Bowling outing

We had the pleasure a couple of Saturdays ago of doing a little bowling with both sets of parents as well as Lauren.

Although I really stink at bowling, there was much fun and laughter and the time went by all too quickly as it always does when I am with my dearest Nicole.

God is so good to give us parents that love us and have raised us to follow Christ with our lives.  I can't ever thank them enough for their love and training for the 23 years that I have been around, and to the LaBates for raising the most wonderful woman in the world! ;)

 

Yours truly and my favorite person in the world. :)

Lauren and Mom

Dad and Mom

Lauren and Dad

 

And you can never have too many pictures of this gorgeous face.  (My personal opinion. :o)

And in case you were wondering, I am getting married to Nicole in just 34 days!  Can't wait!

Labor Day - Blueberry Festival

I had a great time spending Labor Day with Nicole and her family at The Blueberry Festival.  

It was fun to walk through the many little booths and see what all they had to offer

as well as get one more opportunity at fair food this summer. :)

DIY Wedding Crafts Part II

These next two projects are definitely favorites of mine

and will both be used as decor in the wedding reception.

1.  Autumn Glass Pillars

(that's what I am naming it...) :)

First we bought some black candle sticks and my dad spray painted them

with just some cheap white spray paint.

(My whole family gets involved when it comes to wedding

preparation; I love it!)

Then I took some sand paper and roughed them up a little.

Bought some glass cylinders at Walmart for a very minimal price,

and then glued them to the candlesticks using E600.

Don't you just love?? :)

Then I filled the cylinders with pinecones, acorns,

pumpkins (that were spray painted white) and some fall sprigs.

Can't wait to display these on our cake table!

2.  Autumn wreath

I bought the wooden M from Hobby Lobby and painted it vintage white.

I had some burlap on hand from some other wedding projects I have done

so I made some burlap flowers and hot glued them to my grape vine wreath.

Burlap ribbon was from Hobby Lobby as well.

And...the finished product!

Not only do I have a wedding decoration but I also

have a fall wreath for our font door! :)

Bridesmaid Photo Shoot

Last month all of my bridesmaids were in town at the same time and we were

able to do a pre-wedding bridesmaid shoot with Jack.

Location:  Ogden Gardens, Valparaiso

{Tabitha, Elizabeth, Brooke, Liz, Me, & Lauren}



They have all been so helpful and supportive even with the distance

and I am proud to have them stand beside me on our wedding day.

 

I have grown up with these young ladies. 

We were in the same nursery in church, went on the same teen trips,

and even got in some trouble together... :)

There  also was never any doubt in my mind that I would have

 both of my sisters in my wedding. 

I am so grateful that God blessed me with not only sisters, but two best friends. 

 

They have seen me at my best and seen me at my worst. 

They have prayed for me and with me. 

We have laughed, cried, and been silly together.

A true friend is hard to find,

difficult to leave,

and impossible to forget.

{Thank you Jack for capturing these moments for us!}

this is what happy looks like

 Me and You

Memories filled with good times

So many of my smiles begin with you.

 and I want a lifetime of that...

I choose you for life and I am so thankful

that God brought us together.

In you I 've found the love of my life

and my closest,

truest friend.

DIY Wedding Crafts Part I

I cannot believe that in just 12 weeks I will become Mrs. Jack McDonnell!

Wedding planning has been such fun and I have enjoyed putting some personal touches into

so many different aspects of our big day.

Pinterest has been a HUGE help for all of these projects

as well as my Mom...couldn't do it without her.

Project #1

Twine wrapped mason jars for the kids table.

Materials:  Hot glue, Twine, and Mason Jars

Wrap and glue! :)

 Project #2

Pinwheels

I had made pinwheels previously and posted about them here. 

 I love pinwheels and was wondering where and how I could incorporate them

 in my wedding and what better place than the kids' table! :)

Materials needed:  brads, scrapbook paper, wooden dowels, and hot glue

Project #3

I have inherited a love for old window panes from my mother...

were you to tour our house you would find a few here and there. 

I saw this idea on Pinterest and knew instantly that I wanted to duplicate it at our wedding reception.

I wondered where I would find such a frame and how much would it cost

 and Jack was able to locate one  at a great price especially for the size and condition!

{Side note:  I have such a helpful and wonderful fiance}

My dad cleaned up the frame and made it good as knew and then

he taught me trick that I will share with you...  Ketchup makes rusted things shine!!

I am so excited to display this window pane with pictures

 from dates and then to later find use for it in our home.

Project #4

Bridesmaids' bouquets

We all know how expensive fresh flowers are so I decided to try making my bridesmaids' bouquets. 

Once again, Pinterest came to my aid (along with my mom, of course)

and I am so pleased with the result!  I used the tutorial found here to make them.

Materials needed:  artificial flowers, flower wire, flower tape, ribbon, grabevine wire and hot glue.

Arrange flowers into a bouquet.

I used 3 hydrangeas and 1 small bunch of contrasting flowers.

Wrap tightly with flower wire

Follow with floral tape covering all the wire and

working your way down the stems and then back up.

Wrap the stems with sheer ribbon glueing as you make your way down .

This stuff is amazing and one roll wrapped two bouquets. 

We loosely wrapped this in kind of a sloppy way to get the look we wanted.

We could keep wrapping these depending on

how thick we want the base to be.

The lighting really does not do these flowers justice,

you will just have to come see them in person on November 2nd. :)

Stay tuned for more DIY wedding projects coming your way! :)