Ever Ours: Man Candy

Here is my sexy man looking like Santa Claus while he shaves in the men’s locker room. This was right before he got kicked out of there, in a move that really pissed me off. Silverleaf, our venue, a country club which my parents are members of, told us that we were not allowed to use their BEAUTIFUL locker rooms to get ready in. Now I understand them not wanting a huge hoard of giddy wedding partiers ruining the experience of the other members…but come on. The actually getting ready part, and the accompanying shots, just look so much better in the locker rooms. I am annoyed that I didn’t break the rules and do my dressing in the divine locker room. Especially since I’ve seen multiple other brides who did just that. Anyways, I’ll get off my soap box now.

Bryan says this is his favorite picture from the wedding of himself. I think he looks very handsome.

I’m pretty sure Bryan does not like this picture, but I bet that’s only because the oversize shirt makes him look bigger than he is. I’ve been trying to get him to wear smaller sizes lately, and I think he’s coming around.

I really wanted some cool argyle socks for the groomsmen, but we couldn’t find any in our wedding colors (come on–are lemon and wine really that strange?), but I did eventually find these burgundy socks. Unfortunately, I don’t think we ever got a shot of all the groomsmen with their shoes and socks.

I love this shot of our custom wedding Converse sneakers. We got these for the groomsmen as gifts, and I think they got a chuckle from our wedding guests when the groomsmen walked down the aisle.

Mmmmmmm.

The men got ready in a sort of man cave with a pool table, bar, darts, etc. Very nice.

I love the ties. And the suspenders. Very glad we skipped the vests.

Ooohh. Artistic-y.

More sexy. Okay I’ll stop now.

Next up: the bride getting into her dress, and our first look.

Ever Ours: The Details

The dress. Sigh. I loved his dress. I loved the Alencon lace, the way it highlighted my waist and decolletage, the little train. It was a bit heavy for an Arizona summer wedding, but I didn’t want to sacrifice my dreams for a little heat. I have since had this dress preserved, and I hope that my daughter one day considers using some of the lace as a part of her wedding ensemble.

I have a secret. My perfect garter purchased from Etsy. Yeah, I didn’t wear it. It was too hot and itchy. It came off after pictures. And we skipped the garter toss. Which I totally regret.

My sister Kristen’s updo. I just told the stylist to make the girls’ hair a little bit looser and highlight the Black Baccara rose. The roses were actually a last-minute addition, and I think they make the look. My bridesmaids were so beautiful.

My shrug. I knew from the moment I got engaged (before that, actually) that I wanted an Alencon lace gown with cap sleeves. But when you go wedding gown shopping, almost every dress is strapless. If I had found a dress with cap sleeves already on, I probably would have bought it, but this shrug, which I had custom made off Etsy, helped me create the look I wanted.

My goofy niece Maddy playing around in our Bridal Suite. It was probably too early for her to get there when she did. Note to brides: flower girls and junior bridesmaids do not have the patience to hang out with grown-ups all day. We might have champagne to amuse us, but they need something more. Plan for them to arrive when the bride is starting to get her gown on.

My sexy best friend Lauren and gorgeous stepsister Lisa lounging in our Bridal Suite while everyone else (including me) got our hair done. The alcohol was flowing, but unfortunately I chose not to partake. Big mistake! I didn’t want to get blotchy, but now I wish I had a couple of nerve-soothing bevs.

My makeup artist Maureen is amazeballs. She has been doing my makeup for 9 years. Before you start thinking I’m some famous celebrity who needs their own makeup artist, I’ll explain–she did my makeup for Senior Prom, my sister Kristen’s Debutante Ball, Bryan’s homecoming from Iraq, and now my wedding. So really, she is my go-to girl for any special occasion. She listens so well, takes her time, is a perfectionist, and does some killer things for eyes.

Here she is again. I love the black and white shots–so timeless.

I loved my shoes. I wanted a shot of color for under my dress, and I loved the fact that they carried the rose theme down to my toes.

I like this detail shot of my dress because you can really see the pattern of the Alencon lace, and the beautiful ribbon sash that really cinched in my waist.

My next recaps: Bryan’s getting ready shots, and me getting in my dress.

Blotchy Face

After a magical week and beginning to our marriage, I’m experiencing a bit of deja vu right now. I’m back in the airport in Naha, about to board a flight to Tokyo. The deja vu stems from having to say goodbye to Bryan yet again, though this time I’m saying goodbye to my husband, which makes it easier and harder at the same time. The goodbye is usually the same–Bryan takes me to the airport, we check me in, and then spend about an hour waiting outside security before I run through at the last minute, right as my flight is boarding. I’m usually not too emotional until the split second I have to say goodbye to Bryan. Something about actually peeling myself away from him, breaking that invisible tie that binds us together, and walking away is just so difficult, and it gets harder for me every time. I cry, turn red and blotchy, kiss him a hundred times, and then take a deep breath and walk away. I never go back, but I do look back many, many times, not letting him out of my sight until the last second possible. I am really looking forward to the last of these separations.

This trip back to the U.S. I will be spending the night in a hotel near the Tokyo airport, because my flight to the U.S. isn’t until tomorrow morning. I’m excited to get a good night’s sleep, because I think I will wake up refreshed and clearheaded. Right now I feel exhausted, physically and emotionally. I miss my husband and I don’t want to go back to law school, where only stress and work awaits me. But I just have to get through 6 more weeks until I will be done with 1L year and in Hawaii with Bryan–we are meeting up there in May after my semester is over. Bryan is going to be there TDY (an Air Force business trip), and I will be meeting him and spending my days on the beach with my Kindle while he is working. It’s going to be a mini-honeymoon for us, but I won’t count it as our real honeymoon because that wouldn’t be fair to Bryan, who has to work. We are definitely planning to go on a real honeymoon after the big wedding, whenever that turns out to be…among the contenders are Thailand, Maui, and the Caribbean. Bryan is humoring me with a beach honeymoon, despite the fact that he doesn’t actually like the beach. I have an amazing husband, in so many ways 🙂

Wedding Inspiration

I thought about not posting this, but I just had to because 1) I think it looks so beautiful and 2) it’s really more of a sneak peek into what we’re planning for the wedding. I don’t think it gives too many surprises away! I had made this on MosaicMaker…all I had to do was sign up for a free account, accumulate pictures that represent my vision for our wedding, and then it made this mosaic for me! I don’t want to give too much away, but my mom said she was having trouble sharing in my “vision,” and this really helped her (since she’s doing most of the planning for us in Arizona). Enjoy!

The Ring

It’s not the best picture, but here it is 🙂 This is us holding hands on the train right after Bryan proposed at the airport. And Bryan already has my wedding band, waiting for me in a box in Okinawa. Part of me wishes that men got to wear engagement rings too…it seems unfair that only women get to! Every time I look at my hand I am reminded of my best friend and companion for life, while men have to wait until the wedding for that.

Yes!

2 years ago I met a handsome gentleman in a bar. 2 days after we met, I found out he was going to Iraq. I told myself that this would be the first time I approached a relationship with no expectations–there was no way I would get my hopes high this time. 2 months later, however, we were inseparable and the deployment had become just a hurdle to conquer. 2 years later (I now attending law school in Boston and he stationed in Okinawa), I went to meet this man at the airport and he, wearing his uniform, bent down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said yes!

Obviously, a lot is missing out of that story. We are madly, deeply in love (sickening, I know), and so happy that we are about to become husband and wife. You can read more on our wedding website: www.mywedding.com/bryanlovesjenna

Here is a picture of us the night of our engagement!

Us getting hamburgers after he proposed:

Us being touristy around Boston:

Eating clams on our jaunt to the Cape:

Aren’t we cute…we match!

Cape Cod:

We saw this rose in a garden in Somerville. It’s just like the roses (black baccara) that we’re going to have at the wedding (expect lots of wedding posts to come!).

Bryan Bouchard, I love you. I can’t wait to be your wife.