The Bride Box...A Sneak Peek

May 15, 2014

You may or may not have heard yet, but we have a new project we started last month and we are so excited to share it with all of you! We have been chosen to write the monthly columns for The Bride Box, providing their subscribers with some amazing planning tips and some exclusive secrets to their subscribers only!

Last week, I received my first Bride Box and was so excited for the surprises I would find inside, so wanted to share them with all of you! Like me, you could be receiving one of these boxes full of goodies and surprises each month - with some amazing items for your wedding day that you may not otherwise find!

Before you head on over to their site to order your first subscription, here is a sneak peek at my very first Bride Box!

Here's what I found inside...

It was so exciting to open up the box and find my column right on top!! This month, I featured tips on creating a guest list and then included my handy dandy "Guest List in 30 Seconds" which is perfect for every bride to have hanging on their refrigerator!

And since I am an iced coffee-lover, this was my very favorite item! I am definitely ordering one of my own today (since I will be giving away this box to one lucky reader...keep reading to find out how you can win!)

Wouldn't this make such a perfect favor for your guests??! Well with The Bride Box, you can sample it out before you place your order. Can't get much better than that!

And wouldn't this mini wooden chalkboard make such a perfect escort card for an outdoor wedding?? I can just picture them all hanging on a clothesline as you guests arrive to your reception!

Yet another adorable sample of cupcake toppers. These would be so cute to have at your bridal shower, bachelorette party, and all of the wedding festivities in between! And they have such an amazing variety too!

Yep, The Bride Box offers discounts on many of the products you find inside too! So if you like it, they'll help you fit your favorite items within your budget!
These adorable invitation samples are from Crafty Pie with a $25 off coupon that one of my lucky readers is going to win! (you're almost at the point where I tell you how you can win!)

...As you can see, this was Baxter Bane's favorite item! He stole it off of the chair at least five times before I could snap a photo ;)

Head on over to The Bride Box to order your subscription (or one as a gift!) today!

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How I Met Your Mother

May 14, 2014

I asked four couples to write down the story of how they first met, but from each of their own perspectives. They weren't allowed to talk to each other about it, or see what each other wrote. And each sent me their story...

Before we go any further, I would like to you choose one of the four adorable couples below. And after reading one and getting the chills (at least I did!), I am sure you'll want to read the rest. And that is fine too :) But make sure you read at least one from beginning to end before you read on. Just click on a photo below to start!

Lindsay & Leonardo
...tying the knot June 20, 2015

Jennifer & PJ
...tied the knot May 4, 2014

Aimee & Tim
...tying the knot September 27, 2014

Kristi & Julius
...tying the knot June 5, 2015

What did you notice about the stories you read? I was actually very surprised at how similar each of their perspectives were about the first time they met - from the exact meal each ordered, to the scents and the sounds they remember. But while the guy's perspective and the girl's perspective were extremely similar in each case, I think we can all agree that there were differences.

While he may have remembered the music playing in the background when they first saw each other, she remembered the way his beard looked. While the big pictures were the same, the tiny details did have slight differences. This does not mean one was right and the other was wrong, but they were just different.

I want you to remember these stories - their similarities and their differences, and apply them to your own life...your own marriage. And if you have to, take a couple minutes to write down your story, and have your fiance write down his story, and compare the two. Not only is it fun to see what the other remembers, but I am sure you will get the chills when you hear how he remembers what you looked like, your scent, and how he felt at the time.

Everyone is different. I know that is a very simple statement, but when it comes to planning a wedding and planning a marriage, we often forget that no matter what, we are different. We grew up in different households, with different families and friends, with a variety of influences on our lives, and no matter how close you may be to each other, you will each view the world from a different pair of eyes. Everything you see, smell, hear, and touch may be seen the same, but will always be interpreted differently.

The Big Picture

So while the "big picture" in both of your lives may be the same, the tiny details along the way are always going to differ. And because of this, conflicts arise. You may not agree on the color of tie the groomsmen should wear or the overlays that will be used on the tables. And you may not agree on the wall colors you want to have in your first home together, or the type of dog you want to get. But just remember, that these are the tiny details that make you, YOU.

The two of you have found each other because of your differences. I don't know about you, but I would not want to marry a clone of myself. I embrace the differences my husband and I have, because that is what makes our relationship so unique...so special.

So as you read the stories above, or begin to write your own, just always remember that the big picture is what matters in the end. Each of the amazing couples featured above, pretty much told the same story of how they met, with different details along the way. And in your own life, the details of planning your wedding are only going to get you to the big picture...your lifelong marriage. So embrace your differences. Understand that you will not agree on the tiny details every time, because that is what makes you so unique. That is why he is madly in love with you.

As long as the two of you have the same "big picture," then just let the details go and have fun with the amazing journey you are now starting together. There is no need to stress over a disagreement about what meal you want to serve your guests. I know that our society puts so much pressure on each of you to have that very Pinterest-Perfect, fairytale wedding. But in five years, are you really going to remember these details? Your wedding day is a celebration of the two of you - two unique human beings coming together into one marriage. And that is all there is to it!

Think about the big picture. Think about what truly matters.

Wedding Feature: Gemma & Gregg

May 12, 2014

Gemma and Gregg tied the knot on March 8, 2014 at The Royal Pavilion in Brighton, UK with a night full of celebrating at The Latest Music Bar! We are so in love with the colors, the details, and the beautiful personal touches that made their beautiful wedding day to die for! Such a gorgeous day celebrating the marriage of a stunning couple!

Congratulations Gemma and Gregg and thank you for the beautiful inspiration :)

Ceremony: The Royal Pavilion, Brighton, UK
Reception: The Latest Music Bar, Brighton, UK
Wedding Gown: Maggie Sottero from Serendipity Brides
Centerpieces and Day-Of Set Up: Victoria Lily VintageBouquet, Corsages, Boutonierres: Heather Maria's
Wedding Cake: Hannah at Cloud 9 Bakery
Photography: Darren Buss, DB Photography Sussex

Men's Suits: SD Kells
Shoes: Irregular Choice
Bridesmaid Dresses: Quiz
Flower Girl Dress: Monsoon
Getaway Car: Premier Wedding Cars
Catering: Ren's Kitchen
DJ/MC: DJ HotSteppaz