...Burlap & Lace...

As many military families know, weddings don't come easy in our world. There is a mess of stuff to deal with (leave chits, deployments, moves, paperwork...) that civilians don't have to deal with. Myles and I were almost on the verge of saying, "Eh! We're already married... Let's just save the money and forget it!"

I'm. So. Glad. We. Didn't. 

We got married in a courthouse last Spring (2011), and needed it to be on paper so that I could move with him after I finished graduate school and before he got permanent orders so that I would be on them. Otherwise, it might have ended up that we'd be waiting four more years to be wed! Turned out though, that the ACTUAL wedding couldn't be until the very end of the year. December 19th was the blessed day. 

We did it! We had the wedding! It was all that I could have imagined.... and more. 

I wanted a country-chic wedding, inspired by cowboy boots, burlap, and lace!
Aren't my girls fabulous?! 

 Here are some of my faves in terms of finishing touches and details...

 The ceremony was atop a hill at Riley's Farm in California. Beautiful spot! 

Very rustic and country, to which we added some elegance and charm. 

We used moss on the petal basket and ring pillows, and had mason jars hung by burlap. Of coarse, everything had a touch of lace for that chic elegance we all adore! 

 My favorite part! I showed up to the ceremony in this classic antique blue convertible car. Walked myself down the isle to "At Last" by Etta James.  After the ceremony, we rode away together. :)

 We had the reception in the barn! So fantastic! There was a hay ride to and from the ceremony site up the hill for the guests to ride. (It was a bit of a chilly walk to and from!) 

 Here are a few reception photos: 

Chalkboards were a huge part of our theme. Very trendy right now! 

I used them for signs outside and throughout the reception area. 

Centerpieces were collections of vintage blue glass that my grandmother had collected. Each table had different pieces, different sizes, and each one was gorgeous. Tables were lined with... you guessed it! Burlap and lace. 

 We had a country band complete with a dance caller! Our guests had a great time dancing with the dance caller. At first we thought it might be a little awkward... "What if no one comes up? What if he tells us to do something WEIRD?" HAHA! It was so the opposite. 

Even the groom, the I'm-a-typical-white-male-who-hates-dancing-even-while-drinking had a great time! 

 Everything about it was perfect. At one point, Myles and I were sitting at our sweatheart table, and I looked and said, "Look at this! Look at our wedding! How amazing is this? It's everything I dreamed."

I loved it. I cherished it. I love him. I cherish him. 

...adoring all things beautiful