Our Ceremony

Where did we leave off here in the wedding reminiscing? Oh yea... I was ready to marry my best friend after Our first look. Figures it would take me almost an entire year to get to the heart of the story. But hey, our anniversary month is better than never to get to the good stuff, right? Right. 

After the first look, we did our wedding party and family pictures and then assembled downstairs in the back of the Dairy Barn because the ceremony was on the second floor of the barn in the open beamed area. 

The men were all laughing about something amongst themselves and I was just basking in the fact that all of our best friends were in the same hallway with all of our closest friends and family upstairs waiting for our wedding ceremony  and just how crazy it all felt that it was happening right then. I took a break off of my feet for a few moments while we were waiting for everything to get started. Before I knew it, our wedding coordinator was ushering the men upstairs to go take their places up front. And then, all of my ladies were also gone.. and it was just me and my dad. 

The Men with our Officiant leading them.

Brandon's mother & two of his brothers.

I know I heard the song we had picked out {I am You- Kim Taylor} for the ladies & our moms to walk in to but it all seemed to be going so fast, too fast if only to me. Then, before we even began climbing the stairs for my arrival, I heard the beginning of my entrance song {Marry Me- Train}. It was literally a miracle that I had my dad there to help me walk quickly up the stairs and not step on my dress or slip on a heel. 

My mother & brother.

And then we were at the top of the stairs and there was everyone... my friends, family, our bridal party all looking at me. When people say the whole wedding day goes so fast, they often forget about those times where time just slows down and you are actually able to soak it all in. This was that moment and I remember making eye contact and smiling hugely at specific people and then looking up and seeing Brandon with a little grin of pride that was so cute. 

Our officiant was our college friend, Stephen, who was the best choice we possibly could have had for our wedding ceremony. He officiated with such grace and wit that I do believe he had everyone laughing and crying simultaneously which was a true gift. He shared some funny stories from when Brandon & I first started dating because Stephen had been on Brandon's Resident Assistant staff at the time and saw us fall for each other first hand. He also graciously made it very clear we were starting a lifetime commitment together. 

Photo Credit: Jen Reyes

Our mother's took turns reading my favorite wedding reading called, "These are the Hands," and then we did a literal knot tying ceremony. As you could see in the first picture, we did a double figure 8 knot symbolizing two becoming one and infinity as well as our love of climbing and the outdoors. 

After we exchanged our vows and rings, we were pronounced husband & wife and introduced as Mr. & Mrs. Fitzgerald! We left the ceremony to {Home- Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros}. It was surreal and amazing all at once!

Victory!

With the knot tied, the vows read, and the shoes off we were ready to party with our friends and family... and that we did! 

Hope you enjoyed the recap of our wedding as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Peace, 
Allison 


.: All pictures in this post by our wonderful photographer, Jamie Brant Photography:.
.: If you like this wedding post, check out our Rustic DIY Barn Wedding tab above or click on the link!:. 

Matron of Honor Duties

As the Matron of Honor for my sister's wedding, I had the honor to co-host her bridal shower with her soon to be mother-in-law near Baltimore, MD this past weekend. I think she had a fantastic time thank goodness but I'm not going to lie, I think I stressed more about this party than I did my own wedding. Is that crazy?! I know, I'm a little psycho, but it really is more stressful throwing a party for someone else's tastes rather than your own. Amiright? 

Anywho, despite the minor (hah, riiight) stressing I did, it was fun to get back into the planning mode after having put it all in the back of my mind after our wedding last September. My sister and her fiance's wedding colors are navy blue, grey, and pops of orange so I focused on Blue Ombre as the general theme. 

Of course being me I wanted to DIY as much as I could. I started by creating a blue ombre fabric garland with fabric quarters I got from Joann's and then created a "Bride-to-Be" banner out of pre-cut chipboard triangles and silver Sharpies. You really can decorate for a bridal shower on a budget and still make it personal and meaningful! 

I puffy painted a plate (from the dollar store, shhh don't tell Lindsay ;) ) that served as a guest book as well as something that Lindsay could take home to remember all of the ladies that traveled near and far for her shower! 

On the same table, I had a Ball jar that I had painted "L <3 N" on that was a Date Night Idea Jar. I wrote in chalk some basic instructions for the jar to encourage guests to think of specific and creative date night ideas to fill the jar. We filled about half at the shower itself and then one of the bridesmaids who also traveled from afar like myself for the shower (Thanks Sarah!) brainstormed with some wine after the shower to complete the rest of the Popsicle sticks with cutesy date ideas. 

Some of the festive food and drinks we had included a spiked drink called "Brunchy Punch"  that was so yummy, fruit kabobs with heart shaped watermelons on the top that I made thanks to a bridesmaid's awesome suggestion, and cupcakes in the shape of a wedding dress made by the groom's mother. They all turned out so delicious and cute at the same time!

 The favors were one of my favorite parts for sure! One of the bridesmaids (Thanks Amie!) handmade the cucumber sugar scrub as well as many of the foods we enjoyed and I made the tags for the jars. Funny story: my sister and her fiance met on Halloween three years ago while she was dressed as Puss in Boots and he was dressed as Batman so to this day her nickname from him is "Boots," hence the Boots' Cucumber Sugar Scrub, hehe. 

Of course what's a party without a DIY Photo Booth like the one I put together for our wedding?! I packed up my trusty tripod & camera, picked up a cute grey, polka dot fabric from Joann's for 50% off (what, what?!) and created some pretty funny cardboard cutouts of my sister and her fiance from the night they met to add some pizzazz to the pictures. Honestly, my first idea was to try and find a way to make lifesize cardboard cutouts of their costumes but in an effort to not be too creepy and without a human size printer I didn't get a chance to.

Here's a taste of our photo reel: 

Lindsay looked gorgeous as always but it was definitely the best feeling to see her smile as big as she did when she walked in the door of the venue to see twenty of the ladies that love her in her life. Cheers to the soon to be Mrs. Jarosinski! She's going to make a beautiful bride! I love you big sissy! 

Et Cetera
Lindsay's Thanksgiving Proposal
Lindsay's Engagement Photos by Moi

Peace, 
Allison