Interview with our BEAUTIFUL bride, Alex:
HOW DID YOU MEET? Chad and I first laid eyes on each other back in October 2006. I was a junior at FSU and he had already graduated. I remember he had another girl sitting on his lap and I had a boyfriend at the time but I just couldn’t stop thinking how HANDSOME he was. We had friends that ended up getting married and would run into each other over the coming years from football games to sitting and dancing together at our friend’s wedding. However the timing was never perfect. In December of 2009 I went down to visit our friends, Brad & Hilary, whose wedding we were both in and we all went out to dinner that night and the rest is history! The stars had finally aligned for us.
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU THE MOST TO YOUR HUSBAND? I was most attracted to Chad’s compassion; love for his family, and over all fun lovingness. From day one he always made me feel like the most special and important person in his life and I never doubted his feelings about me. And of course that full dark head of hair and those baby blue eyes didn’t hurt. ☺
HOW DID HE PROPOSE? My best friend Brett (who lived in San Diego) called me a month prior and said she was going to Pittsburg in early March but was really bummed that flight prices were too expensive to make a weekend trip to NYC – since she was already across the country. I totally understood though. So on the Monday before he popped the question she texted me and said that her boss got them some meetings in NYC so she would be here in 2 days! I was stoked and didn’t think any things of it!
So that Friday night she asked if Chad and I wanted to meet up with her and her boss for drinks at the Boat House in Central Park. I said of course! Chad picked me up from work which I thought was sweet and when he did I had this overwhelming feeling that this could be the night. Yet – I did NOT want to get my hopes up so I said no matter what it’s going to be a great night out in NYC with your boy friend and best friend.
Chad and I started walking through Central Park to make our way to the boat house and once we got half way through the “Mall” area he stopped me dead in my tracks and got down on one knee and pulled out the most stunning ring I had ever seen. I couldn’t stop laughing, covering my mouth and smiling. It was absolutely perfect. Afterwards we met Brett at The Time Warner Center for drinks because the Boat House was actually closed. And then Chad surprised me one again and had ALL of our best friends down at one of our local watering holes to toast the night away. It was such an amazing evening.
WHAT INSPIRED YOUR VISION FOR YOUR WEDDING? I wanted an old southern Florida wedding. With neutral colors of ivory, champagne, and blush and a down home feel.
WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST PLANNING CHALLENGE? As soon as we got engaged on March 2nd I started planning away. We had decided that we wanted to hold our wedding in Tallahassee since we and all of our friends went there and it would feel like one big reunion. So we set the date for April 6, 2013. Around early July 2012 we got a wild hair and decided we just couldn’t wait another 9 months to become Husband and Wife. Chad’s parents had already planned and sent out invitations for an Engagement Party they were throwing for us on August 18th (5 weeks later) in his home town of Lakeland, Fl. And we just said “what the hek” let’s turn our engagement party into our wedding day!!!
So needless to say we planned another whole wedding in FIVE short weeks. But God truly was in control – the church, Pastor, venue, & photographer we wanted were all randomly available on this day. It was beyond a blessing and we know that it was meant to be!
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE DESIGN ELEMENT OF YOUR WEDDING? I really wanted to incorporate some family heirloom details into our wedding day. The lace table cloth that was on our cake table was from my great grandmother. I had the handkerchief that Chad’s mom used on her wedding day wrapped around my bouquet. And best of all Chad surprised me with having our fur son, Bleecker (our mini golden doodle) come meet us after the ceremony for pictures.
DID YOU HAVE ANY DIY DETAILS? I did – I wanted to do at least one DIY project for the wedding to feel like I had a little hand in it. So I created our wedding programs. Designed them, printed them, and tied a champagne color bow on each of them. I thought they turned out perfect and cost next to nothing!
WHAT WAS THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT OF YOUR WEDDING DAY? Hands down it was standing at the altar and saying those vows to my NOW husband. I remember looking at him and whispering ‘This is crazy’ I couldn’t believe that the day we had both been waiting for was there. And the fact that ALL of our family and friends dropped everything with only five weeks notice to celebrate our special day made us feel more loved than ever!
DESCRIBE YOUR CAKE: Chad and his mom actually picked out our cake flavors. We had a beautiful 4 tier cake with 3 layers of yellow cake with buttercream frosting and 1 layer of white cake with strawberry filling (I had to throw that one in there). It was all white with scattered pearls and a cascade of hydrangeas going down the side. It was picture perfect!
HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER? Our experience with Sara and Jason was beyond phenomenal! With only 5 short weeks to pull everything together, I was sure that we wouldn’t get a photographer that we were in love with. My friend Blaine called Sara right away for us and sure enough they had that date available. Not only that but they worked with us on pricing since our initial Tallahassee photographer wouldn’t give us our deposit back. They were miracle workers and I am forever grateful for them!
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND AS A COUPLE? Chad and I are getting settled back in NYC and enjoying our life as a married couple. We are hoping to get a new apartment soon and can’t wait to take more vacations together!!!
CAN YOU PLEASE LIST YOUR VENDORS:
Ceremony: First Presbyterian Chapel
Venue: The Lakeland Yacht & Country Club
Flowers & Design: 2 Sisters Event & Design
Cake: It’s a Piece of Cake by Maggi in Auburndale
Videographer: Storybook Weddings
Photographer: Concept Photography
Wedding Dress: WToo by Watters
Bridesmaid Dresses: Jcrew
Ceremony Musicians: Adonai Trio
Reception Music: DJ Kelly