**Warning – This may be the last post for a few weeks**
Many of you now know why the engagement photos were a secret! They were a surprise for the reception!
Here are a few for your entertainment!
Mailing our wedding invites for the draft!
Formal Engagements:
FIESTA TIME! CINCO DE MAYO!!!
Egg Confetti fight:
PINATA!!
Hope you enjoyed! We had a blast taking them. There are a few more fiesta pictures that Courtney took for me. That will a different blog!
Love and Hugs, Catch you later!
Lizzie!!
Now I can finally share these pictures from my bridal shoot with Collin Richey:
For those of you who guess blue shoes, you were right!
Love and Hugs, Lizzie
P.S. Happy Birthday DAD! LOVE YOU!
We have finally arrived at the day I have been planning for over a year. I want to thank all of those who dedicated time and effort into making this happen. (You all know who you are!)
A dream team will descend upon the JW and start prepping for the wedding around noon. Video and photo will start then also. I am so excited to experience this day and marry my fiancée. (I should use that term one last time because after the ceremony tonight Doug will be my husband! That just sounds so weird!)
Life is about to get very interesting!
I hope everyone has a fabulous day and night. I know I will. :)
Love and Hugs, Lizzie
Oh man, I am one lucky lady.
ONE
O N E
Tomorrow at 7 pm, I will be married!! To the best guy ever – my DB!
Last night included some fun, today will be lots of visiting and prep work and tomorrow is the big day. I just know this weekend is going to pass by in a blur! I need everyone to take a million pictures so I can keep them all as memories.
To celebrate being only one day away from Mrs. Douglas Brown, I will share with the ONE thing that almost stopped our marriage plans. The ONE thing is kind of a big deal…actually, it is a very big deal. It all happened on a few days ago and I was such drama. The wedding was almost called off!! (well, sort of…)
We almost were not able to get married on Saturday because of…. (adding epic drama…….)……………………………………the marriage license.
I have been told/heard that you have to get the marriage license within a certain window of the wedding. Everyone always talks about this 72 hour rule. I have been hearing 72 hours, 72 hours, 72 hours for over a year now. I never actually discussed or researched this data because I always heard people say 72 hours. SO, I ASSUMED you had to get it WITHIN 72 hours of the wedding. Dumb, I know. I have been waiting to get within 72 hours of the wedding to go get the license.
Here goes the dramatic story: I called to confirm details with Immaculate Conception and Ms. Julie (the official Church event planner) asks me if I have my license yet. I tell her, “No. I am going to get it within 72 hours.” Then she enlightens me to the fact it must be outside of 72 hours and I need to go RIGHT NOW to get it taken care of. Great.
Now I must find out what documents I need to get a marriage license…and fast. I find a (non)fancy wedding website that tells me there is a Passport and Marriage License office in Harahan at the Joe Yenni Building. Perfect.
Then I read what documents I need to get it…I need both birth certificates and social security numbers. The social security numbers I have, but I seem to be missing my birth certificate. I have Doug’s birth certificate, but where is mine? Then it dawns on me…I am the slacker that never got it from Mom and Dad! Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!
So I think, “well, maybe they will give me a license as I do have my passport and you have to have your birth certificate to get a passport….? right?” I grab all the documentation and head to the Joe Yenni Building.
When I arrived at the building, I was greeted by two sheriffs and a scanner/metal detector. I usually do not carry fire arms and this day was no different, so no worries…I put my bag through the scanner, pick it up on the other side and confirmed the correct floor with the nice gentlemen. I then head upstairs to find room 603 – Passport and Marriage License.
The very thorough employee tells the copy of my license will not suffice. I tried to beg my case that I brought my passport (which all of a sudden seems to be missing) and thought it might be enough as you need your birth certificate to get a passport, but she would hear nothing of it. I smiled and left the office thinking at least I tried. I get out of the office and dig through my bag again….still no passport. Now I am just confused. I was sure I placed it in my bag, but maybe I left it on the kitchen table where I placed it briefly before I left. The odd things was that I still had Doug’s passport, but not mine… Oh well! Moving on.
I put a call into the parentals and they saved the day again. They decided to drive in to hand deliver the said document to me that afternoon. (See, I told you they rock!) Later that day as I wrap up work, I get a phone call from Dad. He says, “Hey, where is your passport?” I should have known it was a set up, but I stupidly said, “On my kitchen table… I hope. Why?” He says, “It is at the Joe Yenni building. They just called me.” Noooooooooo! How? I was sure I did not leave it in the passport/marriage office.
Evidently when I placed my bag in the scanner it fell out! Luckily I had filled out the emergency contact section. They found it in the scanner and brought it up to the passport/marriage license office (because, duh, that is where passports belong) and called my dad to let him know. Awesome. So then I had to go back to the office and face the no-nonsense lady who denied me a marriage license once already that day. (She is actually very nice- just no-nonsense.) I made the trek once more to the Joe Yenni building and retrieved my passport.
Later that day, my parents arrived with my birth certificate and visited with me for a bit. The following morning I arrived at room 603 and presented all the correct materials to get a marriage license. Success. (I did leave my passport at home this time.) Talk about making life exciting. The license is valid after May 4 at 9:34 am. That was a close one.
And now you know why we almost did not get married this weekend! Sheesh. I hope this knowledge helps at least one person for the future.
Love and Hugs, Lizzie
P.S. Just in case you ever need to know: Marriage licenses in Louisiana are valid after 72 hours and for 30 days.
In two short days, I will be hitched, married, done for, a ball and chain, the old lady, Doug's bride, and the luckiest girl in the world.
Two days.
As the theme today is two, it is only right to honor the two people who brought me into this world and have made me who I am today.
Today we will discuss my Mom and Dad.
Long ago, Patti and Dale met (through some good friends) and went on a blind date. Clearly, it was one of those “good blind dates” that rarely happen. They got engaged and married on May 24, 1980. They loved each other so much God gave them a Honeymoon baby! yay! I was born in March of 1981.
From that moment, they have been the best parents possible. They gave me all of their time, love, energy and morals. They raised me to the ripe age of three when they decided I should not be alone. They gave me a sister (the best sister on earth to which many blogs have been dedicated too, but this is not about her…back to Mom and Dad) and I loved her with all my heart. Then a few years later, they gave me a brother. This wild man stole a piece of my heart as well, but again…back to Mom and Dad.
Raising a family has typical challenges, but throw in owning and operating a veterinary hospital while raising 3 wild children is pretty stinking impressive. They taught us how to be generous, kind, honest, frugal, smart-aggressive, thoughtful and loving…just like them.
My parents are amazing. I must admit I did not appreciate them from around 15 to 21, but I came to my senses. I would not be where I am today without their love and support. They have given so much to us and I only hope I can pay it back over time.
Thank you Mom and Dad for being the best parents, ever. Thank you also for all you have done for me. I love you more than words can express.
Love and Hugs, Lizzie
P.S. I totally cried while writing this post. As a side note, I thought I would be able to make it through the wedding without crying, but if this is any indication, I am doomed!
The wedding prep officially starts this evening. Doug’s parents, Sabrina, and Amanda are all arriving today! I am so stinking excited!
It is also Doug and I’s last full day of work until May 14! We are very excited. All the family around, a big party and some wedding vows! Life does not get much better than this!
The Shack has been a wedding workshop as we worked on all the final touches. Here are some of the worker bees over the past week:
This wedding has been produced by a massive team. I can’t wait to see it all put together.
Let’s Roll!
Love and Hugs, Lizzie
