year one.

Happy anniversary to my best friend. This is for you:

wedding wednesday: details.

No worries: this is the last wedding post leading up to our anniversary this Sunday. It's been fun to go back through pictures and see what made our day so special. I wanted to share just a few last details with all of you, beginning with...

Instead of lighting a unity candle, Jordan and I decided to do something a little different. We decided to wash each other's feet. It's an event that holds deep significance for both of us, and as a song played softly in the background, Jordan and I showed each other (and our friends and family) what marriage really means: serving each other.

My mom and I chose to use mismatched plates from thrift stores-- I think the look turned out great!

A closer look at the plates and napkin holders (made by my 90-year-old grandmother).

Didn't the tables turn out beautifully? We used brown tablecloths and fall flowers in the center. 

The head table had quilts instead of the typical tablecloth. It was just the look I was going for! It was so fun to sit and share a meal with our closest friends and family.

I designed the programs myself, which saved A LOT of money. So, if you've got a wedding coming up and need some help... Let me know!

While guests mingled before lunch began, we had hot chocolate (or Jones soda) and boiled peanuts for our guests. Love it!

Great guestbook idea: we bought a beautiful picture book of Newport, RI, where we chose to take our honeymoon. Guests signed throughout the book. Now we have a unique coffee table piece reminding us of all the people who chose to be with us on our wedding day.

Centerpieces again.

Our wedding favors might have been my favorite thing. In homage to my maiden name (Butterworth), we sent guests home with little bottles of syrup (you know, like Mrs. Butterworth). Some said "A Sweet Occasion" and others, like the one above said "Mrs. Jones' Syrup." So cute!

It took us forever to find our caketoppers. They're pricey, and I had yet to discover Etsy. These, though, were pretty cute.

So, there you have it. Our wedding in a few Wednesday (and now Thursday) blog posts. I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into our wedding day! I've loved sharing it with all of you!

Our anniversary is in three days and counting! Ahh!

wedding wednesday: the friends.

Welcome to another Wedding Wednesday. The truth is, this time last year, I didn't even want to here the "w" word. I was so ready for the actual event! Now, it's kind of nice to look back at what made our day so special. 

And probably nothing could have made our day more special than our dear friends. 

After we got engaged, almost our entire wedding party met up in Montgomery to enjoy a couple of days getting to know each other. We wanted everyone to be completely comfortable come November 22. I'm so glad we did that, and I highly recommend it if you've got friends from all walks of life sharing in your day. Jordan and I absolutely loved that weekend and treasure the memories we made. 

Months later, on the night of our rehearsal, I practiced walking down the aisle with my dad. I will never forget that moment. It finally hit me, looking into the faces of the people I love, that I was actually getting married. I caught the eye of my best friends and lost it. I blame it entirely on my 15-year-old cousin, who absolutely bawled like a baby. The next day, I kept my composure during the ceremony, but my bridesmaids? I don't think there was a dry eye.

They are the best friends I could have ever dreamed of, and I thank God for blessing me with so many kindred spirits. 

Jordan's groomsmen were no different. I love those guys. I love that Jordan and I have mutual friends; I knew his groomsmen, and he knew my bridesmaids. It made our wedding feel even more close-knit and reunion-esque (my ultimate goal). These guys were fabulous; we couldn't have asked for more fun, good-natured guys. 

So, a word of wedding advice? Surround yourself with your nearest and dearest on your wedding day. Now's not the time to repay debts or make new friends. Stick with the ones who know and love you best. I promise, it won't backfire. 

wedding wednesday: the venue.

I wasn't one of those girls who planned her wedding when she was five, but in the back of my mind, I knew what I wanted. 

I wanted a front porch. 

Specifically, the front porch of either my own home or the plantation home right across the street. 

Due to logistics (did you know how expensive a port-a-potty is? My guess is no) and snobby people who don't rent out their beautiful plantation home, I found myself at square one. 

Thank you, Google, for being awesome. 

Online research led me to Tall Timbers Nature Conservancy, a beautiful research station just a few miles outside of Tallahassee. My mom and I drove out there with our fingers crossed. 

We needn't have worried. 

It was perfect. 

There was moss in the trees, a lake in the distance, and a massive porch. I almost couldn't believe how much it resembled the picture in my head.

Why only four other couples have ever been married there is beyond me. 

I guess the lesson is, when it comes to your wedding venue, think outside the box. You might be surprised at what you find. 

wedding wednesday: the dress.

This month, Jordan and I will celebrate our one year anniversary (whoop, whoop!). To commemorate this special milestone, I'm sharing little glimpses into our wedding day, with a special anniversary post scheduled for November 22. I hope you enjoy seeing how our big day came together!

First on the agenda? 

The dress. 

For most girls, the wedding dress is the most important part of the wedding. 

For me, not so much. 

Wedding dress shopping started off fun, but always ended depressing. 

Nothing fit. 

Everything was strapless. 

I wanted something "me," and I couldn't find it. 

Not in Tallahassee. Not in Montgomery. Not in Birmingham. Not in Moultrie at the ever-popular Bridal Barn. 

Not anywhere, until finally, I found it in one of the hundreds of magazines we had laying around the house. 

There it was. The dress. 

Of course, it was J.Crew. 

And of course, it was discontinued. 

{the daphne.}

So, my mother did what only my mother would do. 

She found someone to make me my own. 

With polka dots.

And finally, I had the dress I'd been looking for.

Thanks, Mom. You always did get me.

{Yes, those are blue Converse tennis shoes. Did you honestly think I'd wear heels? My dress had polka dots, for pete's sake.}

So, note to anyone planning their big day: It's okay if you hate trying on dresses. 

You are not alone. 

Just hold out. You'll get the one you always knew you wanted. I sure did.

{photos courtesy of Kimel Photography. dress by Haley Lauren Couture.}