Something Old - The Wedding Dress

For months and months I was looking for the perfect wedding dress...something a bit un-traditional. Something flowy, yet fitted, with an interesting design...preferably a dress that was off white. I looked high and low and finally found it. The one. It was a gorgeous dress from Free People and I immediately texted my best friend (who was also engaged) to show her and get her opinion. And then, the one in a million chance...happened. She had found that same dress and wanted it too. So we decided to share it (great idea at the time).  We ordered the dress and as time went on, I started to get a bit uneasy about sharing a dress...especially when I thought about Andrew seeing it on someone else on their big day before seeing it on me.  So I started to retreat, and decided to let her keep it (I would post a pic but I would hate to give it away for her...so here's an example of the feel I was looking for).

From there, something absolutely perfect happened. On August 4th, 2013, Andrew and I went over to his grandmothers house to visit. She lived in town close to us so we visited her regularly. It was a normal visit...we did our laundry, hung out on the back porch with everyone, and talked about my wedding dress worries...and then grandma asked me to try on her wedding dress.  I was a bit shocked!  I had never seen it, and had no idea what to expect...but I figured, sure, why not. When I saw the dress I realized it was definitely unconventional! A lovely pink sequined fitted deeeep V neck dress.  My mom said it was "very Dallas"...I guess from the old tv show.  The dress fit like a glove, all except that grandma was only about 5ft tall and I'm 5'7". She loved it on me and offered to give it to me for my own dress...

Months before we had went to the Big Day Wedding Festival in Asheville and found this awesome dress designer called Ship to Shore. Brooke, the designer, had done a consultation with me at the festival to see if I would be interested in having my dress made.  She was fantastic, but I wasn't sure so her business card was put in my wedding resources drawer. So grandma and I talked about her and how she would be perfect to re-design the dress for me and make it work for my vision....so I set up an appointment and got really excited about having an heirloom that was re-designed just for me.

Sadly, just a few days after she gave me the dress on August 7th, grandma passed away unexpectedly. She was such a light in my life and it was so hard to say goodbye. She had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer and had some complications when the port for chemo was put in. A day later, she was gone.  I feel so blessed to have known her and had her in my life, and sooo thankful that I was able to get to know her to the point that she felt comfortable enough to offer me her wedding dress.  It's one of the most amazing ways to have her there and a big part of the wedding, like we had always wanted. Oh how I miss her...

So on a happy note, I have a dress :) The perfect dress!  We've taken it to Brooke at Ship to Shore and so far I've had 3 fittings with my mom and Andrew's mom helping push the vision the whole way through.  We've decided to add some sheer fabric over the dress to make it a bit more flowy and less pink.  We're switching out the lace in the front panel...and we're cutting out the back.  We're also either taking off the sleeves, or doing a sheer sleeve...not sure just yet.  And of course, extending the length. I've found the best shoes EVER from Free People that are a burgundy leather with lace ups (I'm not going to give away too much) that I'm overly ecstatic about.  I'm also going to have some fun rock and gemstone jewelry and a flower crown like I've wanted since I was a little girl.  I can't wait to post the photos of the end results! So there ya have it...I have a dress...and it's going to be the most beautiful and meaningful dress I could have. I love you grandma!

A Whimsical Venue - Yesterday Spaces

We found a wedding venue! After searching and searching we narrowed it down to 3 different choices...and after visiting them all we chose Yesterday Spaces in Leicester, NC. It's gorgeous! On my first tour I went with mom...the wedding guru...and we fell in love. She was all over it. The owner has thought through everything! They have a plan for everything...and mom's favorite plan, the rain plan.  They have two barns on the property...the main event barn and the dairy barn.  The dairy barn is the rain plan.

As you pull up to the property there is a huge field on the left for parking and then on the right you turn in to the farm. Immediately off the road (it's a tiny back-road) there is the farm house (that you can rent for family) and the dairy barn.  A bit behind the farm house is the second rental house that was recently purchased...score.  Then you drive up the road the main event barn.  When we toured it was a heavily fogged misty day, but yet it was so enchanting. To get to the ceremony space you walk through a row of gorgeous trees...in to the field where the mountains peek up in the background.  There's a lovely tree you can get married under but we might end up doing an arbor...we'll see.

The back-up dairy barn is gorgeous. We're actually going to use it for our rehearsal dinner which we're really excited about...food truck! The barn has some original wood inside which is gorgeous and some dried flowers hanging from the ceiling...and it has a walk-in silo...what?!?! So neat!

The main event barn is gorgeous...the porches have beautiful log posts in a rich color. When you enter, the whole barn area is strung up with lights. The walls and floors are all a lovely oak wood and they have gorgeous hand-made oak round tables for us to use.  The whole barn (inside and out) is hooked to a sound system that you can control personally...ipod wedding. So easy!  They have 2 kitchens (one upstairs and one down) and our favorite part? Gorgeous bathrooms!! Beautiful hammered sinks and hand-made stall doors...they didn't miss a detail.

Downstairs are the stalls...and yes they have animals :) They had a donkey and mini pony when we visited and they said they were getting some llamas! So excited! You can go downstairs (and music is there too!) and pet the animals and most people set up a photo booth below. Pretty cool!

They also have an event field outside with a fire pit...so we will definitely be playing some lawn games (I hear Andrews uncle has lawn darts...oh dear) and cooking up some smores and late night weenies!

I am so so excited! Things are coming together :) Now to figure out attire, photographer, caterer, and all the other little details...we have some good ideas...so I'll keep you posted.

Jumping Out of a Plane

So once we arrived in Auckland...we went straight to Auckland Skydive.  We had a GrabOne Deal (basically like Groupon) and Andrew and I had never been skydiving so we were really excited.  We were a bit nervous, but I would say more excited than anything.  So we got our instructions from the team...and then put on our gear...then it was time to go up in the plane.

I was fine...the whole time...and then Andrew was the first to go.  I'm sitting there, all excited and calm...and then I watched Andrew and his tandem partner jump off....my heart sank.
The nervousness and fright set in.  Then the next guy went...and ohhhhhhh was he scared. It was like putting a cat in the bath tub.  He clawed his way out of that plane...attempting to grab at anything he could to stop his tandem partner from throwing him out the plane.  His guide didn't care....and off they went! Then it was my turn...the guy must be really used to people freaking out because he just pushed me right to that edge. I was so nervous. I looked down and there went my heart again, right in to my stomach.  And then one, two, three! Off we went! I was screaming like a bat outta hell! It was SO INSANE! And SO AWESOME!!! The free-fall was only a few seconds...I think like 60 seconds maybe...but oh my goodness was it a rush.  Once he pulled the shoot it was just a float down to the bottom. Very relaxing, and absolutely gorgeous scenery.  So neat.

One of the best experiences and one that I highly recommend to anyone who has considered doing it.

From there we took the bus to Auckland.  With alllll our crazy amounts of luggage.  A lot of luggage...like...a lot.  And there we sat at the bus stop for about 2 hours waiting on Karla to get off work and come get us.  Man was it hot...and man was it awkward sitting at a bus stop with enough luggage to live off of for a year.  Karla is one of Andrew's friends from the Polo playing days.  It was so nice of her to let us stay with her and her adorable mother! Once she finally came to get us, we spent the afternoon at their home as Andrew and her reminisced of past times.  Drinking wine on their amazing rooftop deck that looked over the Bay.

I did a bit of work while we were staying with them since Karla had to work during the day as well.  But once she was home we did various things...went and saw her horsey...went on some walks down to the water...went in to town for some sushi.  On that Friday, Andrew and I went in to town ourselves to do some exploring and pick up some souvenirs.  We, of course, missed our bus stop on the way home...and got INCREDIBLY LOST trying to get back. Buses in Auckland are confusing. And apparently we cannot navigate them well.  Oh well. We eventually got back haha. That night we went out with some of Karla's friends downtown.  Very inviting group. We partied all through the night, bar hopping, had a blast! Then once all the bars closed we went through the drive through, while in a taxi, on the way back to the house.  That was a first. The last day we did brunch with some of Karla's friends then went down in to Auckland again for 'the best' ice cream later in the afternoon.  It was pretty good...Our flight went out that evening...so after ice cream Karla took us over the the airport.  It was odd saying goodbye, not knowing when you'll be back again.  Then off we went for the States....on a 13 hr flight.

We flew in to LAX and my cousin Johnny picked us up so that we could have a little celebration on our layover with my California family.  First stop was of course In-N-Out Burger...Andrew's first experience. He was hooked. Stupid that we stopped to eat on our way to dinner but you can't go to LA and not stop at In-n-Out Burger (haha).  Once we arrived at my Uncle Bob's house we had a fantastic dinner and Andrew got to meet a lot of my family for the first time.  Some yummy salmon and salad and wine, great company...Not a bad use of time for a 10 hour layover ;) That evening they took us back to the airport and off we went again.  One last layover in Chicago...and Andrew slept on the floor.  It was cute.  And then home at last in NC.

Overall, an absolutely amazing trip.  We might be ridiculously in debt from it...but it was WELL worth it! I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.  And who knows...now that I'm in love with NZ, and engaged to a kiwi, we might be moving there in near future...Talk about a dream come true huh?

Cheers!
Pattie