Built for Two: Back with the Bridal Party

After we spent a bit of time taking pictures as a couple, the rest of the bridal party came to meet us.  With ten bridesmaids, seven groomsmen, a junior bridesmaid, and a flower girl, we took up a lot of space.

Unless noted, all photos by Ashley Daniell Ptotography

Everyone, minus Flower Girl Pad:

Me with the bridesmaids:

With the four pregnant bridesmaids, all of whom have now had their babies:

With Stepdaughter A:

With Flower Girl Pie:

All the guys:

Mr. B with his son, Stepson M:

Mr. B with both kids:

Everyone together:

After we were done wandering around downtown we hopped in the trolley and headed to the church - it was time to get married!

Photo by Best Man Rep

Up next, we make it official!

Miss a recap? Get caught up here!

• We got to Savannah and hosted a haunted pub crawl.
• We spent the day getting our nails done and playing golf.
• We rehearsed the ceremony.
• Our rehearsal dinner was delicious and fun.
• I woke up early and made some bad TV decisions.
• I give the girls their gifts.
• The guys get ready.
• I become a bride.
• We see each other for the first time. 
• We take pictures around Savannah.

Built for Two: First Round of Portraits

Once we were reunited and all caught up on the day, Mr. B and I followed Ashley to take some  couples portraits.  We were so fortunate that the weather was perfect - it was around 70 degrees and sunny.

Unless noted, all photos by Ashley Daniell Photography

We must have kissed on command a thousand times that day.

We took a lot of pictures in this area and then realized we had some extra time to kill.  What is a couple in Savannah to do when they have a few extra minutes?  Stop by their favorite brewery, of course!

You may remember from my first post as a Mrs. that Mr. B and I popped into Moon River Brewing to share a pint of our favorite beer, Swamp Fox.  This is how it went down when we got to the crowded bar:

Mr. B: A Swamp Fox, please.
Bartender: A small box?
Mr. B: Yes, a Swamp Fox to go. (to-go drinks are a thing in Savannah!)
Bartender: Sure thing! (leaves bar area and heads for kitchen)

Mrs. Bicycle: Umm, honey.  I think he thought you wanted a small box.
Mr. B: Why would he think that? 
(Bartender returns with a small to-go box)

Eventually we got it sorted out and our Swamp Fox was on the house - being in fancy outfits had its advantages!  This may may no sense to anyone else, but this is probably our favorite memory from the day.  Well, it is at least the memory we think of the most.  Any time we hear someone say "small box" or we ask for one ourselves, we say, "Small box?  Swamp Fox?"

Don't mind us, just a bride and a groom in a bar in the middle of the afternoon, laughing until our cheeks hurt.

While we were wandering around Savannah the bridesmaids joined the groomsmen downstairs and the celebration got underway.  Champagne for the ladies, bourbon for the boys. 

Photo by Best Man Rep

Up next, the bridal party meets up with us for some fun around town.

Miss a recap? Get caught up here!

• We got to Savannah and hosted a haunted pub crawl.
• We spent the day getting our nails done and playing golf.
• We rehearsed the ceremony.
• Our rehearsal dinner was delicious and fun.
• I woke up early and made some bad TV decisions.
• I give the girls their gifts.
• The guys get ready.
• I become a bride. 
• We see each other for the first time.

Built for Two: Reunited and it Feels So Good

Throughout our 14-month engagement we went back and forth about whether or not to do a first look.  We decided about a month out that we would, partially for logistics and partially for peace.  I spent the entire wedding day waiting to see Mr. B and I don't think I could have handled waiting an additional few hours, so to say I am happy we did a first look would be an understatement.

Our photographer left my room and headed down to the lobby where the guys were waiting.  Best Man Rep caught this photo of Ashley asking, "Are you ready for your first look?"

Unless noted, all photos by Ashley Daniell Photography

Photo by Best Man Rep

Mr. B headed to a little park across the street from the hotel and I came down the elevator when the coast was clear.  Entering the world as a bride was nerve-racking but this is what I saw when the elevator doors opened in the lobby:

Nerves - calmed.  I walked into the absolutely gorgeous day to meet up with my groom.  We didn't plan any elaborate first look, just the usual tap on the shoulder to get the job done.

It was so nice to be reunited with my groom!  Two things to note, though.  You can probably see in the last picture before I reach him that I appear to be looking at his shoulder.  The second shooter had him standing by some trees which were surrounded by pine straw.

The pine straw was slippery and Mr. B went down, getting his jacket a little dirty.  Of course that was the first thing I noticed as I approached him.  Poor guy!  The second thing I noticed (after a hug and a kiss and oooh-ing and ahh-ing, of course) was the fact that he put his bow tie on upside-down.

Oops.  He decided to keep it that way and when he asked if I wanted him to change it, we both decided that it would be a fun detail that it was upside-down.  I don't think anyone noticed and it became sort of an inside joke. 

After our reunion we were headed out to wander the streets of Savannah!

Miss a recap? Get caught up here!

• We got to Savannah and hosted a haunted pub crawl.
• We spent the day getting our nails done and playing golf.
• We rehearsed the ceremony.
• Our rehearsal dinner was delicious and fun.
• I woke up early and made some bad TV decisions.
• I give the girls their gifts.
• The guys get ready. 
• I become a bride.

 

Built for Two: Becoming a Bride

After a morning of food and mimosas and the 90s Boy Band Pandora station, it was finally time to put on the white dress and become a bride.  Anxiety central for me but a necessary part of the whole wedding thing.  I got dressed by myself in the bathroom and then had my sister/MOH come in to help finish me off.

All photos by Ashley Daniell Photography. 

I keep joking that I am going to wear my belt to work or find some other occasion to wear it, but that hasn't happened yet.  

Remember the Kate Spade Charms my bridesmaids so generously gifted me?  They were perfect!  

The bathroom of my suite happened to have a gorgeous fleur de lis mirror.

We then took some solo shots of me before heading for the fist look.

Up next - the first look!

Miss a recap? Get caught up here!

• We got to Savannah and hosted a haunted pub crawl.
• We spent the day getting our nails done and playing golf.
• We rehearsed the ceremony.
• Our rehearsal dinner was delicious and fun.
• I woke up early and made some bad TV decisions.
• I give the girls their gifts. 
• The guys get ready. 

Built For Two: Finishing Touches

As the girls were putting some finishing touches on our wedding day looks, the guys were starting to get ready.

Photo by Bridesmaid Lemon

Mr. B gave the guys their gifts on the morning of the wedding as well.  He gave them the fleur de lis tie they would wear that day as well as a shirt from their favorite team.  Most got FSU garb, although there were a few Gators and others thrown in as well.

Photo by Groomsman Rep

Photo by Groomsman Rep

The guys spent the morning the same way as the girls - they got ready in Mr. B's suite, had Panera delivered for lunch, and watched sports.

I die.

Photo by Groomsan Rep

Yes, the guys really do have it so much easier than the girls.  No 6AM wake up, no hours in the beauty chair, but also no mimosas. 

Up next: I put on the white dress!

Unless noted, all photos by Ashley Daniell Photography.

Miss a recap? Get caught up here!

• We got to Savannah and hosted a haunted pub crawl.
• We spent the day getting our nails done and playing golf.
• We rehearsed the ceremony.
• Our rehearsal dinner was delicious and fun.
• I woke up early and made some bad TV decisions.
• I give the girls their gifts.

Built For Two: Gifting The Girls

I am a pretty awkward person at times, especially when it comes to giving and receiving gifts.  I had been carefully gathering what I gave to my bridesmaids for months but when it came to actually giving it to them, I did it very awkwardly.  Basically I just put little piles throughout the room for each of them with their gifts, awkwardly pointing to their pile as each walked in.  It's the thought that counts? 

Anyway, enough about the awkwardness - let's see what they got!

Personalized Hangers

I bought these from Weddingbee user PersonalizedHangers4u and I was very happy with them.  I also got myself a "Mrs. Bicycle" hanger.

Coozies
My friends are big coozie people.  I didn't know this was a thing until moving to the South, but now I am never without two coozies in my purse - one for me and one for Mr. B.  Our collection at home is probably larger than it needs to be but it pales in comparison to some friends (Bridesmaid Lemon, I am talking to you!).  My friends also love monograms so I combined the two for this part of the gift.

I spent a lot of time thinking of the perfect color and pattern combination for each girl - that's right, each got a different pattern, color combination, and monogram shape.  Some were easy, especially my college football-loving friends, and some were more difficult (my NYC-dwelling sister had probably never even seen a coozie, let alone a monogrammed one) but I think I got each bridesmaid something that showed their personality.  I ordered these from Etsy seller It's Not Business, It's Personal and I was very happy with the product.  I am pretty sure I got this suggestion from Mrs. Camera.

Pearl Earrings
I got each bridesmaid a set of pearl studs, backed in sterling silver.  I did not tell them they needed to wear them to the wedding but gave them that option.  I think all but one or two ended up wearing them!  I purchased them from a few different sources, nothing important to report here.

Embroidered Bags
My mother hand made these bags for each bridesmaid.

Hand made as in bought fabric, turned that fabric into a tote bag, and then embroidered the tote bag (with her embroidery sewing machine).  She is beyond talented and I am so appreciative that she did this.  A lot of my bridesmaids ended up using these to carry their stuff to and from the wedding, so they were very helpful. 

Overall, my friends seemed happy with their gifts!

I thought I would be the only one giving gifts that morning but Stepdaughter A informed me she had something very special for me.  Apparently she and Stepson M went with their mom to buy me a gift.  She handed it to me with the sweetest card that told me how happy they were I was marrying their father.  I did my best to keep it together but that was certainly an unexpected surprise.

They gave me a necklace with my new monogram!  I wear it almost every day and A gets so happy when she sees it. 

Next up, the guys get some gifts and they begin to get ready.

Miss a recap? Get caught up here!

• We got to Savannah and hosted a haunted pub crawl.
• We spent the day getting our nails done and playing golf.
• We rehearsed the ceremony.
• Our rehearsal dinner was delicious and fun. 
• I woke up early and made some bad TV decisions. 

Built For Two: Starting the Wedding Day With a Splash

I am generally not a good sleeper and I am even worse in a hotel room or when I have had too much to eat/drink.  So the night before my wedding was a recipe for disaster.  I woke up at 2:30 AM and never looked back.  I flipped through the channels and found a movie I had wanted to watch, Blackfish. ("A mesmerizing psychological thriller with a killer whale at its center, Blackfish is the first film since Grizzly Man to show how nature can get revenge on man when pushed to its limits," according to its website).

Image via petergreenberg.com

 
Now, I don't have a whole lot of tried-and-true bits of advice.  Things I would recommend you do, things I would suggest you don't do, etc.  I know what worked for me and our wedding.  That said, if you learn one thing from me, let it be this: Do not wake up at 2:30 on your wedding day and watch Blackfish.  Just don't.  Let's just say that when Law & Order: SVU finally came on, it was a nice change of pace to something a little less upsetting.  I tried to call Mr. B's room but he didn't answer so I laid in bed, by myself, watching awful TV until my hair and makeup crew knocked on my door at around 6:30.  I was the only one ready to go but they wanted to take me last so I tried to get my sister up and frantically started texting all my bridesmaids.

I chose Joli A. to do hair and makeup for us and I am so happy I did.  The girls were so sweet and we were all relaxed talking to them throughout the morning.  Eventually Bridesmaid Nole came with the thing I had been waiting for all morning.  Nay, all engagement.  Chick-fil-A Chicken Minis.

Image via Chick-fil-A

If you aren't fortunate enough to know what a Chicken Mini is, it is basically a chicken nugget wrapped in a honey bread situation.  Heaven in a bite, if you will.  Bridesmaid Nole had them on her wedding morning and I knew from the time I heard that (before we were even engaged??) I needed them on mine as well.  She really came through and brought a huge platter.  In my post-Blackfish, beginning-of-wedding-day state, I didn't get to eat as many as planned but I don't think they went to waste.  We also ordered coffee and orange juice through room service. 

With the room abuzz and our tummies full, we were ready to get pretty and get the show on the road!

Miss a recap? Get caught up here!

• We got to Savannah and hosted a haunted pub crawl.
• We spent the day getting our nails done and playing golf.
• We rehearsed the ceremony.
• Our rehearsal dinner was delicious and fun.