A Nautical Themed Chicago Bachelorette Party

In 2008 my closest girlfriends accompanied me to Chicago for my bachelorette party. This weekend we're headed there again for a bachelorette bash in honor of my MOH and best friend Debbie. It's nautical themed, naturally, and I am quite certain that we will have a ball.
I'll be sharing the invitations {designed and produced by Chelsey at 4th and folded} next week over at Penned & Pretty, but here's a little sneak peek! Have a great weekend!!

A Gorgeous Friend Turned Gorgeous Bride: Part 2

Jessica & Steve's wedding was the perfect mix of rustic meets beach. Therefore, the gave the bride and the groom had the perfect excuse to go barefoot for most of the day.
The groom and groomsmen wore dapper tweed vests. The groom's boutonniere opened throughout the day and coordinated perfectly with the overall rustic feel of the day.
The bridesmaids bouquets looked like they were plucked from a wild garden and formed into the most lovely arrangement.
Steve and Jessica were united in marriage next to the ebb and flow of the waves. I don't think that there could be a more fitting setting to marry in than on that mirrors the ups and downs of a marriage that you have to forge through together.
Remember this post?! Let me remind you that its a little nerve wracking to be standing up there in front of all of your guests during your ceremony. Instead of standing up there clutching your {gorgeous} bouquet, remember to reach for your fiance's hands. Not only will your nerves settle down, but it makes for a quite the lovely picture.These next two pictures are my favorites. I feel as though they truly convey why you and your new husband should take a moment at the end of the aisle to relish in the fact that you are finally married. For keeps, as they say.

Yet another favorite. I adore her bouquet.

I just cannot imagine a more charming venue to have a wedding reception. Picture perfect.

Now this, my friends is what a couple looks like when they are totally in the moment during their first dance.

I'm not sure on the exact back story on this truck, but I love the photos ben williams was able to capture as the couple was using it for their getaway vehicle. If you can't tell, this picture reflects the true spirit of Jessica and Steve.

Dearest Jessica, you're just as pretty as you were in high school. Figures! I hope that your wedding day was as beautiful as it appears in the pictures. More so, I hope that you have found your best friend and life long partner in Steve. Wishing you years and years of happiness!!!

Jessica and Steve's wedding day was captured by ben williams weddings. Pictures used with expressed permission.

A Gorgeous Friend Turned Gorgeous Bride: Part 1

I had a friend in high school named Jessica. She was beautiful, outgoing and had an infectious smile. As you'll see, not much has changed. Jessica got married a few months ago and my jaw dropped when I saw the pictures of her wedding day. I know you'll love them as much as I do.

For starters, meet Jessica. A gorgeous friend and a gorgeous bride.
Jessica got ready for her day in a rustic cabin. My favorite shot of her getting ready was this one in which she was carefully putting a flower in her hair as her best friend looked on.

Naturally, my gorgeous friend would marry a gorgeous guy. Meet Steve:
I have to say that some of my favorite shots of the bridal party are of the groomsmen. I love their vests and boutonnieres {to be seen in the next post}, their chuck taylor shoes {below} and the fact that they were genuinely having fun together. You just don't' see that all too often.

Not to be outdone, the bridesmaids were full of smiles too.
Jessica and Steve were married in northern Michigan at Point Betsie Lighthouse. The venue, and the area around it, provided hills, sand dunes, water and an all around perfect place to say your vows and take your wedding photos.

One of my many favorites. More of the beautiful venues and ceremony images to come tomorrow!!

The photographer that so beautifully captured Jessica and Steve's wedding day is the talented Ben Williams of ben williams weddings . Pictures used with expressed permission.

The Beginning of Forever

This weekend is the wedding of one of my dearest friends Laura to her fiance, Rich. You might know Laura as the blogger behind The Beginning of Forever. To me, however, she is just my crazy friend who is always up for a beer, a good laugh and picking up right where we left off.

After we get the rehearsal out of the way on Friday night, the party starts at a swanky downtown restaurant with the rehearsal dinner. Laura is then having her bridesmaids back to her bridal suite for a girls night sleepover. I couldn't be more excited to laugh, share stories and drink a little champagne!

Laura has an awesome bridal party and there is no doubt in my mind that we will rock out the bridal party pictures like so:

Laura, this weekend will be so memorable. It just seems like yesterday when our friendship truly began. That hot summer Wednesday evening in 2005 while sitting on your porch, beverage in hand, and deciding to skip our Macro Econ summer class. It was so worth it. We've shared so many memories together since that night and this weekend we will add many more. I cannot wait to hear you squeal with delight as you get into your dress and get all done up for your big day! You will be such a beautiful bride and I am so honored to stand next to you while you tie the knot! It will certainly be a beautiful day.

Much love,

xoxo jessica lynn

photos via bobbi + mike

A Chicago Wedding Recap

I will say it til I am blue in the face, Stephanie was a lifesaver on our wedding day. Because of her mad planning skills and sheer rock star talent displayed while coordinating our wedding, two of my close friends booked her within weeks. Almost a month ago, at the wedding of Candice & Landon, we were reunited. After I danced for a solid three hours, a bridesmaid's responsibility, we took a little picture together. Today, over twitter, she asked me if the little picture would make it's way onto this bloggity blog. Be careful of what you ask for.
I think that we both look equally pretty {after an outdoor ceremony & dancing}, but my aviators {gift from the bride & groom} give me a slight advantage if I do say so myself.

p.s. Stephanie is based out of St. Louis but will travel, as long as there is a McDonald's at some point on the route. Check out her blogsite here.

Since we're chatting about Candice & Landon's wedding, I might as well share a few more pretty pictures The first picture with all {but 1} of my best friends was taken during the cocktail hour. Isn't her dress amazing!??! I had serious envy.

The flowing feathery ruffles were to die for. She was such a beautiful bride. With killer pink heels.

And the feathery hairpiece was the cutest thing that I have ever seen. She made it herself for less than $10 and it complimented the dress {and her birdcage veil} perfectly.

My favorite photo of Candice, ever. Hands down.

A little preview of their day can be seen here. professional photos by katherine salvatori photo.

Maid Service {in Chicago}

Tonight Kristen and I are off to the suburbs of Chicago to attend the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner of Candice and Landon. And we're not the only ones! Candice and Landon have 12 bridesmaids, 6 groomsmen and a boston terrier flower girl in the wedding party! Let's just say that it's a good thing that Stephanie will be the wedding coordinator behind the event!

Candice and Landon, tomorrow is the big day and I know that you are glad that your wedding is finally here! I wish nothing but clear skies and lots of love for the both of you {in your outdoor wedding!} tomorrow. As for the rest of your life, I cannot wait to see what is ahead for you.

Much love, jfro
And a pretty bridal party picture that is appropriate for this post by jessica claire: More to come next week, there's another wedding around the corner!

Party Filled Weekend

I'll have you know that I am off for quite the party filled weekend!

Tonight I'll be wearing my favorite sundress and breaking in my new cowboy boots at the Keith Urban/Taylor Swift concert with two of my Cincinnati girlfriends. Rest assured that I will be belting out "Days Go By", "Better Life" and my new favorites "Sweet Thing" and "Kiss a Girl." To say that I am quite excited would be quite an understatement.

Saturday brings the bachelorette party of one of my best friends, Laura Ann of The Beginning of Forever. We're keeping the events of the evening a secret from her, so I can't share anything with you since she is a regular reader of this little bloggity blog of mine. Let's just say that I found the cutest dress this past week at Forever 21 and it will be perfect for the occasion!

I hope that your weekend is shaping up to be as fun as mine will undoubtedly be!

image via it's mary ruffle

Finally Engaged

Just stopping in to share the news and celebrate a little. My wonderful Maid of Honor and long time roommate, Debbie, got engaged over the weekend!!! You know what that means for this little blogger....there is another wedding in the works for me to dabble in! Let's just say that I already have it all planned out in my head. Naturally.

I got a text message yesterday from Debbie, "buying my first bride magazines! thought you would be proud!" Ah yes, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree now does it? Congrats Debbie and Andrew! photo via: rae leytham

Anchors Aweigh

This weekend Chris and I are headed to Indianapolis to celebrate some special events with my sorority sisters {all of which were our bridesmaids}. It's been a little over a month since our last trip to Indianapolis and I miss my friends!

On Saturday Kristen is throwing a bridal shower for Candice {read her fiance's wedding blog here} at a local winery which I am quite excited about. Wine and good friends is always a lovely way to spend the afternoon.

Chris is excited too because during the shower he gets to spend time with the boys and most likely go golfing indoors, play guitar hero or watch ESPN for four straight hours. You know what they say, when the cat is away....

After the shower it's off to our Alma Mater to watch the Dawgs play in the league semi-final game before going out on the town to celebrate Jenn's birthday!

So in honor of the big weekend ahead with my DG sisters, here's a little nautical picture that makes me smile.

photo via: marie labbancz
I hope that you all have a lovely weekend surrounded by wonderful friends!

Tying the Knot: The Bridesmaids

College was the best experience of my life. It's where I spread my wings, it's where I had the time of my life, it's where I met my bridesmaids. These are the girls that mean everything to me. One I met the first day of college. One I became close with when we decided to skip a summer micro econ night class and have a few delicious cocktails instead. And the rest of my bridesmaids are my sorority sisters that mean more to me than they know. I saw a picture a long time ago with a group of friends with their arms around eachother, just like this one. For some reason it stuck with me. For some reason it seemed to portray the bonds of friendship. And thus, I had to have it. And it is one of my favorite pictures from our wedding day.
My Delta Gamma sisters. These are the girls (along with Smitty and JGavs) that have shown me what true friendship is all about. To them, I am forever grateful. They have embodied everything about this quote, which we first learned of on a cold January night in 2003 (or 2004), "They are the family we choose to surround us, the sisters bound by love instead of blood. they know when we are lonely and appear without being called. when we are lost they provide a living map to what comes next; when we doubt everything about ourselves they remind us who we are." This picture was taken in homage to the sorority that has bound us together, forever.

previously in the series "tying the knot": we did it, a preview, our honeymoon, our candy bar, lifesaver, getting ready, our first look, the bride and groom, bouquets and boutonnieres, the shoes
all pictures by: nicole green. please link back to tying the knot when posting any of these pictures.

{One of} My Best Friends Wedding{s}

I remember standing in my chapter house on bid day looking around at all of my new "sisters". Some I recognized, one was my roommate, and others I had never seen before. Jenn was one of those girls that I had seen before. Tall, blonde, and gorgeous I never thought she would want to be friends with little ole me! But over the years we developed the same circle of friends and became two of the five seniors that lived in the sorority house together. When I first started dating Chris, Jenn and Stephen (her then boyfriend) were one of the first people I introduced him to. They bonded over their love of the Cincinnati Bengals (back when they could win more than 1 game in a season) at our Baller Bash party and it was all downhill from there. The four of us then hung out all the time and haven't stopped since. From the late night hilarity in broadripple in our college days to spending three days with my Mom and I in the days after my Daddy passed away in June, Jenn has been a true friend in every way. Chris and I were honored to stand next to Stephen and Jenn this past June as they tied the knot in Cincinnati.
What a beautiful day it was and what a beautiful bride!
Our bridesmaids bouquets were a-mazing! Hot pink roses with black feathers. The stems were wrapped with black satin and completed the look.
So after the ceremony the bridal party (and dates) hopped in THE most phenomenal party bus of all time and went down to "Millionaires Row" to snap a couple pictures. The classy ride wouldn't be complete without six cases of beer, two giant champagne bottles, and $1 sunglasses with our choice of hot pink, neon green, or flashing orange accents. Since they were so fantastic, we had to get a picture with them. We're on the far left.

Just a few of our sorority sisters.
To be honest, I don't think that I had any of the cake, I was more about the open bar that night. But I'm sure the cake was as delicious as it looked.

Congrats Stephen and Jenn! And thanks for letting me snatch these pictures from your facebook albums in order to feature them here.

Chicago: Bachelorette Party

Just a little warning to the city of Chicago.

Saturday is the night of my bachelorette party.
A face like this might make an appearance:
This face= good times surrounded by great friends. and perhaps a beer. or two. Mommy tends to attempt to cut me off after two beverages so we'll just leave it at that.
So beware and don't say I didn't warn you.

And if any of my bloggity friends are going to be in Chicago for the weekend and want to meet up out on the town in a non-creepy-i-only-know-you-through-your-blog sort-of way, drop a comment and we shall see if we can make it happen.

{One of} My Best Friends Wedding{s}

Kristen recently got her professional pictures back....and they are BREATHTAKING. All photos courtesy of: Lisa Walker Photography.

Let's start off with the beautiful bride:

I love the way T is looking at her in this picture. They were married in the lobby of the Columbia Club and were lucky enough to snap some pictures in the gorgeous venue before the ceremony began.
Throughout the ceremony there was this amazing light pouring in through the windows:
Little did we know during the cocktail hour that the bride and groom had slipped outside onto Monument Circle and enjoyed an ice cream cone (well, T says that Kristen enjoyed it and she wasn't too good at sharing) and some time walking around the circle.

This next shot is Kristen's pride and joy...the ring shot:

And now, the details! The cake, the ballroom, and the "short" and "tall" centerpieces!

What a wonderful day uniting two great people. Thanks for letting me be a part of it!

I Miss You Daddy

Some of you may have wondered why I haven't been posting this week.
This past Sunday, my Daddy passed away very suddenly at the age of 62. 2 weeks before my birthday and three months before the wedding. As you can imagine Mommy and I are devastated and life has pretty much come to a halt.
My Daddy often read my blog, to keep up with my ideas. He loved hearing about the wedding and was SO involved. You know, it's funny....Daddy came with Mommy and I when we went dress shopping. He saw me in my dress and my veil and had tears in his eyes. He will be buried in the tie that he would have worn to walk me down the aisle....and that is exactly what he would have wanted. I'll miss you Daddy, you know that you meant more to me than I could have ever expressed. When I feel that gust of wind blow my dress and my veil around on my wedding day, I'll know that you are there.
I don't know when I will be back to posting, maybe some time next week. So much thanks goes out to my friends and Chris, who have made this time in my life somewhat bearable.