OUR WEDDING DAY DETAILS
Phew—it’s been a minute, but I’m back in full swing. Planning a wedding is seriously no joke, and if I could do it all over again, I would hire a whole team to plan it for me… well, maybe not, because I like things done a very specific way.
But truly, it was the best day ever, and I wish I could relive it over and over again. I can’t believe it’s already been almost two months of being married. And yes, I’m just now starting the name change process. Between wedding planning and the holidays hitting right afterward, last year was a whirlwind and somehow flew by faster than I thought it would.
There were days when I thought, “Oh my gosh, when is this going to be over?” and other days when I thought, “Holy cow, we’re only 22 days away.” And then suddenly… it was here. After 12 hours of getting ready, getting in the limo to the church, taking pictures, listening to toasts, eating dinner, and dancing the night away, I looked around—and poof. It was over. Tables and chairs were being stacked, linens were ripped off and folded, and the whole thing disappeared as fast as I blinked.
And for the record, nobody talks about the day-after “wedding is over” depression. That one hits you like a freight train. I didn’t know what to do with my hands, my feelings, or my life. I’m still not sure if I was just hungover with a case of the Sunday scaries or if I was having a true emotional crash—but wow, I was not prepared for that part.
So today, I wanted to share a few of my favorite details from our wedding day—the ones I would 1000% do all over again if I could. (And no, we’re not having another wedding, so don’t freak out, mom and dad—you can keep your wallet in your pocket… for a while. See what I did there?)
Alright, jokes aside—here are my favorite details from my favorite day.
Honoring my dad
I knew I wanted to honor my dad, but I didn’t know to what extent. Did I want to make a big moment out of it? Would that be too much? What if it wasn’t enough? I went back and forth so many times, but looking back, every single detail ended up being exactly right.
One of my favorite touches was the photo of him on my bouquet. In a way, he still got to walk with us down the aisle, and that’s something I’ll cherish forever. We also reserved a seat for him at the church and at the reception—which my family ended up really loving—and he even made a special appearance on the dance floor at one point during the night.
And then there’s my husband, y’all. If I could include a clip of his thank-you speech here, I would—but you’d also see me crying like a baby, so maybe not. The way he honored my dad in his speech was full of so much grace and warmth. It truly topped off the night and is one of my favorite moments of the entire wedding.
The memory table
In addition to honoring my dad, we also created a memory table for our family members who have passed away. This was so special to us because we’re both very family-oriented and wanted to make sure everyone we love was there in spirit. It meant a lot to us—and to our parents and family—to be able to reflect, remember, and celebrate their lives while also creating new memories.
Florals and linens
My Pinterest board came to life—and I still can’t get over it. Even though there was a lot of back and forth to get everything just right, I’m so glad we stayed the course and nailed down the exact vision I had in my head. The team at Lisa Foster Design absolutely killed it, and I would recommend them to anyone in need of florals.
Brunch
Order the brunch. And make sure you eat it. You will thank yourself later. Before 9 a.m., my nerves were already in full swing. I didn’t feel like eating, barely touched my coffee (which, if you know me, is saying a lot), and just felt like my stomach was full of emotions. I’m so thankful for my mom for sitting down with me and making sure I at least had a few bites of something. I’m also super thankful our venue had an all-inclusive plan and provided everything—because the last thing I wanted to manage that morning was a food delivery.
Late night snack
Even though I didn’t get to enjoy it myself (I was too busy being the DJ for the night—yes, I took over the DJ booth), our guests loved the late-night snack. Multiple people told us how great it was, and honestly, I’d recommend it to anyone. Even if you don’t end up eating it, your guests will—and they’re part of the day too.
Second dress
Get the second dress. Order all three if you can’t decide. Go to David’s Bridal the day before your wedding if none of them fit right (thanks, Jordan). Just get the second dress. This was hands-down one of the best decisions I made in the 11 months of planning. By the time the ceremony and photos were over, I was sweating—even though it was like 50 degrees outside. Changing into my second dress meant I could actually move, breathe, and dance the night away without worrying about anything. Zero regrets.
Bridesmaids’ dress
Seeing my girls all together was one of those “wow, this is really happening” moments. Their dresses were from Birdy Grey, and everything came together so beautifully. And of course, the groomsmen deserve a shoutout too—their tux rentals were from Men’s Warehouse. It was one of those details that felt small in planning but huge on the actual day.
Change of shoes (for the groom too, ladies)
This one feels obvious, but it deserves its moment. By the time the ceremony and photos were done, I was so ready to get out of my heels. Changing shoes made our first dances easier and made the rest of the night way more comfortable. I even got James a new pair of Tecovas to change into for the reception, and he loved them. Comfort is key, people.
The sparkler send-off
Yes, it’s cliché. I know. And I’d still do it again. There’s just something about it—it’s fun, it’s festive, and it makes for such a great ending to the night.
Our private last dance
Right before the sparkler send-off, we did a private last dance while everyone else lined up. This ended up being one of my favorite moments of the whole night. It was calm, quiet, maybe a little chaotic, but just us—one last moment together before everything officially wrapped up. The perfect way to end the day.
The venues
Last but not least, I can’t forget the spaces that tied it all together. We got married at The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the same church where I was baptized, spent my childhood, and where we also had my dad’s funeral. Getting married there felt incredibly full circle and so meaningful.
Our reception was at Jackson Terminal, and they truly handled everything—all the planning, all the vendors, literally everything. It made the day so much easier and let us actually enjoy every moment.
And of course, none of these moments would be frozen in time without Kelsi Walters Photography. She captured every single detail so beautifully—from the big emotional moments to the little in-between ones I never want to forget. Looking through our photos feels like getting to relive the day all over again, and I’m so grateful we get to hold onto these memories forever because of her.
When I look back, it’s funny how the day feels like a blur and crystal clear all at once. It went by in a heartbeat, but the memories—and the little details—are the parts I’ll hold onto forever. If I could do it all again, I wouldn’t change a thing.
