Marriage is a Privilege

This is Kyle. I like smooching him. As you can already tell, this is going to be a really deep post. I like smooching Kyle. I just generally like Kyle. Except some times. When he makes me crazy.



Last weekend, we got to see a couple of our friends get married here in Ohio. It was a wonderful reminder of love and the privilege of marriage. Except for the part where Kyle and I bickered the entire drive between ceremony and reception.

“Kyle…the speed limit is 65.”
“Just let me drive!!”
“Seriously, slow down. You’re gonna get pulled over.”
“Will you stop nagging me? Ugh, why is this jacket so hot and itchy?”
“Stop messing with it, you look good!”

And then Kyle kept ruining pictures by putting balloon strings…in his mouth (???) Marriage is a privilege, marriage is a privilege…I repeat to myself as Kyle tries to ditch his suit jacket for the sixth time after leaving the church.



We stopped fighting long enough to take this picture and to dance to House of Pain during the reception. Marriage is a privilege.



It’s taken eight years but he finally has given in and let me dress him in grown-up clothes. Shirts with collars and belts that match his shoes. Shirts with yellow accents that complement my cardigan. Shirts that don’t have pictures of dogs farting on them or band names on the back. Marriage is a privilege, marriage is a privilege…he must repeat to himself as I force him to tuck his shirt in. Again.



Can anyone relate?
love, elizabeth

A Wedding Six Years Ago

I’ve been staring at these pictures this week and carrying them around in my purse. Every time I look through the album, I feel like it’s still my wedding day. I can’t even believe it’s been six years. In honor of the day, I thought I’d share some photos. These were all taken by Jennifer and Rich at Candy Apple Photography. If you live in the Colorado area and are in the market for a photographer, I can’t recommend them enough.

Dad and I before the ceremony

Mama and me pinky-swearing we won’t cry…totally broke THAT promise.

Our vows…

A private moment after the ceremony. More than any picture, this one makes me feel like I’m there.

We got married in downtown Denver in an old converted warehouse/art gallery called the Walnut Foundry. Sadly, it’s no longer a public venue but we were so glad to have it at the time.

If we ever start a band, this will be the cover art for our first album.

I may or may not have accidentally bit Kyle’s finger about five seconds before this picture was taken. Oops?

Dirty Dancing 3: Hot Denver Nights.

Our last dance of the night to this song. Sarah picked it out.

Happy 6th Anniversary, Kyle Surname. I love you at least six times as much as I did then (which is a gosh darn awful lot, in case you were wondering). I think our 7th year is going to be the best one yet.

love, elizabeth

Dance Break

Today I’m feeling that first weird nostalgic feeling I get, right before the spring. I’ve said this before but I feel like all the best things that have happened to me, have happened in the spring. Kyle and I fell in love in the spring, we got married in the spring…and with the sun shining today, it almost feels like the winter is on its way out (cue blizzard?).

So in honor of the first stirrings of spring, here’s a song from our past. I borrowed this CD from Kyle when we were dating and they played this song as the processional at our wedding.

How are you feeling about spring? Is it almost here or a long way off for you? If you’re married, what music did they play at the end of the ceremony?

love, elizabeth

Pennsylvania Wedding

Our dear friends, Emily and Jeremy tied the knot this last Saturday and we were so thankful we could be there to celebrate!

Em and Jer have a sweet, sweet love story and I’m so pleased to have witnessed some of it firsthand.

I’ve known Emily since 10th grade and to be there for this huge moment in her life was such an honor.

Isn’t she GORGEOUS? 

Weddings are such great reminders of the love God has for us and the love He gives us through others. Congratulations to the rockingest couple in the state of PA!

love, elizabeth

A Rainy Afternoon with the Books

We spent Saturday afternoon in downtown Warren, Pennsylvania and waiting for Emily and Jeremy’s wedding to start, we wandered into a couple nearby bookstores. It. was. heaven. I even got some Christmas shopping done! There is just no place like a bookstore. I could spend my whole life with my nose pressed to the printed page. THIS, people, is why I will NEVER buy an e-reader. Ever. Ever. EVER.

What about you? What do you love the most about bookstores? And what are you reading lately?

love, elizabeth

Pennsylvania in the Fall

Kyle and I spent the weekend in rural Pennsylvania, near the Allegheny National Forest. Here’s a few of my favorite shots from the road…

 

The fall colors were just gorgeous…this was such a great drive.

Had to show this cowl off. Mom just knitted it a couple weeks ago!

Madigan’s pulling a Tyra here and smiling with her eyes. That’s fierce. Or maybe she’s just mad that she’s stuck in the car with us for 5 hours.

Boy and dog at play. Running through the leaves…doesn’t get any better than that.

I’ve got some great pictures from downtown Warren, PA AND the wedding so I’ll be back with those next post!

How was YOUR weekend?

love, elizabeth

A Wedding in Bourbon Country

I am finally home (and starting to feel rested after a very long, wonderful week)! Beth and Zach’s wedding was beautiful and, in my opinion, a perfect representation of who they are as a couple. I got a little picture happy while I was there (between 300 and 400 pictures-happy) but I thought I’d share some of my favorites with you!

Beth and Zach before the rehearsal at St. Francis of Assisi.

Beth and some of the girls reenacting a scene from Bridezilla.

St. Francis

Putting the bouquets together Friday morning. Left to right: Ebony, Brianna, Shawna, and Jessica.

The happy couple post-ceremony

One of my favorite shots of the two of them…

Your eyes do not deceive you. That is my manly, manly husband sporting my wedge heels. My feet were killing me and Kyle kindly traded shoes while we waited for pictures. In case anyone is wondering, that is pretty much the definition of true love.

Beth and Zach in the limo on the way to the reception at Glassworks

Beth and her older brother Dan during their dance rendition of Dean Martin’s “That’s Amore.” Their Sicilian family was soooooooooo happy.

Beth and I at the reception (and a picture to prove I was actually there!)

One of the best weeks of my life. Already missing the other bridesmaids and Beth and her amazing family…

What about YOU? How was your week??

love, elizabeth

PS: Another big thank-you to Ashley, Mom, and Sarah for guest-posting for me last week. I’m excited to catch up on everyone’s blogs starting tomorrow!

A Wedding 5 Years Ago

With Beth’s wedding just days away (and me packing to leave for it), I’ve been thinking a lot about my own wedding. It’s mind-boggling to me how quickly the last five years have flown. I imagine the next five will fly even faster. This afternoon, on an impulse, I pulled out the wedding cd our photographer made for us. I haven’t actually looked at it since the wedding and I found myself crying, especially seeing the pictures of my grandfather who passed away a year ago, seeing the tenderness on Kyle’s face, the look in my mother’s eyes. It’s hard to believe I could have this many wonderful, loving people in my life. I am so thankful for them. And I’m thankful to have these pictures…

 

 

via Candy Apple Photography

If you are a Colorado bride, be sure to check this amazing photography duo out.

They’re absolutely the best.

I love seeing pictures of Beth and Zach together at our wedding long before they started dating. My friend Kacey took this photo in a car on the way to the wedding. That’s Zach and Beth in the front seat! And five years later…they’re about to get married themselves. This picture makes me so happy.

Photo credits: Kacey Stamats

Two of my favorite people in the universe. I should have known then…If we could only see what the future has for us!

Have spent some good nostalgic cry-time this afternoon. Hopefully I’ve gotten it all out of my system and can stay dry-eyed through the entire wedding week. (ahahahahahahahahaa…)

What about you? What wedding memories make you tear up?

love, elizabeth

PS: I’ll be leaving Tuesday but I have some sweet guest-posts coming up that you don’t want to miss!

Oh, and the Don’t Worry, Be Happy Giveaway closes Sunday night at midnight…want some H&M accessories? ENTER HERE.

The Bachelorette: Kentucky Edition

I just got home from a weekend with my best friend, Beth, who is getting married in just eleven short days! Last night we went out for her bachelorette party. She gave me permission to post some pictures. Here are some of my favorites from the night…

Getting ready to go out…

The bachelorette…isn’t she pretty? She even put on the goofy veil I brought her.

We ended up at the bar and restaurant where Beth waits tables (when she’s not teaching yoga or acting or finishing her master of fine arts program). Had a couple drinks (including my first hurricane) and sang a ridiculous amount of karaoke.

The highlight was probably Beyoncé's All the Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It). Oh, and I sang Hey, Soul Sister by Train so my night was complete.

And at the end of the night (read: 3:45 am), because smart bachelorettes don’t ever drink and drive, Beth’s fiancé Zach came and picked us up. But before we left, the soon-to-be-marrieds sang a duet (The Monkees, I’m a Believer). I did not cry. No one saw me cry. You can’t prove a thing.

Looking forward to heading back to Louisville for the wedding in a couple weeks.

So how was YOUR weekend?

love, elizabeth

PS: A measly THREE more posts until we open the giveaway! Clue #3: It’s great for out of doors…