wedding

What a silly title, right? I mean, obviously, marrying Jeff is the thing I’m most excited about in regard to our wedding BUT there are quite a few other reasons that I am counting down the days. We have just over one week left!

① Getting awesome photos of Jeff + I together! We’re both old pros behind the camera but for some reason we never take photos together. We always make plans to take lots of great desert photos together while we’re out there but end up getting distracted and don’t think about it until it’s too late. I am very, very excited to finally get some amazing photos of the two of us.

I obsess over every photo our wedding photographer posts on instagram. She is so dang talented, and I just know she’s gonna nail our photos. We don’t really have any photos displayed in our apartment but I already bought frames to show off our wedding photos!

② Getting my parents to the desert again. When I was four or five we took a family vacation out west. It’s something they both talk very fondly of and while they both loved it out there and would love to go back, it’s just not a priority to them. Obviously, they wouldn’t miss my wedding for the world so we’re basically ‘forcing’ them to finally go on vacation. I’m excited for everyone to go on this trip but the thought of my parents out there brings me the most joy. We’re actually flying in with them so I’m looking forward to seeing them soak it all in. I can’t wait to look for critters and explore abandoned buildings with my dad!

③ Seeing everyone together! This will be the vacation of a lifetime. Jeff’s family, my family + our friends! I mean, what other occasion would we have the excuse to gather up all these people on one epic trip!? I’m very much looking forward to seeing everyone interact and get to know each other.

④ Wearing a fancy dress. My dress is so beautiful, I can’t wait to actually wear it. Obviously I know what it looks like with all the other accessories but I’m eager to see it with my hair and make up done – and of course, to see what all of it looks like in the desert. We chose to have our ceremony fairly in the morning which means I’m getting up at the crack of dawn to start getting ready. I think for most people that sounds like the worst thing ever but I can’t wait to wake up and start getting all dolled up!

⑤ Showing everyone the places we love so much. I recently mentioned to Jeff how I couldn’t believe that we convinced everyone going to Arizona for our wedding was a good idea. Not only that but our ceremony site and the ‘reception’ venue are two hours apart. I know that everyone doesn’t love long drives like we do but I am so excited that they all are down for the adventure. Arizona holds a special place in our heart. There are so many spots I can’t wait to show off. So many areas we visited on our previous trips that I know our families are going to love.

I can’t wait to get started on this adventure, both the road trip + our life as a married couple!
xoxo

Y’all there is less than one month left until Jeff and I tie the knot.

Lemme repeat that. Less than one month! 

My dress is ready. I’ve found the perfect shoes. Our photographer is paid for. My hair and make up are booked. (Oh my gosh, what a hassle this has been.) I hired a florist. Hotel rooms are booked.

The only big thing left to do is a book a flight. Honestly, I’m a little stressed about that. Okay, a lot stressed. When we first got engaged round-trip flights were dirt cheap. We figured we’d wait a little while to book and what a mistake that was. They’ve nearly tripled in cost. There is going to come a point where we just have to book regardless of price sooo yeah, that sucks. Or who knows, maybe we’ll decide to drive if the prices just continue to rise. Either way, I’m ready to get that decision over with. I think it’ll feel a little bit more real when we have travel plans set in stone. Cross your fingers prices drop ASAP!

There are also a few other small things I want to do beforehand like find the perfect earrings, and figure out what I want to do with my nails. I’m sure there a couple other tasks like that but for the most part those aren’t really even bothering me. I spent so much time and energy worrying about my dress and hair that I basically have no more f’s to give. We’re in the home stretch now and I’m just ready to party.

All of that to say I one hundred percent cannot believe its actually happening. It’s almost like the closer it gets the less it seems real. There’s no way we’re actually taking an epic roadtrip with our family and friends! There’s no way I’m actually going to walk down a desert path with my dad to meet my handsome dude at the ‘altar’. It all just seems so unfathomable. It’s going to be SO AMAZING!

cookies Jeff’s mom made for my bridal shower!

Last weekend Jeff’s mom and sisters threw me a bridal shower. I wasn’t super jazzed for there to be a party where all the attention was on me but it was honestly a blast. We had brunch and they decorated so so so cute. There were plants on the table for all the guests in the sweetest little containers that said ‘let love grow. jeff + kaylah’ and then our wedding date. It was so much more than I ever expected. I am so so so thankful to have not only scored Jeff but the absolute best in-laws possible. I love his family.

One of the highlights of the shower for me was a questionnaire his sister, Emily, organized. Questions like ‘how long have Jeff + Kaylah been dating?’, ‘how many states have they been to together?’, ‘where did they go on their first date?’, etc. She had sent them to me beforehand so that I could answer but the very last question was a surprise. She had asked Jeff ‘what’s your favorite thing about Kaylah?’ His answer? ‘She feels like home.‘ I managed to not sob in front of everyone (because, thankfully, I was able to avoid eye contact for a few minutes) but just typing that now made me cry. I can’t believe how lucky I am.

I actually can’t even talk too in depth (or like at all) about the wedding without crying. I’ve already told y’all a million times how I’m a crybaby. I cry when I’m mad, when I’m sad, when something is too cute, and definitely when I’m happy. The closer we get to the big day, the more I cry – about the most stupid stuff too. The thought of us getting into the rental car? Tears!  Meeting up with our families in the desert? More tears! Thinking about seeing Jeff for the first time? MAJOR TEARS. This whole ordeal is just going to be a sobfest. OR maybe I’ll shock everyone and spend so much time laughing that I somehow don’t cry. Let’s hope for that!
xoxo

Read more wedding posts under the ‘wedding‘ tag! I’m particularly fond of our engagement story, not that I’m biased or anything.