Wedding Wednesday: Holy Schiff...We Got Married!

Hello everyone, Mrs. Schiffbauer here! I still feel so weird saying it but it's totally growing on me. As you know we were married this past Saturday, October 17th. The entire day was such a wonderful adventure and when one of my newly married best friends told me "it's not just a piece of paper...it feels different" man was he right! My friend/bridesmaid Katie's mom once told us a few years ago that your wedding is the greatest party you'll ever throw and Gayle you were 100% correct! I can't wait to share all the details of our wedding day with you over the coming weeks but, for now I just want to share my feelings (and some low budget iphone pics) on the day while they're still fresh.

It's so crazy to see him with a ring on!

The week leading up to our wedding was filled with excitement and stress as many former brides I know will agree but I'm so glad I had those feelings then and not on my wedding day. Our rehearsal went great and our rehearsal dinner was filled with laughs and so many loving speeches that my heart was bursting. I wish we would have thought to record them but I feel like I'll remember the kind words said about the both of us for years to come. I slept very light that night and practically wanted to jump out of bed the next morning because I was so ready for everything to begin!

 At the church after the rehearsal

Giving my girls (and William) their gifts at dinner

All the girls got ready at Brian's Aunt Sandy's house and it was so much fun. What a saint she was for letting us invade her home like that, I truly appreciate her kindness. Hair and makeup started and it all started to hit me, especially when my friend Stacy looked at me and started crying. Getting into my dress and having a "first look" with my girls was so special. We quickly loaded on the bus and did our best to get to over to Lake Erie College on time for my first look with Brian.

When I got off the bus I was welcomed by Brian's groomsmen and my close guy friends that were our ushers. They started crying and my heart melted. I was whisked away for our first look and I know I should have been so nervous but knowing that I was going to see Brian made me feel overwhelmingly calm. The moment we first saw each other is something I'll never forget.

Pardon the blurriness this is a screenshot of someone's snapchat lol

Our shuttle ride to the church was so much fun! I feel like our ride to the church was more rowdy than most people's ride to the reception. Some of my favorite memories with our wedding party were on that bus. Once we arrived at the church something crazy happened...little snow flurries began to fall. To think that when we first started planning we wanted to get married outside is comical. We all went into our holding rooms, my friend Meg who did my hair and makeup came in to put on my veil then we waited for the ceremony to begin.

Meg and I have been preparing for this "dress up" for 27 years!

I stood in the room with my mom as one by one each of the girls left to walk down the aisle to Brian's alma mater's hymn "The Ash Grove." The organist played a few triumphant chords to signal us and we were off as one of my favorite songs, "The Shaker Hymn: Simple Gifts" {performed at every WVU football game preshow} was playing. As we walked down the aisle the first people we saw were "my side" of the church. The feeling that came over me when I looked at all these people who love me so much was wonderful. They were looking at me in a way they had never seen me before, as a bride, and it was the closest thing to pure magic I think I'll ever experience. As I passed them I thought of all the times we had shared together and couldn't do anything but grin from ear to ear because in that moment I was the epitome of happy. How often is it that you have the ones you loved most in the world all together in one room. My angel mother put my hand in Brian's and we made our way up to the alter. I had a total Toddlers&Tiaras moment when I got up there and waved to them all! LOL!

The next hour was filled with readings, songs, a little blooper by our wedding party that I pray was captured on film because I bet it was hilarious, an adorably personal homily about us, and an awkward kiss...you would have thought it was the first kiss for the both of us! And just like that we were married!!!

I hope you continue to follow along with me as I share photos, memories, and all the things that made our wedding so wonderful. As always, thanks for reading and comment away!

Linking up for Wedding Wednesday and What's Hap-Pinning?!

Read More

Wedding Wednesday: The Groom Takes Over

In an effort to allow my bride to focus on Saturday, I, the groom, have decided to take over this week.  I promise Jordan will be back next week so bear with me as I write my first ever blog post….Here it goes…

“When you know, you know.”  That was a line I must have used literally 500 times to describe why and how I was able to make the biggest decision of my life after just seven months of “officially” dating my bride-to-be.  As some of you may know, Jordan and I started talking via Facebook in July 2013 and met for the first time in late August.  I was as nervous as I possibly could be and even had to change shirts after the flight to Orlando because well….I’ll just blame it on the humidity.  The first time I saw her, between the awkward hug and the zero personality I showed during dinner with her and her friends, I was awestruck.  She was and still is a beautiful woman that just makes everyone smile and laugh until it hurts.  Of course I was too busy rehydrating from the “humidity” and being a complete dud to be captured by the smiles and laughter.  I knew that things were off to a rough start and of course thinking I already blew my opportunity, I was pretty quiet the entire 25-minute drive to her house, which felt like 2 hours.  Erika, who introduced us and came with me on the trip, was supportive, but I think even in the back of her mind she was thinking that I had squandered away this opportunity.  The next morning in an attempt to get back into the good graces, I did what every man should do; get her and her roommates Starbucks.  Later that day we headed to the parks and maybe it was my childish reactions to everything Disney that melted her heart…or made her feeling sorry for me being 26 years old and still enthralled by things meant for 5-10 year olds, but either way she made me feel an excitement and suddenly a good nervousness that I had never felt before.  We watched fireworks under the stars at Epcot and as they began I started to video them and she swiftly took the phone out of my hand and said, “No.  You watch them and I’ll record.”  The thing was, I watched them for about 15 seconds and the rest of the time I tried to steal looks at her and of course playing the game to not let her see me.  It was at that very moment that I just “knew.” 

 My first ride at Disney, selected by Jordan.

The first, of many, Rosa Regale toasts.

It is now 2 years, 1 month, and 3 weeks later.    We are preparing for the biggest day of our lives in just 3 days and I’m trying to wrap my head around the flurry of events we’ve already experienced and the ones that lie before us.  Our move to Atlanta was tough at times and tested our relationship along the way, the planning of this wedding was the one constant that we would look forward to, put our tribulations aside, and just talk about things sometimes as small as ‘what candy to have’ and as big as, ‘who do we invite?’  Everyone asks, “Are you nervous?”  My reply is always the same, “Not at all about who I’m marrying, just about the things I can’t control.”  Jordan has planned a beautiful wedding and the things we can control, I don’t stress about because she has an answer and emergency plan for everything (I feel like that will be a trend in our marriage).    

I am a blessed man.  Truly blessed.  Not only do I have a wonderful woman by my side, but I have the upbringing of the two best role models a guy could ask for.  This past June, my parents celebrated 33 years of marriage and recently a close friend and pseudo family member told me, “I saw your Dad today and we got to talking about your parent’s new camper and he said “all I want is to make Laura (my mom) happy.”  My parents have overcome a lot in their marriage as most couples do, but they were always a rock for my brother and me.  My parents were dating seven weeks before they got engaged so I knew just who to call when I knew Jordan was “the one.”  I asked my Dad if I was crazy for falling so quickly for a girl 700 miles away and he promptly said, “No.  Because I knew with your mother and I wouldn’t let anything get in my way” (Even my 6 ‘4” 275lb NFL alumnus grandfather). He was determined.  For me, if I wanted Jordan I needed to be there for her and support her just as if I was in Orlando with her, so I vowed to always support, care, and strive to make her smile and laugh…unlike I did the first time I met her.  I can’t wait to make that vow official on Saturday. 

Our first Christmas together was spent at Disney.

In closing, for all future grooms, this is a day that we probably started thinking about shortly after we dropped to one knee. However, for our other half, this is a day they have thought about and imagined since the age they probably first scraped their knee. Respect their vision, listen when they want to talk, and as Jordan says, “be in the moment.”  It goes a long way.   It is our job to love and support them, through times such as the day they find THE dress, but also through the days when they find out that a loved one won’t be coming to the wedding or that planning a wedding 775 miles away may be just the most frustrating task of all-time…Okay maybe that last one only applies to .01% of you.  However, if we can’t handle and support them at the worst of times, we don’t deserve our brides in the best of times.  Thanks for reading this week and don’t forget to follow our hashtag #SchiffJustGotReal on all major social media!  See you at the altar!!!

-Brian

Linking up for Wedding Wednesday, What's Hap-Pinning?!, and Falling for Fall so go check them out!

Read More

Wedding Wednesday: How He Popped the Question

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by Wedding Wednesday! It occurred to me this week that I have never shared the story of how Brian proposed to me. I know we're 10 days out from the wedding but better late than never, right?! Sit back, relax, and enjoy story time with Jordan...

It was a Friday like any other for me filled with cleaning, tv watching, errands, a doctor's appointment, and more time than I'd like to admit watching YouTube videos with my friend and roommate, Kathleen. The only out of the ordinary thing on the books was a dinner in Epcot with some of my closest friends because Kathleen had a {cast member 40% off} dining coupon for us to use. Since Kathleen and I had made the decision to leave Florida the following month she asked our closest friends to dinner and suggested we look a bit more dapper than usual we could take some pictures together around the theme park. I had gotten my eyebrows waxed earlier that day and it was a less than position event. The girl took the wax too low on my eyelid resulting in skin being ripped away with the wax. My eyelids hurt and I debated whether I should put on eye makeup or not but after some "you'll be so made at yourself looking back at these pictures with no makeup" comments from Kathleen I decided to tough it out and put my face on. She and I got dressed and as soon as our other roommate Mario got home and our friend Josh arrived we loaded up into Kathleen's car to make our way to Epcot. 

Props to B for wearing a blazer in May in Florida

We were almost out of our neighborhood when Kathleen "realized" she had forgotten the dining coupon (which she has done a few months before when we were doing the same thing) and we needed back at the house. She turned around and headed back to our house but not before she handed me her phone to watch another Youtube video she wanted me to see that she forgot about earlier. At first I thought it was because she could see how annoyed I was but as soon as it started my eye welled up with tears. Beautiful words from Brian filled the screen as one of "our" favorite songs was playing in the background. What followed were video messages from some of my closest friends and family back home telling me to "just say yes." I was oblivious to what was going on around me and when the video ended the car was stopped and Kathleen told me to follow the path we were beside. Once I started walking down the rose petal and candle line pathway (near my house) I saw Brian waiting there for me. 

I know what you're thinking...he could've proposed at any of the Disney parks and he picked a pathway in a neighborhood?! What you may not realize is that Disney wasn't my vacation destination, it was my everyday. Most people wouldn't want their proposal to be at their place of employment. While it is very magical and I've seen {and helped pull off} some amazing proposals there the thought of being surround be people, strangers, waiting to see my reaction was not something I wanted. If you were proposed to at Disney please don't take offense to this, I LOVE DISNEY, it just wasn't the place I dreamed of the question being popped to me. Those who know me would call me out-going but when it comes to emotional moments I prefer much more private moments. Realistically Brian could have asked me anywhere and I would've said yes. This place was special though because on one of his visits we were taking a walk and we strolled down that path and I told him that it reminded me of home. Anyway, back to the story...

Action photos courtesy of Kathleen

What happened next is sort of a blur for the both of us but isn't that how it's supposed to be?! All I remember is, "Jordan Elizabeth Kennedy...will you marry me?" I, of course, said YES and turned around to see my mom (he surprised me and brought her down too) and my friends smiling faces! They loaded up in the cars back to our house as Brian and I walked and soaked up the moment of being freshly engaged. We were supposed to be dining at the Biergarten in Germany, one of my fav Disney restaurants, but ended up holding true to the Schiffbauer Chinese Food Friday tradition and ordered a ton of food from one of my favorite places in Orlando.  With a full heart {and tummy} we began making the calls to friends and family to share our exciting news! 

The adorable cake my mom got made for us

My Feyonce shirt is still one of my all time favs

 One of my co-workers had a loupe so obviously I spent a while gazing at my new bling 

My proposal was absolutely PERFECT for me. Brian was able to pull off a huge surprise (we both are terrible at them) and I can't thank him and everyone who made it possible enough. He always jokes that he wishes he would've made it a more grand, public event but if he would have done that I can guarantee my reaction would have been different, still good, but not as emotional. The only thing I can see rivaling this is happening in 10 short days and that is our first look. Here's to hoping my fake eyelashes don't fall off from all the tears!

Linking up for Wedding Wednesday, What's Hap-Pinning?!, and Falling for Fall so go check them out :)

 

Read More

Wedding Wednesday: Playing Florist

Hi y'all and welcome to Wedding Wednesday! I can't believe we're only 38 days away from our big day! I honestly feel like it was yesterday that we were a year out. Anyway today I'm going to share with you probably the craziest thing I'm doing for the wedding...the task of doing my own flowers. I will start with saying playing florist is not for everyone, especially if flowers are a very important aspect for you. I am not a professional nor will I claim to be but I love to offer help with what I've learned along the way. Luckily I had plenty of time to do research, play around, and even get an impromptu lesson from a local florist! Here are the questions I asked myself (and recommend any considering DIY wedding flowers ask themself) before making the big decision to do my own flowers...

The bouquet I made my friend Stacy for her wedding this past April

I made a charm with a photo of her father, who passed away, so he could still walk her down the aisle

Am I going to be able to handle doing them myself time wise?
I had to sit down and think if this was going to cause more stress to my week or be a creative outlet for me to use. For me arranging flowers is calming and helps me relax so anything to keep my mood up the week of the wedding is welcomed.

Yes, I did put on a navy dress to see how the flowers looked up against it! LOL

Do I have others willingly to learn and help?
Depending on how many arrangements that are needing to be made you might need some help. Do you have at least one other person who you know will be able to help with floral tasks? My mom is hands down the most crafty artistic person I know so she of course was happy to help with this. I'm teach her how to make the boutonnieres and she's going to help with putting those together while I make the bouquets.

My first attempt at a boutonniere, I've gotten better lol 

Can I take the time necessary to research and learn about the types of flowers I'm using? 
We decided to have what some may call a longer engagement so I had plenty of time to prepare and learn about the flowers I'm using. I started my research on Pinterest and found some great tutorial sites with videos that are super easy to follow. My best resource turned out to be a trip into a local florist when I went to buy supplies from a bouquet practice session. I told her that we were getting married up in Cleveland and that I was doing my own flowers. She jumped at the chance to teach me some helpful tips and facts that really made all the difference. For example, hydrangeas LOVE cold water and absorb more water when they're cut underwater. She recommended throwing some ice cubes in the buckets when they're re-hydrating from delivery. Maybe it was just Southern hospitality or maybe it was a simple act of kindness, regardless I'm so thankful for her help!

Brian is such a trooper for posing with these :)

Are my bouquet/centerpiece designs simple enough for me to pull off?
Of course I adored some of the extravagant arrangements I saw online but I'm no Rockefeller and decided to use the majority of our budget on what we (and everyone) truly appreciates...FOOD and DRINKS! Some arrangements may look complicated but once you break the elements down they can turn out to be very simple. The rustic, wildflower trend is so big now so when I find that friends are using that theme I'm highly recommend DIYing the florals. I'm a total sucker for wildflowers and if they fit in with my venue I would have had them in a heartbeat. I mean look at my sweet friend Maddie's flowers...how gorg?! These were picked from her mother-in-law's own garden, makes them even more special and beautiful!

Maddie, my adorable roommate from my first Disney internship :)

My inspirations via my Pinterest page

I've decided to stick with my main flowers being hydrangeas, spray roses, roses, and baby's breathe. I'm adding seeded eucalyptus and queen anne's lace here and there but those are just fun fillers. Brian wanted the boutonnieres to be made with spray roses and I had to agree with him because they look darling with bowties. I don't want to give away our centerpieces just yet because some of my loyal readers are coming to our wedding and I want to leave some surprises! After the wedding I plan on posting some tutorials on how I made my floral arrangements.

Today I'm linking up with Macy & Nikki for Wedding Wednesday and Jenn & Jessi for What's Hap-Pinning?! Did you do your own wedding flowers? Have any tips? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Read More

Labor Day Weekending

I hope y'all had a fantastic Labor Day weekend! Don't you wish every weekend was a three day weekend?! I had quite a busy couple of days so here's my quick recap!

Saturday morning we woke up bright and early to drop the dogs off at "camp" so we could make the drive to Beaufort, South Carolina. We drove up to have a last minute engagement shoot with our wedding photographer, Arastasia, on Sunday and decided to make a little weekend trip of it. After we got settled in to our hotel we watched my Mountaineers win the first game of the season!

Our photo session was on Sunday morning. We got some great shots in downtown Beaufort around some of the most gorgeously southern Spanish moss trees (my request) and then headed to the beach (Brian's request) for some shots. We can not wait to see how they turned out! Later that night we got to meet two of favorite people, Molly and Katie, for dinner in Buckhead. They were in town because Molly was wedding dress shopping and boy did she pick a gorgeous gown! I can't wait to see her in it this May at her wedding in Florida.

Yesterday I spent the day fulfilling my dance team coach duties by holding the first round of auditions. We had some great talent come out and my captains are just the sweetest. I'm so excited for this new adventure because it's already been so rewarding!

What did you do over your Labor Day weekend? I'd love to hear about it! Comment below. Linking up with Biana.  Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for Wedding Wednesday!

Read More

Wedding Wednesday: Figuring Out Our First Look

Hi y'all and thanks for stopping by for my beloved Wedding Wednesday! This week I'm in need of some advice or suggestions for a new wedding tradition: The First Look. Brian and I spent a lot of time discussing the pros and cons of doing a first look on our wedding day. We ultimately decided that having a first look gave us more time to have photos taken with our entire wedding party before the ceremony and more time for family and "just us" pictures after the ceremony.

I know seeing each other for the first time on our wedding day will be super emotional and I can completely own up to being a Kim Kardashian caliber ugly crier. I don't like to cry in front of others so having a moment where it's just Brian and I will allow me to have the most genuine reaction. We're planning on doing our first look at Brian's alma mater, Lake Erie College. The campus has a beautiful fountain we'd like to have in pictures but I don't know if that spot would be good for our first look. We've looked at different ways to do the first look and here are a few of our favorites that we found on Pinterest...

The classic bride walking up behind the groom.

 via

A side by side peek-a-boo.

via

A balloon bouquet reveal. We both love the Disney movie UP!, so this could be cute. 

via

Back to back shoot out style where we walk out and turn on the count of three. 

via

Getting some help from Brian's brother, Jay and my sister, Larissa. 

via

Now here's where you can help. Cast your vote and tell us your favorite! Have you seen any other first look ideas that we missed? Do you have an idea for a first look you would like to share? I'd love to hear about your first look if you did one! Please comment below and help a sista out :)

I'm linking up with Macy & Nikki for Wedding Wednesday and Jenn & Jessi for What's Hap-Pinning?!

Read More

Wedding Wednesday: A Crash Course in the Kennedy-Schiffbauer Wedding

Hello everyone and welcome to my very FIRST installment of my Wedding Wednesday series that I will be doing leading up to my wedding that is rapidly approaching in under 3 short months. Each Wednesday I'll talk about everything from dress shopping to flowers and bridal showers to photography shot lists. I will share what I've learned along the way and welcome any advice from former brides or wedding goers. To get things started here is the quick rundown of my wedding...

Where: Cleveland, OH...the home of my sweet fiance Brian.

When: October 17th 2015, our anniversary as well as "Sweetest Day" a holiday founded in Cleveland.

The Ceremony: Saint Martin of Tours Catholic Church, the same church Brian's parents were married at 32 years ago!

The Reception: My pinterest venue dream come true: Legend Lake Golf Club (where my future brother-in-law is the assistant golf pro)

The Wedding Party: 4 Bridesmaids, 4 Groomsmen, 4 Bridal House Party, 4 Ushers, 2 Flowergirls, 1 Ringbearer.

My Colors: Navy and Grey...if it were in the spring it would've been Blush and Bashful for sure! #SteelMagnolias

Best Advice So Far: have a videographer, get a day of coordinator, put someone in charge of your phone/social media for the day, please don't act like Scheana Marie did at her wedding on Vanderpump Rules (this tidbit was from my future mother-in-law) & don't sweat the details because people remember the happiness of the day not what the place cards looked like.

Along with every engaged couple ever, immediately after announcing our engagement we were flooded with the question, "Where are you going to have the wedding?!" I am from West Virginia, Brian is from Ohio, we fell in love in Florida, and we currently live in Georgia so I can see why it was the most common question! After a ton of discussions with each other and our parents we decided that Cleveland was the best option for us because it was home to Brian and a short 4 hour drive for my side of the family and with some of my very close loved ones being older, a long travel time would've meant the strong possibility of them not being able to make it. So as much as I was crushed of not having a feature on Southern Wedding's website (LOL) I followed my little southern heart and made the choice that allowed more of my family to be there on our special day.

Even though our wedding is up north, I'm incorporating a few of my favorite southern wedding traditions which makes for a fun time explaining them to our venue coordinators along with Brian's friends and family. Here are a few of the things I'm having on our big day...

-Burying the bourbon when we go up to get our marriage license one month before our wedding.

Southern folklore says doing this wards off rain on your wedding day if done 1 month before at the location you're getting married.

-Having a "bridal house party" filled with beloved sorority sisters and childhood friends.

A house party is an extension of the bridal party & a way to include loved ones without having a bunch of bridesmaids.

-Getting a Groom's cake made for Brian...the sweet baker didn't understand why I wanted a football themed cake at my wedding!

-A cake pull at our rehearsal dinner for my bridesmaids and house party girls. Since we want to take our "mini moon" in New Orleans I thought this tradition was adorably appropriate.

-MONOGRAMS and lots of them y'all!

There ya have it, a quick rundown of what's consuming my free time until October. Let me know your best wedding advice or your favorite part of your wedding day in the comments below!

                                                                                                              XOXO,

                                                                                                                       Jordan

Read More