Thursday, May 26, 2011

RSVP

The RSVPs are rolling in!

With great excitement, I log onto theknot.com to check our guestlist dashboard a few times a day. At this point, there have been no real curve balls as we have a pretty good grasp on who may not be able to attend.

Therefore, this particular RSVP came as no surprise... but its medium did!




Our dear friend James sent us this video message on Monday. It's funny to imagine him sitting on his couch two blocks away while a particular dog named Prudence and a roommate nicknamed The Fizzle looked on.

Nonetheless, James is the lead singer of what we typically refer to as "the band." Ironically, said band (The Dirty Guv'nahs) have recorded at the home and studio of Levon Helm, drummer and vocalist of The Band, in Woodstock, NY, while playing The Midnight Ramble twice.

After moving to Knoxville in 2008, I fell into community with several members of the Guvs due to connections at church. Friendships have deepened, countless shows been attended and late night rides in the Blue Bullet and this monster have been taken.

Adam even received permission to propose on stage during their Bijou concert in September. Thankfully, Sara talked him out of that one. (I. would. have. died.)

All of this to say, Adam and I love and support and believe in the pursuits of The Dirty Guv'nahs. While we are sad that James (and Doody!) can't be at the wedding, we are so excited he'll be chasing after something equally as God-given as marriage: a calling.

Don't forget to RSVP, y'all!

Peace,
BTB


Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Linen Stitches

There's no turning back.

The invitations are out!



I've been holding onto these sweet little things since December. They were ordered along with our save the date postcards from Wedding Paper Divas, and we couldn't be more pleased with how both items turned out.

The
5 x 7 invitation is on a textured 110 lb card stock. It looks and feels amazing; just enough weight with a dimpled surface that gives it a fibrous and organic feel.

Invitations are said to set the tone of the wedding, and I believe my "Linen Stitches" hit the nail on the head. They're rustic yet refined, and have an air of shabby chic femininity.

They beckon you one step closer to a garden wedding with white-washed grapevine wreaths, linen table runners and antique glass watcher pitchers.

Paired with my DIY direction cards
(in a complimentary peach tone) and the newly issued "Wedding Roses" commemorative stamp, the invitations were hand-addressed by my mom - who was a Kindergarten teacher for 35 years and has perfect penmanship ;)
We directed guests to RSVP online via our wedding website which did away with the need for RSVP cards and their matching envelope (plus postage!). From what I can tell over the last five days, this decision has made my life a living heaven.

But more on that later!

xo,
BTB


Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Band of Grandmothers

I went from being a girl who didn't want a wedding band to one who now has two.

Yes, two.

Here's how.

Over my Virginia weekend, my mother and I were rooting through her jewelry - the family heirlooms, if you will - when she pulled out my paternal grandmother's wedding band.


I couldn't believe my eyes, thinking, "WHERE HAS THIS BEEN ALL MY LIFE??"


Shoved under the bed in a lock box, that's where.


While it was several sizes too big, it snuggly fit against my engagement ring when I pinched it back - a quality I had yet to find in almost every band I tried on.

I ran around the house showing everyone, apparently making weird alien hand gestures (pictured above) saying "Can you believe it? I just can't believe it! It's just perfect!"

So, here I am with two wedding bands - one plain knife-edged band and then
my grandmother's white gold band with six diamonds (one of which is being replaced).

I've chosen to look at it this way: my original band is a symbol of my covenant with Adam; the family we are becoming. My grandmother's band represents the family from which I have come.

The ring belonged to my father's mother and its six diamonds can represent my mom and her five sisters - the six Woodward daughters - who have all been forces in my life.

As one of my favorite Jane Austen quotes explains, "
I have always maintained the importance of Aunts as much as possible."

It's funny how this has come full circle - both literally and figuratively.

I just can't wait to get all those rings on my finger.

Love,
BTB

Cohabs


We're getting married AND moving in together!

That's how it works, right?

I've been so wrapped up in planning the wedding that I overlook this fact most days. But
that's definitely how it works, and we have a house to prove it.

It's an adorable yellow cottage in Fourth & Gill. While we're sad to leave Old North, we're only moving one neighborhood over.

Our prayers were answered in finding this dog-friendly, two-bedroom house with a yard, largish kitchen (with a dishwasher!) and hardwood floors all within biking distance to downtown. We'll still be living in community with our friends, plus we'll only have to haul our stuff exactly 1.1 miles down the road.

Oh, and there is a ginormous walk-in closest.

We were sold.

The story behind this house is pretty great.

Adam and I have been house hunting for, oh, five months now. We originally fell in love with this little yellow number, but it wasn't meant to be.

We scoured Craigslist and drove in circles through neighborhoods we dreamed about until the process began to drive us crazy.

Then, while on a run, Adam saw a FOR RENT sign in front of a cute house in a great location.

Turns out, the house wasn't big enough, but after learning what we were looking for, the landlady mentioned she had another unlisted rental property down the road.

One thing led to another, and with two months until the wedding day, we're now able to plan for the Great Cohabitation of 2011.

Get your game faces on!
BTB

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Bach Party



Following the Derby Shower, my girlfriends and I headed to Staunton for a little bachelorette celebration - not a classical music party (see above).

Sara and I couldn't get over how we shared a room in the same hotel with our dates during a sorority formal in 2006.

For the record - I would say I had more drinks at that dance than I did during my bachelorette. Ha!

Does that mean I'm getting old? Maybe we really did listen to classical music that night...

What I can tell you is that I fell asleep in my "last fling before the ring" v-neck after being
surprisingly tickled by the "Bride-to-Be" tiara and sash which I wore all night.

Thanks stocking my delicates drawer, ladies!

xoxo,
BTB

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Derby Days

This past Saturday, my five aunts hosted a Kentucky Derby themed bridal luncheon in my honor at the Mimslyn Inn in Luray, Virginia.

Forget about monogram parties - this was a good theme.

All guests were asked to creatively decorate their hats which couldn't help but remind me of
Derby Days laced with Foxfield - two highly anticipated events within the Greek community at James Madison University.

During Derby Days, there is a fierce house decoration competition; at Foxfield horse races, you aren't caught dead without your hat.

To prove a point:




Over 23 ladies - all donning hats - attended the luncheon which included one male in a seersucker suit: my Uncle Wayne, Master of Ceremonies.

He would've fit in at Foxfield, for sure.

The shower did in fact occur on the day of the Kentucky Derby, but the significance of the theme reaches back to Adam's experience photographing the Derby for Sports Illustrated.

(To view his published photo from two years ago, which was shot from the MetLife Snoopy 2 blimp, click here.)


Derby details were carried out throughout the day - between the hat judging, roses on the tables and mint julep cupcakes made by my Aunt Mimi!

A big THANK YOU to my family for planning and executing this event is southern style, and lots of HUGS to my friends who traveled to join us.

I leave you with a photo of two beloved Tri Delta sisters, Sara and Kerri-Jean.

We've been to Derby Days a time or two.

DL,
BTB

p.s. - Thanks to Hopkins for providing the Derby Days photos.
ΔΔΔ Nation.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Mother's Day

Wonderful things happened this weekend, but none of them would've been possible (one way or another) without this beautiful lady.

I love you, Mom.


Your,
BTB

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Bach Time


Tonight I am headed to dear Virginia for a weekend full of bridal festivities: a bridal shower hosted by my five aunts AND a bachelorette party coordinated by my two Virginian bridesmaids.

I can't believe I'm hitting the bachelorette benchmark. That's a milestone, y'all - one that can't h
elp but conjure up images of sashes, tiaras and high heels.

The thing is - I would just about die if I had to wear any of those. I think I might just wear cowboy boots.

If that ends up being a bad decision, I'll have another go at it.


I'm a teensy bit embarrassed to admit this, but I am having two bachelorette soirees - one in Virginia and one in Tennessee.


My friends are split between the two states (with one outlier in Maryland and another in the District), and I couldn't imagine asking either group to travel.


Time, money and sanity are precious resources for all ladies during wedding season.


This weekend I'll celebrate with some of my oldest friends from home and college, and at the end of June, I'll celebrate with my Knox friends (who will certainly be OK with me wearing boots.)


I'm counting down the hours until I see you: Emily, Laura, Kerri-Jean, Brittany and Sara!

Love,

BTB


p.s. - image via Curly Girl Design -- the perfect all-occasion treat for your gal pals.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Love Shoot

As someone who fervently follows wedding blogs (I've given them up on Google Reader for Lent...twice), I have been awaiting the day we took engagement pictures.

It was a dream to collaborate with our photographer, who is also my roommate. Carrie gave me liberty to style the shoot (hence the five outfit changes and props) and she drew heavily upon sessions I found inspiring.


In the end, we absolutely adore our engagement pictures. They have such personality that reflects the story of our relationship. I can't stop staring and sharing.

Here are a few of my favorites and the scoop behind them:


1.) We are behind my neighbor's shed using a Beacon Two-twenty five that my parents gave Adam as a wedding gift. The Beacon is symbolic for many reasons, but mainly because Adam got his start in photography as the photo editor of The Daily Beacon at the University of Tennessee.

2.) A world map was the perfect backdrop in this shoot by Lang Photographers, and I was lucky enough to find one in our friends' dining room. Adam and I both studied abroad in Wales and Florence, respectively - and we can't wait to travel the world together. (We love that Kate and Wills are moving to Wales!)

3.) I saw this pose captured by Shannon Norman on Green Wedding Shoes in June 2010. For 10 months I've been itching to recreate it in the field at Maple Grove Inn. Now I'll be itching for the rest of the week from the grass!

4.) To create consistency between our engagement and wedding photos, I wanted to use similar elements in both that will make it easier to group framed pictures. This JCrew blouse is the same print as the bridesmaid dresses.

5.) I loved the idea of creating a photobooth after seeing this session by Erin Hearts Court. We rigged Adam's backdrop frame in my backyard with an old sheet. It was perfect practice for the wedding reception!

We are so thankful for the creative direction and patience of Carrie. She is a fantastic photographer who connects with the heart of the couples she photographs. If you're engaged, book her -- book her now!

To view our full engagement album on Texture Photo's Facebook page > click here!

Love,
BTB

Monday, May 2, 2011

Holy Moly


Let these wet your whistle!

We're waiting for a few to pop up on Facebook later today... until then, this sneak peek has me _______ (fill in the blank).

Speechless,
BTB

Joey Donner

We had a blast taking engagement photos yesterday with Texture Photo!

Apparently Adam and I have quite the knack for the "pensive face."


Only the photos will tell!


Throughout the entire shoot, I couldn't help but think of this scene from 10 Things I Hate About You.

















Joey: [holding up headshots] Which one do you like better?
Bianca: Umm, I think I like the white shirt better.
Joey
: Yeah, it's-it's more...

Bianca
: Pensive?

Joey
: Damn, I was going for thoughtful.



Smiles,
BTB

p.s. - I'm still talking about the Royal Wedding.