One Year

One year ago, B and I got married. It was the best day of my life. It doesn't feel like a full year has passed but anniversaries don't lie. Time flies when you're having fun! Thank you for making me a better person, B. You're my favorite. Now and forever.

Tom & Jenna's Wedding Part II

If you missed Part I of this wedding, you can check it out here. All of the images were taken by yours truly and can also be found on my flickr page. A few more fun tidbits about this wedding:

• The bridesmaids wore chambray dresses from Anthropologie and the groomsman wore khaki suits over chambray shirts. Both the bridesmaids and the groomsman were "armed" with toy guns (the ladies guns served as the holder for their bouquets) which they shot during the kiss. 
• Jenna wore a vintage wedding dress over brown cowboy boots. Loved this look. 
• There were also fireworks. Real fireworks!
• The unconventional wedding cake was actually seven different cakes of varying shapes, sizes and flavors. If I hadn't of stuffed myself with the cornbread muffins, I would have definitely eaten some. 

I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek in to the very fun, very unique wedding. Congrats Tom & Jenna! 

Tom & Jenna's Wedding Part I

How was your weekend? B and I were super busy but had a great time at the farm wedding of our friends, Tom and Jenna. Our sweet friends got married on the farm that they own. It was wonderfully casual and sweet and the weather was absolutely perfect. Lots of photos and details of their American Election themed wedding (best theme ever BTW) are coming in Part II. For now, I'll note a few things that made this wedding particularly unique:

• Cocktails were served before the ceremony making this the only wedding I've actually sat though with a drink in my hand. Awesome.
• Speaking of sitting, the guest sat on planks resting on hay bails. Although precarious, the ceremony itself lasted about 1 minute (this is not an exaggeration) so it was altogether quite comfortable. Jenna and Tom whispered their vows in each other's ears and it was the sweetest thing ever. 
• The food served was hands down the best food I've ever had at a wedding (I'm still daydreaming about the cornbread muffins). The pork we ate was lovingly raised by Tom himself. It doesn't get any more home grown than that.

More soon. For now, Happy Monday!

Our Wedding Story

I'm excited to finally be able to share our wedding with you (at least a longer version than this post).  For those of you who don't know, B and I got married a little more than a month ago.  We had a small courthouse wedding on a Tuesday afternoon.  

Some fun tidbits about our wedding day:

*B got a bloody nose on the steps of the courthouse, right before we walked in.

*All of the courtrooms were full so our very nice judge suggested that we get married outside.  It was perfect!

*I cried through much of the ceremony much to my surprise (but not to my makeup artist who layered me up with waterproof everything thank goodness).

*There was little wedding planning involved. We kept it simple and small and loved every second.

Here's the breakdown of what we wore:  dress- Anthropologie (it went on sale right after I bought it, you can imagine my disgust) shoes- UO, B's suit and tie - J.Crew, B's shirt- Banana Republic, flowers in my hair- Ban.do, flower on B's lapel EmersonMade, birdcage veil twigs & honey, photographer Mike Knapp (he can be reached at mikeknapp84@gmail.com), photographer of 5th photo- Keith Rein

 Thank you for all of the love and support you've shown us throughout this whole process.  From the moment we got engaged, we have been cheered onward and we are so thankful for all of you. More photos can be seen here and here.

We're Hitched!

I know I said I wouldn't be around this week, but I just had to share a few shots from our wedding.  We're hitched!  I'll share more photos soon but until then, it's back to sunbathing, drinking beer and eating boiled shrimp.  Life is good.  

Photo of a Photo

I think these photographs of photos (blah that's a mouthful) by Stephanie Williams Photography are such a neat addition to this engagement photo session.

Isn't this a fun idea?  I so badly want to have a photo session with B.  We may have to wait until after we're married in order to be able to afford it but I don't care.  I think it's worth it either way.

images via here

Wedding Plans + Vintage Brooch Bouquet

As you may have noticed, things have been eerily quiet on the home front regarding our wedding plans.  I know that when B and I got engaged many of you expressed interest in hearing all of my DIY, affordable ideas assuming I'd have a savvy, budget friendly wedding.  Well, I hate to break the news, but B and I have decided to forgo a wedding and instead have our nuptials at the local courthouse.  There are many reasons for this decision, but rest assured that we have made this decision with thought and intention and that, more importantly, we are happy and looking forward to the low-stress route.  We're thinking about getting married some time in August and although we won't be having the typical accouterments or wearing the expected wedding apparel , I think I'd still like to have a little bouquet.  I have some vintage floral brooches my mom has given me over the years. Maybe I could do something like this?

 Has anyone out there ever made on of these?  While we're on the topic, has anyone else opted for a court house wedding? 


p.s. Thanks to Bromeliad for putting the idea of a vintage brooch bouquet in my head!

{images 1) via Ruffled 2) D&OC II 3&4) The Wedding Chicks }

Wedding Bands

I know I haven't given you any detail on what so many of you have asked for: my upcoming wedding.  Well, that's mostly because there's not much detail to share at this point, but I did want to chat about my friend and amazingly talented artist who will be crafting our wedding bands.

Beth Cyr creates "unique organic metal jewelry and custom nature inspired wedding bands in 100% recycled gold and sterling."  You may remember here work from this previous giveaway. 

B and I will be ordering custom bands in sterling.  Here's what I like:

Love Rocks

Subtlety

Shadowed Vine Rings

I already have a beautiful engagement ring, but it doesn't mean I can't absolutely want this ring too, right?  Maybe for my right hand?

Beth has been a constant source of support to me both as a friend, sponsor, and supporter of Down and Out Chic.  I'm pleased to mention Beth's work has made the Etsy Wedding Voter and she is currently in the lead!  Let's make sure she stays there. Please take a moment and go vote over there for Beth's work.  I can't think of anyone who works harder and deserves to win this thing.

If you're married, I'd love to hear something special about your wedding bands. Are they engraved?  How did you choose them?  Any advice is much appreciated :)

Wedding Inspiration: Kate and Andy

What happens when you get one of Paste Magazine's associate editors {Kate} and a talented photographer {Andy} to fall in love and decide to spend the rest of their lives together? Well, a lot of great things, but we're here to talk about this fantastic wedding.

I realize that I haven't posted about a wedding EVER (ok, except that one time, but that was an exception). I've known Kate most of my life and I'm pleased to share her gorgeous wedding with you.

{all images via W. Scott Chester Photography}

See more of Kate and Andy's beautiful wedding here.
I'll be sharing more about B's and my own "plans" for our upcoming nuptials soon. I haven't forgotten that I owe you at least a few good wedding themed posts- that is what happens when you get engaged, right?

(psssst...I'm being featured today, here.)