Hi Guys!!!!

So good to “see”  you again! Apologies for leaving you for so long, but my goodness, I’m still not sure what happened these last few weeks. Let’s see. I got for-real married at the courthouse in a 30 second ceremony (really, 30 seconds); ran-around like a chicken with her head cut off sewing barbecue bibs, making napkin rings, getting my hair done; then we had our prettified wedding at my parents’ house; then off on the honeymoon! Oh, and now I’m packing/moving. My boyfriend fiance husband Matt lives in the West End of Atlanta. So I’ve been knee-deep in packing tape and mumbled cuss words (I hate moving- even if it means being with the man I love).

And through it all, Cath has kept you well informed. Thanks so much, Kittycath! You the bestest! P.S. Now Cath is away in Chicago on business, so I haven’t seen much of her since I’ve officially become Lauren Lee-Crane (I haven’t actually officially changed my name at the courthouse, but I have on facebook, and that counts more, right?).

Above is a little mini outfit-post. Sorry the image quality is so crappy. My cameras are all packed up and so I had to use my mac. We still haven’t taken the decor down in the library/ceremony room, and I think it makes a luverly backdrop. My sweater and boots are thrifted (DKNY and Charolette Ronson respectively), and my dress (worn as a skirt) is by Jovovich-Hawk for Target.

Isn’t this bedroom dreamy? It was one of two gorgeous rooms in our cottage at Persimmon Creek Vineyards (our honeymoon destination). There was no cell service for about 10 miles, no wifi, no cable – it was heavenly. It also rained the whole time, but I loved that too. We just curled up in front of the fire and sipped our wine. Man, we should all have honeymoons at least once every six three months.

Oh and I promise to do a wrap-up wedding post once I get my final photos. Thank you to my wonderful photographers Aharon and Jackelyn from Aharon Hill Photography. Such a gorgeous, gorgeous job! Seriously, ladies and gents, if you need photographers, I can not recommend these ladies high enough. Flowers and photographer were my big spendy items for my very teeny wedding, and  every single penny (and more) was sooo worth it.

Last two photos by Aharon Hill Photography.

I’ve had a few questions about my wedding/engagement rings. I got them via Etsy from the designer Kristen Coffin. I had never heard of her before, but I stumbled onto her Etsy page and just fell in love. I’m not a big stone girl (sigh of relief from the fiance/hubs), and I wanted to make sure any stone I got was conflict-free. This baby cognac diamond is conflict free and the gold is recycled! Plus the bands are made from molds of actual twigs which I just love love love.

I hope you guys have been well! Once I settle down into my new home I’ll be sure to catch up on all your blogs and comments with Cath. Also, I’ll take photos of my new digs once I’ve gotten them somewhat styled.

Thanks for all the beautiful comments on my wedding!!! They brought me so much joy when I returned to the land of wifi post-honey moon!

xoxo,

Lar

So not only do I have two wedding dresses, I also have two sets of engagement photos. For a girl who claims to be scared of big weddings and spending lots of money on one day, I sure do sound like a hypocrite, don’t I?! (If you missed the first set of engagement shots, Cath posted a few here. They were done by Matt’s uber talented sister on Tybee Island a day after we got engaged.)

These gorgeous photos were shot by my wedding photographer Aharon (pronounced like “Erin”) Hill. And boy am I glad I found her! Not only are Aharon’s prices uber reasonable, she also happens to be an absolute genius. She makes a teeny parking lot carnival in the burbs of Atlanta and a grassy patch behind a Checkers drive-through look like heaven. I don’t think I could photograph heaven to look like heaven.

Oh and the other serendipitous bit of this shoot? I had my favorite make-up artist Amy Weissenberg of Smink do my make-up. I was planning on doing my own and having Amy  show up for my wedding day, but she will be out of town (ahhh boohoooo!!!) on the day-of, so she offered to do my make-up for this shoot. I’m so glad she offered because 1) I have learned all my make-up skills from growing up putting on stage make-up for Nutcracker perfomances and YouTube tutorials (that combination is probably not ideal) and 2) she is amazing!!!

About the clothes:
On Moi: I took my Rodarte for Target dress and tied a red ribbon around it. The shoes- ahhh the shoes. I’ve always wanted a pair of ruby slippers (“The Wizard of Oz” has been my favorite movie since I was 1.5 years old), and I finally found them for $13 at Burlington Coat Factory. So the brand name is “Bumper” (yikes) and not “Louboutin.” I think they’ll still take me to the wizard either way.
On Matt: I think I spent much more time thinking of what Matt could wear because I get tired of looking at my worn-out closet duds. He ended up in a H&M blazer and jeans, Frye boots, and a shirt by some company I’m totally forgetting, anddd the piece de resistance, a ribbon bow-tie! I love the ribbon bow tie on a man. I haven’t seen this done too much, but when it’s done right it makes me swoon. It takes all the stiff, overly-pert-ness out of the regular bow-tie. What do you guys think?

So after this shoot, you know what happened? Cath threw me a surprise engagement party! I’ve never had a surprise party before (it makes it difficult when your best-friend shares your birthday and, you know, your DNA). It was the PERFECT end to an already wonderful day. Kitcath, thank you soooo much. Sharing that evening with you and all of our wonderful friends made all the stresses of the wedding melt away. XOXOXOX

Okay, I’ll stop babbling and just let you guys look at the photos. You can see all of them on Aharon’s blog here. Let us know what you think!

Lar: shirt, thrifted Ella Moss; belt, J.Crew; dress worn as skirt, local boutique; boots, Frye; Earrings and Necklace, c/o June Shin

So I look pretty demure and anti-bridezilla in the photo, right? But I’m worrying that I’m drifting into dangerous territory. What exactly constitutes bridezilla status anyways? For instance, hypothetically speaking, if one were to have one’s ceremony in a private library, would you think said hypothetical bride would earn her zilla stars by wanting all the books the same color. (Oooo that sounds a lot worse in print than it did in my head- I mean, in her head). It sounds a bit “painting the roses red,” doesn’t it? Okay, okay. now what if the Queen of Hearts actually painted her own damn roses. That’s less dictatorial, right? Much more “of the people.” (If you answered “no” then <cough>Off With Your Head!<cough>).

Well call me the Queen of Bridezillas. I’m covering all the damn books in the library in recycled white-ish paper. And I can prove I’m being Queen of the Zillas because I just said “I’m covering all the damn books” when the truth is my mom is doing a lot of the grunt work. I’ve covered about 10 books, she’s covered a couple of shelves (including Shakespeare’s complete works).

See those uncovered, <gasp> colorful books in the photo below? Gone! Get rid of them! I don’t want to see another ostentatious, ebullient display of saturated kaleidoscopic spine-hood!!!

Here’s another example of my Zilla stats: bow-ties. I’m making my menfolk wear bow-ties. And not the preppy kind with plaids or palm trees on them – or anything else they might like. They have to wear what I want <stomps foot>. I ordered these charming clip-ons from Etsy’s vintage section. Aren’t they dapper? Well, aren’t they? F*&% yeah, they are.

Oh and, Boo Radley, I don’t care how many times you decide to back out of your ring-bearer duties (or out of the picture frame while I’m trying to shoot you), you are gonna be in the wedding if I have to get Cesear Milan to lead you down the aisle himself! Oh, and  don’t forget, I’m gonna put a ruffly paper collar on you too. Yeah, that’s right. Ruffles.

Oh and this Bride is telling all her bridesmaids (a.k.a. Cath) that they have to wear Manolos. Anything else and you have to stand outside during the ceremony. You aren’t coming near me in anything less than $550 shoes. (Erm, just in case my sarcasm isn’t reading so great here, Cath actually found these gorgeous Manolo Blahniks for 30 DOLLARS at a local consignment shop called Finders Keepers!!! For realzzzz! Oh and my Diane von Furstenberg shoes are courtesy of Shopbop for $50. Ooo yeahhh).

XOXOXOXOX,

LAR-ZILLA!!!