I woke up Sunday morning in an unfamiliar bed. My white dress was hanging in the corner. My sparkly shoes were strewn on the floor. My ruffled purse was no where to be found. My husband was still sleeping next to me.
My husband.
Six weeks ago, Jay and I got married in what was the most beautiful, meaningful, incredible weekend of my entire life.
And my first thought on the morning after the big day: I couldn’t have asked for a better wedding. My second thought? I’m so happy I don’t have to plan it anymore!
As happens to many brides, the planning part of the wedding was overwhelming at times. There were a million decisions. Hundreds of people to coordinate. A budget to try to stick to. And the intense emotions that come along with the joining of two lives.
And, just like many other couples, we’re sure it was totally worth it.
Our wedding ceremony was outside at the Intelligent Nutrients Retreat in Osceola, Wisconsin. It’s an amazing property owned by Horst Rechelbacher, the founder of both Intelligent Nutrients and Aveda.
One of my favorite parts of our wedding was that it started with a theme. Since our last names both begin with an “R,” we centered the weekend around “R&R.” Of course, we extended the meaning of our initials to “rest and relaxation.” It was a sentiment that was weaved throughout the details and the overall feel of the wedding weekend. We wanted our guests to experience how we plan to build our life together.
For us, that meant delicious food served family-style. Tables piled with candles. Bottles of wine on the table. Classic strings, an acoustic guitar, and a full band provided music for every mood. A few run-ins with some animals. Blending the indoors with the outdoors. And lots of laughter.
Jay and I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better way to start our life together. And to all the brides out there: being married is even more fun than being engaged!
