Wedding Wednesday: Wedding Reception (take 2)

Welcome back to Wedding Wednesday! As I've stated before, my wedding planning situation hasn't been that of a "normal" bride. (whatever that is, right?) For that reason I've decided to share some details on yet another thing that sets us apart from the typical soon-to-be couples out there planning weddings right now... 

Luke and I are both from Tennessee. His family is also from Tennessee... for that reason we tend to spend most holidays with that side of the family. Just like every other gal out there though... I love my grandparents. They have always been my steadfast and what has always been there to keep me grounded. So having the wedding anywhere, but close to them would make absolutely no sense to me. 

My Nana and Pop are from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, but in the last few years made the move to Dover, DE for their permanent retirement spot. That is where we will be hosting our wedding and I am so excited I can barely contain myself. I know that may seem crazy, but my Nana and Pop are my home... I feel so much more at home in that area than I do in Tennessee... always have.

We do have an amazing support system here in Tennessee though, and asking them all to travel the crazy long distance to the wedding would be selfish. So we have decided to hold a welcome reception a few weeks after the wedding to allow a celebration with our loved ones here who cannot make it to the actual wedding.

Here comes the fun part: pictures! Our wedding is extremely nautical inspired, but that's not really going to work with what we are doing for the reception. We decided to have a backyard BBQ theme and needed something to coordinate for our invitations for the event.

My best friend Lori was kind enough to lend her services and snap these photos... she is kind of amazing despite not being a "professional"... you'd never know it by looking at the photos though! Rockstar I tell ya!

These photos also have some sentimental meaning. The truck we used is actually Luke's Dad's. It's a 1952 Chevrolet. He bought it went Luke was little and it wouldn't even run... he restored everything including the mechanics and here it is today a couple decades later. Fun fact: Luke can't drive it until he is 35... papa G is a little bit of a control freak with the Chev. 

We are still planning for this event and it will be even more DIY heavy than the actual wedding. I plan to continue these posts with decor details and how-to's leading up to the event. Stay Tuned!

Thanks for stopping by!

XO-L

Look details:

Lacey: 

Dress: Cynthia Rowley via TJ Maxx (amazing find!)
Watch: Michael Kors
Bracelet: J Crew Factory

Luke: 
Button Down: Polo Ralph Lauren
Denim: 7FAM 

Wedding Wednesday: Week 1: Planning Essentials

Hi there! Welcome to Wedding Wednesday. From the moment this blog was started, I've talked about our wedding and the process we are currently undergoing. I also promised to share my experiences and add in some how-to/ what I've learned type posts. So here we are! Enjoy!

I wanted to start the series off with what is really the most dry portion of the process: Planning to plan! Before decisions are made, there needs to be a clear plan of action that you can follow through the process to ensure that little details don't get lost in the mix. The biggest thing I've realized thus far is that the things you think will be no big deal are actually much more time-consuming than you realize. This is even more true when planning a "destination wedding" or in our case... a wedding closer to family.

For a little back-story... Luke and I live in Tennessee, but the majority of my family lives in the tri-state area (Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania). With us always being so close to Luke's family, we tend to spend much more time with them during holidays and other important events. So, for the wedding... I was very set on having the wedding closer to my family. I was born and raised in Tennessee, but my grandparents are my home... wherever they are. That place just happens to be Delaware. We will be getting married in Dover which is very convenient for most of the family in terms of travel. 

The one hang up I've encountered through the planning process is the fact that most of my vendors have been found via the internet. My grandparents spend the winter in Florida (JEALOUS of them always!) and are not able to visit vendors in my place. So, from a bakery for the cake to music for the reception... thank God for the internet. 

My Nana has been my saving grace because she did a little research before they left for the winter to give me a head start in the searching process, but there is only so much you can tell from a photo on the web. For most things, I won't have a first viewing... simply the night before to get it right!

Here enters a severely heightened stress level...

Step 1: Find or make a list to follow through the planning process. The list below has been such a lifesaver. I found it via pinterest, but it is from a wedding website called marrythis.com. The website also has other free printable items that would be helpful for any bride!

Step 2: Grab yourself a May Designs planner. Below is the design I chose for mine. The great thing: you can order a planner specifically made for brides! There is no better way to plan a wedding than having something with you at all times in your purse for when you have those flash thoughts of something you need to add to your to-do list. There are also a million different style options to choose from that will fit any bride's style. 

Step 3: The most important of all! {Decide what is most important to you}. Every wedding is different. We are having a small ceremony and reception since our wedding is taking place over 10 hours away and then having a welcome reception for our family and friends in Tennessee. There are several other details that make me more of a non-traditional bride that I will share throughout this series. If you do one thing through your planning process: prioritize. Also, do it for yourself! This is your day girl! Do what you want! 

                        

Please comment below and share what you would like me to share through this series. I'm so excited to share the details of our wedding with you!

Thanks for stopping by!

XO- L