Sunday, January 2, 2011
Our Engagement Pictures
Our engagement pictures turned out beautifully! We love every single image captured by the incredible Brandi at Lola Jo Photo Design, and couldn't be happier we chose them as our wedding photographer. Enjoy the slideshow!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
I Bought a Dress!!
I found the perfect dress ... at the perfect price ... with the perfect details ... the perfect fit ... everything!!
I hadn't thought too much about wedding dress shopping yet, because it was so hard to coordinate my mom, sister and best friend's schedule, so I knew it would be a while before we all had a free weekend. But for some reason last Friday, the need to shop for a dress came over me and wouldn't let me rest. On a whim, I asked my mom if she was free that afternoon and if she just wanted to "pop in" Parrot-fa-Nalia. She was up for it, so we hopped in the car and were on our way. One of my friends had told me she had gotten her dress there for a really reasonable price, so I thought I'd check it out.
For those of you who aren't from Wichita, Parrot-fa-nalia is about the funniest, quirkiest store you'll ever come across. They've been in business in the same spot for about 40 years, and are known around the country for their selection of formal wear. The atmosphere is anything but formal though. I'm sure there are thousands upon thousands of dresses crammed into the little store. You can hardly even walk there are so many! Once on a shopping trip there in high school, I accidentally tripped and fell down among the dresses and I literally could not get up on my own! My best friend had to come and yank me out from under all the dresses. It's just that way. Total chaos, but beautiful gowns.
On the way there, I told my mom I didn't want to try anything on, just look since Annie and Sarah weren't with us. My mom was praying, as usual, that Jesus would grant us a beautiful dress at a good price. I was a little discouraged about everything at that point and told my mom I just didn't think God would come through for us in that way. It just didn't seem like his will that we would score any amazing deals for the wedding, and we needed to accept it. Oh me of little faith...
Once we got in the store and said hello to the in-house parrot (yes, really) we went digging (literally!) through the gobs of bridal gowns. I would stick one hand through the layers of dresses and then shove with all my might with my elbows to separate the gowns enough to see one at a time. It was quite the work out to pull gowns! : )
I realized I was going to have to try on dresses to appease the sales staff, so I wiggled into the 3x3 dressing room with five or six gowns and slipped into the first one. It was beautiful! Dress after dress I tried on were completely gorgeous, but just not what I had in mind.
The staff kept trying to tell me that most girls leave with the opposite of what they had in mind, but I didn't tell them that they didn't know how I was. I know exactly what I want and I settle for no less. There's no changing this girl's mind, especially about my wedding dress! : )
After six or seven "this is pretty but jut not what I want" my mom and I were ready to leave. Our consultant convinced us to stay and let her try to pull just one more. She brought out a gown that was pretty but had long sleeves (not my taste). I started to say no, but she told me the sleeves were part of a jacket that came off. I was loving the way the rest of the dress looked, so I eagerly slipped into it.
And that was it...absolute perfection! The shape, the fabric, the fit, everything was just what I had always envisioned. And the price was unbelievable. A fraction of what we had planned on spending! It was too good to be true!
As I stood in front of the mirror, I immediately had chills and my mom and I were both near tears. We debated about waiting til the next morning to buy it when we could bring Annie and Sarah back, but I just couldn't leave my dress at the store and we decided to get it right then (you buy off the rack there, which is why they're so affordable).
It's a good thing we did because once we bought the dress the staff told us a girl was coming back that day or the next to try it on again and purchase it. God had given me the sudden need to dress shop for a reason! He had a plan all along, and knew that was the dress for me at the perfect price for our budget! God is good. All the time God is good!
I hadn't thought too much about wedding dress shopping yet, because it was so hard to coordinate my mom, sister and best friend's schedule, so I knew it would be a while before we all had a free weekend. But for some reason last Friday, the need to shop for a dress came over me and wouldn't let me rest. On a whim, I asked my mom if she was free that afternoon and if she just wanted to "pop in" Parrot-fa-Nalia. She was up for it, so we hopped in the car and were on our way. One of my friends had told me she had gotten her dress there for a really reasonable price, so I thought I'd check it out.
For those of you who aren't from Wichita, Parrot-fa-nalia is about the funniest, quirkiest store you'll ever come across. They've been in business in the same spot for about 40 years, and are known around the country for their selection of formal wear. The atmosphere is anything but formal though. I'm sure there are thousands upon thousands of dresses crammed into the little store. You can hardly even walk there are so many! Once on a shopping trip there in high school, I accidentally tripped and fell down among the dresses and I literally could not get up on my own! My best friend had to come and yank me out from under all the dresses. It's just that way. Total chaos, but beautiful gowns.
On the way there, I told my mom I didn't want to try anything on, just look since Annie and Sarah weren't with us. My mom was praying, as usual, that Jesus would grant us a beautiful dress at a good price. I was a little discouraged about everything at that point and told my mom I just didn't think God would come through for us in that way. It just didn't seem like his will that we would score any amazing deals for the wedding, and we needed to accept it. Oh me of little faith...
Once we got in the store and said hello to the in-house parrot (yes, really) we went digging (literally!) through the gobs of bridal gowns. I would stick one hand through the layers of dresses and then shove with all my might with my elbows to separate the gowns enough to see one at a time. It was quite the work out to pull gowns! : )
I realized I was going to have to try on dresses to appease the sales staff, so I wiggled into the 3x3 dressing room with five or six gowns and slipped into the first one. It was beautiful! Dress after dress I tried on were completely gorgeous, but just not what I had in mind.
The staff kept trying to tell me that most girls leave with the opposite of what they had in mind, but I didn't tell them that they didn't know how I was. I know exactly what I want and I settle for no less. There's no changing this girl's mind, especially about my wedding dress! : )
After six or seven "this is pretty but jut not what I want" my mom and I were ready to leave. Our consultant convinced us to stay and let her try to pull just one more. She brought out a gown that was pretty but had long sleeves (not my taste). I started to say no, but she told me the sleeves were part of a jacket that came off. I was loving the way the rest of the dress looked, so I eagerly slipped into it.
And that was it...absolute perfection! The shape, the fabric, the fit, everything was just what I had always envisioned. And the price was unbelievable. A fraction of what we had planned on spending! It was too good to be true!
As I stood in front of the mirror, I immediately had chills and my mom and I were both near tears. We debated about waiting til the next morning to buy it when we could bring Annie and Sarah back, but I just couldn't leave my dress at the store and we decided to get it right then (you buy off the rack there, which is why they're so affordable).
It's a good thing we did because once we bought the dress the staff told us a girl was coming back that day or the next to try it on again and purchase it. God had given me the sudden need to dress shop for a reason! He had a plan all along, and knew that was the dress for me at the perfect price for our budget! God is good. All the time God is good!
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 4:19-20
Philippians 4:19-20
Engagement Photos Coming Soon!
We had our engagement photos last week, and they went great! Minus a few logistical challenges, everything went smoothly and I think they'll turn out so well. I wish I had some photographic proof to show you, but hopefully that will be coming soon!
Many of you know I had my heart set on using big, fun white balloons in the shoot, like this...
These turned out to be a bit more of a challenge than I thought, though. They are sooo big in person you just can't imagine! I sent Matt to pick them up from the party store where they were being inflated and he couldn't even fit them in his car. So I scrambled to get ready in a hurry so we could pick them up in my car in time.
As it turns out my parents ended up getting them and meeting us at the photo site. They are so cool in person! I wish everyone could have seen us trying to shove them into cars and keep a hold of them during pictures ... Matt was afraid I'd float away!
We didn't get too many pics with the balloons in there because by the time we used them most of the light was gone. But I think we got enough. I can't wait to show all of the photos to you! I'm sure they're adorable, because our amazing photographer Brandi, from Lola Jo Photo Design, is just incredible. Stay tuned!
- Courtney and Matt
Many of you know I had my heart set on using big, fun white balloons in the shoot, like this...
These turned out to be a bit more of a challenge than I thought, though. They are sooo big in person you just can't imagine! I sent Matt to pick them up from the party store where they were being inflated and he couldn't even fit them in his car. So I scrambled to get ready in a hurry so we could pick them up in my car in time.
(the car looked a bit like this... but who needs to see out the rear window when driving anyway, right?)
As it turns out my parents ended up getting them and meeting us at the photo site. They are so cool in person! I wish everyone could have seen us trying to shove them into cars and keep a hold of them during pictures ... Matt was afraid I'd float away!
We didn't get too many pics with the balloons in there because by the time we used them most of the light was gone. But I think we got enough. I can't wait to show all of the photos to you! I'm sure they're adorable, because our amazing photographer Brandi, from Lola Jo Photo Design, is just incredible. Stay tuned!
- Courtney and Matt
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Welcome!
Welcome to our wedding Web site! We'll update it frequently with details on the big day, guest information and photos so keep checking back. Plus stay tuned for stories on the wedding planning process ... the good, the bad and the ugly! Enjoy!
Love,
Matt and Courtney
Love,
Matt and Courtney
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