antiquing? yes please!

Wooohoooo! This weekend is finally just a few days away!!
I discovered this festival back in April and told Adam we just had to go!

We are on a mission to find the following:
1. A farm house table and seating
2. Wedding decor (blue mason jars, doilies, quilts, cake platters, wooden drink crates)
3. A chair for my bridal portraits and possibly engagement pictures too
4. Vintage western home decor for our house (that we don't even have yet)

I am so excited about this festival weekend! The best part is Adam is just as excited about it. We did some antiquing this past weekend and I couldn't keep up with the boy, he was spotting treasures left and right!

And this brings me to #5 on our list....

We found the cutest hoosier cabinet! (I wish it were the picture above) The only downside is someone decided to paint the entire thing white!! I have no problem with white (it would go great in my adorable kitchen), our particular find just needed a better paint job. So we are definitely keeping our eyes on the look out for a great hoosier cabinet for my adorable kitchen....


Pictures of our great finds to come!!

we've got a photographer... actually 2!

Yesterday I met up with our photographer Nichol Lancaster, signed our wedding contract and handed over a check (eek!)

Finding a photographer was my biggest worry (I'm sure there will be more worries to come). I was so happy to stumble across Nichol's website. She does beautiful work and after meeting with her yesterday, my worries are gone, I know we are in good hands!

When I found her site and looked at her photos for what seemed like hours, I knew I wanted her for my (our) pictures. I immediately emailed to let her know that I was interested. We had already set the date (6-23-12) and I thought 11 months is plenty of heads up. Well.... another bride emailed her the day before me, and guess what day she is getting married.... yep, 6-23-12! Nichol explained to me that she would (if we went with her) be doing our engagement and my bridal pictures, however since she was already booked, her associate Brian Streett would be available for the wedding day. This really wasn't what I wanted to hear. Both I and my fiance are shy people and it's not every day that we have people taking our pictures. I know that our wedding day is going to be exciting, but I also know that nerves are sure to be present as well. I want us both to be comfortable and I knew that after being around and talking to the photographer we would become comfortable around her. So I wasn't too sure how I felt about having a new person taking pictures at our wedding. Nichol spoke very highly of him, assuring me that their styles were very similar, he is normally at the weddings taking photos with her, she would be doing all the editing of wedding photos, and continued to say that she had complete trust in him. She said she understood if we decided against her due to being already booked. So, since this isn't just my wedding, and since Adam and I had already decided that we were footing the photography bill, I definitely had to discuss this with him...

We talked it over. He was okay with having a different person the day of, I was still hesitant, I asked CB if he wanted to change the date, and of course that was a no (6-23-12, it just rolls off the tongue haha) So, if he was happy, then I was happy. I know that Nichol has a reputation to worry about, so I doubt she is going to send any Tom, Dick or Harry with a camera to shoot a wedding!

After sitting and talking with her yesterday I am so excited about our choice! I know she is going to do a great job!! The 3 of us have decided that we are going to shoot for October engagement pictures in Ashe, and bridal pictures sometime in April (still brainstorming on locations)!

My thrifty self sees this as two professional photographers for the price of one!

Here are two additional links to their galleries:
Nichol's Gallery
Brian's Gallery

the house that built me

I imagine that picking a wedding venue can be very stressful for some brides. For me, it was so simple, my mom and dad's back (& side) yard! I grew up in this house. It has been filled with love and many life lessons. I can't imagine a more fitting place for my wedding than the house that built me...

We are planning a very informal evening (7:00 pm) June 23rd wedding. The sunset is absolutely beautiful at the house, and then once the sun goes down there will be thousands of twinkling lights throughout the yard. My dad is wanting to go old school with light bulbs in pie tins. I've got a couple of ideas brewing around and I know that once we get our heads together, it's going to be complete awesomeness! I will definitely keep ya posted as we finalize our grand plan.

This is where the ceremony will take place....


The ceremony will be down at the trees. When looking up from the trees, you will be able to see where the reception will take place....


I know these aren't the best pictures, but at least it gives a general idea/vision. I wish I could take a snap shot of the vision in my head to share with everyone, but i guess you will just have to stay tuned to see my vision brought to life!

crazy lil thing called love...

YAY!!! I'm getting married!! And goodness knows when your getting married you gotta blog about it, haha. Anyway, hope you enjoy reading about my journey to the aisle.

Three tidbits of information...
• I'm Hannah, the bride.
• Adam (also answers to cowboy or CB for short) is the groom
• And this is our story of how it all started...

December 2010, amidst the Christmas season, I was transferred to our Wilkes location to help with the hectic holiday shopping. Little did I know, one snowy morning, that I would be meeting my husband in a few short hours at work. I remember this tall handsome man wearing a cowboy hat approaching our door, I couldn't take my eyes off of him! He held the door open for this beautiful lady and I soon realized that they were together...ugh! I asked if I could help them, he said he was looking for Kattie (store manager). They continued to look around the store while they waited for Kattie, while I continued to find myself stealing glances at this man, and of course, as I always do, keeping my ears at full attention to what everyone is saying. I hear the lady he's with say, "you should buy this for your sister... your only sister" woohoo she's his sister!! While they spoke with Kattie, I was still catching myself looking at this man and a few times our eyes met, and I would melt (he has the dreamiest blue eyes ever). They left the store and as soon as I finished helping my customer I was in Kattie's office getting the scoop on that man! She filled me in on him, and the best thing she said about him was "he's single and looking for someone" (okay so maybe that wasn't the best thing she said about him). Kattie could tell I was interested and said that she would mention me to him or his father (who shops in the store). I had told all my close friends about this "cowboy" that came in the store and just gushed over him! I was so hopeful that he would call or something, but a week went by and then two and still nothing. I had moved on from the hopes of cowboy. Christmas came and went and then it was New Year's Eve, I was house sitting for a good friend that night. I had been invited to a couple parties but I didn't care anything about celebrating. 2010 had been a hard year for me, my self esteem was low, my faith and relationship with God was definitely not where I needed it to be. I decided that instead of partying with my friends I was going to reflect on 2010 and bring the new year in praying, and that's what I did. I started a prayer journal of what I wanted for 2011. I asked God to send me someone, I described exactly what I wanted. I woke up, it was 2011, no hang over, and I was feeling great! Starting the new year off with the Lord and opening up to Him brought me peace that I had been longing for. Days went by and I was staying positive that the Lord was going to lead me to "the one."
Friday, January 28th, someone mentioned something about someone from my past, and I don't know why, but it bothered me so bad that it brought me to tears. As I sat crying I prayed for God to keep me strong and patient as he lead me to who he picked for me. I left work, was heading to my sister's basketball game and talking to a friend on the phone when I received another call. I didn't recognize the number but saw that it was a local number and thought I should answer (best phone call ever!!). Oh my gosh!!! It's cowboy!!! (Thank you Lord, thank you!) We talked and talked like we had known each other for ages. I couldn't wait to leave the ballgame (sorry Kendra, you know I love you) so I could call him back! We talked again Saturday and then went out Sunday afternoon.

I couldn't stop smiling the whole time we went out Sunday and wasn't nervous at all, I felt so comfortable around Adam. I had to call off our second date, I came home sick with the flu. We talked on the phone that week, and finally that Saturday we were able to see each other again. It was Valentine's weekend, we went out and I knew that I was marrying this man, I even slipped my mom a text at dinner and told her so! It still gives me chills to read that prayer journal entry. Adam is everything I asked for and then some. I serve an amazing God!!

And that's our little love store... a crazy lil thing called love, as I say!