The Artist Bride

Valentines Day

2010-02-10T09:03:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day Beeswax fun feminine Beeswax Collages!

I don't usually advertise my artwork on the wedding blog, but seeing as how these are for Valentines Day, I thought it applied to weddings because it is still romantic! :)

here are just a few of the collages:

Grace $25

Queen For a Day $20

Adore $15

for more paintings and information on ordering you can go to my ART blog:

Joy Deeann's Art

WEDDING VIDEOS on YouTube

2010-02-01T14:55:00.000-08:00

The Ceremony Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQzmo1nzZl8
"Rieves Wedding"

Wedding Musicians: Nathan and Christy Nockels and Jana Mayo
Pastor: Steven Sexton

THE BEST DANCE PARTY EVER VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiS5YdHuqTs
"Rieves Wedding Dance Party"

Thank you Jay Budzilowski for the wonderful videography!!! :) LOVE the reception mix!

more wedding photos!

2009-12-07T13:16:00.000-08:00

all of these are random photos other people posted on facebook:

me and some of the bridesmaids hanging out before the wedding!

my friend brittney posted this picture and wrote underneath it "woman on a mission" haha

my sweet sweet friend from art school, Nikki :)

getting ready!

my new sister, Grace

friends from art college- nikki and lindsey...such sweet girls,
Lindsey designed the invitation!! and she did A LOT of the decorating before the ceremony! THANK YOU!! my adorable little flower girls- ellie, brooklyn, and annie rose

my best friends from growing up in Texarkana- Caroline, Liz, and Margaret

Grace Grace God's Grace

my cousin Emma :)

laughing in the bride's room, trying not to get food and water on my dress! haha

twinkle, sparkle.. let a little sunshine in

our bridesmaids and groomsman prayed over us during the ceremony while Nathan and Christy Nockels and Jana Mayo sang "Choose" written by Christy Nockels :

"Let me be in love with what You love
Let me be most satisfied in You
Forsaking what this world has offered me
I choose to be in love with You
I will choose to be in love with You....

Let me know the peace that's mine in You
Let me know the joy my heart can sing
For I have nothing Lord apart from You
I choose to call on Christ in me
I will choose to call on Christ in me

For in the fullness of who You are
I can rest in this place
And giving over this, my journey Lord
I see nothing but Your face

Let me know that You have loved me first
Let me know the weight of my response
For You have long pursued my wandering heart
I choose to glory in Your cross
I will choose to glory in Your cross

And I bow down...
Humbly, I bow down...
my beloved- here I am"

it was PERFECT for our first moment as a married couple. that is our prayer...

first dance

and then the PARTY started...

"dance off" with Sienna, one of the little girls I babysit

this is one of my favorite pictures from the reception so far, dancing with all m little kiddos I babysit and Nancy and my cousins!!

my husband, my sister....and my new cousins :)

and finally... the WEDDING DAY!!

2009-12-07T12:32:00.000-08:00

Amanda Donaho Photography:
BLOG
WEBSITE

our photographer did an AMAZING job capturing our wedding day
her style went so perfectly with our theme and our personalities...

this picture was the "first look" when my mom saw me as a bride...
on Amanda's blog she said she always loves this moment,
and I am so glad she captured it!

my bridesmaids wore all different styled dresses in my favorite color- fern green
(from Davids Bridal) I am so glad I did this, it was so fun to see them all together!

my "bouquet" was this lantern below... and all of my bridesmaids carried smaller lanterns in the same color- all from World Market...

my maid of honor, Tally, made my necklace- my "something old" it was all made from my grandmothers pearls, a chain of hers, and also a broach from her.... Tally makes LOVELY jewelry and does commissioned jewelry for weddings! Check out her blog at :

Tallyana Jewelry

more pictures of her necklaces for each of my bridesmaids soon,
you can see some of them in the picture above...

our typewriter guestbook (without the paper in it yet, before the wedding! haha) and all of the wedding photos we could find from our families...

our HILARIOUS groomsman... thanks to them we had the BEST reception EVER
after our "first dance" our groomsman flooded the dance floor and the party just immediately began and everyone joined them!!!

one of my sweet little flower girls, Annie Rose, she found this in the brides room and said "let me show you..." haha...

just like a fairytale really... exactly the way I wanted every detail to be... our second guestbook area where everyone could write us notes on their way to the food table,
"love is..."
RIGHT after we walked out from the ceremony...
I LOVE these because we had a little moment alone
these are two of my favorites...

our WONDERFUL wedding party (from left to right):
Kenley Flynn, Caroline Tyler, Greg Schwartz, Nikki Cohoon, David Norris, Grace Rieves, Jonathan Smith, Mali Glass, Loyd and me, Daniel Carson, Tally Atkinson, Matt Spicer, Jenna Cox, Liz Flippo, Justin Lowery, Margaret Barker, and Stephen Sargent

yay for Fall weddings!!!

the rest of the photos are from our "day after" session with the photographer..
we won free photography from Amanda in a giveaway she was doing to a deserving couple, she loved our story and the fact that we were both artists pursuing what we felt the Lord wanted us to do with our lives together...

since we didnt see each other until I walked down the aisle, we had this session with her
and I think these photos are SO sweet, I am so glad we did this...

not "always a bridesmaid.."

2009-11-11T21:29:00.000-08:00

I almost didn't post these because I couldn't find any good pictures of me in almost ANY of these weddings I was in... but my friends look so pretty as brides!!!

1. Liz's wedding!!

2. Margaret's wedding...
for some reason this is the only picture I can find with me in that dress?...

3. Jill's wedding... I caught the Bouquet!

4. Tally's wedding

5. Mali's wedding

6. Hannah's wedding

I was also in 7. Caroline's wedding :)
AND 8. was the maid of honor in my mom's best friends wedding when I was like 12
(it was her second wedding and she wanted it to be different and had all her bridesmaids daughters be her wedding party! )

all the small things...

2009-11-11T09:54:00.000-08:00

the last few days have been CRAZY busy getting together all of the little things I wanted to do for the ceremony... but I think they are well worth it... they are what I picture after all...

me and my mom found the cake toppers from my mom and grandmothers weddings...

looking forward to THIS

2009-11-11T08:15:00.000-08:00

I am getting SO SO excited about Amanda Donaho our photographer for the wedding!!!

Amanda Donaho Photography

seeing these GORGEOUS new fall photos on her blog makes me melt!
I CANT WAIT!

LOVE THIS!

she did a giveaway and picked me and Loyd as the winners...
we are SO grateful and really looking forward to it!!

yay for ivory spraypaint

2009-11-06T14:18:00.000-08:00

getting all the lanterns i have collected ready for the big day!!

we are going to arrange them in branches in vases

i love 100 layer cake

2009-11-06T13:37:00.000-08:00

all of these inspiring images are from the wedding blog:
100 Layer Cake

random ideas

2009-11-06T13:24:00.000-08:00

typewriter guestbook

2009-11-06T13:13:00.000-08:00

LOVE this!

just the girls... Pier One shower!!

2009-11-05T19:05:00.000-08:00

my first shower! so fun...

this was a sweet gift from my friend Mel who is so talented and sews just about anything you can sew! she made me the sweetest cake pan holder and napkins with pockets for the silverware!

my sweet sweet girls... thank you thank you thank you for coming into town for a fun special shower like this- it would not have been the same without you...
my girls have always meant the world to me..

and Julia and Lauren, my sweet Brookhill girls had to leave early and I didn't get a picture but thank you so much for coming- it was SUCH a fun surprise when you walked in the door!!!

there is just something different about friends who you have known since you were little bitty girls isn't there?

my friend nicole, one of the hostesses, she was my high school art teacher

some of my sweet hostesses- thank you for a wonderful shower:

Nicole Brisco, Jeanette Womack, Marilyn Blevins,
(not pictured) Cynthia Wesseley, Betsy Rice, Kim Altenbaumer, and Shannon Head

they had a scrapbook and everyone made me pages with sweet wishes, advice, quotes, and Bible verses combined with cute little vintage pictures on cool paper

Mel put my new initials on my card, it was the first time I had seen them! so fun...

Nicole wrote down all the information... this will be very helpful in the next few days as the thank you note writing kicks into full gear...

my sweet friend and also Bride to Be, Kristen, helped and handed me gifts and etc... thank you!

Brooklyn, one of my precious flower girls, worked so hard on my sweet little page, she taped and glued and really thought about what she was putting on there... it was ADORABLE.. she didnt want me to take a picture but I took several without a flash on so she wouldnt know! haha

...my sweet momma....

our very first gift

2009-11-05T18:31:00.000-08:00

it was so exciting to get our very first wedding gift in the mail!!
from Mr. and Mrs. David Wallace :)

INVITATIONS!!

2009-11-05T18:25:00.000-08:00

invitations. the main reason i have gotten behind on blogging. no end to address lists, lists for showers and parties, who we forgot, updating addresses that were wrong.... whew! when my friend Mindy responded to my mass "i need your address" message, she said "hang in there, this is the hardest part." and I KNOW now she is right... I hope! its not quite over yet...

my WONDERFULLY talented friend from art school, Lindsey Glenn,
who is also in the House Party in my wedding,
SHE designed the invitations...

they look SO lovely, she did a wonderful job and QUICKLY too which was good for me!
click on her name above to go to her website- she does freelance design work and is incredibly talented photographer... many many gifts!!

answers to most of the questions people are asking me:
1. yes I sewed on EVERY invitation
me and my mom and my sweet friend and House Party gal Gabby Denny
2. we tore EVERY torn edge....
3. cut every leaf
4. and punched EVERY rsvp with a Martha Stewart stamp

yes, it took a while. but i LOVED how it turned out!

I HIGHLY advise printing envelopes too... SO much easier

my sweet sweet bridesmaid letters

2009-11-05T18:22:00.000-08:00

now... I dont know exactly how to explain this completely, because apparently it is not complete.... but... my bridesmaids have been sending me letters- 1 or 2 a week and they are on some sort of schedule...

my sweet Matron of Honor Tally coordinated them to all use the same stationary and write me on certain days... it has been SO fun to get them and each time I see that cute stationary in my mail pile its the FIRST thing I open! SUCH a sweet idea... there is something special they are going to do with all of them nearer to the wedding... I will keep you all posted...

turning 24!

2009-11-05T18:19:00.000-08:00

it has been a while since I have posted so I am going to try to catch up! I had a birthday and got some green glass canisters from this cool antique store in Nolensville, TN- they have the BEST antique stores there...

Handmade Cards for Important Questions...

2009-09-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

I asked 3 of my best friends from college, Lindsey Glenn, Brittney Owens, and Gabby Denny and my sweet cousin, Emma Atkins to be the House Party at my Wedding

I realized after telling some Tennessee folks about my House Party that it is perhaps a Texas term or something because people had NO idea what I was talking about...

These 4 sweet sweet girls will help me with:
the Guest book (which is going to be fun and different),
programs, and decorating the church that day...

this is my cute $1 Handcrafted stamp from Micheals that I have been putting on the back of all my handmade cards and projects so far...

This is my card to ask my life long friend Ali Blagg to do everyone's hair on the wedding day. She has a salon in Texarkana and I have known Ali FOREVER... I am so delighted she will be with me in pre-wedding and wedding day activities... so fun to be able to ask friends to do everything because then you get to hang out with them! She said she wanted to frame my card and put it in her salon! so fun...

You can visit Ali's fun blog too!
she is engaged and wedding planning as well....
Brown Eyed Blogg

invitations on my mind

2009-09-20T14:18:00.000-07:00

all the random invitations I have loved and been inspired by on blogs and websites...

Personalize Your Reception

2009-09-16T11:44:00.000-07:00

Family Tree photos

I found all of these on some GREAT blogs: see my blog lists and inspiring wedding websites in the column to the right to see where I look for inspiration...

a very unique way to display photos- on a big birdcage!!!

I love the idea of having a picture from everyone's wedding from either side of the family on display at the reception!

if I had a ton of money, I would totally do a photobooth at the reception for guests to take one strip for themselves and leave the other for my guestbook, scrapbook of the wedding and etc...

my friend Krista is also planning her wedding here in town right now..
you can see her blog:

Becoming Mrs. Dial

she made an interesting post about a Giggle Booth which is kind of a new thing, very fun!

I also LOVE the idea of having polariods at the wedding since they are a dying art apparently, since the film is expensive we couldnt just sit them on tables, the way people do disposable cameras, even though that would be awesome! but maybe just somehow we will tie it into my FUN interactive Guestbook area :)

I want to have a clothesline with a little table where people can take take polaroids, leave notes, etc... and we can use all of it as a cool way to incorporate your guestbook into our wedding photo album...

by http://www.corikindred.com/
or go to Cori Kindred's Etsy Shop

I LOVE this idea.... little bits of paper that are cool (like above) even with cut outs in some of them... but writing "Love is..." on them for guests to give us marriage wishes and advice :)
this is also by http://www.corikindred.com/
you can see her stuff at her Etsy Shop

plus it makes for wonderful fun decorations!

same color, different styles

2009-09-16T11:20:00.000-07:00

I LOVE mismatched bridesmaids dresses!!!

same color with different styles
or
similar shades different styles

my wonderful bridesmaids ordered their dresses SO fast! it has been so stress free so far...
I went with Davids Bridal's new coordinated looks bridesmaids dresses AND since I got my bridal gown there, all my bridesmaids got $20 off which was great news!

anybody have great suggestions for flower girl dresses?

Ring Bearer baby :)

2009-09-16T11:04:00.000-07:00

my sweet cuddly honorary ring bearer - Rivers Glass

my bridesmaid Mali Glass's sweet new baby boy... I told her we just mainly need one photo of him near a cute ring bearer cushion! haha... it will mainly just be fun for us!

I am sure I will make something cute with some fabric and stuffing,
but I thought these were cool!

Save The Date!!

2009-09-11T11:03:00.000-07:00

I made my own Save The Date Photobooth strip by scanning an old photo strip of me and Loyd a couple of years ago and taking the pictures out of the middle...

this is the wedding journal page I made before starting my DIY Save The Dates

I made some cards with the words on them and used one of Martha Stewart's border cutters to add some detail, I got it at Micheals and used a 40% off coupon so it was only like $11

There wasn't a real photobooth anywhere locally so we staged one in my living room!

I bought a tree stamp on Clearance from Micheals for $1

I got these cute envelopes at Office Max, and they were only $7 for a pack of 50! to which of course Loyd made a joke about Susan on Seinfeld dying from the cheap envelopes.... haha!

The night we began making these, Loyd was reading Lord of the Rings again all cozy by a lamp so I asked him to do the stamping...

my favorite part of this evening: seeing Loyd think he was finished stamping, carefully closing the ink pad and placing the stamp on top and pushing it neatly forward on the table...I could tell he was so proud of helping and thinking "alright... back to my book!"

haha... then I pointed out that was just the first pack of 50 envelopes! We laughed SO hard!

my dad said "oh why didn't you tell me you were taking a photo, I would have looked like I was helping!"I bought a pad of assorted paper from Micheals (using another 40% off coupon I might add) and printed the info cards on my printer and cut the strips, everyone's was a little different which I thought was a lot of fun!

They all had similar colors which went with the wedding and most of them had trees or leaves which went perfectly with our Autumn wedding!

annie rose, I hope you dance

2009-09-11T09:29:00.000-07:00

Annie Rose has got the moves!

my littlest flower girl that I REALLY hope dances at the reception, the little move she does at the beginning reminds me of Sister Act 2! she was cracking me up! I was trying to find a fun show on one of the kids channels and accidentally clicked on Hip Hop Harry and Annie started dancing so of course... I grabbed my camera!

its so funny- she really was trying to copy what they were doing on the tv! please ignore my dumb voice- why did I speak during this adorable video!! haha... the kids on the video were breakdancing- she tries that out, then she does what the rest of the kids were doing in the circle waving their arms!

Nikki- a couple of things she does with her arms remind me of when you are being silly! so funny!

dont miss it!

2009-09-09T20:52:00.000-07:00

don't miss out on the newest post:

"my 3 favorite little girls"

I began it before two other posts so it is further down...
but I didn't want anyone to miss it because they are so cute!
...scroll down...

vintage handmade ideas

2009-09-08T11:14:00.000-07:00

I love things that are vintage inspired...
I think I like vintage things because back then people actually used their hands to make ads, drawings, they sewed and made their own pillows and baby blankets...

Handmade ideas for the groomsman: paper flower boutonnieres

or just kinda quirky handmade boutonnieres!I am getting excited just thinking about making these!!

Handmade ideas for the Bridesmaids: fun vintage necklaces

made by my wonderfully talented Matron of Honor: Tally Atkinson

She makes the coolest things using Vintage pieces of jewelry!!
view her work on her blog:

TALLYANA JEWELRY

Handmade for the House Party: flower and netting hair pieces!

I think I'd like to have one of these to wear at the reception too! SO fun!

other cute things: fans

little birds as a cake topper...

love all of this:

Ceremony THIS WAY!

2009-09-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

I love these old country signs that say Wedding or Ceremony- I totally want to do this!

I feel like I should give credit to whatever blog I pulled these from, but honestly I have pulled so many pictures from blogs I do not remember what picture is from which one! woops...

my 3 favorite little girls

2009-09-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

a wonderfully sweet tradition : flower girls

look at this adorable picture found of some flower girls at a wedding!!!

well, if you didn't see my post a few days back, I sent care packages to my wedding party to ask them to be a part of the big day:

thank Heaven for little girls

take a look at that before you see the cute pictures in the rest of this post of my precious flower girls with their cards and gifts!

Christy told me Ellie painted her little butterfly canvas within 5 minutes of opening their package!! She is such a cutie, she told me several times while I watched them that she wanted to be an Artist when she grew up!!

Annie Rose playing with the bouquet of flowers I sent! :)

oh my goodness I miss them!!
Look at Annie's little canvas masterpiece and that ADORABLE face!

what a little sweetheart! I cannot believe how old she looks in this picture!!

Brooklyn with her flower girl card and her sweet momma, Caroline, with her bridesmaid card!

I love this one! Caroline said she told Brooklyn to react the way she would if I were there asking her to be my flower girl.... haha!

Brooklyn LOVES Caroline's bridesmaid paper dolls, Caro said when B wanted to show them off to people, she would make her fold them up and tie the ribbon around them so they could get the full effect! this was worth all of the time and effort it took to make them.... precious.

the not so secret anymore wedding journal

2009-09-05T09:35:00.000-07:00

my little coffee table in my studio full of all things wedding related!

girls, we all know that we start a binder or book of ideas for our wedding before we are actually engaged! now... I didn't let myself start mine until a few months before being engaged because I didn't want to plan too much before the engagement excitement began!

This whole engagement makes me realize how much I am like Monica on Friends! haha... my brother and I laughed about how most girls wish they were like Rachel, but more of us are like Monica than we think...haha!

this is the first page of my wedding journal

I have been collecting invitations, envelopes, save the dates, shower invites, etc

Loyd is totally excited about doing a wax seal on the invitations... AND I found out the other day that you can buy wax sticks for this that go in a hot glue gun!!

I got this handmade journal from a street vendor type shop in New York when I was there in college with my roommates! I knew I wanted to save it for something special....

how to plan a wedding in 90 days...week one and two:

week one:
asked bridesmaids, groomsman, & flower girls,
booked church for wedding and reception
gathered addresses, made save the date, bought my wedding dress

week two:
asked pastor and ceremony musicians, sent save the dates,
almost all bridesmaid ordered their dresses, had my first fitting
looked into catering, registered for gifts

55 years ago today...

2009-09-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

this morning when I was making my coffee,
my granddad said, "wow... I just looked at the date and realized today is mine and Mamajean's 55th wedding anniversary!"

so I thought this would be a PERFECT day to post some of the pictures from their wedding!

my granddad was a photographer, we have so many wonderful pictures of them

Mamajean was SO beautiful,

I love the way he captured her personality and elegance in these photos!

Soap Messages

2009-09-04T07:53:00.000-07:00

when I got home from church the Sunday after I got engaged, I found this message on the mirror in my bedroom... this is a family tradition- writing on the mirror with soap...

and here you see the lovely original wallpaper to my granddad's house in the bathroom :) I have been living with my sweet granddaddy for over a year now, wow.

my aunt is known for this tradition, every time they would come visit, especially for special occasions... and I am sure my cousin Emma was a part of this little scheme on my mirrors the day after I got engaged!!

thank Heaven for little girls

2009-09-03T21:38:00.000-07:00

Care packages for Flower Girls

my first flower girl is Brooklyn :) her sweet momma is one of my bridesmaids and has been one of my best friends for a very long time... I remember when B was born, her first birthday, and have been a part of many play days and games carefully made up and specifically instructed by this cute little girl...

When Brooklyn heard I was engaged and told her grandmother, Caro's sweet mom who cracks me up, "Dee is getting married!" .....Mrs Hazel said, "Deeann Carson?!"

Caro said Brooklyn looked at her like "who in the WORLD is Deeann Carson?" because she has always only known me as Dee... and my parents as Dee's mommy and Dee's daddy... haha. Caroline said - you are like Beyonce and Madonna. Just.... Dee.

Caroline said that when they got their package, Brooklyn said "maybe shes going to ask me to be a flower girl...." what a smart little big Kindergarten girl...

when Caro read the card to her, Brooklyn looking at the front of the card curiously said, "do i have to wear that dress?" hahaha!! she is such a mess... that is a picture from when my dad and a girl in his grade were Duke and Dutchess in some ceremony... the picture has been one of my favorites in collages for years...

after this Brooklyn danced around the house singing, "I'm gonna be a flower girl..."

Brooklyn LOVES weddings and is every girls dance partner! here she is dancing with Margaret at her wedding... so cute! she explained to me that margaret "LOOKED like a princes, but she isnt REALLY a princess".... she is a good teacher :)

inside the flower girl packages:

1. a flower bouquet, for practice perhaps
2. princes coloring activity, because they will dress like a princess (like the Dutchess)
3. two canvas's to paint with a purse, butterfly, or castle drawn on......because I am an artist
4. a flower Christmas ornament... to remember when they were a flower girl in the wedding

My next two flower girls are sisters, and very near to my heart because I was their nanny when they used to live in Nashville over a year ago... Ellie was 5 and Annie Rose was 8 months... now Ellie is a first grader and Annie Rose is 2!! I cannot wait to see them and Annie will be hilarious I am sure...Last time I drove down to Atlanta to watch them for a few days, Ellie cried when I left... it was so sad but adorable at the same time and Annie learned my name "DEE"

I used some dress pattern little girls for their handmade card... its perfect for their ages :)

Handmade Cards and Bridesmaid Paper Dolls

2009-09-03T21:12:00.000-07:00

DIY Ask Your Bridesmaid Cards

all but one of my beloved bridesmaids live hours and hours away from me, so I thought it would be fun to send them a care-package to ask them to be a part of my wedding. who doesn't love getting ACTUAL mail?

1. cut out one girl from the front of an old dress pattern or fashion magazine

2. make a trial stencil on some white paper to make sure her elbows, skirt, and feet would touch and attach correctly in the folds

3. trace one girl onto the nice paper, and began folding the paper enough times to make one paper dolls for every bridesmaid- to put their names on each one later...

4. admire your lovely ring with every fold :)

5. if you have 8 bridesmaids like I do... this may take a couple of days... have patience and try not to get hand cramps! :)

6. Cut thick paper for the card part and fold it in half, trace a rectangle towards the right side of the card for a cut out where the paper doll will show through.

7. decorate the front of the card with a picture of a bride, I chose a vintage dress pattern picture of a bride. me... you?
8. write all of the bridesmaids names on the paper dolls (except the one who the card is for, her doll will say "you?")

9. at first I considered making a pocket to hold the paper doll but when I thought of tying them into the card with a ribbon, I realized it looked a little like a sash on the dress and thought it was a cuter idea...

10. Will you be a bridesmaid in my wedding? unfold the paper doll to see all of the bridesmaids

11. add a personal note on the left side to each one... :)

I made little bridesmaid packages with the cards, one of the Brave Embrace Journals I sell on my website, and some stationary and cool post it notes from Micheals

Matron of Honor: Tally
Bridesmaids: Mali, Nikki, Caroline, Margaret, Grace, Liz, Jenna

it was SO fun to get all of their phone calls on the days they got their carepackages! I was SO anxious to talk to them and start planning! I already had their dresses picked out and the email in my Drafts box! haha...

I am really looking forward to having all of my best friends in ONE room for the first time- my friends from growing up in Texarkana, my camp counselor friends, Loyd's sister- my camp penpal and friend for many years, and one of my roommates from art college! :)

Journey Church at The Factory in Franklin, TN

2009-09-01T21:46:00.000-07:00

Journey Church
in The Factory in Franklin, TN

a few interior shots of the church where we are getting married!!

above is what you see when you walk in the door... the wall of old windows and doors separates the lobby area from the meeting area, I helped design this and you can see even more
pictures of it on my art blog

this view is from the middle of the room looking towards the back of the room

and that's my friend Andrea :)

I won free wedding photography!!!!

2009-08-30T19:01:00.001-07:00

I won free wedding photography from Amanda Donaho's blog Wedding Photography Giveaway!!!!

You can also see photos on her official website :
donahophotography.com

You can go to her blog to read why she chose me and Loyd for her giveaway on her post:
"and the winner is.... "
We are SO excited!!!!

decorating with light

2009-08-30T18:41:00.000-07:00

LANTERNS!
...my recent obsession...

cool birdcages mixed in could really add style too

tea lights in random jars all over the place

lights, jars, and lanterns hanging on branches

string lights!! the kind that have the circle bulbs-

I bought three sets at World Market, one of my favorite stores EVER, I wish so bad that World Market and Pier One had Wedding Registries... because THAT is where I would go! haha... today we were thinking of registry stuff and I got so overwhelmed.... advice anyone? good stores with cool styles?

I love this glass vase with tree branches and little tea lights hanging from it!

now.... THESE last two pictures capture the essence of what I want my wedding to look like...

I have about 30 lanterns already I think.... and I bought 6 mini favor lanterns from Micheals the other day... I have gotten LOST in Micheals for hours lately in Martha Stewart's Wedding area...

Suggested Wedding Blogs anyone?

I get sucked into them and hours pass by, I forget I'm hungry and all the sudden something grabs my attention and I realize my eyes hurt from looking at the computer screen glazed over

a wonderful weekend top ten list

2009-08-29T22:24:00.000-07:00

1. I went to an art opening Friday I had two pieces in

2. I got to talk to my friend Caroline on the way to Memphis for about an hour and a half! :)

3. I got to hang out with my sweet friend and new momma, Mali, and stay at her house

4. I had an art workshop Saturday and it was, of course, SO much fun- everyone's paintings turned out SO well - I will post pictures soon on my ART BLOG

5. I got to see my old roommate Lindsey and go to my favorite lunch place and thrift store that I miss from Memphis

6. I got to talk to one of my sweetest friends in the world, Margaret, for about an hour and a half on my way BACK to Nashville

7. I got asked THE QUESTION with a perfect surprise proposal night!!!

8. He coordinated it so that the family was in town for a party afterwards!!

9. the ring is everything I ever hoped it would be :) I stare at it a lot, and honestly really feel like my hand is a little heavier... seriously

10. I got to talk to SO many of my closest friends AND got to tell my friends from church in person and have little squeely fits of happiness with them! and since then have gotten so many fun messages on Facebook from like everyone I know, I feel SO loved and blessed!

it starts with a very important question...

2009-08-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

Loyd planned a whole scheme to get the proposal just right, and it was totally a surprise! I was in Memphis teaching an art workshop and my brother Daniel called me earlier that week to say he wanted me to come back into town Saturday by 7 for a Chris Tomlin Listening Party for their new Album (Daniel plays electric guitar with Chris). And I truly believed this lie because I got a totally legit EBlast email from our friend Leighton, who works at Passion, the bands label, inviting us all to the "Listening Party"

I drove into town late and Loyd was waiting at my house to give me a ride, I was in such a rush because we were already late, I was about to change fast but got mad because my skirt was wrinkled and Loyd comes calmly around the corner and said, "aren't you going to shower?" haha... I was like, are you kidding me? we are late already... and he said no no it doesnt start until 7:30, Daniel called and told me. So I showered fast, Loyd offered to iron my skirt for me... (I know, right? :) he is so sweet) We jumped in the car and drove to the "Listening Party"

I was told the private party was on the other side so I didn't think it was weird the lights were all off..We walked up the stairs through an art gallery ... we turn the corner,

and this is what I see-

Norah Jones "Come Away with Me" was playing....

I have been collecting lanterns for our Wedding and I LOVED that one of them was sitting out during the proposal, it seemed really special to have one there!

he had almost 300 tea lights,

our sweet little white lantern and cute daisys, a wonderful choice :)

he got down on one knee and said will you marry me? it was such a cute moment, I truly could NOT believe how surprised I was, and this was going to be tricky for him because we had talked about rings and I knew it was coming, and I was trying SO hard not to, but I was expecting some fun surprise around every corner for about a week and a half. I did not know how much longer I could look cute at all times

the ring was Loyd's Great Grandmothers- Loyds mom's mom's mom :)

I had always said I would LOVE so much to have a ring that had a story and came from one of our families somehow... so perfect! Its almost 60 years old..antique and so pretty!

...and then....another surprise...downstairs

Daniel hid behind a post to hop out and take this picture... It's so great of Loyd- so happy and excited and relieved, I'm sure, that the surprise went smoothly!! Then I saw the second surprise- almost the whole out of town family was waiting in a restaurant downstairs!!

I love this picture of Nancy... she looks so excited for us and anxious to hug our necks!

my sweet momma

we all went back upstairs to take pictures!

our sweet siblings... my brother, Daniel and his sister, Grace, and her boyfriend, David helped set up the whole thing and got it ready for the suprise! thank you Grace and Daniel for burning your fingers to help light those little tea lights and move them around since I was late!! haha

my family!

Grace knew I would be needing to make decisions quick and brought me like 7 huge Bride Magazines and a Wedding Planner!

my sweet future mother in law- Nancy :)Loyd's Family, who I have been fortunate to get to know well over the last 3 and a half years!

and then...dinner. I think I ate about 7 bites! :)