HOW DID YOU MEET?
Brent and I actually met at an engagement party - one of my best girlfriends was marrying one of Brent's friends.  At the time, I was living in Chicago and (being the fabulous bridesmaid that I was) I flew to Columbus for the party.  My friend was pointing out the groomsmen and when she pointed to Brent I said, "I call him."  I thought he was SO handsome. Brent and I were introduced that night and six months later I moved back to Columbus so we could be together.

WHAT DO YOU ADORE ABOUT BRENT?
I just adore "us."  I think Brent and I are both at our best when it's just the two of us.  Those are our happiest times.

WHAT WAS THE STYLE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR WEDDING?
The theme of our wedding was "Romantic Glam".  We did all candlelight, dark flowers, classic tuxedos, the big band...it came together beautifully.   

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE YOUR DAY ARE:
I only need one - Perfect.  If I had to add to that, I would use elegant and FUN.

IF YOUR GUESTS COULD SAY ONE THING ABOUT YOUR WEDDING, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT THAT TO BE?
I would want them to say, "Wow, they're really in love." Or wait no... "She's got great style."  Haha...just kidding!

WHAT DESIGN ELEMENT(S) WERE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT?
We used a black and white pattern (sort of a modified damask) along with our date (09.06.09) throughout many of the wedding details.  The save the dates, cake, invitation, favors, programs, etc. all incorporated these elements and I really think it gave the wedding a cohesive "look."  

WHAT WAS THE MOST HELPFUL THING SOMEONE DID FOR YOU WHILE PLANNING YOUR DAY?
I was shocked at how many people wanted to help!  I feel blessed to have such an amazing network of supportive people!  One thing that stands out is the week of the wedding four amazing women helped me make over 200 caramel apples for our favors.  They turned out BEAUTIFUL and delicious!!!  It was my big DIY project and, trust me, it was an undertaking!  I am forever indebted!

DESCRIBE THE EXPERIENCE OF FINDING YOUR WEDDING GOWN
I had pretty good idea of what I was looking for. I've always loved Amsale, so I'm not surprised that is what I ended up with.  My maid of honor came into town to shop with me for the dress.  We made a day of it with my mom, but I found "the one" in the first shop we went to!  It actually IS as fun as you picture it to be!  And, everyone says it, but it's true...you know when you put it on.

DESCRIBE YOUR FLOWERS
My flowers were all a deep red.  I kept saying to the florist, "No pink, no purple, think red wine!"  I carried black magic roses; my attendants carried a mix of roses and calla lilies.

DESCRIBE YOUR CAKE
Neither Brent nor I are big cake fans, so we actually served tiramisu to our bridal party.  I studied in Italy during college and Italians serve tiramisu to the bride and groom, rather than traditional wedding cake.  The word tiramisu actually means "pick me up" in Italian. The dessert is meant to give the groom a pick me up before spending his first night with his new wife.

For the rest of our guests we had a three-layered round cake.  It was almond flavored with a raspberry filling and white butter cream frosting.  It was decorated with our pattern and wedding date.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT OF THE DAY?
One that stands out is near the height of the reception.  It was almost midnight and the band played the song "Shout."  I looked around mid-song and the dance floor was packed.  I was dancing with my new husband, surrounded by my best friends and family and EVERYONE was having a blast.  It was definitely the most fun moment of the day.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST DANCE SONG AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE IT?
Brent and I danced to David Gray's "This Year's Love."  There is something crazy, romantic about that song.  The lyrics are kind of dark and sexy for a wedding, but we both just love it!!

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A COUPLE PLANNING THEIR WEDDING?
Make it yours.  There is so much out there to inspire you, but make your wedding reflect YOU as a couple.  During our ceremony we played the same music that was used in my parents wedding, it was so special to them.  I'm a writer, so in our programs we wrote about each of our attendants and let everyone know why they were standing for us.  Brent thinks weddings can feel awkward and stuffy, so after the formal dinner all of our guests were invited outside where there was more of a party feel - a cigar bar, nine-piece band and dancing under the stars.  I think these kinds of details make your wedding unique and memorable.   

FAVORITE WEDDING INSPIRATION WEBSITE:
Southern Weddings Magazine

I could spend hours looking and the photos and reading the posts.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU AS A COUPLE?
I don't think people believe me, but today was my first day back at work (after our honeymoon in Greece) and it feels GOOD.  Brent and I are excited to settle back into our normal lives, we bought a house in Grandview and are focusing on work and setting up our home.  I am certain the best is yet to come.

HOW DID YOU AND MIKE MEET?
Mike and I met at a party at my house in college.  At first I was thinking, "Man who is that loud idiot with that huge accent?".  But as the night progressed I was drawn to him because it seemed as if he was having the most fun in the room, and he sure was and I jumped right in.  The rest is history.

WHAT DO YOU ADORE ABOUT MIKE?
My favorite things about Mike are the way he supports me in whatever I do, no questions asked and he is a very passionate person about life and I love his drive.

WHAT WAS THE STYLE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR WEDDING?
I'm very french country with a modern twist.  I love neutral colors and wanted to incorporate that into my fall wedding.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOUR DAY:
Amazing. Perfect. Unforgettable.

IF YOUR GUESTS COULD SAY ONE THING ABOUT YOUR WEDDING, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT IT TO BE?
I think they have all commented that the wedding was very "Mike and I".  We wanted it to be nice and formal but not too over the top, we wanted to make sure it was a fun party to celebrate our new lives together.

WHAT DESIGN ELEMENT(S) WERE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT?
I was totally pumped about my pictures...it was definitely my top priority, but I would say other than that I really loved my envelopment invitations.  No one could get enough of the custom koozies!!!  In true Mike and I fashion.

ANY DIY DETAILS?
I have a really good friend named Sara who did a lot of the monograms and details like name cards and that kind of thing.  She was a life saver.

WHAT WAS THE MOST HELPFUL THINGS SOMEONE DID FOR YOU WHILE PLANNING YOUR DAY?
Definitely my mom, mother-in-law and sister-in-laws making us food and the hairstylists coming to our suite so we didn't ever have to leave.  It made the day very low key and we all just got to enjoy each other, eat and relax!!!!

DESCRIBE THE EXPERIENCE OF FINDING YOUR WEDDING GOWN:
I had found it online and went to the bridal shop to pick up a bridesmaid dress for another wedding I was in before mine, and saw the dress.  I tried it on and that was that.  I knew it when I saw it online and in person it was even better.  Of course my mom made me try on more to be sure, but we both knew.

DESCRIBE YOUR FLOWERS:
My flowers were a mixture of orange and yellow roses, with orange and yellow calla lilies, and orange mokara orchids.  Loved them!  The bridesmaids were smaller versions with orange renunculas.

DESCRIBE YOUR CAKE:
It was a three layered square cake trimmed in brown ribbon with all the different flowers from my bouquet with our signature wedding monogram.  I never got to try it, but heard it was wonderful!

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE WEDDING DAY MOMENT?
I don't think I could pick a favorite.  The whole day meant a lot to me because it's hard to get that many special and important people together in one location!  So it was just great to have everyone there to enjoy it with.  A big highlight was for sure when I danced with my dad and Mike played "Daughters" by John Mayer on the guitar....tear.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST DANCE SONG AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE IT?
Better Together by Jack Johnson.  Mike and I aren't very serious people, we love to laugh and have a good time.  We are huge Jack Johnson fans and we wanted that moment to bring a happiness through the room and get the party started tear-free.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE PLANNING THEIR WEDDING?
Get started early and don't be scared to make decisions.  I knew what I wanted and no one was going to change my mind.  Everyone thinks that you have to shop around, and to me that just gets overwhelming.  When you meet with vendors, you instantly know who you want to work with and what kind of outlook you want them to have, so just book em'!  Don't stress that day, everything works out!!!  I made it a point that if the cake fell over and the food got burnt that I wasn't going to worry about it, because that day was for me to marry my best friend and that was what was important.  The other details are awesome, but I think people forget they are extremely minor compared to declaration that you have found the person to spend the rest of your life with.

FAVORITE WEDDING INSPIRATION WEBSITE:
The Knot is full of information, but my friend Sara knows the in's and out's and just always seemed to find what I needed.  God Bless her soul.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU AND MIKE?
Mike is working hard at the car business and I am very proud of him!  I begin grad school in the fall to get my Masters in Occupational Therapy and I'm very excited for that to start and end so I can finally be in the real world, with a real paycheck!  Mike can't wait either.  Besides that we are just enjoying being married and having a good time with good friends and cold drinks on the weekend!  We are pretty simple people.