Our Wedding + Highlight Video

/

To celebrate our 1st Wedding Anniversary in just two days, I thought it would be fun to re-live our wedding day by posting some of our favorite pictures!  Our wedding highlights video (which still makes me tear up) is waiting for you at the end of the post!  Derrik received his Master's Degree in Music Composition from Florida State University just a few weeks before we met in 2013.  He used his skills to write a beautiful piece performed live for our ceremony, which can be heard on the highlights video.

In terms of decorations and the "feel" of our wedding day, "Cozy Christmas Cabin" would describe what we were hoping for - the plaid, homey feel, with a touch of glam.  I'm so grateful to those who helped that come to life for our wedding.  

I was in a really good mood.  When better than your wedding day, right?  Cozy Uggs help too.

Part of the perks of getting married in December includes using Christmas decorations!  We were thrilled to learn our church's decorations would blend perfectly with our additions.  Our church family really rallied behind us - we love them!

One of my only specific photo requests was for this Brady Bunch type snap of our wedding party, and I love how our photographer captured everyone's personality so well!  My elegant facial pose was inspired by Julia Roberts' platypus expression in Runaway Bride.  Comment if you know which scene I'm talking about - I love that movie!

We chose buttercream icing with key lime curd for our cutting cake (very, very good decision).  The cake for our guests had white chocolate icing with cranberry filling - basically Christmas in a cake!  They were both delicious.  We ordered our cakes from Artistic Confections.

_MG_1439.jpg

Here is our highlight video by Unique Video Creations.  Having video of that day proved to be one of the best decisions we made when planning the wedding.  As someone who loved watching home videos growing up, I know I will cherish the footage we have of this special day for the rest of my life.  

Vendors we used and recommend: Videography - Unique Video Creations; Photography - Donne Irene Photography; Wedding Cale - Artistic Confections; Wedding Dress - Vocelles;  Dress Alterations and Veil - Hayley Lauren Couture; Bridal Hair & Makeup - Hair and Makeup Designs by Alissa.

I just shared my favorite stationery finds from @basicinvite in my stories (also under Blog story highlight). ⁠ ⁠ You'll definitely notice a theme: delicate, feminine floral designs. I can't get enough of them! ⁠ ⁠ @basicinvite is one of my favorite
Snow Day in Louisville at one of my favorite homes. I just had to snap a photo on my way back from a photoshoot in the snow!🌨 β„οΈπŸŒ¨
The blogging bug hit, so I just rounded up five favorite things from 2020 (including those beautiful Truth for Today cards from yesterday's post)! ⁠⁠⁠ I hope there's a new gem in there for you to enjoy! Link in profile.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ #ontheblog #chelseynel
My favorite verse beautifully depicted by @emilylexstudio. My sweet father-in-law gifted me this Truth for Today card set for Christmas and I’ve been using them for scripture memory. I think they’d make a great Valentine’s gift (or
Prepping a contract for the next CNP bride✨and feeling thankful for the Lord’s provision (including this mug of @foursigmatic mushroom coffee! Don’t knock it till you try it πŸ˜‚).β € #chelseynelsonphotography
Happy anniversary to these two! Your wedding day was so much fun! β € β € And now you get to celebrate every October (basically one of the best, most magical months of the entire year). I see what you did there πŸ˜‰πŸ

Donuts + Bookstores

/

Donuts may become a "thing" on here, which makes sense considering how much I think about them.  It seems they deserve their time on the blog.  Every blog needs donuts, right?  But if you pair bacon and donuts together?  Oh yes.  Add on a bookstore filled with Christmas stationery and the new illustrated Harry Potter book, and you have a winner. 

We've been on a continuous tour of Louisville donut shops recently, and I'm loving it!  After trying Clifton Doughnut Shop, we ventured to Nord's Bakery and Bussmann's Bakery.

BussmannsBakery_donuts_displaywindow_res72.jpg

The donuts at Busman's had a great texture, and the staff were very kind.  The donuts had soft dough and classically sweet icing.  They showed us some of their recent cake decorating masterpieces, and I must say they have a knack for it.

After donuts, we strolled down Frankfort Avenue, peeking in and out of stores leading up to Carmichael's Bookstore - something that looks like it belongs in You've Got Mail.

Although I've seen all of the Harry Potter movies, I've haven't read the book series yet.  Wouldn't it be awesome to experience it for the first time with this new illustrated edition?  We could get it, enjoy it, then save it for whenever we have children!  Sounds like a plan to me.  This area of Frankfort Avenue is quaint and cozy.  There's still plenty to explore, but here's to a good start.