Wedding Reflections – Cathy and Jeff

By Liz and Ryan,

Cathy and Jeff were married at Hawk Valley Retreat in Galena, IL on May 16, 2015. Here are a few of their reflections from the beginning of their lives together as a married couple!

1. When reflecting on your wedding, what is it that you remember most?

Cathy:  I remember being overwhelmingly happy from the moment I saw Jeff at our first look through the end of the night!  It rained during our ceremony which made us move everything inside and I didn’t even care.  It’s a hilarious story and made for great memories.  My favorite photo of the day is when he and I were running through the rain to the tent to finish our ceremony.  Really, from the minute I saw him and got to hug him, nothing and no one else mattered.  I was just so happy to be marrying Jeff!

Jeff: Our quick discussion up front during the ceremony when I could feel the back of Cathy’s dress getting heavy with the rain, and we looked at each other and said… “Is it time… Yeah, It’s time!  And then we made the announcement to move into the tent and went running down the aisle!

2. If you could plan your wedding again, would you do anything differently?

Cathy:  I think I would have taken a little more time on my own in the morning.  It felt like such a whirlwind with people all around asking so many questions that I didn’t really get time to reflect on all the day would bring until I was at our first look location.  I wish I had a few quiet moments on my own to journal/reflect/enjoy all the day would bring.  

Jeff:  I really loved how our wedding went!  That being said, I agree with Cathy, that the day was a crazy whirlwind of people and tasks.  I would have loved to had more downtime and less things that I personally needed to accomplish.

3. What, if anything, did you do before your wedding that helped prepare you most for life after saying “I Do.”

Cathy:  Yikes-this is tough!  We should start by telling everyone reading that we have lived and worked together for several years before we were married so we had worked out a lot of kinks and butted our heads together in a lot of ways before our wedding day.  That said, marriage really is different even if you’ve lived together before.  We both have talked about how being married makes everything seem more important and more special because we know we’re in this together for the long haul.  I don’t think we really did anything formal to prepare for that, but we have worked really hard this year to make sure we make time for each other and enjoy the time we have together.  

Jeff:  Honestly, there was so much work to do before the wedding, and so much prep for our wedding season starting the weekend after the wedding, that I didn’t really have time to think about anything other than the wedding.  I feel like as much as you can prepare, most of life after I Do is just taking each day as it comes and trying to connect as much  as we possibly can through our crazy lives.

4. What is it that you LOVE most about being married that all of those engaged couples can look forward to?

Cathy:  Ummm…everything!  ;-)    Seriously though, it’s different now that I get to look at Jeff and say “that’s my husband!”  I love thinking of ways to help him when we’re crazy busy so that he doesn’t feel so overwhelmed.  I love getting to say I’m his wife and he’s my hubby.  I love that I have someone that I can support fully and who I know will support me fully.  

Jeff:  Something silly, but it is fantastic to be able to introduce my “Wife” to guests at weddings every weekend.  There is a sense of security though, knowing my wife is my partner in the business and that every decision we make is one we are making for the two of us!

5. What advice would you give to an engaged couple who is currently planning their own wedding?

Cathy:  There are quite a few things I would say, but first and foremost you have to remember that the wedding is just one day in the course of a lifetime you’ll be sharing together.  If everything isn’t perfect or people don’t notice little details you put into it, you can’t spend much time worrying about it.  The most important thing is that you and your fiancé end up married at the end of the day.  Everything else is just details.  And hire people that you really trust to do the work for your wedding!!!!  I can’t stress this enough!!!!  We hired people that we knew we could count on and it made all the difference in the world.  I didn’t have to worry because I knew I had people in place that would handle the things that mattered.  

Jeff:  Make it your own.  Don’t worry about what everyone else wants you to do.  Make sure you love everything you are planning to do for your wedding, otherwise you will just walk away with a list of things you wished you had done differently.

6. Is there anything else that you would like to share with other engaged/newly married couples?

Cathy:  Try to enjoy this planning process together.  Sometimes the guys act like they don’t care about many decisions, but it’s so nice to get his perspective on things when you can.  I’m lucky in that Jeff and I worked together to plan it all so it was our day through and through.  This is the very first big event you’re preparing for so do all you can to prepare for it together.  The more you do that the better off you’ll be down the road when life throws other things at you that you have to plan for together.  

Jeff: Exactly what Cathy said!  Plan it together.  The day is about the two of you, so there is no reason to only have the bride, or the groom plan the wedding on their own.  It is the start of a lifetime of planning things together!

We are so excited to start this year off with a Wedding Reflections Series on our blog from our 2015 Liz and Ryan couples! We understand that wedding planning can be hard and overwhelming… but we hope you never forget that all that really matters is that you are getting MARRIED! ;) That is so exciting! When wedding planning becomes stressful, please know that you are not alone and there are a lot of people out there (including us and our 2015 couples ;) ) who are cheering you on and want your marriage to start off on the right track! Please let us know how we can help make the start of your marriage AMAZING! ;)

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Wedding Reflections – Andrea and Sean

By Liz and Ryan,

Andrea and Sean were married on May 9, 2015 at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club. Here are a few of their reflections from the beginning of their lives together!

1. When reflecting on your wedding, what is it that you remember most?

The feeling of having everyone we love in the world in one place was magical. It was one of the most surreal feelings I have ever experienced. From our rehearsal dinner Friday evening to brunch on Sunday, I was consumed by the most overwhelming sense of happiness. It surpassed anything I could have imagined and helped to keep me calm during a time that could have been stressful. Also, seeing Sean for the first time on our wedding day. I was starting to come undone a little due to all of the craziness surrounding the accident [there was an accident on the Bay Bridge that shut down the bridge and caused major delays for the guests], and I remember thinking that I knew if I saw him, it would all be okay. As I walked up to him on the sunset deck and he turned around, his face said it all. I will never forget that feeling. It was a mix of excitement, relief, happiness, love. After that moment, I knew everything was going to be perfect…and it was!

2. If you could plan your wedding again, would you do anything differently?

Hang a sign on the bay bridge Saturday morning telling everyone to “please drive safely.” Kidding. I’ve thought about this so much following our wedding, especially in the wake of everything that happened. But honestly, there is nothing I would have changed. I had this little mantra I repeated to myself on our wedding day, “remember why you’re here.” Which was to marry the love of my life and make a promise of forever in front of our friends and family. There was nothing that could have happened (within reason) that could have made that moment any less special or perfect. And despite our wedding timeline getting completely rearranged, remembering why I was there helped me keep perspective. 

3. What, if anything, did you do before your wedding that helped prepare you most for life after saying “I Do.”

Our AMAZING cantor that married us had us meet with her about four or five times before we walked down the aisle. During these meetings we not only planned out our ceremony (arguably the most important part of the day), but we also talked about our future and discussed some of the more serious topics – such as finances, children, religion, communication, etc. It was incredibly beneficial and helped us feel that much more secure about our decision and our future. 

4. What is it that you LOVE most about being married that all of those engaged couples can look forward to?

It’s so nice once the wedding is over to finally get to just focus on each other. While weddings are amazing and exciting, they also can be stressful. Once the wedding is over, then you get to really start your lives together, plan for your future, become a family. It’s a feeling of comfort and love and togetherness. 

5. What advice would you give to an engaged couple who is currently planning their own wedding?

Focus more on the ceremony than the reception. Ask for help if you need it. Take frequent breaks from planning to remember why you’re planning a wedding in the first place. Have deep and frequent conversations about important and potentially unpleasant topics (finances, religion, family, etc). Practice your first dance several times. Talk to other couples who have been married for a long time. ENJOY THIS TIME. It goes by SO fast (everyone says this, but it is so true). 

6. Is there anything else that you would like to share with other engaged/newly married couples?

People always tell you to “enjoy this time” but they never tell you how. I don’t necessarily have the answer, but I would recommend trying to do things throughout your engagement that allow you to take time and reflect on the significance of the journey you’re about to embark on. 

We are so excited to start this year off with a Wedding Reflections Series on our blog from our 2015 Liz and Ryan couples! We understand that wedding planning can be hard and overwhelming… but we hope you never forget that all that really matters is that you are getting MARRIED! ;) That is so exciting! When wedding planning becomes stressful, please know that you are not alone and there are a lot of people out there (including us and our 2015 couples ;) ) who are cheering you on and want your marriage to start off on the right track! Please let us know how we can help make the start of your marriage AMAZING! ;)

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Wedding Reflections – Sarah and Seth

By Liz and Ryan,

Sarah and Seth were married at the Miller Chapel at the United States Naval Academy and their reception was at the Governor Calvert House in Annapolis, MD. Here are a few of their reflections from the beginning of their lives together!

1. When reflecting on your wedding, what is it that you remember most?

We remember all the dancing and making of merry!  We remember the joy and fun of new and old friends and family celebrating together.  When we think back (and when we look back at the beautiful pictures taken by Liz and Ryan) it brings us back to what a joyous time it was.

2. If you could plan your wedding again, would you do anything differently?

In the end, we wouldn’t have changed any of our decisions, but it would have been a lot easier if we had done it once before. 

3. What, if anything, did you do before your wedding that helped prepare you most for life after saying “I Do.”

We were together for more than three years before we got married, and that time together prepared us to form a life together.  Supporting each other through the good and bad times cemented our commitment to each other and to our marriage.

4. What is it that you LOVE most about being married that all of those engaged couples can look forward to?

Easy answer.  Being done with all of the stress of planning a huge event and getting to just have fun with each other.  For us, the honeymoon period has had the excitement of when we were newly dating, with the love we have built over the past few years.

5. What advice would you give to an engaged couple who is currently planning their own wedding?

Everything will work out and everyone will have a good time.  Try to figure out what you can compromise on, and what you cannot.  You can find a way to be true to your vision, while working with the variables that are out of your control (budget, guest count, other family considerations).

6. Is there anything else that you would like to share with other engaged/newly married couples?

Many people have said that planning a wedding can be the toughest thing a couple can do together, and at times it did feel that way for us.  However, when we were having a tough or frustrating conversation, we tried to hold hands or otherwise be physically affectionate with each other as a reminder that we were in this together no matter what.

We are so excited to start this year off with a Wedding Reflections Series on our blog from our 2015 Liz and Ryan couples! We understand that wedding planning can be hard and overwhelming… but we hope you never forget that all that really matters is that you are getting MARRIED! ;) That is so exciting! When wedding planning becomes stressful, please know that you are not alone and there are a lot of people out there (including us and our 2015 couples ;) ) who are cheering you on and want your marriage to start off on the right track! Please let us know how we can help make the start of your marriage AMAZING! ;)

 

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Wedding Reflections – Lauren and David

By Liz and Ryan,

Lauren and David were married at St. Johns College in Annapolis, MD on March 7, 2015. Here are a few of their reflections from the beginning of their lives together!

1. When reflecting on your wedding, what is it that you remember most?

We can still clearly remember reciting our wedding vows. David cried and Lauren laughed and it was just perfect! A close second favorite memory from our wedding day is dancing for hours with all our closest family members and friends. Our band was awesome and they really inspired everyone to get out on the dance floor.

2. If you could plan your wedding again, would you do anything differently?

Ignore the person bringing the drama! Every wedding has some family member or wedding party attendant or guest that has a poor attitude. DO NOT let them get you down! If they don’t want to attend something, or help with something, or even say something nice, it is truly THEIR LOSS! Soak up all the love, words of wisdom, and AMAZING things that 99.9% of your loved ones have to say/share/give. :)

3. What, if anything, did you do before your wedding that helped prepare you most for life after saying “I Do.”

We bought a house together one month after we got engaged…home ownership is the ULTIMATE TEST! Especially if you buy a fixer-upper like we did! Every new obstacle that we encountered while making our house a home was just confirmation after confirmation that we can make it through anything together. If you choose not to live together before marriage, then make sure you go on vacations where you have to share bathrooms! ;)

4. What is it that you LOVE most about being married that all of those engaged couples can look forward to?

David’s answer: Hearing someone call you my wife/introducing you as my wife and introducing myself as your husband! I don’t think it will ever get old!

Lauren’s answer: The comfort of knowing we have made the ultimate commitment and that we will put one another first for eternity!

5. What advice would you give to an engaged couple who is currently planning their own wedding?

Don’t spend time on things that cause you too much stress. If it is really that stressful, then it simply isn’t worth it! Also, save money where you can. Decide on your top three splurges (ours were food, band, and custom invitations) and then force yourself to save money on the rest of your wedding items. We saved on flowers (we used a lot of greenery instead of flowers), alcohol (we offered only wine and two custom cocktails), and dessert (Amish market donuts and a grocery store cake!).

6. Is there anything else that you would like to share with other engaged/newly married couples?

Advice to engaged couples:

  • Remember, this is YOUR wedding, so do not compare yourself to others!
  • Also, most of the time wedding favors aren’t worth the money.

Advice to newly married couples:

  • Don’t stop dating, ever.
  • Read your vows together sometimes, the feelings come rushing back.

We are so excited to start this year off with a Wedding Reflections Series on our blog from our 2015 Liz and Ryan couples! We understand that wedding planning can be hard and overwhelming… but we hope you never forget that all that really matters is that you are getting MARRIED! ;) That is so exciting! When wedding planning becomes stressful, please know that you are not alone and there are a lot of people out there (including us and our 2015 couples ;) ) who are cheering you on and want your marriage to start off on the right track! Please let us know how we can help make the start of your marriage AMAZING! ;)

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Happy New Year!!!! Here’s to an AMAZING 2016!

By Liz and Ryan,

Ohh happy day! It is 2016! How crazy is that?!?! ;) So exciting to start a New Year with new beginnings!

For all of you who recently got engaged… CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You are embarking on one of the most AMAZING journeys of your life together! We could not be more excited for you!!!

Please let us know if we can help you all in any way! Yes, we are wedding photographers and would LOVE to meet your wedding photography needs. However, we are also BIG believers of LOVE and would love to help you start your marriage on an AMAZING track! ;) Check out our non-profit site at www.amazinglifetogether.com for more details on that!

In the meantime, we have asked our AMAZING Liz and Ryan couples from 2015 to reflect back on their wedding and share some of their feedback and lessons learned from their own weddings! It is our hope that their thoughts shared through a series of blog posts in the next few weeks will help you all as you plan for the first day of your AMAZING marriage together! ;)

Here’s to an AMAZING 2016! Let’s make it one that is overflowing with LOVE!