what's in a name

One Love Photo

It's crazy to think that in 7 months I will have a new name. Weird.

I've spent the greater portion of my life battling my own last name - it's a mouth full - not nearly enough vowels for correct pronunciation - and it was an element of minor torture in my school days. So I had always been excited to change my name. Until recently - being a grown up has given me more of an attachment to my name. It's who I am. Nobody else in the entire world has my name. (Nobody. Believe me. I checked on Facebook.)

Yet, despite this new found attachment to my name, I do want to share the name of my husband - I want that for my family, my children. And honestly, My Guy has a great Irish name. :-)

But it's weird to know that my name is changing. That I will not only be transitioning into a role of wife and partner to My Guy, doctor (!), and resident of a new state...but I will have a different name...a different identity....all within a couple weeks.

I wonder if I will miss my name. I wonder what it will feel like to wake up as me and go to bed that night as a different person. Or will that foreign name feel right - make sense - and be no biggie when it happens? Or will it make me sad?

Will it feel like the end of an era? Or like it's the beginning of a new one? Or both? Will I cry the first time I sign my new name? Would they be tears of happiness? Will I write my current name a million times the night before to say "goodbye" to it? When people call me by this new name, will I realize they are talking to me? Will I feel a slight detachment to my family, knowing I no longer share their name? Is it possible that sharing a name could, for us, help define our identity us as a new family?

I wonder how all of this will be. I will find out in 7 months.

i sorta kinda wanna veil

Sara Gabriel Veiling & Headpieces via Kara and Groomzilla

Truth be told = I think I've loved every Cathedral veil I ever met. The weird thing is, I can't imagine myself wearing one.

I will, most likely, say my vows sans head decoration...but who knows. These veils are so incredibly romantic...I love the idea of looking/feeling romantic as a bride. I go back and forth on this topic. I have noticed, interestingly enough, that as my wedding approaches, I find myself leaning more and more on the traditional. What if I end up wanting to be more of the classic bride on top of the mountain? Hum.

All I know is that these veils make me swoooooon.

Pronovias (no clue where I got the pic though!)

Smitten Photography

Jennifer Bowen Photography

Alison Conklin

Love Life Images via Style Me Pretty

One Love Photo
Jennifer Bown Photography - and total shout out to Father Gary!! (the raddest priest ever!)

reader *discount!*

Remember: 15% EVERYTHING at Whispering Pines for Mountain Bride readers!

Checkout Code: BRIDE

Discount ends November 15th!

love words weekend

I love this dreamy engagement shoot by Windy Dougall featured on Snippet & Ink

Habitation

Marriage is not
a house or even a tent

it is before that, and colder:

the edge of the forest, the edge
of the desert
the unpainted stairs
at the back where we squat
outside, eating popcorn

the edge of the receding glacier

where painfully and with wonder
at having survived even
this far

we are learning to make fire

-Margaret Atwood

(found at One Love Photo)

garter up

While browsing Green Dream Weddings, I stumbled upon this fun find: garters made out of ribbons that are made from recycled plastic bottles. I just love stuff like that. These pretty garters are Julianne Smith originals.

Though I think garters are kinda cute, and these are pretty and have just the right amount of frilly fun without being tacky ridiculous. However...I can't wrap my mind around the idea of wanting to do this tradition at my wedding. I hate *HATE* when the groom searches under the wedding gown...it's just terribly awkward...even for me to watch...so we will clearly not participate in that lil festivity (if you are into it - more power to ya...just not my scene.) My Guy loves this tradition. As in, he really wants to do this. Really. Poor guy.

Are you gonna garter?

victory #9: bridesmaid gifts

Melissa Dunstan Photography - Flagstaff!

I know everyone thinks they have good taste. Everyone. But really - I commissioned something truly amazing...terribly magical...and entirely fitting for my gift to my ladies.

I'm very proud of myself :-)

I'll have to share with you after the wedding - I can't blow details like that. But I can brag about accomplishing it!

wedding wish wednesday #15: the moment

These lovely ceremony photos of Alex and Joanna, of Cup of Jo, make me smile so big!
By Max Wanger

I've heard time and again that weddings fly by - that the couple will blink and the event will be over. That after spending countless hours planning and preparing their celebration, it will flash by in a blur where the bride doesn't get to eat dinner, or the couple feels so rushed around they don't get to spend a few quiet moments together. The worst is when I hear about the bride being so nervous about "everything" that she can't focus on the ceremony.

Not what I want.

When saying my vows, I want to be more present in that moment than any other. When I am looking into the eyes of my husband, I want to take in every fleck of glittering green and beautiful blue that they hold. I want my senses to be alive - not with the help of heaps of coffee - but with pure life. (annnnd maybe a cup of coffee or two...)

I wish to feel free on my wedding day - free to feel every emotion. To capture those moments, tuck 'em close to my heart for safe keeping and memory lane. To enjoy, and revel, in every last second.

inspiration board: yellows and grays

Look what I found at Style Me Pretty! An inspiration board of yellows and grays. Though our day will look a lot less polished than this beautiful, organized board will suggest - the colors are inspirational none the less. *Sigh* I just love yellow.

real life: woodsy wedding

This is a wedding after my own heart. I love it. Every detail. I love that it's in the woods - literally - in the woods (it's at the home of the bride and groom...read the details here at Lake Jane). I love that it is simple...and oh so lovely. This is the most "me and my guy" wedding I've seen on the web in a long while. Found at Lake Jane, via Veiled Vows.



Let's take a moment and catch our breath after gazing at that bride. I'm excited about my own strapless dress once again...and I love that her hair is down and her curls are out in full force...maybe I'll wear mine down too...I realllllly love her "this is what I look like in real life" look.

Super simple, super sweet table decor - a few mini blooms, a couple votives, and antlers on burlap. Perfect.

What a great great wedding.

whispering pines *special* discount

I've been such a true true fan of Whispering Pines from the start. Unique decor items and so many fantastic wedding finds. I drool over their wedding blog!

For the next couple weeks, our Mountain Bride community gets 15% off everything in their store! You can stock up on wedding items, festive decorations or even holiday gifts!

November 1st - 15th 15% off everything!

Just mention the code: BRIDE

*note that this is A Mountain Bride exclusive sale -

but we want to share with all the brides and buds we know so spread the word!

They have a great holiday selection...gets me SUPER excited for that time of year!!
Top to bottom, left to right: holiday candles, adorable ornaments, stick colored pencils, festive pillows

Some wedding finds: top to bottom, left to right:
Embroidered state park pillows, Elsie songbirds, twig votive holders, Tin lanterns

fairy costumed wedding

There is something magical about Halloween, where people can get a little more opulent and crazy...imaginations are supposed to run a lil more rampant than normal. Even for those October 31st weddings.

This is a photo shoot I spotted on Kiss The Groom, it's not a real wedding...but it's very creative...and more like a magical ethereal take on what I would think a Halloween wedding could be, as opposed to blood and gore - which would actually be really fun. Ummm... come to think of it, I would probably feel more comfortable dressed up as a blood sucking zombie than a princess fairy...but that's just me. But isn't this forest space so INCREDIBLE?

*Unrelated news: today I move to my new home in upstate New York (not without a weekend stay with friends in DC first!). I'm so bummed to leave Philadelphia. This place grew on me and I fell for it hard. What a GREAT place this is to live and explore. I'm glad I was able to weave this experience into my life - what an adventure. I'd like to live here someday.

where's the simple?

One Love Photo - I love this picture. Doesn't it seam wonderfully real life? No performance...no show. Just a beautiful bride kissing her new husband, in the rain, under a dotted umbrella.

I'll admit, it happens to the best of us...getting caught up in the details. It happens to me quite frequently. But today, I'm feeling the pressure and it's making me flustered.

I've sat here, in this warm cozy Internet cafe - searching - diligently - for inspiration. I've been browsing all the "typical" sites - the sites that I get lost in. The sites where the couples look more like models and less like real folks, where everything is a tad more sparkly, and the flowers are overflowing. The sites that make me uncomfortably jealous with their couture and extravagance. I start to feel small. Small and insecure. And silly for even attempting to craft a homespun wedding celebration. And I start thinking, "it probably won't even turn out like I envision anyway."

Then it struck me. I'm doing this nonsense to myself. Why do I seek inspiration from these big wig sites? These photographers who charge zillions for the pictures will clearly be taking pictures at weddings that cost more than a zillion dollars in the first place. Where did all those wonderfully indie, diy and rustic wedding blogs go? What am I doing to myself!?

I've loved the process of planning my wedding thus far! But, I don't think I'm alone in that I'm not looking to create the most "knock your socks off" wedding our guests have ever attended...I'm not out to create an enviable opulent occasion...I guess you could say I'm not even out to impress anyone. I just want to love it...be present within it...and not get lost in all the hoopla.

Hummm...it's possible I'm having a bad day.

victory #8: our party

Julie Harris Photography

The phone calls have been made to the boys and my request invitations have been received by my girls. And collectively, our bridal party has confirmed with a big hearty, heart-felt, enthusiastic YES! Originally, we were going to keep our wedding party very small...only family. However, after much deliberation, we determined that we would rather marry with these special people standing with us.

Five on my side. Five on his side. Party on!

wedding wish via my guy: drama club...exit stage left

Yet another insightful perspective from My Guy. Cultivating and nurturing my relationship with this wonderful man is the biggest joy of my life. I know...mega mush...but it's true. And after reading this, I knew he has more insight into the reality of weddings than I ever gave him credit for.

Please…no drama! I don’t want any drama at our wedding. Family drama, friend drama, whatever…none of it. I have zero patience for drama, and sometimes friends and families can stress you out to no end. They don’t mean to of course, but it just happens, and even more so when tensions are already high like they might be on our wedding day. I’d like everyone to be happy and cordial and without a sour-puss face. There is a solution for everything, and no matter what happens I just want my bride to be thrilled on our day, and not stressed about anything. Here’s to hoping that her bride’s maids can deflect any stress she might feel and help her deal with any issues that may arise. I’m also hoping that the staff at our site are helpful and there isn’t any drama involved in that. It would be nice to have everything go off without a hitch, though I’m realistic and don’t expect that. If there is a problem I’m hopeful we can deal with it swiftly and successfully and have a good laugh about it in the end. Life is too short for worries!

real life: carefree in colorado

This wedding looks so casual and so spectacularly simple. I just love how the colors of nature pop all around...reinforcing the fact that Colorado is breath-taking and nature really is the best backdrop. And I'm such a sucker for ski lift photos....I really am. All photos by Julie Harris Photography.

diy: will you be my bridesmaid?

Using a template from here, and crazy straight up inspiration from the DIY tutorial at Once Wed, my ladies each got one of these cards with the words, "Will You Be My Bridesmaid?" written on the back. I personalized the little ladies with the hair color of my gals, and wrote their names on the dresses. All of the dresses are different patterns in various shades of gray, with a couple accents of yellow thrown in. I love how they turned out!

bijoutiful *sale*

I'm a teeny tiny earring kinda girl...I love my studs...in every shape...and these are perfect.

I found this delightful Etsy shop, Bijoutiful, specializing in hand crafted nature inspired jewelry. And, ahemmmm....this designer uses only recycled, reused, repurposed, vintage & handmade metal components and materials. Yep - instant addiction.

ENDING TODAY, you can get 20% off in the shop's "WEEKEND DEALS" section!

Oct. 23rd-25th only

Ready - go!
(those holidays are right around the corner!)

A holly holiday ring!? Ahhh...so subtly festive.

love words weekend

Julie Harris Photography

For twas not into my ear you whispered
But into my heart.
Twas not my lips you kissed
But my soul.

Judy Garland

to my guy, on his birthday

via Le Love

Darling,

You are, unquestionably, my greatest earthly blessing.
Happy birthday love.

Miss you,
Jes

change in plans

Flagstaff in the fall - oooooooooooooo - I just love it there! Via TwilightEarth

I spoke with the wedding coordinator at our venue last weekend. It was a great conversation, she's a sweetheart, and so many of my questions were answered (ie: how many kegs do you really think we need? how many tables will seat our guests? good DJs in the area? Shuttle services? Yea, I corned her for a good 40 minutes - thank God for cell phones in standstill freeway traffic!)

One item, in particular, caused my head to spin a lil. The facility had some damage this summer and they are needing to remodel. This is probably a great thing for Snow Bowl - it's a little older and could probably benefit from a little tiny bit of work. The bummer comes from the fact that they are permanently removing the HUGE stone fireplace that I loved. I love LOVED it. I've mentioned that fireplace here and here...and have been planning the decor of the event around it. The structure split up the large space so perfectly - creating an intimate dining area on one side, and a dance area on the other...it had such a lovely flow. Also, my mom, my future mother in law, and I, have been scouring antique stores, flea markets, and vintage shops for crystal candlesticks for months now....to decorate the huge 15 foot mantles on either side of the fireplace. You don't even WANT to know the number we have collected. Will be using them for other things now...

Am I devastated? Umm...no, not really. I still love the fact that I'm getting married up there...high on the mountain...surrounded by the most beautiful views and most glorious trees. But the fireplace? It will be missed.

Now. I need to figure out how to decorate a huge huge room, so it doesn't feel like a huge huge room. I'm thinking bunting? garland? pom poms? Any suggestions?