Engagement Photo Reveal

Now that you know how hard it was for me to decide what to wear, the time has come to share these beauties. Let's be honest, this post is going to be a little picture heavy, but who doesn't love some good engagement photos? 

All photos by the wonderful Megan Fortner!

First up we have a few pictures that were taken at a wine bar called Cru. We frequent this quaint little place on weekends, so it was the perfect place to start of our date night/afternoon.

I mentioned that I wanted to start out with a nicer outfit for both of us. This dress was one that I already owned from Loft, paired with some white pumps. Mr. Coach kept the stripe theme going with a nice button up and some navy slacks. Just keepin' it classy, folks :) We also took a few pictures at the Angelika Film Center where we often see movies.  

After our wardrobe change, we got some pictures outside by the lake, and then took a walk around some of the town homes and shops that were nearby. This dress was something I bought new for the pictures, found here, and I have gotten a lot of use out of it since. I loved how bright and cheerful it was!

Finally, we changed our outfits one more time and then took a short drive over to a nearby field and a fire station to snap a few more photos. I really liked the color and pattern of this blouse (which I bought new for the session) and I feel like it photographed really well. I paired it with a skinny brown belt that I owned, and my favorite brown boots!

Our photographer, Megan was awesome! She was super professional, she had great ideas throughout the afternoon as well as an awesome eye for good locations, and she was so much fun to be around! I highly recommend her if you're in the DFW area!

Overall, we kept it pretty simple with our outfits and surroundings, which I think is a great idea because it keeps the focus on YOU. For anyone out there who is like us, and didn't want to go all out with a themed shoot, I think having pictures taken at your favorite date spot or somewhere you're familiar with is a really good alternative - it allows you to be more at ease, and just enjoy being together like you would if the camera was not there. 

Although it's nothing new to us and our relationship, Mr. Coach and I also tried to laugh A LOT during the session; joking with each other felt natural, and kept us from getting nervous or taking ourselves too seriously. I highly recommend it :)

Tell me about your engagement shoot - did you plan all the details and go the theme route? Anyone else use a date night for your session?  

What to Wear: Engagement Session

Before I share our engagement photos, I want to cover something that was a pretty difficult decision for me: choosing what to wear for the engagement session!

I know it is becoming more popular to do “themes” for engagement shoots now. I am in love with photos of those types of sessions, but it really just didn’t fit Mr. Coach and I. We had already decided that we wanted to have our photos taken at the Shops at Legacy. We have spent many date nights there – either having a glass of wine, eating dinner, or seeing a movie, and I really wanted to tie that date night “feel” into some of our photos. So, although we didn't have any type of theme, our location had special meaning, and we really wanted to play up the kind of evening we typically have there.

Side note: I found multiple photographers that had information on their websites about what looks good and not-so-good on camera. This can be extremely helpful when you’re thinking about color & patterns and whether or not you want to be all matchy matchy. I just Google'd "engagement photos what to wear"!

I started out looking for “formal” or “date night” engagement photos on the internet. Some of my favorite inspiration was images like these.

Image via www.34studio.com

Photo Credit:www.alantephotographyblog.com

I knew I wanted to wear a fun dress like those in the pictures – this is typically what I wear out anyway. I tried to stick with bold colors and/or patterns that would really *pop* on camera, as well as items that weren't skin tight, but also weren't too flowy and would look shapeless in the photos. 

Found here

Found here

Found here

Along with the nicer outfit for date night, we also wanted to do some casual shots around the lake and beautiful garden area that the Shops at Legacy have. For these, I was planning on something like so:

  

Found here

A bright blouse to pair with jeans:

Found here

And possibly another dress – something fun and flowy:

Photo Credit: Target.com

After I had my inspiration, I set out to put together some outfits. I ended up doing a little shopping before the session (any excuse for new clothes!) and found a few things I liked, but I also pulled out a favorite or two that I already had in the closet. I found that it was very helpful to have an idea – one nicer outfit, one casual dress, one casual top/jeans combo, etc. – of what I wanted to put together, rather than just trying to pick out 3 outfits that I "liked". Of course, it wasn’t just me in the photos, we also had to coordinate clothes for Mr. Coach, but he was very helpful and I think we did a pretty good job overall! Coming up next, I’ll share what we decided to wear, and reveal some of our wonderful photos!

How did you choose what to wear for your engagement shoot? Am I the only one who has an extremely difficult time with this sort of task? :) 

Engaged to Be Wed

Well, as of yesterday, wedding mode has resumed. I mentioned in my last post that some non-wedding, although still very exciting, events have been going on. The house preparation continued on Thursday with a quick trip chance to spend 7 hours in the car together, as Ryan and I drove from Waco to Houston to take care of some house business and prepare to close next Friday, and then from Houston back to Dallas to get ready for yesterday’s events. Side note: We spent all of our time on Thursday traveling between three major cities in Texas, cities where we know of many great places to eat, and what was the only thing we stopped for? Whataburger.

Yesterday, as we jumped back into the wedding preparation, we got to cross something off our to-do list that I have been very excited about: engagement photos! I mentioned a while back that the wonderful Megan Fortner is our photographer, and we got to spend lots of time with her yesterday, walking around one of our favorite little date locations and looking for beautiful places to shoot some photos. We chose to start out at the Shops at Legacy in Plano, expecting to find lots of different backgrounds within one area. Megan did not disappoint, y’all. She was AWESOME! This girl has such a great eye, and would point out places that I would’ve completely overlooked had she not mentioned them. I got to sneak a peek at some of the photos on her camera, and I cannot wait to see the finished product. I know they’re going to look great. It was an afternoon filled with an inappropriate couple (not us) on a park bench, out of control school buses, and Canadian geese ready to kill, but I know that she got some great shots in between the madness. Can’t wait to share them!

Such a tease! A photo Megan added to Facebook yesterday, straight off of her camera.
/ Megan Fortner Photography

The title of this post refers to Ryan's response any time I mention the word engagement.

Ex. "Hey Ryan, don't forget we have engagement photos next Friday."

     "Ah, yes. We're engaged to be wed."

Such a goof ball.

Our First Home

This post isn’t exactly wedding related, but it’s definitely a HUGE part of this Miss becoming a Mrs. – Ryan and I are in the process of buying a house! We started our search at the first of the year, found a new construction that we fell in love with about three or four weeks ago – I believe it was February 3^rd, and we close on the house a week from Friday! March 9^th has officially been the slowest arriving day, ever! Well, with the exception of another very important day in October ;)

We saw quite a few houses during our hunt, and after seeing them we learned that we really liked the newer homes and features that came along with them. As first time homeowners, we are really looking forward to projects of our choosing, not so much repairs and remodeling, so a home built within the last few years was what we were aiming for. Then, we fell in love with a brand new home (surprise!), in an area we loved, and we just had to go for it – as in, the next day Ryan signed the papers and we got the ball rolling. It was a little emotional, but we both woke up the day after seeing the house, and knew it was right for us. Considering the fact that I like to plan, compare, discuss, and discuss some more before any “big” decisions (okay, maybe a few smaller ones too) that’s really saying something!

We are SO excited about this step we’re taking, and we’ve already learned a lot along the way. I have to give most of the credit to Ryan, since he’s the one doing all of the not-so-fun stuff that comes before you actually get to enjoy the house, and he’s been quite the trooper through all of it.

We are counting down the days until we get to hold those keys in our hand and call it our home! I’m sure the salesman who works at the model in the neighborhood is counting down the days too, considering we’re there almost every week asking if we can “just go look one more time?” It’s just so exciting to imagine where furniture will go, and what our place will look like once it has our own "touch".

all ready for us to move in! /  personal photo

I am a tad bit jealous of Ryan, considering he’s ending his apartment lease and gets to move in right away, while I still have a few months of school, a wedding to finish planning, and THEN finally get to move in. However, I am extremely excited and thankful that we will have such a beautiful place to call our home as soon as we’re husband and wife. We are both SO grateful and excited about that. And of course, just because I’m not living there yet doesn’t mean I won’t be decorating until then and getting it ready for my arrival ;)


The only downside to this exciting step is how much of a distraction it is from wedding planning! All I can think about is decorating this room, or painting that one. I'm hoping I will be able to find a happy medium soon!

Has anything non-wedding related taken up a large part of time during the wedding planning? Anyone else recently decided where will be your first place together? 

Reception Music: Dancing the Night Away

Like I mentioned before, I am a big fan of live music, especially as far as the wedding is concerned. We were able to incorporate live music into the ceremony with a harpist, but the question of reception music was still up in the air.

Because we want to dance at our reception, I really only saw two options: a live band, or a DJ.  The band was my first choice. I was hoping for something fun and upbeat, and lots of cover songs to keep everyone on the dance floor.

Something a little like this... /  Image via Moving Colors Band, Dallas

...Or maybe even this ;) / Image via Fanpop

As much as I would've really liked a band to be there dancing the night away with us, when we decided on our venue, we realized a large, multi-person band was probably not the best choice. In fact, their setup would more than likely take up our entire dance floor. Part of the reason we chose the Village Ballroom for our reception was because of the smaller, intimate feel. However, this "quaintness" also carried over to the dance floor, and this didn't quite match up with my desire for live music. I've used this picture of the ballroom before, but it gives you an idea of the size of our dance floor:

See the dance floor back in the corner? / Photo Credit - Piazza in the Village on Facebook

Because we are having a somewhat small wedding (100-120) people, the larger ballroom which holds around 300 would have completely swallowed us and our guests, and we decided that the large dance floor was going to look mighty intimidating if only a few guests were already out there. We really want to encourage the family and friends who come to celebrate with us to do just that - celebrate! And for us, that includes showing off some dance moves and just having a good time, so the Village Ballroom was the best choice, eliminating the option for a band. A little disappointing, but definitely not the end of the world. That led us to our other option: the DJ. 

Searching for a DJ was actually a very, very short process for Mr. Coach and I. I spent some time searching for a few DJs I liked based on their reviews, pictures, websites, etc., but I knew we needed to get some more information and meet a few of them before we decided.  After emailing back and forth with about five of them, I had received quotes from the majority and each of them, with the exception of one, quoted me almost identical prices. The exception was Randy Ro Entertainment. Needless to say, I set up a meeting with Randy immediately. Mr. Coach and I decided we would meet with him first, and if for some reason we didn't want to use him, we would consider some of the more expensive options. We weren't really expecting to be too picky going into this meeting. We have a lot of ideas about what songs we want played, so we really just need someone to manage the playlists, as well as emcee the events happening during the reception.

Luckily, the meeting went exceptionally well. We loved getting to talk with Randy, he was very helpful and listened to what we had to say, and we decided to use his company for our DJ services.  We actually gave him the deposit right then and there, after deciding we'd be crazy not to use him! He has experience working at the Piazza and in our ballroom, which was a plus because we wanted someone who knew about the size and what "type" of wedding it would be. 

Side note: As far as pricing, we found out that the exceptional rate he gave us was because of his close proximity to our venue, and the fact that he really doesn't like to lose business that is literally right next door. Totally makes sense - and worked out perfectly for us! We get a first class DJ for half of the price of others in the DFW area.

Have you had any pleasant surprises so far in the planning process? Tell me about your reception music - did you hire a DJ or band? Anyone having someone man the iPod as an alternative?

Ceremony Music: Hiring a Harpist

           
Let's talk about music - for the first of many times. Music is a pretty big part of Mr. Coach's and my life, both individually and as a couple. We really enjoy live music and going to concerts together, and in my opinion, we can both really appreciate a great new song or album. Because of these things, I knew that music would be a pretty significant part of our wedding day festivities. Not just in the form of great music at the reception, but also when we had to decide how to incorporate music that we liked and music that was “us” into the wedding ceremony.


I have always really liked the idea of live music for my wedding ceremony. I’ve experienced weddings where the Bridal Chorus was being played as a recording as the bride walked down the aisle.  It doesn’t make too much of a difference until she reaches the end of the aisle, stands next to her husband to be, and the song cuts off with a very unpleasant, and abrupt end. No good.


I’ve also experienced weddings where the flower girl literally RAN down the aisle, or made it about half way and decided she had to turn around and go back because she didn’t drop enough rose petals the first time. Adorable? Yes. Does a CD track account for unpredictable flower girls? No. 


So, for these reasons, among others, I have always wanted live music, played by professionals who can react to unpredictable moments, as well as fade the music off at the perfect time. Now it should be easy, right? Find someone who can play the piano, and more than likely they’ll know Canon in D like the back of their hand. But what I would really like to have is someone who can not only play the traditional wedding ceremony music, but also some songs that represent Mr. Coach and I, as well as some that our guests will recognize and enjoy. 


My first thought was string instruments. I had recently seen a string quartet performing at a local mall (yes, it is a very nice mall), playing everything from Lady Gaga to the Beatles. I loved that it still sounded beautiful and “wedding-like” because of the instruments they were playing on, but was also unique and would allow us the freedom to choose our own, possibly not-so-traditional, music.

Image via Dallas String Quartet

Although I liked their musical diversity, after more thought, a string quartet didn’t feel quite right for our ceremony. I was worried about having a full band at the front of the chapel and I didn’t want things to feel too formal. So, I continued to search. Luckily, after some online browsing, I stumbled across the website of harpist, Jenny Glass. Her tagline, “Music from Classical to Coldplay” made a great first impression on me. She had some sound clips on the website that I was also really impressed by. Jenny and her harp would be much less crowded than a quartet in the chapel, and more flexible for where we positioned them. I was also less worried about the music feeling too formal, and just feeling romantic and elegant instead. 

            
I emailed Jenny, and she invited me to the Fort Worth bridal show to hear her play. She was literally one of the kindest people I have ever met. I listened to the Demo CD she gave me, and after Mr. Coach and I discussed it, we decided she was the best fit for our ceremony. Literally, one of the easiest decisions we've made so far, and I’m so excited to choose the songs we like and hear how beautifully she can play them on her harp. 

Image via Jenny Glass, Harpist

Jenny's harp outside the Piazza! / Image via Jenny Glass

What were your reasons for choosing the type of ceremony music you had/are going to have?  Anyone else having a harp - I'd love to hear your song choices!

A Short Journey to Say Yes to the Dress

I'll go ahead and tell you guys this now - I won't be sharing pictures of my dress until after the wedding. 

I really just don't want any pictures floating around before the wedding, and a certain grandmother would kill me if I shared what it looked like. I will share a little about the process, and some pictures of some I did not choose, and I promise there will be pictures galore after the big day ;)

I began my journey, accompanied by my MOH L (I'll formally introduce y'all soon :) ), with a few pictures of dresses I liked in hand, and a general idea of what I wanted. However, I had never tried on a wedding dress before, and it’s been a while since I shopped for prom or any type of formal gown, so I was expecting to try on different styles to see what I liked best. I went in thinking I’d really like something with lace and nothing too over the top or extravagant. I did want some drama in the back though, with a long train and pretty details - something like these beauties:

Maggie Sottero, Presca Marie / Image via Maggie Sottero

Casablanca 2004 / Image via Casablanca

The first place we visited was a really neat boutique in the Uptown area of Dallas called LuLu’s. The prices were great, the service was great – I was helped by Sharon, and overall, I was really happy with the experience.

Image via LuLu's Boutique

Because they don’t take appointments, we had to wait about 30 minutes before someone was available to help. Luckily it was our first stop, so we were excited to be there and spent most of the time browsing through bridesmaids dresses upstairs while we waited.

Mori Lee 1223/ Image via Mori Lee

Another contender, Casablanca 2038 / Image via Casablanca

My favorite at LuLu's was actually the very first dress I tried on, the Mori Lee 1223. Not exactly what I was expecting myself to like, but it had all-over lace, simple beading on the bodice, and a lot of wow factor in the back. None of the others at LuLu’s could beat this one for me. It got to the point where I would slip the dress on, and before Sharon was done zipping or lacing, I could already tell it couldn't beat the Mori Lee. I left with that dress as my number one, and headed to our appointment at Stardust Celebrations. Stardust Celebrations and LuLu’s are actually owned by the same person; Stardust carries more couture and higher end gowns, but they have a nice room with a selection of lower prices as well. 

Image via Stardust Celebrations

None of the dresses I tried there really made an impression until I tried on the James Clifford J11231. Again, not really what I was expecting, but I was impressed. This dress had less of the lace, and was a ballgown style, something I didn’t think I would care for on myself. I was pleasantly surprised though, and left with another favorite. At this point, I felt pretty equal about both dresses - neither really "won" over the others, and in my mind, this meant I hadn't found my dress yet. 

James Clifford J11231 / Image via James Clifford

The next day, I decided to go try a few more dresses on my own. I knew I would have to get the approval of MOH L if I found one I liked, but I wanted to do some more shopping. I headed to Lasting Bridal Couture in Addison. I was helped by Sarah, who I loved, and there was only one other bride trying on gowns - another plus. This Justin Alexander was one of the first dresses Sarah pulled for me. It was beautiful, but once I had it on it wasn't giving me that wow factor. Another contender was the Casablanca 2017. Again, it was beautiful, and very flattering on, but in the end it just wasn't my dress.

Justin Alexander 8557 via Justin Alexander

After trying on 5 or 6 others, none of which were really worth mentioning, I stumbled across a beautiful dress I fell in love with. I was floored. It didn't matter than I had just started looking the day before - I knew it was the one. However, I had to get the final approval from a few others. So, MOH L, Grandmother Coach, and I returned to the shop, where they fell in love with the dress as much as I did, and I said yes to the dress! I can't wait to share it with you all :)

Just a side note: all of these places did allow pictures to be taken, but I wasn't anticipating getting to share pictures with all of you, so the only good pictures I have are of my actual dress, not the other choices.

Now, tell me about your dress! Was it what you expected yourself to like, or were you completely surprised by what you liked when you started trying on those beautiful white gowns? Anyone else find their dress so quickly?