I can't believe that its already been SIX MONTHS since Aaron and I got engaged! Where did the time go?? So much has led up to where we are with our early planning. It's so crazy to look back and see how much has changed and how much we've accomplished already.
A few weeks after getting engaged, I had an unfortunate fall-out with a close friend. We had gotten engaged 4 weeks apart, and I was so excited to share this journey with her. I thought it would be so fun to plan together and attend bridal events with one another. I had always envisioned my wedding in the fall in a cute rustic barn. I had ideas of mahogany, gold, and deep colors of fall. Pumpkins, fall leaves, and apple cider. All of my favorite things to create a perfect wedding! I had originally chosen a date that had meaning to me: 10.19.19. October to symbolize my favorite season, and the 19th to mimic my parents' anniversary date (their anniversary was August 19th). I was so excited to start planning so I started to tell my close friends what date we were choosing. And when I told my friend, she started to pick apart every part of what I had already planned. Apparently, she had chosen the weekend before and became upset when I told her my date and what it meant to me. After a few days, she asked me to move my wedding date. And I did.
A lot of people have asked me why I even moved the date for her. I want to share with you that I still valued our friendship and I wanted both of us to be happy. If that meant me sacrificing my dream wedding, I would do that for her. And I found a way to make it work for myself and Aaron. After moving our wedding date, my friend began to really push the idea of a winter wedding. She would send me winter wedding decorations and ideas via Pinterest. Eventually, she started to get angry that our weddings would be two months apart because she wanted me to be dedicated to her wedding only. She asked for the second time to move my wedding date, but this time to a different year. She suggested fall of 2018, but that was way too soon for Aaron and I to get our finances in order. Unfortunately, her negative and selfish attitude cost our friendship. I'm saddened, but relieved that the stress is gone. My intention for my wedding is to be drama-free, uplifting, and easy-going. This part of my engagement was stressful and forced. I was to the point where I was feeling bad for even being engaged because I always felt like I was in her way. I wish her the best of luck in her own wedding planning, and I look forward to planning the rest of my wedding without judgement. Although it was a negative experience at the beginning of my engagement, it was still a chapter in my journey.
I'll admit, I wasn't convinced in the beginning about having a wedding in the middle of winter. But then I began to think of Aaron- the real reason why I was planning this wedding in the first place. It was about us. Nobody else. And so I thought about what the month of December meant to me. December of 2015 was our first year of dating (we had been together for 6 months at that time) and it was also when Aaron gave me my promise ring. Fast forward to December of 2017 and we're engaged! So, in talking with Aaron, we decided that it would be fitting to have a December wedding. Once we made that decision, the planning became fun again.
I work for Heavenly Creations on the weekends where I get to help set up weddings (chair covers, centerpieces, backdrops, up-lighting, etc.) and I also happen to be close friends with the owner's daughter, Makenzie (also known by her Simply Makenzie Blog). I am so grateful to say that they will be helping decorate my very own wedding! I am also so lucky to say that Makenzie's sister, Shelby of Shelby Lynn Designs, will be creating our wedding invitations as well. And the most exciting thing right now? We finally have our wedding venue booked!!
We decided to book with the Chandelier Ballroom in Hartford, WI. Originally, like I had mentioned before, I had dreamed of a barn wedding. We looked into Rustic Manor 1848, The Bog, The Bowery, Ironworks Hotel, Barn at Harvest Moon Pond, Milford Hills, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, and The Fields Reserve (my favorite). But finding a barn that was insulated for the winter and still reasonably priced proved difficult. I knew that one thing I really wanted in a venue was a sense of rustic charm and a fireplace. When we came across the Chandelier Ballroom, the first thing that stood out to both of us was that it was an affordable venue. It has two rooms, the Fireside room with, yes- a fireplace (score) and a Great Hall room with a beautiful tall ceiling and antique chandeliers. And the crazy thing is that it's literally just a few blocks from our home! It was perfect for us because we didn't want to have to worry about a hefty wedding price and it's close to home, family, and friends.
There is still so much more planning ahead of me, but I'm excited to start creating the Christmas wedding of both of our dreams. There will be so many unique decorating touches that will make our wedding classic, beautiful, and unique. I'm thinking of pine cones, holly, mistletoe, romantic candles, reds, golds, and flannels.
I want to say THANK YOU to all of my amazing friends and family who have supported me and helped me get to this point. I can't wait to continue planning!
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