Preparations

We definitely didn't have the stress of planning a wedding... but there were still plenty of preparations to do to get ready for the big day. I wanted to tie in some wedding type ideas, but not have it feel too "wedding-y". I knew I wanted it to be nice, because it was a monumental event for us.

I debated back and forth if I was going to wear my wedding dress when we got sealed. I was pretty sure it would still fit. And... is there a better occasion to wear it again? But I wasn't sure if people did that or not... especially where it had been 4 years later. After going back and forth multiple times on what I wanted to do, I finally decided I would wear it.

I really should have tried it on earlier than I did... but it's a 2-3 person operation. Ian's barely home when I am as it is.... and I was not confidant he could lace it up. Haha! So a few days before, Mom and Stephanie helped me in to it. They were concerned there for a little bit that it was not going to do up... But as they started lacing, it was going to work! I had a good time laughing at the craziness that night!

Granted I was a little skinnier on my wedding day. And I had a corset and my spanx, so everything was nice and tight... This time around I had my spanx, but decided I wouldn't sweat the small stuff. I wasn't going to pay $60 for a corset. Yes, it was a big day, but I'm already married... I was just there to enjoy. Plus... when would I ever have a reason to wear that again?

It wasn't perfect, but I was just happy to be in my wedding dress again. It was so fun taking it out of the bag for the first time since my wedding. I forgot how much I really love my dress!

We didn't have much time to find a photographer. Especially when June is the busiest wedding month of the year. I contacted photographer after photographer to find all the ones I wanted booked. I was about to give up hope! But my friend told me about a lady she had used before. I'm so glad she was available. I loved her! (Pictures to come.)

Ian and Dad got new suits. Who knew that suit pants and jackets are sold as a set. You don't get to mix and match sizes... I learned something new that day! Never been suit shopping before... After a few alterations, they looked pretty spiffy!

I originally jeweled up some flip flops for our wedding. Clown feet + being tall = flip flops. After 4 years, they had yellowed quite a bit. So I had to make another pair. I liked this one better than the first!

I made little wooden blocks with pictures of us through the years. I learned that 2x4's aren't really 2"x4"... And Home Depot doesn't make cuts smaller than 12". So I had to improvise a little, but I thought they turned out cute.

My colors were Coral, Peach, and Green. I wanted fresh, spring colors.  

I made my own bouquet. I originally wanted calla lilies like in my wedding, but apparently I didn't know how expensive they were back then. I couldn't justify spending $6-8 per stem and needing 20 stems... Roses it was! I got an awesome deal from the floral shop. And got the rest of the flowers from Sam's Club to make my center pieces.

3 hours and 4 bouquet attemps later, I had my bouquet, 12 center pieces, and a boutinere. I hate that I'm such a perfectionist! The center pieces were fast and easy. My bouquet was a bit stressful, but I liked how it finally turned out. The coral roses and peach roses were in different stages of blooming. So an all rose boquet was not working out. I used some on the other flowers as filler and it eventually turned out how I had in mind.


It's crazy to think I was going to school in floral design. My kitchen looked (and smelled) like a floral shop by the end of the night. There were stems and leaves all over the floor in my frustration.

I had to move around the shelves in my fridge to store the flowers. Good thing we were out of food and the fridge was practically empty...

A Little Background

I guess I should write a little background to our recent big event...

We were so meant for each other. How I was lucky enough to find Ian, I'll never know!

When we met, we were pretty much at the same stage in our religious inactivity. It had been a couple of years since either of us had anything to do with church. There was also no intention on going back anytime soon. We liked that we were both raised in the church, so we had the same background. As we got more serious, we knew we'd eventually like to go back to church, but that it wasn't going to happen soon. So we were married in a cute historic church out in the country.

After about 6 years total, we finally decided we were ready to go to the temple. That did not necessarily mean I wanted to go back to church... But, I wanted to go to the temple with my husband... and church was a necessary step to get there.

We had planned on going back to church when we moved in October. A new house, new neighborhood, a new start. It wasn't as easy as that though. We are both shy and quiet. Definitely don't put ourselves out there... It was hard/scary to take the first step in going back to church after that long.

After my visiting teachers came over a couple times, I felt a little more at ease about it. We'd started to meet a few of our neighbors and they all seemed so nice. With the end result as our MAIN FOCUS, we went to church one Sunday back in January with the faith that everything else in between would fall in to place. And that it did.

This huge decision was completely for ourselves. Not our parents or anyone else... So we didn't want to tell them.... yet. It was so hard keeping a big secret!

The joke of payment for my family helping us with our house was going back to church. So I framed this picture and gave it to them as their "thank you gift". It was fun telling them our big news. Brooke and Jordan were living in Utah at the time, but got to be on the phone with us. Brooke said she would just die if we were announcing a baby... Haha! I knew the words "big news" would throw them off :)

It may have taken 6 years... but, we made it to the temple. We've come a long way and still have an even longer way to go. We're still in the "faith that everything will fall in to place" stage. Stuff is still falling :)


We picked the Rexburg temple because back in early 2008, when we went through the open house, that's where I knew Ian would be the one I married. (Even if I was not quite ready to accept that fact yet...)

We may not have done all this the "easy" way, but I feel it all means that much more to us now. 

My first time at the temple was a special day. I felt adequately prepared by my husband and parents. I will never forget the huge smiles on their faces.

A life we used to live

We stayed in Utah a couple extra days after Sara's wedding. We SO needed that! One day was spent in Logan doing what we used to do back when we were dating. So fun to recreate the best time of our lives!

Mini golfing was fun. I was not doing as well as normal... so Ian got to win. Ok, pretty sure he's won every game of mini golf we've ever played. Here he is fetching my ball stuck in the tube. Found an extra ball in the process...

It takes real talent to be able to get your ball stuck in a bush!! The pictures of me trying to get it out are pretty funny... but no one needs to see my gigantic butt in the air. Thank you husband...

Perfect day to be outside. Not terribly hot, with a little breeze.

"Hey crazy lady with the camera... put it down and get outta my way!" Ok, he would never say that, but I love coming up with thoughts to his expressions :)

Too much sun and shade for optimal pictures. Oh well.

Both our balls matched our shirts. It was not planned...

Taking a drive up the canyon. We used to do this a lot! Gotta love the windshield vista.

Went on a little walk up by the temple like we used to. Such a pretty day!

Gotta love when these pictures happen. We have lots!

Such a great view of the valley from that bench!

Recreating pictures from 4 years ago. Current pictures are in pink and black shirts. Old ones are in blue and white.... back when we were younger and skinnier.

Could we be laughing any harder??

YEP! Oh I love it.

It was a bit warmer this time around.

We were frozen little love birds, but it's all about the memories!

Ok, back to reality... Old Grist Mill makes the perfect lunch for the park. Again... I probably annoyed him with so many pictures. Oh well... There are so many restaurants in Logan that we miss. Best sandwiches ever! Angies the night before was delicious too! Only eat at places you don't have at home when you are on vacation...

The next day we made it down to Salt Lake to go through a session in the temple. If you've never been... YOU NEED TO GO! So cool!

This picture cracks me up! There were brides everywhere... We tried to get in a few pictures without being in their way. Ian had some eye issues going on. I was a little grumpy that he was not cooperating in our small window of time before another bride came. There may have been a little arguing and me laughing...

And then some people offered to take our picture! How embarrassing... :)

Temple Square was so pretty covered in flowers.

We decided to go on a spur of the moment Conference Center tour.

I'd been on a shortened version of one before, but the full tour was awesome. Lots to learn!

Our cute little guide was so fun to listen to. I hope when Ian and I are that old, we will have been able to travel as much as that cute little guy!

Such an awesome view from the top. Ian was a good husband and got to be the pack horse. Someone didn't want to walk all the way back to the car to drop the bags off... because she wasn't coming back if that happened. Me and my flip flops were not getting along...

Perfect little vacation. A wedding, a fun day spent in Logan, and sessions in the Logan and Salt Lake temples.

I love my travel buddy. We have so much fun together!

(Oh, by the way... we've gone back to church. Even made it to the temple... More to come on that later. Maybe.)

Two Weddings and a Birthday

Four years ago we had two birthdays and a wedding in a span of 6 days. This year, we had 2 weddings and a birthday in 13 days. It's been a busy month... We'll start with wedding #1.

Ian's sister, Sara, got married on June 6th in the Logan temple. We were glad we were able to make it.

It got us even more excited for our big day. We totally loved being in Logan again. It had been way too long.

 

I just think he's so handsome in his new suit. And the tie I gave him. Red is definitely his color. We totally didn't know Sara was going to have a red sash. Ian's just intuitive I guess... (or his other tie was at my mom's house!)

The Logan temple is huge! So pretty on the inside and out!

I love when Ian takes pictures. And it's not always me taking them. I love his picture taking skills way better than mine. Probably because they are different than mine. I love the pictures he gets of me.

The weather was perfect. People were complaining how cold it was. It's better than being a sweaty, drippy mess for pictures. I'll take it!

The Logan temple grounds are just as big! Such an awesome view. 

Glad Sara's friend was there to take some pictures of us. I think they turned out cute... It's been a while since we've had a real event to take pictures at.

Brother & Sister... in the same location together for a picture... that doesn't happen too often. I think it's a cute one :)

I'm always taking pictures of just Ian. Well... I think he's pretty cute! Plus I get sick of the face shots from arms length. It was nice to have other people to take our picture.

Oh this picture cracks me up! I love Ian's face. It's like, "I'm sorry, you want me to do what?!". Love it!

And these were too cute to not post. I love the expressions!

There we go!




I stepped back a minute to take a picture of all the photo taking festivities. Almost fell down the hill too... It would have been hilarious. Glad I didn't ruin their day with my splat at the bottom.

This is one of my favorite pictures of us! Being in Logan brought back so many happy memories.

Volleyball was the theme. I guess that's how they met. The cake was delicious. Brazilian/mango or something.

And there's my husband... eating cake without a fork! Good thing it was his second piece and there were only a few family members left at the reception. I try to raise a well mannered husband... but sometimes you have to be a neanderthal when the situation calls for it. Or you're hungry...