The Honeymoon...

Things are starting to settle down after the honeymoon, and we are slowly returning to life as a newly wed couple.   We are still living somewhat out of suitcases and other things but we are enjoying every minute of it. For the honeymoon, we decided on Playa de Carmen, Mexico.  (This might be a rather long post, but well worth a look, especially if you plan on visiting). We did some research an chose to stay at the Viva Wyndam Aztec.....an experience we will never forget.

Inside of the hotel 

Grounds of the Hotel 

More from the hotel.

The lounge at Viva Wyndam Aztec. 

We were on the third floor, with no elevator.  But the climb wasn't that bad. 

Outside the hotel. 

Then there was the food: 

This is something that I could not possibly put into words - 

The above and below was diner one evening.

This was breakfast.

Of course there was more, and I took pictures of pretty much everything, but you get the idea. 

Then there was there entertainment:

Of course, first there was the beach where we spent most of our time -

Looking up to the resort.

And the excursions...

Cenote Ik kil - Yucatan, Mexico

Cenote Ik kil - Yucatan, Mexico

 Valladolid -  Church of Saint Servatius 

The Market in Playa del Carmen. 

 Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins

Chichen Itza

Temple of the Warriors or Temple of the Thousand Columns - Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza

And this was the end.  We were pretty worn out by the time we returned, but it was well worth the trip!

Everything happens for a reason!

I'm getting a little nervous as the days go by.  It seems to creep up on you even faster as the time draws near.  It's hard to believe that we became engaged almost 1 year ago, and the time has flown by.  I read this article the other day that helped me put things into perspective.

Everything happens for a reason

Almost one year ago we were here, and now the day is fast approaching.  Stressing yourself over the little things that you can't change will not not help. Better yet! - Find that one friend that helps to keep you calm in the storm, and hang on to them.  Trust me - This will make all the difference.   

Wedding Blessings!

Photo from Pixabay

These are some of the versus that week looked at for our ceremony...

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Isaiah 62:5

As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.

Joshua 24:15

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Genesis 2:24 

 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Ephesians 5:25
 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Proverbs 19:14
 House and riches [are] the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife [is] from the LORD.

1 Corinthians 13:4-13 

 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;^{[a] 6} it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
⁸ Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. ¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
¹³ So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Proverbs 31:10

"An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels."

1 Peter 4:8

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."

1 John 4:7

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 

The Hashtag

Courtesy of Pixabay

We did choose a #hashtag for our wedding, simply because we wanted to be able to see all of the pictures that were taken at the wedding.  Granted, you will probably never get to see all of them, but we wanted as many as we could.
     Of course, not many people anymore use disposable cameras, and when they did it cost an arm and a leg to get them developed.  With social media, it comes pretty simply to get your hands on more pictures than your photographer may not get.
 So with that being said,  we decide to create our own make-shift photo booth and we will  have people use our hashtag.  So I would recommend at least picking out some short of hashtag to use.  (Note:  Keep it short and simple)  Then you can simply comb your social media sites and collect them . I, being one that still prints pictures, was not to fond of the disposable camera option.  If you would like, I did a post not too long ago, about why I still print pictures.

Back to Printing

So. In conclusion, create a short and sweet hashtag that you can use to get the most out of your pictures.  And, if your like me and still print, there will always be a photo book to look at years down  the road.  Cause we all know that VCR's will last forever, just like Facebook right?

The List...

This might be one of the regrets that I have so far. While I am typing, the current bride to be, is off at the wedding shower.  Just about a year ago after we became engaged, we started to put together a guest list.  During this last year we have added guests, and even as we are approaching crunch time we are still adding.  We have already received several gifts in the mail from those who are unable to make it, and it is becoming more difficult to keep track of the guests, RSVP's, thank you's, and the gifts.

Some will give gifts, at the bridal shower, some at the wedding, and so will even send them in the mail to your home.

My regret so far is that we didn't create some sort of spreadsheet.  Of course, you have a list of names, but if you have access to an Excel program, I would highly recommend creating some sort of spreadsheet to house all of this information. This way you can keep track of names, addresses, gifts they have given, thanks you's.

This is the only regret so far, but I think it would have been well worth it if we would had a spreadsheet to go off of.

The Registry...The fun Part!

Courtesy of Pixabay

Like everything that we have done for this wedding, we did our research for our wedding registry.  Everything seems pretty consistent between testimonies that we read, and the places that we registered.  If you are inviting 250 people to the wedding. you should assume that most people would but several gifts each. Example:  If you list a several cooking utensils, someone is likely to but them all.  (Depending on the price range of your gifts). We registered for items from very inexpensive to larger items, such as luggage and appliances.  Just a few things to remember:

• Include lots of variety. 
• Take into consideration that some of the items you register for may be seasonal, and you might have to update it several times. Our engagement lasted a year, so as we added to the guest list we also added to the registry.  
• Keep in mind that you most likely will not get everything on your registry.  The important thing to remember is that these people are your close friends and family, and they are here to share in your joy.  Don't make them feel like an very expensive gift is a cover charge to get into your wedding.  
• Some people prefer gift cards rather that something on the registry.  This gives you options.  
• Some places we found will give you a discount on items that were not purchased after the wedding.  This is something to ask the venue or outlet that you register at.
• Some of the things that we registered for were things that were just a mere update of what we already had.  
• Don't overwhelm your guests either.  When you have a guest list of 200-250 people, no one wants to scroll through 800 items that you registered for.  
• Don't forget the THANK YOU notes.  (It makes all the difference!)   

This is the rather fun part of the adventure, but don't overdue it or not enough.  It's too easy to let your frustrations run away with you, just relax and enjoy it!  It will all be worth it in the end.  AND the best best part is that you might get a new Crockpot!

There are many weddings out there...this is just ours!

How we chose a wedding photographer...

This is solely based on how we chose a photographer for our wedding day.  I realize that there are thousands of lists that couples work through in order to narrow it down, but this pertains more to what we wanted. 

• Know what it is that you are looking for on your wedding day.  Do you want just several pictures, with two hours or so of coverage;  or are you wanting to document the entire day.  
• Do you have a large wedding party or a small wedding party. 
• What are you willing to spend?
• Do you want edited pictures, or non-edited pictures? ( You might be surprised when you look around the number of people that want strictly pictures from the camera).
• Do you want someone that prints the pictures for you, or are you looking for a CD so that you can print your own pictures?
• Are you wanting a photographer that offers, add-ons? (i.e - free guest book, printed canvas, wedding album, video)  
• Do you want bridal portraits, or engagement photos? - in most cases you can find a photographer that does both.  
• Do you want one, or more photographers, to cover your day?

These are just some of the questions that we covered before we made a decision.  We looked around in the areas and selected about four that interested us.  We looked at their work, pricing, do they have a website?, and especially reviews.  Don't hesitate to ask another wedding couple who photographed their day. Lastly, DON'T go with someone for the simple fact that they are cheap.   If you are on a more confined budget, continue to research who is around you, and share with the prospects what types of services they would offer for what you are willing to pay.  You might be surprised.  Please DO NOT throw yourself at the first person that offers you a $100 deal for the entire day! You will most likely regret it.

Remember to book early!  Most photographers book over a year in advance.  If your day is planned for early spring/summer that becomes PRIME TIME!!!

YOUR TIP HERE:  Research, research, research!  Read, ask questions, and don't be afraid to tell people what you are looking for.  

P.S. - I will share with you after the wedding who we chose.  I'm sure if you are from the NWA area you know who they are...it may start with KD!