First date, re-created

To round out this week of mushy, wedding-y posts, I thought I might as well put up pictures from our anniversary dinner on Tuesday night.  Poor Matthew had a cold but took me out anyway, and we did something we’ve been wanting to do forever now—we recreated our very first date.  I even wore the same exact outfit! 

Those of you who’ve read our love story may recall that Matthew and I only met briefly before he had to fly home to California, and then we talked on the phone for a couple weeks before he flew back down to Texas for a week of first dates.

I remember our first first date like it was yesterday.  I was a weird mixture of nervous and excited as I drove to the Starbucks where we were meeting, and when I got there, I sat down inside at a table near the entrance and wondered where to put my arms and whether I should cross my legs and if I should watch the door for him or play it cool like I didn’t see him coming.  I went for the cool option. ;)

Anyway, our first date was at Paesanos in San Antonio, and this time around we were even able to sit at the same table as the first time!  It was a really special evening and we had a great time chatting and laughing about how different our conversation was on this second date.  Neither of us could have imagined all that would change in our lives and how damn hard marriage would be sometimes, but while looking through wedding pictures this week, I was reminded of an excerpt from my favorite book (The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran) I had read our wedding.  It’s taken on new meaning for me now, and it’s humbling and breathtaking all in one.

When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth….

But if in your fear you would only seek love’s peace and love’s pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover you nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing floor,
Into a seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course…
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

 

I have a couple more Instagram pictures to share, but I think I’ll wait until Sunday. :) Happy Friday everyone! Have a wonderful weekend!

Our Wedding Day: Getting Ready

Two years ago today Matthew and I tied the knot on a day that was crazy and beautiful and not without faults but wonderful just the same. I’ve never posted more than a few wedding pictures here before, and I thought this week an appropriate one to do so.  :) 

Our wedding took place before blogging (and PINTEREST) really entered the scene in my life. Those two tools would have probably been enormously helpful, but then again who knows… they may have overwhelmed me even more.  I planned our wedding on a pretty small budget while the groom lived in another state and while I was working full time and in my last (full time) semester in college.  I was stressed to the max, and in the final run I didn’t even care much about the decisions I was making—I just wanted them made and checked off the list.   I’d never really dreamed much of what my wedding would be like, and after a year of long distance at the time, I was just ready to be married to my husband and living in the same state!  That was most important to me.

As it stands now, with months of blogging and Pinterest-ing to thank, I would change just about every single detail of my wedding (as far as decorations, bridesmaids’ dresses, color scheme, etc goes), and have put in for a do-over “celebration of love” party in 2015… But that is neither here nor there. I’d love to write more about the wedding some time, but for now I’ll just be posting our pictures in increments over the next couple days.  I’ve enjoyed looking through them again, and I hope you will too!  All photos were taken by Bend the Light Photography (which we’d highly recommend). :)

GETTING READY

best friend Megan :)

my sister Kristen

sweet friend Kelly

 sweet friend Leigha

   texting Matthew

For anyone who might wonder, my dress was from David’s Bridal. Check back this afternoon for pictures from the ceremony! :)

A Little Heaven on Earth (i.e. our rendezvous with luxury, history, photography, and a ridiculously comfy bed!)

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t super excited to share these next photos with you!  If you recall, two weekends ago Matthew and I celebrated our one year anniversary in a little old historic German town I later revealed to be Fredericksburg, TX and, being a new photography enthusiast, I was just thrilled to document our little trip through photos.  I don’t pretend to be a fabulous photographer (YET!), but I think these fun pictures tell a story all their own – not many words are required! 

We stayed in a bed and breakfast called Paradise Loft, and it was exactly that: paradise.  This particular B&B was perfectly situated in the middle of Main Street (the major tourist attraction of the town) and just above one of the street’s many eclectic little shops.  Guests at Paradise Loft enjoy their own private entrance off the street, where you open a heavy  wooden door to reveal an old and narrow wood and rock staircase.  At the top of those stairs is the entrance to the suite, which literally took my breath away when I walked through that door for the first time. 

The whole experience was just a delightful little indulgence for my design eye, for my love of the old and eclectic, and of course, for the romantic in me.

But I’ll let the pictures do the rest of the talking.  I hope you enjoy them, and if you EVER get a chance to go to Fredericksburg, I highly recommend it!  Not only is the shopping and touristy stuff fabulous, but there is also super fun hiking at Enchanted Rock nearby - and if you dare, spelunking in some pretty badass old caves.  I’ve done it, and I lived to tell the tale (Matthew and I are going to go back and do it together when the weather gets warmer)!

These photos will be sequential for the most part, and I’ll only butt in to explain what it is you’re seeing every now and then. :)

Paradise Loft…

Out on the balcony…

Dining…

    

Around town…

 

Antique shopping…

 

And I guess that’s it for now, folks.  Sorry for picture overload! 

I’m ready to go back.  Like, tomorrow.  Day trip to Fredericksburg, anyone?  Just remember: I have a camera.  And a blog.  No one is safe.

PS – Only two more days left to enter my giveaway!  All items in the giveaway were chosen during our little trip to Fredericksburg, and I can’t wait to mail them off to one of YOU! <3