restaurant reviews, and stories about life in general. I invite all of you to follow Thom and I over to our new blogging home.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Two Steps Forward and I'm Never Looking Back
I wanted to thank all of my wonderful readers that followed me through all the ups and downs that come with wedding planning. It is really flattering to see that I am still getting comments on my many projects that I have posted, and I love having this blog as a memento of the wedding planning process. As Thom and I approach our second anniversary, it is fun to look back at what we were doing a 2 years ago at this time, and reflect on the stress, and excitement. After about a year's hiatus from blogging, we have decided that it's time to start sharing the next chapter of our lives. Two Steps Forward and I'm Not Looking Back is our story of life as newlyweds. Just like Our Day (In the Making) there will be DIY projects as I continue to personalize our home. There will also be recipes, restaurant reviews, and stories about life in general. I invite all of you to follow Thom and I over to our new blogging home.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Product Review and a Giveaway- Easy Canvas Prints
I have always loved the look of photos on canvas. It creates an effect that is different from traditional framing, more akin to oil paintings from days gone by. I have wanted to get one for a while now, I was just waiting for an occasion that would warrant the canvas treatment and our wedding certainly fit the bill.
I shopped around a little bit online and even looked at a couple DIY canvas options. Then I stumbled upon Easy Canvas Prints. The website lives up to it's name, and the prices are great too. The hardest part was choosing which one of my wedding portraits to upload. The website is easy to use; simpy upload a picture, select your size and border options, center the picture, and click order to transform your photos to canvas. My canvas arrived shortly thereafter, and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the product. It is a nice thick canvas, wrapped around a sturdy wooden frame. It feels like a piece of art.
I am very fortunate in that Brendan from Easy Canvas Prints has given me a handful of $10 gift cards to give away to my blog readers. If you would like one, simply leave a comment to this post, and I will contact you for mailing information. The giveaway ends November 18th. Easy Canvas Prints is also on Facebook, and they are offering 50% off a canvas and free shipping just for liking them.
Disclosure: Easy Canvas Prints provided me with an 8"x10" canvas for free for the purpose of review
I opted for the "Image Wrap" border option. |
I am very fortunate in that Brendan from Easy Canvas Prints has given me a handful of $10 gift cards to give away to my blog readers. If you would like one, simply leave a comment to this post, and I will contact you for mailing information. The giveaway ends November 18th. Easy Canvas Prints is also on Facebook, and they are offering 50% off a canvas and free shipping just for liking them.
Disclosure: Easy Canvas Prints provided me with an 8"x10" canvas for free for the purpose of review
Labels:
Photography,
product review
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Wedding Recaps- Portraits
Our Wedding Portrait |
Our families, believe it or not, this is mostly parents, with one uncle, a sister, a brother, and two nephews |
Our wedding party, we almost got all three boys to look at the camera |
Three generations, my grandmother, me, and my mom |
The groom, and his groomsmen (and groomswoman!) |
A candid shot of my bridesmaids, I love this picture |
Our fort |
Kiss me! |
All pictures copyright of Classic Photographers, used with permission.
Labels:
ladies attire,
Men's Attire,
Photography,
wedding party
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Wedding Recaps- All the Pretty Details
My ring bearer pillow, ribbon wands, and a pageboy's bell |
Our aisle runner |
The wedding arch, it was breezy to the guys used rocks to hold down the aisle runner |
Flower cones, made by me and arranged by my mom, on shepherd's hooks from the dollar store |
Our alter set up, with our ring bearer pillow, unity candle, handfasting ribbon, and mead |
My pearls, a gift from my husband, and my something new |
Our reception |
One of our centerpieces, with artificial starfish, and my handmade table numbers |
Our escort card table |
Candle centerpieces |
The guestbook table and card basket |
Our photo guestbook in action, a huge hit |
The detail of our cake. Our cake baker did an amazing job, the cake was as delicious as it was beautiful. |
Our engraved serving set, which now graces our curio cabinet |
Candle favors, photo share cards, and bubbles! |
My bouquet, exactly what I wanted, and the hand painted Mrs. shell |
Our rings |
Labels:
Cake,
DIY,
Flowers,
Photography
Friday, November 4, 2011
Wedding Recaps- The Reception
After the ceremony, we spent some time at the fort taking pictures before piling into the limo and heading to the reception venue. On the way, we asked the limo driver if he would be willing to stop at a nearby post office so that we could get the marriage certificate in the mail. He did just that, and our photographer caught it. I can only imagine what the locals thought to see a limo drive through a post office.
Once we arrived to the reception venue, the reception coordinator wisked us away to a private waiting area for appetizers and champagne, while they poured everyone's champagne for the champagne toast. The DJ lined us up, and we were announced. Once everyone was seated, we went right into the speeches. Our best man and our maid of honor each gave speeches and joked with us all week that they were going to tell embarrassing stories. Truth be told, they both gave speeches that were so touching and heartfelt that I am pretty sure there was not a dry eye in the house.
Following the speeches, we went right into dinner. The DJ played Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, the food was delicious. We decided to have a buffet of comfort foods, and our caterer created exactly what we wanted: meatball, honey mustard chicken, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes. Part way through dinner, our photographer brought out glow stick kits. The kids, as well as the adults, had a blast creating glow stick glasses, earrings, and necklaces.
After dinner, we had our cake cutting. This is where our baker surprised us. Our original plan was to have a wedding cake and a groom's cake, but the groom's cake was going to essentially be a single-tiered chocolate version of the wedding cake. I wanted to surprise Tom with a more custom groom's cake, but time ran out before I could really plan it. The baker came through, and designed Tom a guitar cake. We were both pleasantly surprised.
Tom and I had been discussing the cake cutting for about a year before the wedding. We both agreed that we wanted our wedding to be an adult affair, and that our cake cutting would follow suit. I went by what we discussed, and nicely fed Tom a piece of wedding cake, minus a little frosting on his nose, which I promptly kissed off.
Tom on the other hand...
I should have known better. Especially after he flashed his "I'm innocent" eyes at me. Before I could react, I was covered in sticky frosting. At first I was less than pleased, but then I realized that it was the man I married. Tom has a playful side, and our guests loved it.
We took a few minutes to get cleaned up, and then started the dancing portion of the evening. Tom and I had our first dance to "Rose of My Heart" by Johnny Cash. The words fit us perfectly. Tom and I had been practicing waltzing since we became engaged, it was nice to finally have the opportunity to dance with him. Tom also took full advantage of the flow-y aspect of my dress and spun me a few times. Our wedding party and guests blew bubbles during our first dance to add to the moment.
Following our first dance, I danced with my father to "I Loved Her First" by Heartland. Tom danced with his mom to "Purple Rain" by Prince. Then we opened up the dance floor and everyone joined in on the fun.
All that was left to do was the bouquet toss and the garter toss, which we dispersed throughout the dancing. The florist provided a toss bouquet for me to throw. Now, I notoriously have bad aim when throwing, and in my defense, the DJ made me toss the bouquet with my back turned to everyone.
I say this in my defense, because I managed to toss the bouquet right over all of the ladies...
And into the groom's hands. Seriously, Tom cannot catch. He later told me that he was having a conversation with the best man and the bouquet landed in his hands. If that is not a sign of sheer talent and brilliance, I don't know what is.
Last but not least, Tom took off my garter. True to form, he opted to do it with his teeth. Again, our guests enjoyed the show. Fortunately, I did not catch the garter, although I'm sure people were questioning it. Ultimately, my bridesmaid caught the bouquet, she is engaged to be married next June. Our best man caught the garter. We need to find him a special someone.
After the bouquet and garter toss, we enjoyed the last couple hours of our reception by dancing the night away. Our last dance was to "Good Life" and my nephews requested it so they could dance with their new aunt Jenny. It was a perfect, beautiful day that was worth every minute of planning, and every dime of money.
All pictures copyright of Classic Photographers, and used with permission.
The new Mr and Mrs! |
The Best Man's speech |
The Maid of Honor's Speech |
After dinner, we had our cake cutting. This is where our baker surprised us. Our original plan was to have a wedding cake and a groom's cake, but the groom's cake was going to essentially be a single-tiered chocolate version of the wedding cake. I wanted to surprise Tom with a more custom groom's cake, but time ran out before I could really plan it. The baker came through, and designed Tom a guitar cake. We were both pleasantly surprised.
Our Wedding Cake |
Our Groom's Cake |
Tom on the other hand...
I should have known better. Especially after he flashed his "I'm innocent" eyes at me. Before I could react, I was covered in sticky frosting. At first I was less than pleased, but then I realized that it was the man I married. Tom has a playful side, and our guests loved it.
Never trust a man with a handful of cake |
So not amused |
Following our first dance, I danced with my father to "I Loved Her First" by Heartland. Tom danced with his mom to "Purple Rain" by Prince. Then we opened up the dance floor and everyone joined in on the fun.
Me and my dad |
Tom with his mom |
I say this in my defense, because I managed to toss the bouquet right over all of the ladies...
And into the groom's hands. Seriously, Tom cannot catch. He later told me that he was having a conversation with the best man and the bouquet landed in his hands. If that is not a sign of sheer talent and brilliance, I don't know what is.
Last but not least, Tom took off my garter. True to form, he opted to do it with his teeth. Again, our guests enjoyed the show. Fortunately, I did not catch the garter, although I'm sure people were questioning it. Ultimately, my bridesmaid caught the bouquet, she is engaged to be married next June. Our best man caught the garter. We need to find him a special someone.
After the bouquet and garter toss, we enjoyed the last couple hours of our reception by dancing the night away. Our last dance was to "Good Life" and my nephews requested it so they could dance with their new aunt Jenny. It was a perfect, beautiful day that was worth every minute of planning, and every dime of money.
All pictures copyright of Classic Photographers, and used with permission.
Labels:
Cake,
Photography,
reception decor
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Wedding Recaps- The Ceremony
September 10, 2011. Tom and I could not have asked for a more perfect day. On a beautiful September afternoon, in the presence of our closest family and friends, our wedding ceremony commenced.
Tom escorted his mother down the aisle |
Our nephew and junior usher escorted my mom |
My sister and maid of honor |
My best friend, matron of honor, and wedding officiant |
My other best friend and bridesmaid |
Our nephew and ring bearer |
Here comes the bride, escorted by my mom |
The ceremony begins, led by two of our best friends |
Our handfasting |
With this ring |
The kiss |
Presenting the new Mr and Mrs |
Off into the sunset |
Labels:
Photography
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