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!