I Guess Our Guests Need To Eat

{Source}

This weekend Clay, my parents and I met with Shannon from Crave and the meeting couldn't have been better. We didn't know what we wanted, I just had a few ideas and even more things that I knew I didn't want. 


1. No chaffing dishes
2. No Buffet
3. No cliche wedding food


Simple as that. 


Our first decision was to go with stations. We will have four stations with completely different options. All the stations will be in the same area but the layout and station option should avoid having people wait in one long line as if they were in a cafeteria. 


{Our Stations}


1. Comfort Station (or I like to call it Clay's station)
2. Carving Station
3. Pasta Station
4. Salad Station


We will also have a round table that plates will go on, along with a large focal centerpiece of some sort and a pretty chalkboard such at this one!

{Source}

I would love to reveal the menu but the menu was formed by just bouncing idea off of each other and I didn't even write them all down! Once the menu is finalized I will be sure to post it.


I knew from the start that this was a meeting that I wanted my parents to attend. There were way too many decisions being made and way too much money being spent for Clay and I to decide everything. It was wonderful having them there along with Clay and I because we were really able to develop a menu that reflected us. We all agreed on the menu and then each chose an appetizer to try at the tasting. 


How was your menu developed? 

My Fair Ladies

There are so many decisions to be made as soon as the wedding date is set. But if I'm being honest, the wedding party was decided on about 36 hours after Clay proposed. My list was pretty easy to choose. Being a bridesmaid requires a lot more than being a groomsmen so I didn't want to add anyone just so I matched Clay's numbers. In fact, I have one less that Clay does and I don't even care. One of my girls will walk down the aisle with two guys. I'm sure she won't be complaining about that!

{My Girls}

{My MOH's Amy and Kristen also my future Sister-In-Law's} 

{BM Carey who I have know for what seems like forever}

{BM Jenny -  I only have one cousin on my Dad's side and she is it! On a side note, this is a very old picture of all of us!}

{BM Whitney -  We met before my freshman year in high school and ended up going to college together}

{BM Kaitlin - My wonderful college roommate}

I love all of my girls for all different reasons and can't imagine spending my wedding day without any of them! In fact, one thing that I have always pictured when thinking about my wedding day is spending all day hanging out and getting ready with my wedding party.

{My Flower Girls}

{McKenize will be almost 3 when we get married}

{Collin will be 16 months when we get married and is definitely the youngest member of our bridal party}

Both flower girls are Clay's nieces and the daughters of my MOH's. A lot of brides seem to be stressed out about their FG and RB walking down the aisle. Me on the other hand could care less. If they don't walk down than they don't walk down. Collin hasn't even started walking yet so hopefully by April she will be a pro!

The Ring {Part 1}

Clay and I have talked about getting married and engagement rings for really as long as I can remember. 


Secretly about two years ago, Clay's brother and sister-in-law were making a trip to a private jeweler in Austin and Clay and I went with them. I was sized for a ring and we even talked about what I liked. 


Since then, my tasted has changed a little but and I actually ventured out to a large jeweler with one of my bridesmaids to try on some rings about a year ago. I must say, rings look totally different on your hand than they do in a picture. 


I decided on what my dream ring would look like and sent it to Clay. This was last January. When I told him what I wanted, I also told him that I didn't want to discuss this anymore so that I didn't really know when it was coming.


In January, little did I know Clay had gone to our jeweler to start talking about my ring. 


Some point between January and May when he proposed, the jeweler found what he thought was the perfect diamond. 


Clay went over to take a look at it and decided that indeed it was perfect.


Next started the process of designed the remaining part of the ring. Once Clay had decided on what it would look like, there wasn't going to be enough time between that day and proposal day.


From what I have heard, Clay was a little stressed about it but made the right decision in the end. He had our jeweler place the diamond on a simple silver band.


When Clay actually proposed to me, he kept telling me 'this isn't the ring' 'this isn't the ring.'


In order to finish the ring we need to go to Houston, so, off to Houston we went...  

Video of Clay's Proposal!

Being together for almost 5 years, Clay and I had definitely talked about getting married, what the rings would look like, our engagement, etc. 

Every time we talked about Clay proposing he always seemed to stress out about the whole thing as if I wanted this huge lavish ordeal in front of the world. That was not at all what I had in mind!

I did ask him if he could get pictures and video of it if possible. If not, I totally understood. I also asked him to have my family in town since they live in San Antonio or I knew our first stop would be driving to see them.

I was so glad to have a video of the proposal not only to be able to show my family and friends but to remind me of what happened! It all happened so, so fast that it was hard to really take in everything that was happening. 

Our Engagement Video

We're Engaged!

I definitely have some catching up to do as we have been engaged over two months now but finally after 4 1/2 years of dating, Clay and I are getting married!

{The Proposal-The Long Version}

I had a hint that it was coming sometime during my graduation weekend but never thought Clay would propose in front of our families. Clay had asked me months before if he could propose to me on graduation weekend but I almost took it as if he was trying to throw me off. The other big hint was that he never asked me what I wanted for graduation. Not that I expected a gift from him but....it was a little strange for Clay.

Once my actual graduation day came and went, I didn't think Saturday was an option since we had my graduation party that afternoon and a wedding to attend that night.


{Saturday, May 15}

That morning was really busy and I didn't have time to talk to Clay that much. He was extremely helpful making sure everything was completed before our families arrived. We had planned to sit down and eat breakfast that morning but that didn't happen. A few of us ate bagels as we were cleaning and setting up.


It was finally time for my party and both of our families had arrived at my parents house. Our families gathered in the backyard for a little bit before it was time for lunch.  Everyone grabbed something to eat and after being asked by Clay a few times, I finally grabbed my plate. I sat my plate down next to my Dad and left to get something to drink. When I came back, my Dad had moved and Clay was now sitting next to me. Weird, but I didn't put too much thought to it.


As we were enjoying lunch I noticed that Clay didn't have much food on this plate. When I asked why he wasn't eating he said he was full. Full from the bagel he had 7 hours earlier! I think I lost my appetite because at that point I knew Clay was up to something.


Shortly thereafter, Clay left the table for a few minutes and when he sat back down my Dad started to give a speech. Again, I didn't think anything of it since he did the same thing for my brother at his graduation.


At the end of his speech, he asked if there was anyone else that had anything to say. For a split second I thought, oh maybe my grandfather or uncle was going to say something or maybe I should get up and thank my parents. Like I said, that was only a split second because Clay jumped up, turned to me, and asked me to marry him! 

My parents had engagement gifts for Clay and me (a wedding planning book for me and a bottle of Crown with an aTm cup for Clay). They then brought out champagne and cigars for everyone and suddenly my graduation party turned into a big celebration.

I've said it again but it was absolutely the best proposal ever. Thank you to everyone that was involved, especially my parents for all of their hard work for the party and all of those who knew ahead of time but made sure that I didn't know.

I had asked Clay for pictures of the engagement (check) and if possible a video too (check) and he was able to get both.

Thank you to Amy and Kristen for getting the video and pictures!

Stay tuned for the video of the proposal and the plans we have made thus far!

Be sure to follow my blog!