Wedding Planning with Eri

Today is a day to celebrate those women who raised you and in most cases, those who gave birth to you - Mother's Day. I hope I can one day celebrate this holiday that gets so much hype because I long to experience the love that every mom says they never knew before their child arrived! But for now I'm a puppy mom and I'll embrace that title too!! Happy Mother's Day to all moms out there

*This post contains affiliate links, all thoughts and comments are my own*

2015 Mother's Day Weekend - Mom's Surprise 60th Party

While my mom is currently in Swiss Alps on an amazing vacation with my Dad my sister and I got together over the weekend to enjoy a Garth Brooks concert and talk wedding planning!! In 4 short months my baby sister is tying the knot and as the Matron of Honor I feel like I haven't helped her with anything yet - she is the planner so this isn't surprising because she LOVES to do this stuff.

My sister and her fiancé are both very creative and hands on, this is just one of the many reasons they fit well together. Now, out of my sister and I, I'm for sure the more techie one and when anything is needed online - I'm the goto. So I was telling her about this new site I found called Uncommon Goods. They were looking for fun unique gifts for their wedding party and this site has every type of gift you can imagine plus a lot of personalized items, which I know my sister really likes!!

These two are seriously so dang cute!! 

Once a week I probably get a snap from my sister's fiancé about some crafty project he is working on in his shop and making his man cave like his own personal brewery, there are definitely some gifts here that would look great in his shop {hint, hint Eri}.

Uncommon Goods prides them selves on selling handmade items from a variety of different sources so that is right up my future brother-in-laws alley. This company also has strong values in helping the environment which is something that makes my farmer soul very happy!

I can not wait to throw my sister a shower and bachelorette party and spoil her the way every big sister should when they have the honor of being included in that special day. Oh PS her wedding dress came in this weekend - SHE IS GOING TO BE A STUNNING BRIDE!! Now if these 4 months were anything like the ones in 2012, they are going to f l y by!!

So, as Mother's Day comes to a close and you have spoiled your mom rotten or gotten spoiled by your littles, don't forget that Dad's day is right around the corner and you can get a jump start on his gift here!

In Marriage...

As I mentioned some of our really close friends just got engaged and both Steve and I are so excited. As a Throwback Thursday post of our wedding photos and an ode to their upcoming nuptials I have a poem to share!

In Marriage by Julia Escobar

Cherish each other
in big ways and in small ways,
and never forget the magic
of those three little words: "I love you."
In marriage, remember that
it is the little things that make the difference…
Don't forget the birthdays and the anniversaries.
An occasional note means a lot.
Share each other's life - even the small details -
for too often we forget
that day-after-day becomes
year-after-year, and then it's gone.
Give each other room to grow…
We all need our time alone.
Keep strong your faith in each other;
time has a funny way of testing us,
and it's faith that gets us through.
Respect one another…
This world could always use more of that.
Speak your mind honestly, openly,
but with kindness,
for angry words are scars that may never heal.
Trust each other;
let your trust be your rock.
Most of all, each day…
be sure to hold each other
and fall in love all over again.

These are my people and I can't wait for their wedding!!! Thanks for letting me take some pictures for you guys @ashieann 😘 #lbphotographyND #sooc #canon #prairieplaces

A photo posted by Laura Beth (@mrslaurabeth) on Nov 11, 2014 at 12:11pm PST

Congrats Tyler & Ashley - Can't wait for your special day!!

Winter Wedding Season

This weekend was crazy busy. 

We went to a wedding on Friday. 

Hubby went home to take care of baby calves.

I went to another wedding last night. 

I just got home today.

I am exhausted. 

Our apartment is a mess. 

I have no motivation to clean. 

But we do have clean sheets. #winning

Instead I downloaded new fonts.

And edited photos.

While watching Super Bowl commercials. 

I think This is my Favorite one.

Now it is 9:30.

aka Bed Time!! 

…

Excuse my Absence...

I've been completely exhausted lately. As I type that I feel horrible because two of my really good friends recently became moms and I know they are exhausted and have total reason to be; me ya not so much I just like sleep. So please excuse my absence and current laziness. 

Meet my new favorite parents:

We have a busy weekend planned. Sunday marks our 1 year wedding anniversary. Wow I can't even believe how fast those 365 days went! We have a weekend full of Football {Go Bison} {Go Vikings}; eating prime rib and leftover wedding cake! 

Be sure to follow my Instagram and Twitter for weekend updates!

Photo by Milestones Photography

Wedding Bouquet Shadowbox

Did you love your wedding bouquet as much as I did but weren't quite sure how to preserve it or what you were going to do with it after the wedding? I have your solution {hoping you still have it somewhere}. And if you are an upcoming Bride this is definitely something I'd recommend. 

Photo By: Milestones Photography

Wedding Bouquet Shadowbox. 

The day after my wedding I hung my bouquet upside down in my closet. You don't want to store it in direct light because the petals could get a really bad burned look to them. I didn't spray it or anything and it dried very well, I was impressed. 

It has almost been one year since we got married and I finally got around to making this wonderful keepsake. {I may have some issues with procrastination, oops. Thank goodness for my sister coming home to help make this}

What You Will Need:

:: Shadowbox {mine is 12x15 and 3in deep}

:: Decorative paper {or whatever you'd like behind your flowers, I know some like to use their wedding program}

:: Double Stick Tape {I used this to tape the paper to the back of the box}
:: Hot Glue Gun {used to glue in boutonniere}

:: Your bouquet and whatever other keepsakes from your special day {I used my garter; my husband's boutonniere; his cufflinks and wine corks}

I had to trim my bouquet down in the back because it was initially to thick for the box; it is still in there tight enough so I didn't have to mess with gluing it. The only thing I glued in the box was the boutonniere and then our wedding date. The corks, garter and cufflinks are just placed in there loosely. 

If you make one of these let me know, I'd love to see your finished product!!

Linked up with Mandi & Tiffany

Engaged or Enraged...

When I first saw this linkup on Stevie's Blog {no not my Stevie} I thought it sounded fun, so now I get to think back and remember planning one of the best days of my life. 

Engaged or Enraged:

1. What was the funniest moment you had while planning your wedding?

Funniest Moment, Wow I don't really remember any stand out funny moments. Maybe realizing how many wino friends I have or how many people would drink wine just to give us the corks.

2. What is your favorite thing about your husband?

I have so many favorite things about Steven. I admire his hard work ethic and his love for the crops he grows and the cattle he cares for...farmers really are amazing! Also I love the way he loves me, I'm very public and am kinda addicted to social media and expressing myself through photos; Steve, on the other hand, is very private and I'm okay with that because his love and affection is just for me and that makes it more special. 

Photo By: Milestones Photography

3. What was the most stressful part of planning a wedding? 

I let all the little details get the best of me. Stuff at the wedding or reception that no one else was going to notice but me. Steven had to remind me on more than one occasion that the wedding isn't about all the 'stuff', what will matter in the end is that before our family, friends and God we made a commitment to each other that will last the rest of our lives. 

Photo By: Milestones Photography

4. What is your favorite personal detail from your wedding?

Oh I had a lot of details that I loved to make our wedding all our own. First what did people do before pinterest?! They had to be crafty all on their own haha 

If you are new to the blog or just catching on, I love wine, so wine corks and bottles were a big part of the decor. I also wanted to tie in a Steve aspect with the decor so we had wheat decorations also.  One of my other favorites was the shadow box we used for our sand ceremony!

All my details couldn't have been possible though without my amazing Sister, I'm honestly feeling a little sorry for anyone who didn't have someone like her to take over the decorating and details!! 

Photos By: Milestones Photography

5. What was your favorite part about planning a wedding?

Getting to play around with professional photos taken of the two of us and not photos I had taken! I knew one aspect of the wedding we were going to splurge on was the photographer and I haven't regretted it once. Those photos are one of the things that will last when the memories begin to fade!

Photos By: Milestones Photography

6. What would your husband say is his favorite thing about you?

I hope he would say the way I love him and all the little things I do to make him feel special {like buying him TONS of double stuffed Oreos} or being an awesome Wife and surprising him with a brand new set of golf clubs for our wedding present! 

Photo By: Milestones Photography

Are you planning your wedding now? Or already Married? Were you totally stressed out or do you have a wonderful man {like mine} to keep you grounded? Link up and let us know! 

Becoming a Mrs.

A (sort of) milestone has passed, Steve and I have been married for six (6) months!! Yep, that is right yesterday, the 8th, marked our 6th month of wedded bliss, half of a year has already passed - Crazy! 

So, you ask how is marriage … really? Well, you will get the same answer I give everybody … it is great but not much different. Steve and I have been loving each other since 2006, our marriage made it official before God, our family & friends and it was the most amazing day of my life but I'm happy to say he is still the same Steven and (I hope) I'm still the same Laura. 

Our new life as husband & wife really is great though. We have a place to call 'our own' and I love hanging out with my hunky hubby just doing nothing … seriously something as simple as doing the dishes with this man makes me happy - maybe that is because he washes and I dry (most of the time). Ugh, praise whoever invented the dishwasher and I promise I will never take it for granted when I get one again. 

Since I haven't talked about it on the blog I'd like to recap our wedding day. 

…

September 8, 2012

The day started off will my best girls! I spent Friday night with my sister and future sisters at Stacy's house (didn't want to break tradition and see my groom) and then Saturday my bridesmaids and personal attendants showed up and we had a great morning enjoying mimosas, muffins & blueberry bake while getting our hair done. 

My whole day seemed to be a blur, the day was finally here, the day I had been planning for … I'd been planning for it well before our engagement and it had arrived. I was excited, nervous, overjoyed, overwhelmed, ecstatic; so many emotions inside me I had to remember to breathe every now and then. 

My girls and I got ready while Steven got ready with his boys and then it was time for me to see my Groom. Ahh he was as handsome as ever, seriously those grey tuxedos were AMAZING! We wrote letters to each other for our wedding day and after reading it, he made me remember why in a few short hours we would be standing next to each other promising our whole lives to each other … Yep I truly Love him! 

After hours of torture for some but my favorite thing, Pictures, we were ready for the I Do's. The ceremony was great, well what I remember anyway, thank goodness for a video camera to capture the moment that I want to relive over and over. 

We all had a wonderful time at the beautiful reception & dance, I hardly left the dance floor and had a great time with friends and family. 

09.08.12 was a day I will never forget and I am so blessed to have Steven in my life and to have gained a great set of in-laws! 

Now I will leave you with some of my favorite photos from our special day. All photos taken by the wonderful Milestones Photography. 

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Engagement Pictures

"Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever...it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything." - Aaron Siskind

Many many thanks to Milestones Photography for coming out to our house to take engagement pictures for us! I'm so absolutely in love with them I could look at them all day long. 

We took the pictures April 14th and it was the only nice day out of the whole weekend, we were so lucky! 

I am so glad we could take pictures at the farm, we also went to The Crossing and to Sheldon...couldn't have asked for better backgrounds!

Here are some of my favorites. I hope they make you smile as much as they make me smile!

Thanks again Dave ... We Love Them! 

Copyright: Milestones Photography 

Copyright: Milestones Photography 

Copyright: Milestones Photography 

Copyright: Milestones Photography 

Copyright: Milestones Photography 

- Laura Beth

Wedding Update

Plans are coming along great, March 8^th was the 6 month mark and now it is almost 5 months away. Steven and I got a lot done in March!

Registered at Bed Bath and Beyond

Picked out Bridesmaid Dresses

Picked out Tuxes

Chose a Wedding Vocalist

Made Some Centerpieces (We Still Need Corks*Hint*Hint)

Decided on Wedding Flowers

Met with Pastor Brad

Registered at Macy’s

Chose a Cake Maker

Decided on a Reception Menu (now we need to decided on a caterer)

We only have about a dozen of things left on our ‘to do’ list so that feels pretty good!

Flowers, Tuxes, Centerpieces, Dresses

- Laura Beth

Wedding, Wedding, Wedding...

It's been four months since Steven and I got engaged and we have eight left to go until the big day, 249 days to be exact...but who's counting?!!

I've had Wedding on the brain a lot lately and I must say I've been pretty productive with the planning so far!

Steve and I got (almost) all of our Save the Date cards sent out the day after Christmas, that was a great feeling.

Last Wednesday I took the day off and my mom, sister and I drove to The Cities to find me a dress.  It was a great day and I found the perfect dress in two hours at the Wedding Shoppe in St. Paul. The dress is gorgeous and I'm glad I don't have it in my possession otherwise I think I'd put it on every night!!

This past weekend I decided to look at different wedding invite ideas and ended up making one online that I really liked so tonight I ordered it along with Reception & RSVP cards. The best part; each invite (stamp and all) will be around $1.25/invitation!!

I know I still have a lot to do for the wedding but eight months gives me all the time in the world ... in the meantime I'll just enjoy being engaged to this wonderful boy!!

2012 is going to be a great year ... I can just feel it already

Happy New Year!
- Laura Beth

Save Your Corks!

I am a HUGE wine freak, wino, lush; take your pick at a name but the bottom line is, I love wine! I was able to go to Napa Valley this past March and I couldn't have been more excited; I hope I can go back soon!  I want my love of wine to play some part in our wedding and I've decided to have corks as part of the decorations.

I'm asking you to help contribute to the decor by saving me your wine corks!! If you save corks, and want them back don't worry I'll give them back after the wedding. So if you love wine as much as I do, drink the bottles with corks and don't you dare throw them away, save them and send them my way!!

Thanks in Advance :-)
- Laura Beth

Save the Date!

We have set the date. September 8th 2012!