Our Happy Day--The Reception

This is the last and final wedding post....I think. haha. I have to say, the ceremony was my favorite part of the day but the reception was still so fun! Here are some final photos! If this has been totally boring then sorry. I never upload pictures to Facebook so this is the best way for me to document!

First dance with Brett was "Love Never Fails" by Brandon Heath and with my dad it was, "Always Be Your Baby" by Natalie Grant. I laughed and was giddy through my dance with Brett and cried through my dance with my dad! :) Sweet memories

Brett and his sweet mom

Cutting our beautiful and delicious cake

Best punch ever... :) 

Sweet friends

Lots of dancing....

Palmer had to do a little fishing.... :)

LOVE these women!!

Tossing the bouquet....

SWEET Jules caught it! Love that pic of you and Sarah!

garter toss...

Cute face B-Rett!

YEAH...Caleb!!

Chris and Carter and my sweet V!

I LOVE all of you!!

Love Birds....

Isn't this an amazing picture?!?

And we are off....... :) haha! 

Our Happy Day--Mr. and Mrs. Pictures

One of the disadvantages of not seeing each other before was that we had to miss out on some reception time by taking pictures. Clearly, we didn't seem to mind. Not seeing each other was the best decision for us and it was such a special moment when we saw each other for the first time! So, here are some of our Mr. and Mrs. shots from after.

One of my favorites :)

Look at that smile!

We loved some chalkboard signs that day! :)

Love birds! 

Another favorite. I had amazing photographers, who I have to give a shootout too real quickly. Alisa Lynn shot my pictures with an assistant. They have now launched their new business TOGETHER as High Cotton Photography! Match made in heaven! Book them! They are FABULOUS!!

Next up, last post about reception and leaving!

Our Happy Day--More Shots From After

Here are just a few more shots from after the ceremony...

Ah....LOVE this picture!!!

Bridal party

I know...Cutest flower girl EVER!

I can't really explain. My brother and I have a special relationship and we enjoy making ridiculous faces. haha.

Brett's family

The original Blackman Bunch

The improved Blackman Bunch

Another bridal party shot

more family

My sweet grandmother

Love this picture of Brett's grandparents. They have been married over 57 years! 

Hoping we follow that example!

Finally, two of my favorite people and biggest supporters ever. Love you mom and Mangs!

Up next....Mr. and Mrs. shots and reception shots...

Our Happy Day--The Details

Since our event was such a DIY one, I decided to dedicate a post solely to the details. They all made our wedding picture perfect and I was thankful that our photographer captured all of the details that I was unable to see come together that day! :) 

Boys boutonnieres. Brett's on the right...

How cool that the photographer caught this shot!

Programs made by yours truly...

Love this sign that mom got Brett and I

At the front of our entrance

Leading into the aisle

Our backdrop. A dear friend cut down the trees and made our cross for us!

My beautiful monogrammed ribbon on my bouquet..

Our covenant we signed

Chalkboard signs

Loved our "Love Birds" sign!!

We had a milk and cookies bar and this was our set up

Cute little details! Cookies made by Elizabeth Epperson

Toasting glasses

More details

Favors table....Magnets, Pears, and Apples

My cake table setup 

Our cakes--I LOVED them!

Ring pictures

So many of these details were put together by these sweet girls.....

Catherine, Julie, Mangs, Linds, Mom, and my Aunt Amy! Y'all were an unbelievable blessing and help during the months leading up to the wedding and especially the day before and day of!!

So those were MOST of our details from our day!! 

Our Happy Day- The Ceremony

I watched from a window as guests poured in. Finally, it was time to begin.....

Grandmothers were seated...

Mothers were seated....

Chris, the best man, and the groom waiting....

My brother, Eric, leading the crowd in the hymn, "In Christ Alone"

Then...off went our bridal party...

Finally, it was time for my daddy to walk me down the aisle..

Hold it together Laura.....Hold it together!

Well, that just didn't happen. Dad and I were both a mess of tears walking down the aisle!

Brett had specific instructions not to look until I hit the aisle. This is the face I saw when he looked up..

He did better than us...but there were still a few tears!

Brett, Dad, Me, and Mom all crying! I promise I really was excited! :)

Love this picture.

And this one....

Our beautiful setup

Signing our covenant

Praying together

Almost married! 

You may kiss your bride!! :)

WE DID IT!

Had to throw this last one in! When we got back Linds came up to me crying and so happy! She goes, "I'm sorry! I'm emotional cause I'm pregnant!!" :) haha. One of the sweetest moments! 

The ceremony was both Brett and I's favorite part of the day. I remember the things that were said. I loved our vows and the meaning behind them. Chris did such a great job of making everything personal. 

It was perfect.

Our Happy Day--A Few More Shots Before the Ceremony

Here are a few more family/individual photos from before our wedding.

Brett's family

Mom and dad

Look at that cute flower girl

She and her parents

Anxious hands...

Brett's sweet grandmother and his other grandparents

My groom waiting..

Love my mom and sister!

Watching and waiting....Ready to get this show on the road! :)

Our Happy Day- His and Her Pictures

A few before pictures of the guys and girls. We had a pretty amazing group stand beside us that day.

So handsome!

Serious/Sexy Faces. haha.

Ready to meet them?

Bro in law, Pudge on the left--Dear friend, Caleb on the right. I promise we have serious pictures too but these were just so fun! :)

My brothers....Sam on the left, Eric on the right

The best man, Brett's dad and Brett's brother, Drew

Now a few of the girls...

Loved my bouquet

Don't know what was funny but I like the picture....I guess I was a little giddy! :)

My lovely girls!

Loved their flowers too!

Then we found the wall. Made for some fun pictures!

I told you the Lord blessed us with a beautiful day! Look at that scenery?!?

Ready to meet the girls who stood by me?

Matron of honor and sister on the left and sister-in-law on the right. LOVE Y'ALL SO MUCH!

Sweet friend since 6th grade, Katherine on the left and my favorite Canadian, Colleen on the right

What would I have done without these two in college? Sarah and Julie

LOVE YOU girls SO MUCH!

Up next....family, details of the day, ceremony, reception, and more! I thought I'd split them up since there are SO MANY!

Our Happy Day- The Beginning

The night before my wedding was just perfect. My sister and brother-in-law spent the night at our house and we had a full house that night after the rehearsal and dinner. My sister and I slept together the night before her wedding so she returned the favor. We talked and talked and finally fell asleep. I woke up the next morning feeling great. I was ready to marry Brett! 

Amy, Linds, mom, and I went and got our hair done that morning and then mom and I headed to Camp Grace. God couldn't have given us a more beautiful fall day! I got to see all of my flowers and everything coming together! We made our way back to where the girls were going to get dressed. I didn't want my groom to see me! 

There's my sweet flower girl!! :) 

Mom doing my makeup 

Time for the dress!! :)

Let's talk about the dress. It was just beautiful and I knew from the minute I put it on that it was for me. No, I didn't have a "say yes to the dress" moment but I still LOVED my dress!!

Brett and I chose not to see each other before so we decided to just exchange letters.

There's my groom!

Reading our letters

A few details....the slippers

Something old, something new, borrowed, and blue!

My pearls that my parents have added to since I was a baby and my ring I got for graduation

Beautiful garter my mom made for me

Mom has a handkerchief with the monograms and wedding dates of each of the three of her children who have gotten married on each of the corners.

A beautiful barrette my Aunt Amy gave me to wear as one of my "something blues"

More to come.....

Sneak Peek!

I have already shared with the Facebook world but thought I'd share with the blog world as well. Here is a peek into our wedding day! It was so perfect! Chris and Jeff did an unbelievable job and I cannot wait to see the rest!! Seriously, I only showed Jeff a few videos from another company that I liked and I couldn't have asked for a better job! Hopefully, they will get some business from this because it was well worth it!! So thankful that we have this video!

Brett and Laura from Chris McLean on Vimeo.

We will be heading to Brett's parents house tomorrow to spend a little time with them! I am thankful for a little time away from my first graders! 

Hello Christmas break!!

A Big Thank You!

As I sit here, having just arrived back from an amazing week in St. Thomas with my husband, I am overwhelmed. I am full of so much gratitude for all of the people that made our wedding day so special and so perfect! I promise to have a more detailed post of each part of the day and the honeymoon very soon! Bear with me as this week will be one of gifts, returns, exchanges, traveling, Thanksgiving, thank you notes, settling in, etc. However, I'd like to thank a few very special people who made the details of the day perfect!

Our families: Wow! We have so much that we should thank you for. You have been such a huge support and encouragement to us. We don't deserve all that you have given us. You have taught us so much through the lives that you have lived. Thank you for your patience during the last months of planning. We love y'all!

Our wedding party: My gracious. What amazing friends you all are. We didn't deserve all of the sweet things you said at the rehearsal dinner! You were part of our wedding because you have been such an encouragement to us and such precious friends! Thank you for sharing our day!

Alisa and Jess: Ok. The photographer was a huge decision for me. I looked at several but in all honesty, once I saw you there was no competition. Now, I've only seen bridal portraits and a couple of sneak peeks but I have NO DOUBT that I will be forever grateful that you two photographed my wedding. Thank you for capturing our day and being so amazing and SO MUCH FUN to work with! Thank you for loving "the perfect light!" :)

(This is all I have seen so far but how fabulous?? Right!)

Mrs. Maryanne and Fancy Affairs Catering: The food was unbelievable! Thank you for caring about every detail and for using your gifts! It not only tasted fabulous but was also beautifully displayed! So grateful for you and your friendship!

Elisabeth Epperson: Sweet girl, I haven't met you but I feel like I know you. This talented senior is the girl responsible for the adorable monogrammed cookies. I am thankful I found your blog! You are so talented and I hope I get to meet you very soon!!

Jeff and Chris: Thank you for being my own personal paparazzi on my wedding day! You started early and stayed late. Our video is going to be ballin. No doubt! Y'all were so great!!

Belle Bouquet and DJ's By The Bay: These vendors were so easy to work with and did a phenomenal job! Although I doubt you read my blog I wanted to give some credit where it belonged!

Anthony and Eric: Thank you for using your gifts. You did such a great job with the music at our ceremony. I know being outside presented some challenges but it sounded so great! Loved hearing the worship before the ceremony and loved walking back down the aisle to, "To God Be the Glory!"

Uncle Lance, Aunt Amy, Palm, and Liv: Thank you for each having a part in our day! We LOVE you all so much! Thank you for driving to Tampa and making that sacrifice! So grateful for your family!

Guests: Thank you for taking time out of your Saturday to watch us say I Do. We are so appreciative and thankful for each of you! We have amazing friends and family!

Chris: Thank you for putting so much thought into our ceremony. It was absolutely our favorite part of the day. Thank you or glorifying the Lord with the words you said! Thank you (and JULIE!) for pouring into our lives over the last few years and even more in the last few months!

Lou's Crew: Oh my! Thank you for your creativity and your willingness to serve. I am so thankful for all of you. Thanks for everything from burlap curtains and chalkboards to your love and excitement for me! LOVE Y'ALL!! I am so undeserving of all that you did for me! (Julie, Catherine, Mangs, Linds, Mom)

Brett: Thank you for being the one waiting at the end of the aisle. Thank you for the huge smile when you first saw me an the tears as I made it to the end of the aisle! Thank you for loving me well and making me the happiest girl in the world. I love you husband!

I am sure there are others I have left out and I apologize. Our day was so incredible and everything I had ever pictured!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

I promise to be back with more detailed posts very soon! :)