less than one week until my sister’s wedding 
i’m the matron of honor and i cannot wait to give back to her what she gave to me during my wedding day. her dress is beautiful, her reception location is beautiful… it’s just all going to be vintage and classy. the colors are deep red, turquoise, dark browns, and various blues.
it’s my big sister’s turn.
the mugs were from hallmark as far as i know i love them. they’re great for hot chocolate & remind me of our wedding day/night every time we use them. ♥ they’re reserved for just billy & i. haha.
speaking about gifts, our friend jordan bought us a beautiful, handmade bowl to put jewelry, change, etc. in. i keep our rings in it when we’re not wearing them.
one of the things that is so thoughtful about this gift is that she bought it from etsy because she knows i love handmade goodies & supporting crafters. jordan has got to be one of the sweetest, most giving people i’ve ever met. she has sent me mixed CD’s, fun little scrapbooking stuff, and adorable notes and cards. this wedding present is one i’ll cherish because of the thought and heart that went into it.
in closing - for those of you who don’t know, i’ll now introduce you to scribblehoney.com, my “main” blog. bookmark it along with this site! i have different plans for each!
“you’re beautiful…” he said.
“i don’t have to be beautiful, i just want to be yours…” i replied back, nuzzling into his neck.
he pulled closer for a warm hug.
“well,” he started… “you’re beautiful and you’re mine…”
my love story is real yet it’s still so unbelievable. one of my favorite wedding presents we received was these mugs from billy’s parents:
inside it says, “and they loved happily ever after…”
yes, yes they did.
kindal’s reading from the wedding:
Tomorrow morning if you wake up
and the sun does not appear
I will be here
If in the dark, we lose sight of love
Hold my hand, and have no fear
‘Cause I will be here
I will be here
When you feel like being quiet
When you need to speak your mind
I will listen
And I will be here
When the laughter turns to cryin’
Through the winning, losing and trying
We’ll be together
I will be here
Tomorrow morning, if you wake up
And the future is unclear
I will be here
Just as sure as seasons were made for change
Our lifetimes were made for these years
So I will be here
I will be here
And you can cry on my shoulder
When the mirror tells us we’re older
I will hold you
And I will be here
To watch you grow in beauty
And tell you all the things you are to me
I will be here
I will be true to the promise I have made
To you and to the One who gave you to me
Tomorrow morning, if you wake up
And the sun does not appear
I will be here
Oh, I will be here.
also… the present i ended up getting kindal was a painting print from the black apple which i had framed in a vintage frame i found at goodwill & had tucked away until something “special” came up, and it finally did:
it’s supposed to be her, her fiance (soon to be husband - oct. 25th) and their daughter (her stepdaughter), taryn. taryn is the hedgehog for a reason… she is a stand out & has her own identity and challenges she will face as she grows up. she is one of a kind - a beautiful person deserving of being immortalized through a picture of something that represents a unique being. my little t-t. kindal loved it so that’s all that matters!
i made the decision to sell my wedding dress. it was a tough choice but i know i’ll never use it again and how many daughters really wear their mother’s wedding dress now - c’mon? plus, i love the idea of another bride getting to wear my dress & saving a lot of money in the process & the dress becoming “hers”… that’s just a beautiful thought to me.
other than that, our household is preparing to go out of town this weekend. i don’t know the specifics, i just know we’re going to billy’s hometown (in eastern ky) and might try to go to mine, too. i love long weekends & since school just started, this is what i need!
speaking of school, i’m applying for grad school next week. 
and billy is doing really well in his job… he loves it… i’m so glad he found a “computer job” that’s laid-back. his co-workers seem amazing, i really need to meet more of them! he’s been working there 2 years this month.
also - WE MISS OUR FRIENDS & FAMILY! we were so spoiled getting to see everyone during the wedding. we really miss them now! *xoxoxoxo*
more pictures are on my myspace page! they are HUGE files… it’s insane.
our cake was one of my favorite things about the day. i had our baker make it after a cake that i loved off ace of cakes (charm city cakes).
here was the inspiration:
here was my cake:
what do you think? i think beth did fabulous!
the pictures from the wedding should be up this weekend - my photographer keeps changing around the teasers on his blog.
also, i thought i’d post a few pictures from our mini-moon:
(filet mignon for billy, a huge salad for me from rock bottom in fountain square, mmmm)
(kissing downtown in the park at night)
(view from our suite’s balcony)
the indoor water park we went to ended up being more geared for a younger crowd, but billy and i made the best of it (and made fun of ourselves the entire time). we floated down the lazy river & rode the 4 “big” slides a dozen times (no lines, yayayay) and ate a&w root beer stand food.
other highlights included ordering room service dessert (i had new york style cheesecake, OMG yes) seeing fountain square, and cuddling & watching little miss sunshine (”our” movie we watched on our first date). it was simple, romantic, and much-needed.
next year we’re going to try to do something a lot different… i’d like to go to south america because i’m totally fascinated with hispanic culture in general… but we’ll see what happens.
we’re still trying to organize / find places for gifts!!! it’s insane! and we got our official marriage certificate today so the changing of the name will be official tomorrow! ahhhh!
ALL VENDORS ARE IN LEXINGTON, KY.
Church for Ceremony = A
Southland Christian Church
Southland does all their weddings in the chapel, which has pretty (but simple) stained glass windows, neutral decor, and a tall ceiling. Their required marriage classes were horribly boring (and I felt useless) and the wedding fee is a little high, but their wedding planner is helpful and we adored our officiant - Ked Frank. Everything was smooth and easy. No communication problems.
Reception Hotel = B+
Four Points by Sheraton
PROS: Great location - off New Circle and the interstate. Staff is friendly. Rooms have been remodeled and are large & comfy. Their communication is overall very good from start to finish. There is no minimum for food, even on weekends. The ballroom is very large. Amanda Bourassa is very courteous and helpful. You can customize your meal to only appetizers if needed. There is no time limit for your reception.
CONS: Their “special rate” for receptions is a horrible deal, it’s better to book online. The hallways don’t have A/C and some of the carpet is stained. Service tax & sales tax make everything a lot higher. The ballroom has huge, dark red stripes on the walls and red carpet and chairs making color schemes easily clash.
Photography = A+
Bill & Gretchen Caine
billcaine.com
PROS: Will travel. The price is affordable & the packages are customizable. Bill is extremely good with communication and is very flexible & laid-back. He has a style that is artistic yet not so quirky that you don’t get “classic” shots. He thinks of creative poses but also lets you chime in with your own. Gretchen, his wife, is his second shooter & is talented and sweet. They work awesome as a team & they also work *quickly* and without much direction. They have a good sense of humor and my whole wedding party loved them both. He was extremely quick to post teasers & his turn-around time for photos is amazing!
CONS: The only negative thing I have to say about Bill is that occassionally he will like a picture that I find unflattering of me. However, he always *quickly* fixes this when I say, “Bill, I hate this picture!” Hahaha. All joking aside, I didn’t have any negative experience with him or Gretchen. They are amazing photographers & people.
Florist = C-
Flowers by Angie
PROS: Angie was very pleasant & attentive when she met with me, easy to get along with, and her prices weren’t horrible. The boutonnieres were very nice & kinda funky with a little twisted stem. We did the bridesmaid bouquets ourselves so they were beautiful & free.
CONS: Her communication after she received my deposit was horrible. She asked my coordinator the day before what my bouquet was supposed to look like. My bouquet was made with flowers that had already browned on the edges. One of my roses was a complete mismatch (it was solid pink & there were no solid pink roses in my bouquet - though there was SUPPOSED to be). There was greenery all inside & outside of the bouquet. It wasn’t even wrapped with floral wire or tape - just one small wire was wrapped around it. There were a bunch of pearl pins added into the handle that I didn’t ask for. The roses were not the colors I asked for. We had to completely unwrap the bouquet, rearrange it, tear off all the greenery, and rewrap it. It was dead by the end of the night. I am EXTREMELY disappointed.
Makeup Artist = A+
Ana Crane Simpson for MAC
appliedcosmeticservices.com
PROS: Will travel. Ana has an amazing, friendly, funky personality. She works with high-quality MAC products. She did two trials for me, both were free. Her prices were fantastic (I paid $85). She was flexible, listened to what I wanted, but also used her own creative flair. She was quick to apply & professional. My makeup stayed put all night and flattered me. She covered my blemishes & a huge scratch I had down my arm. The makeup looked great in photos. She doesn’t make over every bride to look the same (I hate when makeup artists do that!)
CONS: Absolutely none.
Hair Stylist = A
Rachael Reed with JcPenny (859)509-6292
Lexington, KY
PROS: Will travel. Flexible and friendly, my hair looked great all night. The hairspray she used worked well & didn’t weigh my hair down. My veil was extremely secure. Rach did a free hair trial and colored my hair FOR FREE a few nights before the wedding & then touched it up again for free. She is creative and unique and will do exactly what you ask but I suggest letting her add in her own flair. She’s young so she knows what is “in style” and listens to you when you tell her what you want. Rach is building her portfolio & is only going to get better. I love her!
CONS: Rach works a LOT and can have a hard time scheduling or keeping scheduled appointments - however, she’s also a friend of mine so it was more relaxed. She is new and doesn’t have a lot of experience in wedding hair. We had to touch up with a smaller barrel curling iron because she was using too big of a barrel.
Cake Baker = A
Beth Cook (formerly of Martine’s)
Lexington, KY
bethcook@insightbb.com
PROS: The cake was beautiful. BEAUTIFUL. She was very flexible - I changed designs midway through and it was no problem for her. Her prices are reasonable & broken down so you can understand them. She works with real buttercream (but can also work with fondant). The flavor of the cake was amazing… we had three different layers with different flavors and everyone raved. My favorite was the buttercream cake with strawberry and creme cheese filling. Mmmm…there wasn’t a single piece of cake left! I was so impressed with the cake and Beth is just starting “on her own” so I know she’s going to get even better. Get her before her prices go up!
CONS: We were only offered two flavors during the tasting and didn’t get to take much home afterwards. Communication was not always dead-on, but once her attention was brought to it, she quickly made up for that. She is very friendly but sometimes needs to be led in conversation. Overall she’s a very talented person… moreso than I even realized until I saw the cake.
Wedding Gown = B-
David’s Bridal
Lexington, KY
PROS: My gown was beautiful, dry-cleaned, and ready to go. Customer service was pretty good (though they’re ALWAYS busy). My dress was always ready on time. My bridesmaid dresses didn’t take long to come in & looked pretty in pictures. Prices are reasonable. Their 12 month no-interest credit card makes payments very easy.
CONS: Lots of people shop there so your dress isn’t as unique. Their alterations are HORRIBLE, expensive and my dress needed to be taken up like 2 more inches & I didn’t have time to fix it. They sign you up for all kinds of mailing lists & telemarketing calls without asking you.
Day Of Coordinator = A
Emily Heeringa
Louisville, KY
emilypluggedin@gmail.com
PROS: Will travel. Extremely friendly and loves talking about weddings (fun!). She is very organized and remembers details you are for sure to forget. She treats you like a princess on your big day & you are never without water, lipgloss, an ear to vent to, transportation, etc. She fixed my entire bouquet for me. She helped me get into my dress, carried an emergency kit, carried my dress/veil when needed, told people where they needed to go, took care of phone calls, picked up food, and so much more. She drove Billy & I around and always let us have our privacy of conversation without jumping in. She is patient & does exactly what you need done without question/complaints. She’s good with communication & is an extremely good person. I cannot wait to watch her business grow!
CONS: Emily gets things done so she can be very harsh & blunt. You have to know that’s her personality & that she means well. There were a few times when I was frustrated with her because of her harshness, but I can see that overall it was better because it got things done completely & on time.
Overall, my only real negative experience was with my florist. The other vendors were not only awesome at what they did, but good people. I was very blessed and I highly recommend all of them, minus my florist.
it’s official, we’re finally married! the wedding was emotional and beautiful and funny all in one. i couldn’t have asked for better decorations and the ceremony and reception were both decked in gorgeous colors, patterns, ribbons, and more. it was simple but gorgeous which is exactly what we wanted.
the hotel food was pretty good & their service was excellent. the cake was amazing thanks to beth cook in lexington. she used to work for martine’s and the cake was very high quality - i was impressed. the dj tony hoffman in corbin also did an amazing job keeping the party going and a lot of our wedding party did some crazy break-dancing! hopefully bill got good pics of some of it! we went all night - the reception was from 7:30pm-12:00am & some people didn’t want to leave! haha
we went on our mini-moon to cinci where we mostly relaxed… we were exhausted after the wedding (that’s the most tired i’ve ever been). we received a ton of amazing presents that i’m still attempting to find places for. we’re using some of our gift cards to buy a new book shelf to put some of the stuff on! haha.
i will be posting vendor reviews on the next post. i was really only disappointed majorly with one vendor - and that was my florist (who now, looking back, i think was recommended to me by someone who wanted me to fail… but that’s okay). my day of coordinator, emily, redid my entire bouquet and made it a lot prettier than it was. thank goodness the rest of the flowers were fake!
pictures will be up soon. my photographer posted a few on his blog for now as teasers!
after my vendor reviews, i’ll post some pics/stuff about the mini-moon, and then i’ll post more about the wedding and such with more candid shots. thank you for everyone who came! we really appreciated it ♥
