Just for Fun

Mondays with Madi: We’re goin’ to the Chapel…

Happy Monday y’all!

I couldn’t help but pulling up the Dixie Cup’s “Goin’ the the Chapel” as I wrote this post!  Watch out…it’ll get stuck in your head quick!

It’s so funny how when you begin the planning process, the ideas you once had change considerably.  When I first envisioned my wedding I pictured a summers eve, an old wooden barn and bright florals, boots and bowties, fireflies and moonlight.

Summer brings about rich memories for my fiancé and I.  We spend a lot of time out on the lake, eating barbeque and spending time with one another.  (During the school year we are split so we savor the summer season!)   BRS also comes from a long line of cattle farming and contrary to popular belief (and my love for a full night’s sleep), some of my fondest memories have been on those quiet summer mornings on the outskirts of town, riding by his side to feed before the world even wakes.  When thinking of when and where we would wed…it seemed like a celebration outdoors was the only option!  Even as a church-goin’ girl I just never considered exchanging vows in a church…weird, right?

When BRS proposed in October, with my graduation date set for December of the next year… I knew our dream of a summer wedding just was not in the cards.  No way did we want to embark on a 20 MONTH engagement! Not a chance!  Summer of 2013 quickly turned into January 2013.  Kansas City winters bring quite the chill and snow fall is no surprise ‘round those parts…No summer wedding date meant no outdoor venue.

So the search began…and we didn’t have to search long before we found our perfect location.  When BRS and I first met we were knee-deep in those awkward years of junior high school.  Our families attended Liberty Christian Church in Liberty, MO and it was in the youth group that we first met.  Both BRS and I were baptized this church and it was here that we began to take our first steps toward a relationship with Christ.

Booking the church was a decision that surprised me at first, but now I can’t imagine having any other walls (or space of open air) surrounding us on that day as we make a commitment to one another.  Just look at those stained glass windows! Breathtaking!

-M.T.R.

Images of Liberty Christian Church from a ceremony photographed by Luke Davis of Main Street Studios.

Mondays with Madi: I’m a winner!

Happy Monday, y’all!

If you love design and details then you will love today’s post!

To pull off a memorable event, you’ve got to give a strong first impression with your invitations.  This is the first time your guests get a hint on the personality, style and theme of your day.

Once BRS and I set the logistics of our wedding day I was anxious to see those decisions put on paper.

And so, the search for invitations and save the dates began!  Call me crazy, but this girl loves some letterpress paper goods and pretty calligraphy!

The best part of our invitation search?  It led to FREE INVITATIONS!  You heard that right!

F-R-E-E, FREE.

My good friends know I’m kind of a contest-junky…y’all, its bad!  But totally worth it!

Just a few weeks back I came across an incredibly talented custom letterpress and design business out of Brooklyn, NY called Paperfinger.  Y’all…their letterpress designs are to die for! At the time they had an unheard-of offer on their blog for FREE custom invitations to inspire the design of their spring collection.  Instead of creating invitations with made-up names, dates and locations…they wanted to print with a purpose…for real people.

You might say: “This is too good to be true!” / “What’s the catch?”

Madi says: “Nope, not too good because it is TRUE!” / “There is a catch!  And I’m okay with that!”

The catch:  In exchange for these invitations, I had to be willing to give up full control of the entire design process and leave it all to Paperfinger.  One of the things I have found in this time of engagement and wedding planning is that you must be willing to trust the professionals to do their jobs.  This is what they are most gifted in! Leave it to them!  And in this case with Paperfinger…leave it ALL to them!  Now before y’all get too worked up, no way are these professionals going to place a palm tree smack dab in the middle of my wintertime in Kansas City wedding invitation…that would be ridiculous.

Once you’ve seen some of the Paperfinger creations, you’ll see that letting them handle it all was a no-brainer!   I give you permission to begin drooling…NOW:

The application was super simple.  One thing that was very important for the gals of Paperfinger to know was why the couple could see themselves being a great fit for their designs.  I swooned over their invites at first sight and just knew we’d go together like peas and carrots!  I made sure they knew my love for their letterpress in my application and my dear friends tweeted their hearts out to share my excitement over the contest!

I was very patient for a whole week and then I received a sweet email in my inbox with great news!  We won!!!

Hi Madison!
I know you’ve been extremely patient in waiting for the results of the Paperfinger offer for free wedding invitations, and I’m writing to you with great news!
Bryn and I are very pleased to let you know that you have been chosen as a recipient of a set of invitations from our brand new collection. Your entry made it clear that you are just the type of person we were hoping would enter the giveaway, and we were moved by your story.
We wanted to get back to you first and foremost due to the anticipation we witnessed via your tweets. :) Your excitement was contagious — we are really happy that you’re going to be involved in this project!
We’ll be back in touch with more details and next steps, but for now we just wanted to give you the good news. Thanks so much for entering, Madi, and have a great day!
All the best,
Bryn & Margaret

AND


Just wanted to chime in and second everything that Margaret said. :) Madi, we so appreciate everything you wrote in your submission and you clearly have some amazing friends as well. We’re really excited to work together. You’ll be hearing a lot from Margaret about our next steps as soon as we’re ready to move ahead.
Woohoo!
Bryn

Y’all, I jumped for joy!  What a blessing! Needless to say I am so excited to see what Paperfinger comes up with for BRS and I’s invitation design and cannot wait to work with sweet Margaret and Bryn!

When the invites are complete, I’ll be sure to show y’all the results!

-M.T.R.

Mondays with Madi…Her Proposal Story

Alright y’all! Last Monday I promised a story on our proposal and my goodness y’all are going to get yourselves a proposal!

On a rainy October evening I was set to have a dinner date with my girlfriends, Annie and Amanda.  Annie, one of my dear friends (and one of my precious bridesmaids!), had been going through one of the greatest trials with her family so Amanda suggested we take her out to dinner to have some girl time.

On my way to the restaurant, I had gotten a text from Amanda to meet her at a parking lot nearby because Annie had been running late and we needed to pick her up.  I got in the car, we got to chatting and I didn’t even realize we were headed in the wrong direction. Amanda had a camera in her lap and I never thought anything of it because she is a photographer.

We pulled up to the old train depot in downtown Fort Worth.  I didn’t quite understand why Annie would be here but Amanda began to park the car.  Following her lead, I hopped out, umbrella in hand and hurried inside.

We entered into a beautiful ballroom.  From the outside of the building I never would have guessed that this beautiful space was inside.  No sight of Annie, but we continued through another set of double doors to a big, open, dim lit, area with brick walls. This appeared to be the concourse area where passengers could wait for the train. I searched the room for Annie but she was nowhere in sight.

Things began to seem a little bizarre. Where was Annie? I know you’re all probably thinking that I am so dim, but I promise, under the circumstances I wasn’t suspecting a thing. Amanda began rambling about how neat the building was.  When all I could think of was searching for Annie, I noticed a man standing up from a bench across the room.  I recognized his walk, his build, and then by his sweet, “Hello beautiful!” it hit me that it was my boyfriend, BRS.

Y’all, this is where you have to laugh because instead of having a precious, swept-off-my-feet-by-his-sweetness-reaction, the first thing I said to him was, “What are you doing here?!”  I was so confused! Bless his heart!

BRS was supposed to be coming to Fort Worth from Kansas City the following day with my parents and his to celebrate my birthday. I was not expecting him at that moment.  He took me into his arms and I felt his heart beating faster and faster.  Though I was in shock, it all started to sink in.

After saying the kindest words and bringing tears to my eyes (and his own!) BRS got down on one knee and asked for me to be his wife.  I said “Yes!” so quickly and jumped into his arms that I had forgotten about the pretty sparkler he had presented!   He said to me, “Hey now…You do want this ring don’t you?”  I was giddy with excitement and told him to put that sucker on as fast as he could!

After many hugs, kisses, and still some explanation as to how he had gotten to this train depot, I realized why Amanda had her camera with her after all…Sweet BRS had wanted her to capture this moment with photographs! (See for yourself below!)

I thought I had had about all the surprises I could handle for one evening but both Amanda and BRS had yet another surprise up their sleeves.  We headed back to Amanda’s apartment and I spent the entire trip enthralled with the new bling on my ring finger. When the door opened to the Amanda’s apartment, ALL of my dear friends were there to celebrate!  It was so overwhelming y’all! You can see for yourself here!

It now made sense why all of my girlfriends were so concerned with what I was wearing before my dinner and how my hair and makeup looked.  Annie had even taken me to get my nails done that week (per BRS’ request)…Everyone had known what was going to happen that evening!

Spending this special moment with the friends I loved so dearly was the sweetest way to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in our lives.  Annie had been working with BRS on everything for the past few months. Even when she was going through a difficult time, she set our engagement as a high priority…THAT is friendship, y’all!  BRS and I are so thankful for her!

I shared some with y’all last week but here are some more of the awesome shots that Amanda of Amanda Marie Portraits was able to capture for us that evening! It was perfect!

These next few weeks I’m excited to share with y’all some of the big decisions we’ve nailed down for the big day such as where we will exchange vows, where the reception will be held and of course my dress!  Any requests on what to check out first? Let us know!

Happy Monday Y’all!

M.T.R.

Valentine’s Date Giveaway

We have a special surprise, y’all! This is the perfect Valentine’s date for everyone. CBS Films is doing a special screening of their new film Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and you (plus a friend!) are invited! The film is so cute and features romance favorites Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor. We have a limited number of passes so print yours today. You don’t have to do anything, this is just a sweet Valentine’s Day gift for all you loyal readers.

Click here to get your tickets and enter the RSVP code TWPSX4Q3. The trailer for Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is on our Facebook page. Check it out!



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