The Gray Days

Even before I received the good news about Wren Chapel, I was thinking about wedding colors. Since I was a child, I’ve had a love affair with pink. Ever the perpetual girly girl, pink and I made sense together; however, when it came to wedding planning, I never even considered pink. From the very beginning, it has been all about yellow. Yellow roses have been my favorite flower for as long as I can remember. Maybe it’s because they remind me of the great state of Texas, where I lived for several years. <3 I can’t pinpoint when or why I started loving them, but there’s something about yellow roses that just makes me happy.

Since yellow flowers were pretty much a non-negotiable, I began researching complementary colors. That’s when I first came across the modern and sophisticated combination that is yellow and gray. [Swoon.] There’s something about these colors together that is incredibly chic. Being the little type-A planner I am, I immediately started printing pictures of flower arrangements, table settings, and bridesmaids dresses that fit the style. I shared my photos with a few friends and they were all completely on board.

Image via It's a Bride's Life, Photo by Stephanie Williams Photography, Event by Dazzling Details

Photos by Stephanie Williams Photography, Event by Dazzling Details

Not too long after my decision was made, doubts started creeping up. (Or maybe “got louder” is the right way to explain it. There was always a little piece of me that didn’t identify with the combination, but it started to bother me more.) I loved the yellow (hello, that’s how I started!) but the gray was started to look dreary, industrial, and impersonal to me. The thought of having my ‘maids in gray dresses was depressing. I think that the pink-lover in me was screaming to come out and splash a little more color into the wedding day palate. I actually tried to fight it for a couple weeks but I eventually gave into my gut. I L-O-V-E-D the look of yellow and gray, but it really wasn’t me. I needed more color. I needed a little less modern and a little more shabby chic. That’s when I pretty much chucked my previous inspiration boards and went back to the drawing board (or inspiration board in this case ;) ).

Was there a time where you had to follow your gut instead of your head? Was the process of choosing your colors a snap or like me, did you flounder a bit?

Sticker Shock

Image Via Williamsburg Weddings

After I had successfully locked in our ceremony location, I was ready to move forward by securing our reception spot. I knew we had limited options having our wedding in a small town like the ‘burg, but I really wasn’t concerned. I figured the perfect reception location would be none other than the W&M Alumni House! It is, like many on-campus buildings, a beautiful, historic brick building (and even better, it's located just a few steps away from Wren Chapel). It houses a great spiral staircase and gorgeous ballroom, none of which really mattered since I envisioned the reception outside on the all-brick patio and grass park attached to the building. We were going to have a large white tent with tons of pastel chinese lanterns. (Romantic, right?)

Image via Taylor Rental & Party Plus

See, when Mr. Hawk and I developed our wedding budget, it seemed like a BIG number. We were right on-par with the cost of the “average American wedding” and the weddings I'd seen on Style Me Pretty and The Knot were pretty grand affairs. Then I got my reality check. When meeting with our DJ/Master of Ceremonies/DOC/Superwoman, I told her my vision and naturally she asked about our budget. Her reaction was not quite what I had expected. She thought my vision was “lovely,” but was I willing to shell out a QUARTER of my entire budget on the reception space? Then Mr. Hawk chimed in. “Yea, I didn’t understand why we’d pay thousands to rent the building just to have the reception outside in a tent.”
[UGH!] I was crushed. The word "traitor" might have crossed my mind. Didn’t they see it? This was my DREAM! My VISION!

Well after getting over their mutual squashing of my dreams, I started to see the light. It really didn’t make sense to spend so much money on the reception space. I started to realize all of the things we’d have to cut out with such a large portion of our budget gone. (I mean, it wouldn't be much of a party if we couldn't afford to feed anyone...ANYTHING.) Our big budget started to look a little smaller and I had to readjust my expectations.

I actually lucked out in that my fiance is pretty level-headed and no-nonsense. He doesn't get lost in unrealistic visions of grandeur like his day-dreaming bride-to-be. I have a feeling this won't be the last time Mr. Hawk has to bring me back down from the clouds.


During the planning process was there a time you were hit with sticker shock? Did you ever have to readjust your expectations to stay within your budget constraints?

Location, location, location

Since I’ve come clean with my issue of patience, I’m sure this next confession will hardly come as a surprise... I started planning out details of the wedding (only in my head, I swear!) before I was formally engaged. (I certainly can't be alone in this, right?) From the very beginning for whatever reason there was NO question in my mind about where I wanted to get married. I attended a small public school in Williamsburg, Virginia, and my experiences and memories there stuck with me. Besides the historical aspect, there really isn’t much going on in the ‘burg; however what it lacks in entertainment, Williamsburg makes up for in beauty. Quiet, quaint, and picturesque are all words that accurately describe the ‘burg. And although these things perhaps aren’t the perfect ingredients of a party school, they certainly do make up the recipe of my ideal wedding locale.

Photo by Holland Photo Arts

Since I had already planned this aspect out, I was ready to go email guns blazing once we were engaged. They did make us wait it out on the waiting list for a couple weeks, but luckily due to my fast moving and pre-planning (see it was helpful!), we were able to have the date and time of our choice! Naturally (and to Mr. Hawk’s dismay) when I received the email confirmation, I immediately started jumping around the house doing some really uncool happy dance moves and grabbed a bottle of champagne to be popped. We had a ceremony spot!

Did you do any pre-engagement planning? (Don’t worry, I won’t tell!)

CONFESSION: I am impatient.

(Or our road to engagement)

I can be very impatient. (And Mr. Hawk may think that is a gross understatement!) I mean, I S-U-C-K at waiting when it comes to something I really, really want. While my determination has served me well career-wise, it wasn’t exactly conducive to the whole engagement process.

When Mr. Hawk and I moved in together back in October of 2010, I wanted to make our intentions crystal-clear. We decided that if we were going to cohabitate, it was a serious step in making a more permanent future together. I was incredibly happy and excited to be moving forward in our relationship until things didn’t follow the timeline I had somehow developed in my head along the way.


It started innocently enough with a visit from the Mr.'s Momma, FMIL Hawk, at our new abode. After giving her the tour, we sat down to spend some time together. Almost immediately, she dug into Mr. Hawk. (Both of us coming from somewhat conservative Christian backgrounds, we knew our new living arrangements weren’t exactly hunky-dory in our families’ eyes, but I don’t think either of us were expecting this.) Boy oh boy, did she give it to him. She wanted a date and a ring A.S.A.P. to (using her words) “make this right.” [Eek!] At first it was a little uncomfortable for both of us, but it really did open the door for more concrete discussions about where we saw our relationship going. Only a week or so later, we were out ring shopping (and my little heart was soaring with excitement). 


But then the waiting game began. [DUN DUN DUUNNN] Weeks turned to months and impatience turned into anxiety. At some point anxiety took permanent residence and let his BFF insecurity move in. I started thinking that Mr. Hawk didn’t really want to get married. (I know, I know it was only a couple months, but I was obsessed!) I mean I picked out the freakin’ ring. What else was there to do??!! What was he waiting for??!! 


Looking back at those four months or so, I have some regrets and I’m pretty darn embarrassed.  I shouldn’t have wasted time with worry and I surely should have trusted Mr. Hawk’s intentions because one beautiful and quiet Sunday morning in NYC’s Central Park, Mr. Hawk got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. (And he made me so exceedingly happy that my heart still flutters thinking about those few moments. WORTH.THE.WAIT.)

personal photo, 3/13/11

Was anyone else overcome with anxiety/doubts/insecurities while waiting for a proposal? Or are y’all blessed with a little more patience than me?!

Once Upon a Time...

The Mr. and I's relationship didn't start off like the typical fairy tale. We met New Year's Eve 2007 when a friend brought him along to our apartment. I was there with my then-boyfriend. We went out to the bar and I paid him no mind, but he apparently left quite an impression on one of my best friends. At some point in the night, they got into a heated discussion. She was quite annoyed with him. So when she later posted pictures from the night out, she cropped him out of the shot and even made some sassy comment like, "yea, I cropped that guy out."  We later started hanging out in a group on the regular, and he called her out on the photo incident. Luckily he has a good sense of humor! Who would have known that "that guy she cropped" would one day become my future hubby?

Personal photo, March 2008

Fast forward a few NYEs and relationships later, and I found myself confessing my crush on him in the kitchen at his buddy's birthday party. He claims he called me immediately the next day, but I have no recollection of that. (Sorry, Mr. Hawk. If I don't remember, it must not have happened. ;) ) Not long after that we started to spend more one-on-one time together. Sparks flew and we fell in love. (Cue Disney music and singing birds...)

I'm obviously ecstatic with the way things turned out between Mr. Hawk and I, but we never had a "first date." We weren't even sure of the day we made our relationship official. I guess our relationship just developed out a friendship and turned into something more when the time was right.

How did you meet your significant other? Was it unconventional or Disney-worthy romance from the start?

Welcome!

Hi y'all and welcome to my brand spankin' new blog! (Woo!) As I'm sure you are all well aware, I'm getting married! (Double up, woo! woo!)

I decided to start blogging for a few reasons:
1. Its always something I've wanted to do and I finally convinced myself, why not start now?
2. With all of my family out of town (and my momma cross-country), this will be a nice way to keep them involved and informed of major developments in the planning process.
3. With the aforementioned family far away, I need a space to bounce around new ideas without over-sharing and OD-ing my local friends on wedding details.

I am very excited to get started. So without further ado...