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Gabi and Jack’s Rustic Chic Wedding

Wednesday, November 28th, 2012

I am so thrilled to share Gabi and Jack’s wedding with you today! Gabi holds a special place in my heart, she was a marketing intern for over a year at BravoBride and then our guest bride blogger. You can learn about her adventures in wedding planning here. Read about their beautiful day as told by Gabi and take a look at their amazing photos captured by Jessica Hannon Photography. Enjoy!

lace wedding dress
Jack and I were lucky to have clear skies and warm temperatures the day that we got married, and blessed to have loving family and friends celebrate with us as we started our lives together.


Our ceremony was held at my childhood church and our reception took place on my family’s property. I couldn’t have asked for a better location to start my life with the man that I love than the place where I grew up. We rented a big tent, hired a blue grass band and set out yard games for everyone to play. Jack and I wanted everyone to be comfortable and to have fun, and that is exactly what happened.


Earlier this year, I wrote an post about why we hired a wedding planner… and I am so happy we did! Our wedding planners worked closely with us to make sure everything looked the way we wanted it to look and to make sure we were stress free the day-of. On terms of how we wanted the reception to look, our planners blew us away! They achieved a rustic-chic atmosphere by incorporating old wheels, windows and doors from my family’s barn (as mentioned in my previous blog post) and mixing it with vintage items they brought on their own. I couldn’t have imagined anything better for our wedding.


They worked my dad and brothers to tie trees up against the big tent poles, created beautiful bouquets and boutonnières for our entire wedding party and managed the entire day so we didn’t have to worry about anything. The Bliss Life truly made our lives bliss for that entire day.


Overall, we just have so many people to thank for making our day amazing. Our photographers caught such precious moments and made us feel completely comfortable while they were shooting us, the bands that played (The East Hill Blue Grass Band and Jack’s brother’s band) were spectacular and the support that we got from our families… well, I am just speechless. I couldn’t be more proud and honored to have my family and to have joined Jack’s. I wish the amount of joy and love that I experienced on my wedding day to every bride-to-be out there.

Thank you Gabi and Jack for sharing your beautiful day with us!
——♥——

Gabi and Jack’s Wedding Vendors

Wedding Planner – The Bliss Life
Photography – Jessica Hannon Photography
Catering – Larson Catering
Limo/ Bus – Night Life Limousine
Grooms Dinner Location – The Spicer Castel Inn
Church – Redeemer Lutheran
Bridesmaid’s Dresses – Nordstrom
Bride’s Dress – Flutter Boutique
Groom & Groomsmen Tux – Men’s Warehouse
Beverages – West Side Liquors
Wedding Rings – LJS Design
Music – East Hill Blue Grass Band
Hair – Alison Warne
Makeup – Liz Marcus
Tent & Chair Rental – South Central Tent Rental
Cake – Jeri Mack from Objects & Subjects
Popcorn Machine – Fiesta Time Party Rentals

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Wedding Day – Do’s and Don’ts

Monday, September 24th, 2012

Woohoo! We did it! Jack and I finally tied the knot and it was absolutely breathtaking! I can’t believe that it has been almost a month since we got married. It seems like yesterday that I was slipping into my dress for the first look. It was truly an amazing day and I cannot thank everyone enough who made it all come together. But even though I look back and think of the day as perfect, I do recognize that there were a lot of little things that went wrong or unexpected during the planning process, and that’s why I am writing the Do’s and Don’ts of getting married. There are a lot more than what I have listed, but these are the main ones that I came to realize after getting married. Enjoy!

Gabi's wedding day - more photos to come!

DON’T:

  1. Expect everyone to RSVP on time- we had people change their RSVPs two days before
  2. Worry about what others think – it’s your big day, not theirs
  3. Believe you won’t worry about who will do your hair and makeup – I didn’t think I would, but I did
  4. Think that you can wait until the week of to schedule your nail appointment- that goes for any appointment
  5. Be surprised when you become the “bridezilla” you said you would never be – I kicked a hole in the wall due to stress… OMG
  6. Expect things to be perfect on the day of – we ran out of chairs… refer back to #1
  7. Freak out over the small things on the big day -there’s nothing you can do at that point. Just sit back and enjoy your day
  8. Expect to eat or drink much – I barely ate or drank anything because I was too busy having a great time with our guests
  9. Worry about your makeup when you cry – no matter who did it, it’s going to be gone by the end of the night
  10. Forget to say thank you a million times to EVERYONE!

DO

  1. Ask for help- take up every friend who offers to help with anything
  2. Prioritize your spending on what’s important to you, not others
  3. Find a dress that makes you feel sexy and comfortable at the same time
  4. Make the wedding more about your guests than about you -no matter what, everyone is there to celebrate you, but if you focus on what is convenient for your guests, everyone will have more fun
  5. Bring flats – you’re feet will hurt by the end of the night if you’re in heels just like any other night
  6. Accept the fact that something will probably go wrong
  7. Write reviews on all your vendors – they work so hard, it’s the least you can do
  8. Expect to see some wedding crashers – you’ll have at least one (we had several!)
  9. Take a step back and steal a moment for yourself to soak it all in
  10. Say thank you a million times to EVERYONE!

Some of these Do’s and Don’ts I expected, but some took me by surprise. I was definitely stressed out the week of my weeding and wasn’t sure how things were going to fall in to place. By the day of the wedding, I was ready to enjoy myself whether or not the day was perfect…. And I did! It was a fantastic event and I wish the same joy that I had on my wedding day to every bride out there.

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First Song – The Gabi Chronicles

Thursday, August 2nd, 2012

Our wedding is only 30 days away and things are really starting to hustle and bustle around our little home. We are all done with our bachelor and bachelorette parties, as well as our bridal showers and now it’s time for the home stretch! It took me a while to figure out what to write for today’s post (after all, so much has been going on!) and I thought I would post about something I assume every couple discusses: What song to dance to for our first dance.

Below are five songs we are considering for our first dance. For all those still searching for a song to dance to, perhaps our considerations will inspire you.

I know you can’t improve on the original, but this take on the Bob Marley classic is an absolute win in my book!

The name of this song says it all. Life is crazy and so is love, so it’s good to have someone there to share all of it with.

Although this isn’t the exact version that we are considering, it’s good enough to show how beautiful this song is.

I have loved this song for a very long time and now I have someone who I think of every time I hear it. “I will still with you through the ups and downs. I will stay with you when no one else is around. When the dark clouds arrive, I will stay by your side. I know we’ll be alright, I will stay with you.” – John Legend

Being that I am half Brazilian, it’s no surprise that I have a Brazilian song in the first dance list. Whether it’s in English or Portuguese, this song sums up what I am without Jack… Incomplete. I found a video that has English lyrics on it so that you can see what I mean.

I hope that you enjoy these songs and I wish you the best of luck narrowing down your choices. If you have already made your song choices, I hope that you at least enjoy listening to our considerations.

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Unique Ways to Save on Wedding Invitations

Wednesday, July 18th, 2012

Guest post from our bride-to-be blogger Gabi.

I like to pride myself on the fact that I like to save money…or at least spend irrationally. “Spend money on what’s important,” is a something that my dad instilled in me at a young age. When the discussion of wedding invitations came up, I really didn’t care too much on what they looked like as long as they were the right price.

Although part of me wanted precious and beautiful invitations that expressed who Jack and I were, the other part of me didn’t want to spend a fortune on them. At the end of the day I thought of what I, a guest to a wedding, would do with invites after the fact. And the fact is that I eventually throw the invite. This made me really think on where my investments are in our wedding. Every couple has to decide where they want to splurge and where they want to save. I decided to save on the invites and splurge elsewhere.

I purchased around 300 invites from Wilton for $50.00 (they were on clearance at a store in my home town). Although it was a lot more work than ordering from an invitation professional, it was much more affordable. Jack and I worked on them together and it only took a few days to print them ready to be sent out.

One funny fact about our invites is that none of them match! We purchased several different kits that come with everything from printing labels to RSVP cards, but there wasn’t enough of one kit to suffice our entire invitation list so we ended up purchasing a variety. Some people might think it tacky, but if I hadn’t written this blog… no one would know.

Another way we are saving money is by having our guests RSVP online. It wouldn’t have cost much more, but a couple hundred dollars in stamps costs is definitely something you don’t think about when your first get engaged.

Overall, I am happy with the invites and so is Jack. We actually find it funny that everyone is getting a different invite. It’s definitely a bit more memorable and personally, I am just happy to get them sent out. Until next time!

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De-Stressing During Wedding Planning

Thursday, June 21st, 2012

Stress. It’s inevitable while you’re planning a wedding. I didn’t think Jack and I would argue over silly things like where we’d get our cake or time management during the weekends, but we have… and it’s okay as long as we come to our senses and figure out a way to forgive and move forward. After all, that’s an important part of being in a relationship.

Photo by: Teresa from Memories N More

We’re about 75 days until our wedding and it seems that once you pass that 100-day mark, stress elevates and patience shortens. Whether it’s yoga or chanting, everyone has a way to de-stress. I have a few, but my favorite would have to be listening to NPR’s Radio Lab.

Jad Abumrad, Robert Krulwich and a team of very talented staff, produce this amazing, mind-filling podcast that basically hypnotizes me into deep thought. Subject matter ranges from what happens after death to how we view colors. It not only relaxes me, but it helps put things into perspective… something we all need now and then. I wanted to share my stress reliever to all you brides-to-be in hopes that it can help you relax too. This specific podcast I’m sharing is conveniently titled, “Stress.” It’s an hour of a long hard look at your body’s system for getting out of trouble… although it sounds more like science class, I assure you that you will walk away realizing how important stress is and how not important the color of your groomsmen’s ties are. Click here to listen.

Until my next wedding planning adventure!

- Gabi

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Styling Your Reception: 5 Upcycling Ideas

Monday, June 4th, 2012

As the big day draws near, (under 100 days until I say I do!) Jack and I realize that we have our work cut out for us in prepping the reception site for our guests. For the rest of the summer we are devoting ourselves to making sure the property is trimmed and ready to be used… but functionality is only part of what we want. We also want it to look amazing and to be memorable. Luckily, we have a creative wedding planner who is going to help us style the property so that it will not only be trimmed and mowed, but also have some cool accent pieces to help create a romantic feel for the night. For this post, I wanted to share some ideas that we might be incorporating into our wedding.

Photo on left from Dishfunctional Designs and photo on right from Alicia Parsons.

1. Vintage Suitcases
My dad just happened to own several really cool vintage suitcases and we just happen to have several really cool ideas with how we can incorporate them into the wedding. Surprisingly simple, classy and fun!

Image on left also from Dishfunctional Designs and image on right from Ribbons & Rust vintage wedding rentals.

2. Old Chairs
While looking for styling items in the barn, we found some old chairs would not be fit for guests but could be fit for something else. They have amazing backs and can easily be worked into the scenery by adding a burst of color to them.

Photo from Sulit.com

3. Upcycle Items with Meaning
Now I know not many people will own the item needed for this idea, but it’s worth sharing. My family has owned one of these Singer sewing wheels since I was little… in fact, I believe it was my grandmother’s. We used to play with it when my siblings and I were kids, but now that we’ve all grown up I think it’s appropriate to upcycle it. This is a great idea to bring new functionality to it while still keeping the memories attached with it.

Photo on left from Midwest Living. Photo on right by Bryan and Mae.

4. Vintage Bikes
Since my dad grew up in a large family, we just happen to have a few vintage bikes lying from when he was younger. We were discussing some fun ideas with what we could do with them and, just like the chair idea, we came to the conclusion that flowers are a great way to spruce up something old yet classic.

Photo on left from My Daily and photo on right from Apartment Therapy.

5. Tea Cups Saucers
I mentioned this idea in a previous post, 5 Ideas for Table Décor but a good idea is worth repeating. By upcylcing tea cup saucers, you are able to add a little personality to your dessert table, your guest’s table or even the head table. Find what you like (or use what you have) and create your own beautiful, and personalized, tier and use it for whatever you like! The best part is that you can take it home for future use or give it to a friend or family member.

These are only a few ideas that we are contemplating to use as decorations for the reception and I hope that they inspire you for your own wedding. Do you have a great upcycling idea? I’d love to see it! Just post a comment down below or on our Facebook page and tell us what you have done or what you want to do, and perhaps I’ll use the idea for my own wedding!

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When Your Wedding Dress Finds You

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

Although I couldn’t possibly post my wedding dress online before it’s big debut on our wedding day, I can talk about the details of where it came from. It’s actually a funny story, as I wasn’t even shopping for myself on the day I purchased it. One of my bridesmaids was in town and we decided to go to a local boutique that specializes in bridesmaid’s dresses… and that is where we found my dress. Just like many things in life, it found me when I wasn’t looking.

Flutter boutique is located in the Uptown area of Minneapolis, MN and primarily focuses on bridesmaid’s dresses but does carry menswear, accessories, and, you guessed it, a small selection of wedding gowns. The staff was absolutely lovely and we received no pressure to make decisions whatsoever. The space was filled with beautiful gowns in all sorts of styles and made me want to be a bridesmaid just so I could try them all on. The dressing room was conveniently large and the attendants very helpful. Overall, I had an exceptional experience and what proved it was that I walked out with a beautiful wedding dress.

Again, we originally went to Flutter to find for my friend who is in my wedding, but when I realized that they carried bridal gowns I of course started grabbing things to try on. Out of the six dresses I tried on, I loved four of them (not a bad percentage if you ask me). After admitting my love for all four the next important factor came into play… price. After taking a look at all the price tags, I was happy to see that my favorite dress happened to be the least expensive one! The final price of my selection (a full length, lace, A-line wedding gown with a court length train) ended up costing *Drumroll please* … $99.00! Although I do have to get it taken in a bit and have to repair a small tear near the zipper, I must say I got a deal!

I love the fact that I found a beautiful gown that made me feel gorgeous for a very reasonable price. I knew that from the start I didn’t want to invest a ton of money into a dress that I would only wear once. I would rather spend any additional money on making the event more enjoyable for our guests and us.

I can’t wait until I am able to show you all my wedding gown, but that will have to wait until September 1…. 108 days to go!

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3 Tips to Help Get You in Wedding Day Shape

Monday, May 7th, 2012

Just like any bride, I am on the conquest to get slim and trim before I walk down the aisle. Although I’m in pretty good shape, irregular workouts, random happy hours and drinking have definitely softened my edges over the past few months… and I am ready for that to change! I also know that getting started and staying committed can be difficult, which is why I wanted to share three helpful tips that helped get me started towards my fitness goals:

1. A Daily Routine

With life being so hectic, it’s easy to get off course when trying to eat healthy and exercise daily. Having a set routine can be a lifesaver in this category. If you know you are busy after work (or are easily convinced to go to social gatherings like me) then plan to get up an hour earlier than usual. If you’re not a morning person, make working out a must and not a back seat to happy hours and social outings.

2. Partner Up

Whether it’s your best girlfriend or your fiancé, having someone to work out with can be all the support you need. My fiancé and I have joined forces to dominate a 60-day workout program (we started this week! I’ll keep you posted on our progress over time) that will hopefully leave us in great shape.

3. Healthy Snacks and Beverages

We’re on the brink of summer, which means graduation parties, weddings and happy hours in the sun. Instead of walking to the cookie tray, grabbing that extra slice of pie or ordering those extra spicy buffalo wings, replace your regular appetizers, desserts and snacks with healthier options (hard to do, but it can be done!). Instead of fried, go with grilled. Instead of cookies, go with fruit. If you’re a snacker like me, you don’t have to quit cold turkey, just make healthy substitutions.

I would love to hear what you all are doing to get in shape for your wedding day, so please feel free to share them in the comment section below. Already married? Share what worked for you! I mentioned that Jack and I are on a 60-day workout program, so you can expect a post about our results at the end (we are only on day 4). Wish us luck!

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The Gabi Chronicles – Dear Bridal Shower Guest

Thursday, April 19th, 2012

As I plan my bridal shower, I can’t help but think of all the bridal showers I’ve been to in the past (not to mention think of all the bridal showers I’m going to this summer). No matter the relation to the bride, they’re always slightly awkward and full of strange party games… toilet paper bride? Really? So here is to you, bridal shower attendee. You are one good friend and the bride loves you for it.

toliet paper wedding dressImage from Glamour.com

Dear Fill In The Blank,

Thank you for attending my bridal shower. I know it was somewhat awkward when you first came in, but you found someone you recognized and you felt comfortable for a second… Although, I’m sorry that was short lived. I could see that being paired with my great aunt Amelia for the game “What is the bride taking on her honeymoon” wasn’t what you were expecting, but you were a good sport. I know you were only trying to lighten the mood with that sex toy joke. I should have mentioned that she was nun before the game started. Don’t worry. She’ll forgive you. Also, I wanted to thank you for letting everyone dress you up in toilet paper. I would have been so embarrassed to let a bunch of people I didn’t know stuff and fluff toilet paper all over their body and then have to model it down the hallway, but you rocked it! You were really “Charmin.” Ha! Did you catch my play on words there? Just like the poem my sister read as she gave me cleaning products. That was so witty. Don’t worry, I promise I will do that for you when your bridal shower comes!

Love you forever,
The Bride


So the next time you are sitting through another slightly awkward bridal shower, just have another glass of champagne and try to remind yourself that at least it’s not a baby shower. Passing around a diaper with melted chocolate in it trying to guess the candy bar is even worse.

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Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses: A Growing Trend

Thursday, April 5th, 2012

engagement photo

When it comes to who is wearing what in the wedding party, you would think that the bride would have the most trouble picking out her wedding gown…not the case in my situation. I found my dress pretty much right away and for a steal of $99 (Thank you sample sale)! The real challenge has been figuring out what our bridal party will be wearing; more specifically what my bridesmaids will be wearing.

When it came to choosing what I wanted for bridesmaids dresses, I knew right away that I wanted each dress to reflect the uniqueness of each woman who was in it. Not only do I want my closest friends to feel beautiful throughout the day, I also want them to be comfortable (not to mention to be able to reuse the dress again). I have four bridesmaids and each one is beautiful in her own way, which is just too much for one dress to handle. This is why I love that mismatch bridesmaid’s dresses are a growing trend. Letting each bridesmaid pick a dress that best fits her body and makes her feel good is the best bridesmaid gift I could give (don’t worry, I’ll still be giving them a thank you gift on the day of as well). Being a past victim of having to wear one of seven cloned dresses in a wedding (and never wearing it again) is what probably gave me this current disposition on bridesmaids dresses, and I am thankful for it. I encourage brides to be bold, get creative and boycott the cookie-cutter bridesmaid dress… or at least think about it.

To help inspire you, here are some great examples of what other brides have done:

mis-matched bridesmaid dressesImage from MollySims.com

Above images from Green Wedding Shoes

mismatched bridesmaid dressesImage from Zenadia Design

My sister had her bridesmaids wear mismatched black dresses, and we all know that every girl has or will need that staple in her closet someday. Bravo, sister!

Thanks for reading and as always, leave comments, links or suggestions below to help inspire other brides (including me!).

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