One year later, here we are. Our wedding day was a serious fairytale-like dream. Everything may not have gone exactly to plan, but it was hands down the best day ever. I constantly replay scenes from that day over and over in my head. It was seriously so magical! Can we just do it all over again??
A lot had happened just before our wedding, including Nick receiving a promotion that moved us from our beloved tiny home (see the blog here to learn more about that) to Tampa Bay, starting a new job in a new town where neither of us knew anybody, and planning a wedding that was 5 months later. So we moved, started new jobs, and planned a wedding all at the same time. But, we made it through!! And that’s a testament to our relationship. Nick and I are willing to adapt and we always say something along the lines of “it’ll work out” or “we’ll make it work” to each other. I love how we can work our way to a solution and it’s always a team effort. Sorry not sorry for getting all sappy over here - it’s a one year anniversary blog post, I’m allowed to do that, right?!
So I mentioned that everything didn’t go to plan… because it was June in Florida. Weather is so unpredictable. We were supposed to have an outdoor ceremony on the lawn overlooking the golf course at Wyndemere Country Club in Naples. It down-poured from early in the morning to just before the ceremony around 5:30 pm. Meredith and Kelly, two gal pals of my bridal party, took charge of making sure I had nothing to worry about. They worked out the perfect scenario with the venue coordinator, Meghan Sampson, {who was a complete sweetheart!} and we had the ceremony on the upstairs patio/lounge area where we were truly overlooking the golf green. The view from up high was so beautiful {and it was much cooler}!
Our photographer, Andrew Do Photography, was so nimble and worked in our first look and bridal party sessions in between the pockets of rain. Our photos turned out beautifully and I cannot thank him enough! Also, I know it was so miserably humid - if any of our bridal party reads this… WE APPRECIATE YOU and love you so so so much. I know Nick was trying his best, too, to keep his cool ;)
FUNNY MOMENT RECAP: All right y’all, so the removal of the garter was probably one of my most favorite (yet embarrassing) moments of the entire night. My husband is 6’4” - so he’s a pretty tall dude. I’m not that short myself at 5’9”. Anyways, when I sat down in a chair in the middle of the dance floor, Nick was determined to take off the garter with his teeth. With a mermaid/trumpet style dress, it was a little snug, but he managed to get it. The best part of this was when he got down to my foot, he had to lay flat on the floor and slide himself back to get it off. The faces of everyone watching and myself are hilarious! {photo below for proof}
For any bride-to-be’s out there, cherish every single moment. It really goes by SO FAST. I felt like in a blink of an eye we said “I do” and then it was the first dance, then cake, then dancing, then gone!
A big ole thank you goes out to anyone and everyone involved with making our wedding day the best day ever. WE LOVE YOU!!!!
One year of marriage later:
A lot has also happened after the wedding {of the year 😏}. Like, honeymooning in Islamorada of the Florida Keys. {We are itching to go back!} And starting my new small business, Copper Creative! Nick started volunteer firefighting and received an award from the city mayor! We also moved {again} in the same area, but to a much better location. We are now nestled in cute little downtown New Port Richey in a home built in the 1950’s. We like to walk downtown to get breakfast or go out for a cocktail. The boat ramp is also downtown so makes hitting the water a breeze!
I’m so lucky that I was able to meet and marry my perfect match. {Thanks to the mechanical bull at Stetsons on the Moon in Tallahassee and Nick’s best man, Alex! #GoNoles} Nick, your humor always makes me laugh, your Nick-isms get stuck in my head and I love them, your drive to the best you can at work is admirable, I adore your compassion towards family and friends, and I’m the luckiest woman on this planet! I love you with all of my heart, Nick, and I’m looking forward to a lifetime of adventures with you!! Cheers to us!! 🥂
xoxo,
Christie
P.S. - Here's a quick list of some of our favorite things and fun facts:
Nick and I are water people - we love to go out on the boat! {No surprise why we were gifted with a honeymoon to the Florida Keys!} Also, #mermaidforlife and Nick has a nickname of “Cap’n Nick”. So that’s also why our wedding hashtag was #mermaidfoundhercaptain.
We upgraded our ATV to a side-by-side RZR to go riding in the woods with. Now we can sit side by side and#trailtalk and #cutdirt. We basically have our own language. It’s awesome. Can’t wait to take the RZR on out of state camping trips!!
One thing we are really loving right now are Crockpot meals. Yes, you read that right. We love making our dinner in the crockpot! The ease and convenience is perfect for us, and clean up is pretty simple! Because who really likes to clean up after cooking, not me…
Our go-to place when we don’t feel like cooking is Chili’s! We typically get an app and BOGO drinks because it’s always happy hour at Chili’s.
Our lazy day past times include sitting on the back porch frying food in our air fryer {like bacon wrapped, banana peppers stuffed with shrimp and cream cheese} or cuddling up on the couch watching the television series of the moment. Right now it’s Psych!
Wedding day vendors
Venue + Catering: Wyndemere Country Club (http://www.wyndemere.com)
Photographer: Andrew Do Photo (http://andrewdophoto.com)
DJ: Gentry Thomas
Cake + cupcakes: Publix
Florals: Naples Floral Design (http://www.naplesfloral.com)
Dress: Vocelle's Bridal (http://www.vocellesbridal.com)
Suits: Men's Wearhouse
Hair: Audrey Rhodes and Lauren Cancels (@_styledbylauren)
Makeup: Jodie Schahrer
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