Celebration Marathon: Part Deux

Part Deux? Oh yes, there was a part one. Did you miss it?! ;-) But we're in the midst of another marathon of celebrations. It started last month with my older sister's baby shower, continued earlier this month with my baby sister graduating high school (more to come on that later), continued even more this past weekend when my brother-in-law got married and even into this week as Greg and I take off for our beach vacay. Wow, I'm a lucky girl! Busy, but very, very blessed with so much to celebrate.

What can I say about the weekend? The ceremony was perfect, the reception was gorgeous and the overall weekend was a blast. It got me feeling so nostalgic about when the hubby and I got married - but I definitely think I had the best date in the house. Here are a few pics from the weekend:

My amazing date.

Rehearsal

With the happy couple at the rehearsal dinner

Becoming Mr. & Mrs. Benson

The secret to our crazy happy marriage? He laces the track, I lock the flow.

One of the most beautiful weddings I've ever been to!

We didn't get a pic with our new sister-in-law, so we got creative. What can we say? We think she's pretty amazing.

 

So happy for Mr. & Mrs. Benson!

Dressing the Part

As I mentioned before, it's definitely getting to be wedding season. At this point in our lives, we range from about 6-10 weddings per year. (This year, we're on the lower end at six weddings.) What can I say? Our friends are the marryin' kind! But then if you add bridal showers, bachelorette parties, baby showers and in some cases, rehearsal dinners - well, what's a girl to wear?

Each year, I will literally inventory my dresses, count how many events I think I have and plan out what I'll wear to each so as not to repeat the same dress with the same group of friends. (I surely can't be the only person that does this, right?!) As much as I'd love to, I can't buy 15 new dresses each year.

Well, regardless, I've inventoried the dress sitch, bought three new dresses and on the hunt for at least one more. I will almost never spend more than $100 on new dresses, so thought I would share my go-to's for new dresses.

And I'm just counting on the fact that we won't show up at the same event wearing the same thing. Hoping, anyway. :-)

ModCloth.com - Pretty affordable, mostly have cutesy dresses, but some really cool vintage-looking styles, too. Expect lots of color and pattern.

Dorothy Perkins - I have spotted some super-cute stuff here. I had my eye on a dress from here for a while (I almost pulled the trigger as the dress was $75 plus a 15% off coupon code.) Well, lucky me, I checked back and it was on sale for $27 (yes, that's two-seven). I'm not sure I've ever online-ordered anything faster! Expect classic shapes, with modern touches.

Oasis-Stores.com - I actually have never ordered anything here, but have had my eye on a couple of styles for ages.Throw the right coupon code at me and I would be all over this shiz. Expect more conservative looks (i.e. I could wear to work), but cute patterns.

Local Boutiques - Don't overlook the local boutiques! Some of my Dallas faves include Movida, Ella Bleu and Accents.

Here's a few dresses I'm loving - none of which I have actually bought (so they are all fair game).

Summer Wedding/Bridal Shower

Evening Wedding

Bachelorette Party

If I were the bride-to-be

(1/2/3/4)

What other go-to's am I missing?

Photogenic

Some people are photogenic. Others just aren't. I come from a long line of not-so-photogenics... My Mom and older sister, as beautiful as they both are, can't keep their eyes open in a picture if their lives depended on it.

Maybe it's all the years in the sorority (all those QUICK: hand-on-hip, shoulder-back, body-turned-in-slightly, neck-up, eyes-open group shots) that taught me how to be ready for a photo. Well, I think maybe I've gotten a little over-confident because, oh my - how times have changed.

You see, within the past few years, there's been a sudden rise in the popularity of having photo booths at weddings - even New Year's Eve parties. In fact, it seems as though about 75% of all weddings I attend have them. Never one to pass up documenting a night, the hubby and I always go take a pic or two. Once we get home, I usually throw the photos in a drawer with all the others.

Well, recently, when I was working on our happy wall in our guest bedroom, I was brainstorming what I could do with all of these photo booth photos. I've seen YHL do cute things; put in a cup so people can sift through them, frame them, etc.

Then, I laid out all the photos side-by-side and realized - wow, we're SO predictable. After about 2-5 glasses of wine, I will generally grab the hubby's hand and say "OK, let's go take our photo booth pic!" We grab hands and skip happily over to the booth. (OK, so maybe it didn't happen just like that.) First, we smile (look at us - aren't we precious?!), then we do something silly (this generally involves some sort of prop; most recently mustaches); then, we do something else silly; then, I say "Let's do a cute one and kiss!" Not one to turn down a chance to mug down in a photo booth, Greg obliges. These poses can really be in any order, though. Maybe it's the length of time we have to prepare (like two seconds!) or maybe it's the 2-5 glasses of wine, but these kissy photos have gotten increasingly creepy.

So much so, that the groom of one of the recent weddings we attended e-mailed out the best photo booth photos to some of his friends/groomsmen and thank-you-very-much, we made the list.

See what I mean:

Yikes.

Anyways, these are too hilarious to NOT do something with and we have more somewhere. Has anyone done anything with photo booth photos? Perhaps just framed them? I'll keep thinking on it.

Happy Wednesday!

Lauren

Wedding Season

Well, Happy May everyone! This month brings... what? Spring flowers? Allergies? Yes, but for us each year, this month formally starts WEDDING SEASON.

"What do you like better, Christmas or Wedding Season?"

"Yes. The answer would be, um, Wedding Season."

Since we attended our first wedding of the year this past weekend (no, this does not include the Royal Wedding that I DVR'd...), I've started to notice how my attending of weddings has evolved over the years. When I first graduated college, I would attend a wedding and cry my way through the ceremony (staring ever-so-longingly at the beautiful bride). I would then party my way through the reception (that hasn't changed much).

Now, as someone who's been married somewhat recently (a little over 2 1/2 years ago), I attend weddings in a whole different light. I ask my fellow pew-mates if the bride and groom have seen each other yet, I take note of the programs (those take work!), I get butterflies for the bride, I notice the centerpieces and chair covers - all the little things that make the day special but in the end, really don't matter. It also makes me super-sentimental in a mildly obnoxious way. I noticed it this weekend.

"Oh my gosh, you guys, they chose the EXACT SAME music for the parents entrance, the bridesmaids AND the bridal entrance as we did!" I excitedly exclaim. (I know it's SHOCKING that someone else also chose Canon in D and the Bridal March. So unique, right?) Later in a conversation, I'm talking with a friend who's getting married and I found myself saying "Oh yeah, well in OUR wedding, we did this... or that.." Really? Way to make it about yourself, Benson. Pull. It. Together.

I just think about our wedding day and get so sentimental as I see other people have their special days. (As I'm sure every somewhat new bride does...) In keeping with the trend of the past few years, we'll be attending quite a few weddings this summer so we'll have the opportunity to celebrate with friends and (in a small way) relive our own special day!

And because I'm just SO sentimental...

Happy May!