Our Ceremony

For every different time in our lives together, David and I have tried to remember Ecc. 3:1, 

"For everything there is a season, a time and a purpose." 

While we were dating and long distance, we would remind each other that "this is just a season".

When we didn't like our job or school, we would say, "this is just a season". 

So, when the season finally came for the Lord to allow us to follow through with marriage, we embraced the season, and I give Him all the glory for that. The engagement season was so much fun and so memorable, but nothing has beat this season of marriage. 

I wanted to share our ceremony with the blog - for my own safe keepings. 

It was hot. 

It was cloudy - with a chance of rain.

It was early when I woke up and snuck away from bed to try not to wake Lauren, my matron of honor who had stayed up all night with me while I was too restless to sleep.

It was overwhelming to think that I had dreamed of this day through every heartbreak before David, every good time I had ever had with David, and especially since January 30th when he proposed to me, the day was finally here.

It was June 27, 2015.

It was {finally} our wedding day.

The ceremony was to start at 2:00. The day FLEW by! Since David and I decided to do a first look, we were able to do most of the posed photos with the wedding party and family beforehand. That would allow us to go straight to the reception afterwards, and we wanted to do that in order to get on the road to our honeymoon!

Inside, the church was decorated with a custom build arch (if you will), from my daddy. He cut the trees from our property, and we had fresh greenery adorning it. Tapering away from the arch on either side was an assortment of different sized and colored lanterns with candles lit inside of them. Some lanterns were given height by cut tree stumps that we also gathered from our property where we recently cut timber.

I wanted our decorations to be meaningful and sentimental. Almost all of the wood used throughout our wedding was from the property that my dad grew up on. It kind of felt like bringing a piece of his childhood and his family into the ceremony with us. I will post more on the sentimental aspects of our wedding soon!

The time came for everyone to trickle into the church. The prelude included a mixed CD of songs that were a soundtrack of David & I's dating (and engaged) life. They were songs that we consider "ours". I will put a list at the end of the post! 

So, as our friends and family were coming in to find a seat, our songs played softly in the background. 

Next, it was time to seat the family. My cousin, and our pianist at church, Gina Cotton, played the paino as the mothers & grandmothers (and aunt!) were seated to Great is Thy Faithfulness. We chose this because the lyrics ring true in our lives. They rang true especially during that season of life. 

"Great is Thy Faithfulness - morning by morning, new mercies I see. All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy Faithfulness!"

The bridesmaids and groomsmen (and TK - the 'best dog') walked down the isle to "Clair De Lune", which is a classic favorite of mine. I have always though it was lovely - since taking a music education class in middle school. 

Next, it was time for my daddy to walk me down the aisle, and we went with the traditional "Wagner's Bridal Chorus". To be honest, I remember the first notes of it, but the rest is a total blur! I remember looking at my bridesmaids about halfway down the aisle, and I remember finally seeing David's face once I almost reached the front, but in my mind - there was no music. 

Complete silence. 

All I could think about was, "is this really happening?" 

I was living out a dream I had had for so long.

Next came the vows... We spent a period of time before we got married going through marriage counseling with our pastor, Bro. Bill Ross. David and I learned a lot about each other during that time, and Bro. Bill taught us a lot, as well. We have tucked so much of his advice away, and we use it as armor in our marriage now - we use it as a shield to guard and protect our marriage. So, when we began discussing vows, we wanted to use some that were personal to our lives and meaningful to look back on in the future. We wanted simple, but powerful. 

I, David, take you, Julianna to my wife,

my partner in life, and my one true love. 

I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever.

I will trust you and honor you.

I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst, 

through the difficult and the easy.

Whatever may come, I will always be there. 

As I have given you my hand to hold, 

so I give you my life to keep - 

as long as we both shall live.

I, Julianna, take you, David to my husband,

my partner in life, and my one true love. 

I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever.

I will trust you and honor you.

I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst, 

through the difficult and the easy.

Whatever may come, I will always be there. 

As I have given you my hand to hold, 

so I give you my life to keep - 

as long as we both shall live.

After our vows were said, we took part in the unity portion of our ceremony. 

It took us awhile to decide on something that we wanted to display for unity during our ceremony. We have seen so many different ideas for this portion of a wedding, and we wanted ours to be unique. So, we chose to plant a tree - but not just any tree - and we didn't want to plant it just anywhere. 

Here is the excerpt taken from our program: 

"In many wedding ceremonies, you often see the happy couple lighting a unity candle. Today, Julianna and David have instead elected to use a tree for this portion of their ceremony. The tree they have chosen is an American Bald Cypress. The Cypress Tree can live up to a thousand years. It can grow up to a hundred and twenty feet tall, and over fourteen feet across at the base. 

The cypress tree is mentioned in records throughout history, and it has many different meanings in many different cultures, but the meaning that applies here today is: 'The Cypress Tree represents the role of sacrifice in life'. As we all know, sacrifice is an important part of any successful marriage. 

Today, David and Julianna each bring a portion of dirt from their respective homes and each will place their dirt into the container with the tree, signifying their sacrifice and their pledge of unity in this marriage. This tree will then be planted on family property and will serve as a living reminder throughout the years of their love and sacrifice to each other." 

(thanks to daddy for always knowing exactly how to portray my thoughts - and for writing this up for us.) 

* I will add that the tree was planted by the end of the weekend by my brother, Matt, on our family land in Crawford, MS. I can say that, almost a year later, it is healthy & happy... and growing! 

We exchanged rings, and Bro. Bill added a special portion to the end of our ceremony. 

A week or so before the wedding, before all of the craziness with last minute prep began, Bro. Bill asked us to meet him at the church one night. So, David and I agreed. He met with us in order for us to make a pledge to him - but more so to our marriage. He read aloud our commitment as a symbol of confirmation to the congregation and to God as our witnesses, and this was (is) our commitment:

(The following words are a paraphrase of words recorded from the Book of Ruth)

"We promise to not leave each other, or to return from following after each other.

We promise that for where one goes, the other will go - and where one stays the other will stay,

your people will be my people, 

and your God will be my God.

Where you die, I will die, 

and where you're buried, I will be buried.

These things we promise to each other - for as long as we both shall live."

After that, Bro. Bill prayed over us, over our marriage, and over the people who would witness our marriage after we left the ceremony that day.

He then announced us as husband & wife....

and David kissed his bride!

(Song List) 

----------------

• that's how I know you love me 

- Justin Moore 

• enchanted 

- Taylor Swift 

• Feels Like Home 

- Chantel Kreviazuk 

• I just love you 

- Five for Fighting 

• kiss me 

- Ed Sheeran

• parachute 

- train 

• faithfully 

- Journey 

• make you feel my love 

- Adele 

• gravity 

- Dean Brody 

• i have and i always will 

- Dave Barnes 

• love will be enough for us 

- Dave Barnes 

• mine to love

- Dave Barnes 

• thinking out loud 

- Dylan Scott 

• kiss me 

- Jason Walker 

• I feel like that 

- Jason Walker 

• marry me 

- Train 

• never stop 

- Safety Suit

• shotgun 

- Nashville Cast 

• when I say I do 

- Matthew West 

**all photo credit goes to Twice The Focus Photography 

Our First Look!

It has been awhile (like, almost a year 'awhile'), but moving away from home means having no internet... until recently! So, I am back to finish up our wedding blogs. In no particular order. Just as I feel led to. 

And I feel led to share our "first look" today.

I went back & forth with this idea. I wanted to do a first look because I thought it would calm our nerves before the ceremony, and I knew it would save time in the long run as far as pictures and the reception were concerned. On the other hand, I wasn't so sure about it because I wanted our very first look to be authentic and genuine as I walked down the aisle with my Daddy. 

However, the pro's outweighed the con's when it came to the first look, and despite what everyone says about it - it is worth it! 

For us, it was just as special as it would have been during the ceremony, minus all of the people and the music.

My dressed had been fluffed. 

My hair had been fixed.

My veil had been put on. 

My perfume had been misted. 

My hands were shaking. 

My feet were bare. 

But my {almost} husband was waiting for me -

no time to spare.

In some ways, it seemed like the longest walk of my life, 

but it was gone in a flash.

It was the last time that David would have to wonder what I would look like in my wedding dress. The last time he had to keep an old image of me in his mind until he saw me in person again. It was the first time he would open his eyes and vision his wife there - instead of his girlfriend or his fiancé. It was the first time for me to really have a second to think, "This is happening. I am almost his. Forever." 

The next time we would walk down this sidewalk, it would be side by side - neither of our backs to each other. Hand in hand, not one falling beside us. It would be as one - unified - forever, no longer separated because God joined us together. 

.."It's always been a mystery to me, how two hearts can come 

together and love can last forever..

..but now that I have found you I believe that a miracle 

has come when God sends His perfect one..

..now, gone are all my questions about why, and I've never

been more sure of anything in my life..

..He must have heard every prayer I've been praying..

..because He made all my dreams come true..

..when God made you, oh I thank God He made you; when God made you,

He must have been thinking about me."

Our first look was one of complete amazement to me. I can remember looking at David through blurry eyes as I fought back tears. Those tears came from the joy that I felt in knowing that He was (is) mine. 

He will always be my first look. 

On June 27, 2015, every morning when I wake up, and every day after work. 

And my last look as I fall asleep each night and leave for work in the mornings. 

It's kind of nice looking through these almost a year later because I am able to say that He still greets me with that look on his face every single time that he sees me. 

He makes me feel desired, loved, and cherished. 

This first look was the beginning of a new look on our lives together as a married couple. We have faced many firsts since that first look, and it has been a great adventure - as long as we can face the firsts together, the ride will be well worth it for me. 

*all photo credit to: twice the focus

Wedding Party Attire

The bridesmaid's dress color is something that I couldn't quite nail into stone. I wanted something soft, summery, flow-y, and comfortable for them. My vision has always been one shouldered, but the color I was unsure of until I saw it at the store. Neutral was always the vision, but this color ended up being a dream.

I thought the color and style really complimented the girls well, and they all seemed to really like it! I've been a bridesmaid before, so I knew I wanted them to have something that was comfortable since they would be wearing it for a good while, and I knew that I wanted them to FEEL good in it. The color was complimentary of each of their skin tones as well. 

For the guys, I really had David in mind. I wanted him to be comfortable, to feel like himself, and to be polished yet relaxed. I feel like we really achieved that with the blue jean & blazer look. So many people would ask, "wait, blue jeans?" but I think it worked! David was comfortable, and all of the guys looked really nice. 

I wanted David to stand out a little, beyond having a different tie, so he wore a vest under his jacket. The ties were a PERFECT match to the dresses, and their bouts were simple. David's held a ranunculus (aka - my favorite flower), and the boys just held a coffee bean stem and filler. 

All together, the wedding party looked exactly how I imagined it. It was simple, soft, and different. It was easy, elegant, and true to the season.

Wyatt, our sweet little ring bearer, wore jeans, a white button up, a bow tie, and suspenders. He also wore his boots! He looked so grown, and he ACTED so grown! I am so proud of him, but he could've acted crazy and still been the cutest kid in the church. I'm so glad that Jacky and Ryan allowed him to be a part of our day. It was so neat to have him there with us. The guys made him feel like he was grown, too, from what I understand :) He's gonna make someone a fine fella one day.

For my dress, I chose a cap-sleeve ball gown style dress with an illusion boatneck. The bodice of the dress was adorned with beaded lace appliqués and we added a beaded sash with it as well. Instead of letting the sash be tied in the back (I didn't want it to interfere with the veil), I had it altered into the dress. I felt like a princess. I owe most of that to Autumn doing my hair and makeup, but the dress itself was comfortable, and that was a big factor for me, too. There will be more photos of the details of the dress in the "getting ready" post, but I didn't want to flood this post with photos of myself.

Doesn't David look comfortable? This was taken as they were doing some portraits of me, but this truly reflects the way that I see David dressed up. I've never seen him in a tux, and I couldn't imagine our wedding day depicting people we really aren't. I loved my dress, and I wanted him to love his look for the day. He could really go from wedding to riding a tractor in about three seconds flat with this look, don't you think? I think he, along with the rest of his buds, looked "sharp".

sidenote...

I have the most handsome husband in the world. 

Still trying to make myself believe that this is real life. 

my life. 

blessed is an understatement. 

ps -  TK wore a bowtie! That's all he needed to look like "The Best Dog".

photo credit: twice the focus 

Meet My Bridesmaids!

I thought it would be fun to post a little about the people who were involved in our bridal party, so I will start the wedding posts off with meeting my bridesmaids! I knew that i wanted to ask them in a special way, so I tried to personalize each to fit what they mean to me (I also got a brilliant idea from Lauren when she asked me to be her bridesmaid, so shout out to her for being my brain half of the time!)   

So, I created these small boxes with a few little things in them, and I tried to incorporate colors that we would use at the wedding: a sage green, gold, and neutrals. I added a little note in each one to them personally, and I also added a typed note with each of their names and a paragraphy about why I chose them to stand beside me in just a few short months. So, to introduce them, I will add the paragraph, followed by a little more... 

 

Lauren {matron of honor} 

I am so grateful that The Lord crossed our paths years ago at Ole Miss. From walking (what felt like) sixteen miles around  campus there to walking all over MUW ‘s campus and enduring  the most stressful two years of our lives together, you have  become one of my closest friends. You have helped me through some of the greatest “grown up” dilemma’s I’ve been  through thus far, and you always know exactly what to say. You’ve made me feel like part of your family, and even though it’s only been a few years, I feel like we have been friends forever.

Lauren and I met years ago at a retreat for our junior colleges, and to say "The Lord knew what He was doing" would be a major understatement. Almost two years passed, and we met again at MUW for SLP school together. God really knew what I needed, and Lauren is defintely one of the main reasons that I finished the program - she always pushed me to do well, and she was a wonderful study buddy, but leaving academics behind, Lauren and I became kindred spirits, or maybe we always were? She helped me through some tough times, and we bonded together on so many levels - from clothing styles to long distance relationships. I've always heard that you meet your lifelong friends in college, and I have to say that I can testify to that, for sure. 

Gabrielle

Where do I start? Let’s just say the first day I walked into David’s trailer at Livingston to meet you that I was a nervous wreck! It may sound crazy, but I just wanted things to go well. And here we are! We have had some crazy times together over the last two years, but you’ll never know how much I love our Saturday morning talks when you come lay across my bed, our photo shoot memories where YOU get to boss ME around with the camera, our spontaneous trips to town “just because we want to eat Mexico and get ice cream,” and fixing your hair and picking out outfits for all of your events! I can’t wait to say you’re my “sister in law”! Even though a lot of people already say it :)

Gabrielle and I, of course, didn't meet until David introduced us at his house in Livingston one Friday after we had driven over on our way to his mom's house for the weekend, and when I walked in and she stood there with jeans and her boots on, I figured that we would get along just fine. Gabe and I are alike in so many ways - we love to hunt, fish, and aggravate the mess out of our brothers (yes, she and Matt definitely fit the bill for siblings). But she is different than me in many ways, too. She has a confidence that I admire. She isn't the least bit shy, and she doesn't care (at all) what people think of her. Many people probably thought that she was in my wedding only because she is David's sister, but thats not it. I asked her to stand by my side because she's stood by it from the beginning. I was the first girl that David brought to meet his family, and she never turned away from me - none of his family did - and it wasn't long before we spent most of our weekends together, and most Saturday mornings consisted of her laying in the bed with me laughing and being crazy like we had been friends since we were able to talk. She stood beside me because she's treated me like I was her sister from day one, and I'm grateful that she finally is. 

Hollie 

Wow! When people say they’ve been through “thick and thin,” they don’t know a thing about us, do they? You have truly been my “from the womb to the tomb” girl! We have grown up together. We have spent many, many nights together that have shaped my life in such a positive way. Some of my favorite memories have been with you. No matter where life takes us, we always, always, always find our way back to each other. Thank you for sticking by my side. Thank you for riding to every single high school softball game with me and for spending every single Wednesday night of our last semester in college at my house! You’re my first best friend – my always best friend! God has blessed us by allowing our relationship to withstand  “rain or shine,” and I am so glad He has!

Well, Hollie has honestly been there through the BEST and WORST throughout my life. She has seen me in sickness, health, death, and triumph. We have graduated together three times (if you count kindergarten), and we both have been through what I believe would be the REAL test of time and friendship. We always say, "from womb to tomb" which is weird -- but it fits. She, aside from my blood relatives, was my first friend. We only knew each other for a long time. We began preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and high school together. She probably knows more about me than I know about myself. Together we have faced family, friends, school, and the world as we have known it together - and no amount of "season" in life has separated us - even when it's tried really, really hard to do so. 

Laura

My soul sister! My constant companion in Dirt Cheap, TJ Maxx, and by the pool. You understand me even when I don’t feel like I can be understood. Thank you for that! You and I share so much alikeness in style, beliefs, and the overall aspect of life. You have been a mentor to me – even if we are the same age! Thank YOU! I’m so glad that you decided to come to Central and grow up with the rest of us! Thank you for always believing my crazy ideas are good ones and for tagging along with me even when you’re skeptical! Cousins are the best friends, right?

Last, but certainly not least, is Laura. I remember when she started school at Central and I thought, "finally - all of my people in one place!" & high school wouldn't have been the same without her. Laura has an old soul like me, so we thrift, shop, bargain, and create together so well. She is a great listener, and she too has seen the best and worst of my cray-cray personality, but she has loved me the same. Not only has she been a true friend towards me, but she is also a member of my family. Laura is a quiet spirit with a heart who loves The Lord, and she has been such an influence on my life. She has guided me through tough situations with the purest heart, and everyone needs a friend like her. 

I think I had the most wonderful bunch that a girl could ask for. They have supported my every decison, and there was not a moment during our wedding day that I felt like someone was missing - and if any of these girls hadn't been there, I'm not so sure that I would be able to say that. 

Bennett Ophthalmology Group Double Shower - 5.31.15

On May 31, our group of co-workers hosted a double shower for Carly and I. 

Carly & Ricky got engaged in December and are getting married on the 4th of July!

We have had fun together keeping one another on track with wedding planning. Thankfully (I think), we are totally different in how we like to get stuff done, but we are able to work together pretty well. Her "chill" attitude calms me down a lot. :)

The shower was given at The Southern. Dr Bennett's wife, Kim, owns it and this was our second event to attend there. We had our BOG Christmas party there, too. 

Everything was so simple and elegant. There were hydrangeas and roses on every table! 

There were petite fours, cheese straws, chicken salad, nuts. and a delicious punch!

Carly and I both received some wonderful gifts! Tons of things that we registered for. 

We work with a great group of girls!

(and for an awesome doctor!)

#selfiestick 

Here are some photos with everyone: 

I think I can speak for both Carly & I when I say that it really meant a lot to the two of us to celebrate with all of our work family. I know for me, personally, they have welcomed me into their staff with open arms and it has been the most fun first year of "the real world" for me. I don't dread going to work. I love my job! I look forward to continuing to learn more in this field of work, and I couldn't be happier to have all of these girls to be with me as I do that. They have shown so much selflessness towards me during the last year of training, and I am thankful for each of them in different ways. They all mean a ton to me! 

So, with that being said, thank you ALL for being there for us, listening to our wedding antics, supporting us through this fun season, and getting us {me} back on track on more than one occasion. So much love for all of you!