Let's decorate a wedding...

 It's amazing the encouragement and strength that can come from a person who knows you well and sees you through different phases of life. My college friend Melody is one of those treasured individuals. Melody and I spent countless hours studying together, taking classes together, painting signs together, praying together and sharing queso dip at Applebees. When she asked if I would be interested in helping her decorate her wedding, I was honored and thrilled to be a part of her day by doing something that I love.

We discussed her ideas, looked at pictures, painted signs, and assembled a few friends to help.

It was a breezy fall day in November. The trees were beautiful and her desire for "simple and rustic" matched the venue  perfectly.

Moss. Wood slices. Pine cones. Tree branches. Lanterns.

Gold frames. Chalkboards. Wrought iron.

 The decor items were simple on their own but made a beautiful collection together.  What a perfect picture of marriage! I pray Adam and Melody are better together!

The constant breeze from the water forced my decorating friends and I to be a little more creative - finding boxes and baskets to contain the cups, hot chocolate packets, and anything else that was blowing away.

Special friends and family members brought pies of all kinds to share at the reception.

The bread table beside the buffet lines quickly turned into one of my favorite reception details.

Bamboo skewer signs helped to label the different types of bread. And the Acts 2 verse seemed appropriate to prop up in the center of the table.  It was my gift to the couple, praying that their home would continue to be a place where friends gather and the Lord is honored.

The bride had this beautifully aged gold frame that we were able to turn into the perfect sign for her photo booth guest book instructions.

I loved watching the joy on my friend's face that day. Friends were gathered and the Lord was glorified.

Using items to decorate the wedding that reflected the bride's style kept costs low and made items reusable. Signs from the reception currently decorate her home.

Since your home should reflect who you are and what you love, wedding mementos make the best decorations.

I am so thankful for this 12 year (and counting) friendship. Thank you for letting me be a part of your special day!

Our Story

I met him in January 2005. It was my first day on campus and he was student body president. He was taking the incoming students on a little sight-seeing activity downtown. And I was trying to figure out if this college was the right place for me. I was older than the other freshman and felt out of place. I remember talking to him on the van ride downtown. He says he tried to talk to me later that week but I just said "Hey" and kept walking.

We ended up in the same group of friends. We ate meals together. We made WalMart runs together.

Since our parents just lived 2 hours apart, I started riding home with him for breaks. It was during those 6 hour car rides that I kind of started to like this guy. We would talk and laugh, making the ride seem shorter than it was.

We really became best friends. I had always prayed that I would be best friends with the guy I would marry. BUT, I wanted to be friends with him first...before I was romantically involved.

After he graduated, he ran activities on campus and I became an RA. We ended up facilitating lots of events together.

 I remember trying to figure out if he liked having me around or if he just liked the fact that I could organize an event. This question came up in a conversation one evening. I remember him saying, "After Judgment Day (a big event on campus that he was running), I will take you out to prove that you mean more to me than just helping with events."

For the next week I couldn't figure out if this was a date or just another time we were hanging out together. Neither of us told anyone in our group of friends about this upcoming meal off campus. He pulled up to the dorm, I got in his green sports car and off we went. We ate our meal. We talked like we always did. He paid. But I still hadn't decided what he intended this outing to be. We drove around Chattanooga. I think we even ran to Walmart to pick up supplies for a campus activity. And then he started talking...he talked about our friendship...and he kept talking, but I still didn't have my answer. When he asked if I understood what he was trying to say, I replied, "You really haven't said anything yet." And then...he said "Cindy, I like you."

We dated. We got to know each others families. He proposed. I said yes.

 March 13, 2010, I married my best friend. God answered my prayers. We had built this awesome foundation as friends. We knew each other so well before the dating began. It's our story and I wouldn't want it any other way. 

Since road trips contributed to our falling love, we decided that a trip to New York City would be a great way to celebrate our five year anniversary.

We had been to NYC before while chaperoning a high school senior trip.

And since we spent a lot of that trip counting heads, I asked Jeremiah if he would bring me back some day...just the two of us. And he did.

It took 24 hours to detox from "mommy mode." I slept all night long. No one was crying for their breakfast when I woke up. I didn't change any diapers. And I didn't have to keep reaching into the backseat as we drove.

We just talked. And laughed. And I remembered why I fell for this guy in the first place.

We did all the touristy things. Empire State Building.

The Intrepid.

Got re-named by Starbucks.

Lunch at Chelsea Market. Walked a lot. Rode the Subway. Ate all the touristy foods. Rode the Statton Island Ferry by the Statue of Liberty.

The World Trade Center and Memorial.

I love adventures with this guy. I am so thankful that the Lord gave me what I prayed for. (You can read my "list" here.)  I am glad that God was in control of this friendship from day one. And five years and two kids later, I am still so glad that I married this guy! He changes diapers, makes me smile and even saved my life. The Lord has been so good to us.

May the adventures continue. I love you, Jeremiah.