Bridal Shower Favor

It's been almost two years since we got married, and I was rummaging through some pictures and realized that I never shared my cute and simple bridal shower favor. 

My aunt completely surprised me with everything for my bridal shower. 

She knows I like surprises, so she insisted on the complete shower being a surprise. 

I did not lift a finger until I walked in the door and was completely blown off my feet. 

The day was more than I could ever imagine and looked so so beautiful!

Live flower arrangements, chargers, table runners, fruit displays, my favorite food and so much more!

This cute little cup had what appeared to be grass, flowers that doubled as flower seeds and a little bag with a nail file, lotion and cuticle oil.

 This was the perfect little favor.

 It really spoke Beth and had my favorite color-pink in the bag and ribbon tied on. 

I'm not nearly as creative as my aunt. 

Her skills are unbelievable, but I love how much thought and work she put into my shower!

-Anniversary Celebration-

I cannot believe it has been ONE YEAR since we got married!

We're off on an anniversary celebration this week. 

Such a fun walk down memory lane!

This day was a nearly PERFECT day!

Everything that I imagined in my mind was surpassed!

I'm so glad our closest friends and family traveled so far to celebrate with us!

What a special guy I was blessed to marry and get to call my husband!

The BIG Day!

The BIG Day!

Morning view from our balcony!

Side view of the marina

Since we were getting married at the resort we got to upgrade to an awesome corner balcony room that let you see the ocean, pool and marina next door! My mom and I stayed on Friday night, so I wouldn't have a chance of seeing Alex who was staying at the hotel next door. 

Being able to stay in this room was so neat because we got to see so much that was going on while it was happening. Saturday morning we woke up and went down to explore the grounds. Unknowingly, my dad had been sitting down by the water (shown in the picture below) for about an hour watching a mama dolphin teach her babies how to swim. Mom and I went down, saw my dad and then the dolphins came back through, so we watched them for a little while. 

These lizards were huge! and so fast!

I tried to pass the morning by doing a little reading out on the balcony.

As I was reading on the balcony, the crew started setting up for the wedding. I got to watch them set up the chairs, tables and put all of the finishing touches together. In addition, my brother and cousin and their girlfriends went kayaking and got in the water in the same spot where my dad had been sitting, so I got to see them and wave from our balcony. 

Since I planned everything for our wedding online or on the phone, I had the Glam Squad come to do my nails and makeup. They came right to my room, and did a fabulous job! My aunt is a beautician, so she did my hair. Everything truly turned out exactly as planned. 

Most of our guests stayed at the hotel where the marina was right next door, so this allowed them to walk across the parking lot (see picture below) and through the gate to our ceremony. I got to watch them all walk up before I had to go down to be escorted out. This was such a neat experience to be able to see all of them coming without them seeing me!!! 

If you know me, you know how much I LOVE flowers! This is the one thing that I wanted to look perfect...and they were! I wish I could have kept these flowers forever!

Kudos to Marathon Florist!!

We walked past the infinity pool to the ceremony area. The only thing I could hear were the people sitting around/in the pool cheering for us! I honestly wasn't even sure if they were ready for us because I could only hear the pool music and not the song that I selected to be walking down the "aisle" to. We made it to the gate, and then I could tell it was time!!

The sun was so bright, which was great because that meant it wasn't raining, but it was kind have hard to see. 

Such an amazing day!

Photos by Care Photography

I cannot say that there is one thing I would change. The weather was perfect, especially since it had rained off and on every other day that we had been there. It was sunny with some clouds and about 100 degrees!

6-11-16

A day not to be forgotten!

The Days Before the Big Day!

What a trek!

Alex and I decided to get married on the beach in Marathon, Florida. Ironically enough, the first hotel that I saw when searching online is the venue where we ultimately decided to have our big day! 

Now, at the time that I started making plans for the wedding, the hotel was still not finished...and it was supposed to open at the beginning of January...and they still weren't finished.

So, I decided to ask for pictures of a wedding that was happening before us, and they said there would be none! What?! 

I chose a venue and would be the very FIRST wedding there! That kind have freaked me out, but hey someone has to be the first, so might as well be me!

Alex and I always desired to have a small wedding, and we both enjoy the beach, so we only had to find the perfect spot. After many and many and many hours searching online, we decided to go with the Courtyard Marriott in Marathon!

Now this place was about a 21 hour drive from our current home, so we knew it would be quite an adventure. 

Quick trip to Pittsburgh to spend the night and catch our early morning flight to Fort Lauderdale!

Ready to land!

We drove a few more hours and finally arrived at our destination!!

I had a quick meeting with my wedding planner and unfortunately found out that she had a family emergency and had to take a flight out the very next day. So, I was on to wedding planner #3 as the first one fell through majorly. I loved D'Asigner Events, but Jill from Mile Marker Party Rentals filled in and did a fabulous job. 

I know people always say there is some last minute emergency and to find out that the lady who had been planning my wedding for the past few months couldn't be there was like a big punch in the stomach, but I knew everything would work out!

I would be getting married in this exact spot in only a couple of days!!!

This is what Alex did the morning of the wedding... I was busy getting my hair and nails done while he enjoyed a day at the beach. Thankfully, he remembered that he needed to be back for the wedding in time.

Welcome bags for our little poolside rehearsal dinner.

Rehearsal!

Come back tomorrow for a recap of our BIG Day!!