Dress Shopping, Bridal Extravaganzas and the Big Dig!

Every girl dreams of the day when she can play dress up with beautiful white gowns and all the bridal accessories. So when the weekend of January 5th finally came, I could not be more happy! My maid of honor Molly met me in Dallas and together we caught a flight to good old San Antonio. After a long day of work and traveling we made it in time for happy hour before the big day. The next morning Mrs. Crowl, Kimberly and Grandma Robare met my mom, Molly and I at our house where my mom had made the cutest dress shopping baskets for everyone (monogramed notepads, kleenex and candy kisses). Equipped with the best Say Yes to the Dress crew, we headed to the first appointment and I could not be more nervous and excited!

The first appointment went so much better than my dreams had predicted the week prior (yes I was the crazy bride to be having nightmares of trying on dresses)! The woman helping me was such a sweetheart and made me feel so comfortable. Although every gown was gorgeous and we had a blast (I had to try on the poofy ballgown dress that made me look like a cupcake), I still did not have that bridal feeling that Say Yes to the Dress pretty much dictates as a requirement. So on to lunch we went at the cutest little place called Boardwalk Bistro. After a delicious, yet limited meal (for dress fitting purposes), we headed to the next location. The shop was a little cramped and with our large dress-trying on crew we completely took over! We found some absolutely breathtaking gowns and I may have just found "the one," but I decided I wanted to do a little more looking before making the big commitment. Those that know me understand that my decision making has to be well thought out, so this decision was not going to be any different. And I must say dress shopping is exhausting, so a much welcomed beverage was in order at our favorite, Houlihans! 

Sister in law and MOH!

The next day we had a full agenda including the San Antonio bridal fair extravaganza! After a few mimosas to prepare us for the mad house we were about to walk into, we headed to the J.W. Marriott.

Armed and ready!

Waiting for the mother of the bride fashion show with my official bridal bag holder. 

With the official picture taker!

So when I said that dress trying on was tiring, I had NO idea what I was in for with the bridal fair! It was so fun though listening to everyone's sales pitch, people watching and food/cake tasting! I'd like to think it was partly due to the amazing women I had with me!

Exploring the hotel for a breather!

Grandma was such a trooper!

Checking out some stationary for ideas!

My lovely mother!

After we had explored a majority of the fair, had gone back for seconds of food and cake and had glimpsed this season's latest bridal fashions, we decided to have a little fun at the photo booth...

We weren't exactly prepared for the first one!

Mom had to get in on the action!

After our photo booth adventures, the fair was winding down, but not before the big DIG! Hopeful brides were able to enter their names in a drawing to be selected to dig through cakes for prizes galore at the end of the fair. What kind of MOH would Molly be if she didn't make me enter my name the second we had arrived, so we waited patiently as the names were called...

Hopeful bride anxiously waiting...

Unfortunately my name was not called, but half of me was a little relieved, as I wasn't exactly in "cake digging" attire. By that time I think we were all a little exhausted so we called it a day!

The crew headed home after a long day of bridal festivities!

I could not have asked for a more enjoyable weekend with my lovely family and friends and cannot thank them enough for making everything picture perfect!

I found a Man, but I still need my Girls!

Kyle and I have been paving the way on wedding planning (post about our progress to come soon!) and with it being less than a year out, I'd say we've made some progress! Along with the "big" items being booked, reserved and scheduled, I personally was able to check an extra special item off the list just after a few weeks ago...asking eleven incredible ladies to share in our special day! With over half of my bridesmaids living in a different city or different state (and even one overseas!), and my house party being spread between several cities, my work was cut out for me. Since I have had a longer engagement I was able to use my somewhat creative genes as well as a little Pinterest browsing to come up with a cute way to ask them. Although my colors are not set in stone, I have been drawn to champagne and black for a while and wanted to incorporate this into asking my bridesmaids and house party to be part of the big day. And so the process began with some paper, ribbon and a little imagination...

 Some of the bridesmaids cards in the making...

House Party Cards

Each girl was asked individually and received a card with the first letter of their first name on the outside, a personal poem inside with a picture and my future monogram on the back cover. 

Here are the initial bridesmaid cards (some were made earlier and aren't photographed), plus my MOH gift and flower girl gift!

And here are the house party cards.

Let's start with my maid of honor and best friend, Molly Swanson! Molly and I met when we both joined Chi Omega our freshman year at Texas Tech. Ever since we were pretty much glued at the hip and have remained such great friends! So for her I again used a little of my creativity mixed with Pinterest and gave her a little "MOH kit!"

Card, bridesmaid companion book and of course some wine!!

Ok this next part of the maid of honor kit I have to give credit to Pinterest. (I know you all probably have seen it and pinned it to your not so obvious wedding board ;) ). When I saw this, I knew I wanted to somehow recreate it!

Relax Riesling, Molly's favorite wine and completely appropriate for the occasion!

Next is my Matron of Honor and one and only first cousin, Lynsay Fontenot (yes our family is ridiculously small!). I was a bridesmaid in Lynsay's wedding almost 3 years ago and I could not imagine not having her there on my special day. And to top it off, her precious little girl Anna Kate is going to be my flower girl! A while ago Lynsay also found out the exciting news that she is going to be having a boy this May!

 And for her little girl Anna Kate, I gave her a book titled "10 Neat Things About Being a Flower Girl." Although she is still too young to probably read, I thought it would be fun for her to keep as she gets older!

There was a page to write Kyle and I's name as well as our wedding date inside

I included a little note from Kyle and I for her to hopefully appreciate as she gets older!

All packaged up and ready to ship to Lake Charles!

On to the last five bridesmaids that will be with me on my special day. First there's Jessie Lyttle, who I also met through Chi Omega at Texas Tech. Turns out we ended up living about 10 minutes away from each other in San Antonio and never knew it! Jessie and I instantly became not only sorority sisters but road trip buddies, roommates and best friends!

I had so much fun with Jessie's poem, there were so many memories to recount!

Where do I begin on this next girl! Well she could possibly be called "cupid" or "millionaire matchmaker," (maybe a little less on the millionaire part haha), since she was there when Kyle and I first met. We were all in charge of Greek Week together as officers on Panhellenic and IFC in undergraduate and got together for the initial planning meeting. Conveniently and last minute, she could not make it to the next meeting so what needed to be a 30 minute meeting turned into Kyle and I talking for almost three hours! Ever since we have kept in touch as we both share a border line obsessive passion for Greek Life and have remained involved with our affiliations and Greek Life (she is now working for Zeta Tau Alpha in Indianapolis)!

 

As you know, Kyle is in his second year of law school and while at times it may be stressful on us both, some amazing friendships have come out of his involvement there. Amanda Kuhns and I met through Kyle when they began law school together. I knew immediately we would hit it off as soon as I found out she is a Chi Omega from Texas State! Her and I seemed to click instantly and I absolutely have adored getting to know her the past few years.

Family is an extremely important part of my life and knowing Kyle's family for four years now, I knew I wanted them to be a big part of our day. Jaclyn Crowl is Kyle's cousin and this girl and I were meant to be related! The second I met Jaclyn I knew we would not only be family, but also begin an amazing friendship. She was also such a joy to give the card to because she has been in Spain for almost a year now teaching English. So this Christmas when she came home I gave her the card in front of her whole family! Let's just say there was a lot of crying, hugging and wine cheersing!

And last, but certainly not least...drumroll...my FUTURE SISTER IN LAW Kimberly Crowl! I cannot say enough about her, she is truly the most amazing person! Kimberly and I have gotten along ever since Kyle and I first began dating, but it wasn't until she became a Chi Omega at Texas Tech that our bond grew tremendously. It is such and honor and blessing to be able to call Kimberly not only a sorority sister, but a true sister! I cannot wait for the many memories and fun times ahead of us!

 

And now onto my house party!! First is Brittany Paxton who I absolutely admire! Brittany and I met through Kyle as she is a classmate in law school. I have loved getting closer to Brittany over the past year and a half and cannot wait for our adventures to come!

These next two girls are college friends from good old Panhellenic days. First is Anna Roberts who was on Panhellenic with me in undergrad. Harriette, Anna and I quickly became great friends through our Greek Week planning, leadership conferences and appetizer nights.

Next there is Katie Trevino who was pretty much made an honorary member of Panhellenic because she managed to be with us every step of the way! From football games, to roadtrips and more appetizer nights, there is never a dull moment with this girl!

And finally a sorority sister and good friend, Libby Graham. The second I knew Drew Graham had a sister and she happened to be a Chi Omega, I knew we would great friends. I have so enjoyed getting to know Libby and am blessed to have her in my life.

This was probably the most fun and fulfilling project in my wedding planning adventures thus far, which can only mean more exciting things to come! Each of these girls is so special to me and I wanted them to know how much it meant to have them by my side. Their reactions alone were so fun and rewarding at the same time. Kyle and I are truly blessed to have the support of such incredibly loving and compassionate family and friends!