Two Years

"Experts on romance say for a happy marriage there has to be more than a passionate love. For a lasting union, they insist, there must be a genuine liking for each other. Which, in my book, is a good definition for friendship." - Marilyn Monroe

G and I will be celebrating two years of marriage on March 26th. I'm so looking forward to the many years we have ahead of us. I still remember the way I felt, and how G looked at me on our wedding day - it was such a wonderful moment. During that time I knew that this was "it", and our lives would be forever better and filled with love. Saying "yes" to marrying my husband was one of the easiest and best decisions I've ever made.

Throughout our relationship there are many things G and I have learned. Today I'm sharing our top two lessons on marriage.

G's Advice

  1. Compromise with each other. It is so important to work with your spouse and find a common ground. There will be times when you have to make hard decisions. It is essential that the two of you are on the same page.
  2. Communication is key. It's so important to establish proper communication in your marriage. Try and ensure that this quality is a strong foundation in your relationship. 

Analise's Advice

  1. Keep your home a safe place. When we purchased our home it was really important for me make sure it was absolutely comfortable. Growing up, my home was the sanctuary, and I wanted the same thing for G and I. Not only did it need to be comfortable, but also safe. It's important that our home is calm and peaceful. Keeping your home warm and loving promotes positive energy within your marriage.
  2. Maximize your partner's talents. G and I push each other to be the absolute best. We dream together and discuss the future together. It is so important to discover what motivates your partner and guiding them to that goal.

XO, Analise

Photo Credit: Shannon Moffit Photography

 

Cheers

"A toast to love and laughter, and happily ever after." — Unknown

Last October my best friend Alisha got married! When she asked me to be her Matron of Honor along with her older sister I was thrilled. Yet, when she told me that I'd have to make a speech at the reception I was a bit cautious. 

Alisha knows I'm not really keen on public speaking. Yet, she really wanted me to do a toast at her wedding. Finally, I obliged and started preparing a speech several months before the big day. When the moment arrived, I was ready, ... and the two glasses of champagne before the speech surely helped!

Below I'm giving my tips on nailing a toast on your best friend's special day.

  1. Take note. Before you make the big speech, jot down a few ideas. It is key to highlight a few memories from your friendship. Also, it's important to celebrate the journey that your friend is embarking on with their new spouse. 
  2. Introduce yourself and tell a story. You'll be meeting a lot of new people at the wedding. Be sure to introduce yourself! Along with giving a brief introduction, tell a story on how you know the bride and/or groom. This will help you connect with the audience. Also, you'll be able reflect on some great moments with the couple.
  3. Stay calm and be natural. Before you make the toast take a few moments to collect your thoughts. The best speeches come from the heart. Try to gather your thoughts before speaking. Do not read from a script if at all possible. It is best to make sure your speech comes naturally and is authentic. 
  4. Keep it short and sweet. It is important to keep the toast brief. Be mindful that several other individuals will make speeches throughout the evening. Try to make your toast impactful and meaningful without going over your time limit.

What are some of your experiences giving a wedding speech?

XO, Analise

Photo Credit: Ward Photography

Matron of Honor Manual

"Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend." - Albert Camus

Last Spring, my bestie got the surprise of her life, when her boyfriend proposed to her. A few days before the proposal, Alisha's now husband reached out and told me his big plan! Hearing the news literally made my heart melt. He knew the importance of including me, her sister, and of course Alisha's mom in the process. I was super excited that this major moment was about to happen in my bestie's life! Most importantly, I was thrilled that I was a part of this milestone. Soon after the engagement Alisha asked me to be her Matron of Honor along with her older sister. It was an easy "Yes" for me. Alisha was my Maid of Honor a few months prior in my wedding. Being able to stand by Alisha's side, and watch her shine on her big day was something I would not miss. On October 7, 2017 I stood by my best friend, and watched her marry her new best friend. It was truly a special moment. 

While being someone's Maid or Matron of Honor is serious hard work, it can be very rewarding and a lot of fun! Today I'll be sharing some tips and characteristics one should possess while fulfilling this very important role.

  1. Support the Bride & Groom. As a MOH not only are you standing next to the bride on the big day, but you are supporting her decision to marry her beau. It is super key that you support and protect both of them. They will be very busy planning one of the best days of their lives. Be sure to help them both, whether it is giving them a pep talk or offering to search for vendors on their behalf. Whenever Alisha started her search for vendors I gave her my feedback. Also, I provided her my personal wedding spreadsheet that was created during my engagement. She got super lucky because we both got married in neighboring cities! 
  2. Be patient and flexible. While this may be easier said than done, know that things may not happen as quickly or how you may like it. Always, be patient with the bride. She will be making critical decisions. Let her take the time to make plans, and if you see that she's overwhelmed help make decisions together. 
  3. Stay organized. As the Bride starts making vendor selections create a list of contacts. Once she decides on her shower date, start researching venues and getting a guest list together. Do everything in your power to try and make things easier for her. It will be a lot of work, but it will be worth it to have a central repository of those important items and info she will need.
  4. Budget & save your money. This is a big one, and is a topic that sometimes isn't always addressed. The moment I knew that I'd be in the bridal party, I started setting aside money for the upcoming purchases. Lucky for me, Alisha was very understanding about how the bridal party spent our money. We were able to select our own dresses and shoes within our price range - which was awesome. Also, she was super flexible and upfront with costs in regards to her wedding. 
  5. Plan ahead. As we began to plan the big day, I started early with planning my time off for work. Also, the bridal party met bi-weekly, to conduct conference calls about upcoming events. This really helped all of the ladies stay on target! We lived all across the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Virginia) area.
  6. Be honest. If something is bothering you or you have concerns, be honest with the bride-to be. She is your bestie at the end of the day, and it's very important to always communicate. 

What are some ways your MOH helped you on your big day? Also, if you were a MOH what are some things you would recommend to a newly appointed MOH?

XO, Analise

 

Photo Credit: Ward Photography

Bride Guide

"Here comes the bride ... "

Getting engaged was one of the most exciting moments of my life. When you say "Yes", to that special someone and decide to spend your life together, it's an amazing feeling.

Yet, the time spent planning a wedding can be super intense. If you are not careful, you can get lost in the moment. Today, I'm giving some advice to the newly engaged, bride-to-be. These tips are a few things that I learned during that special time in my life.

  1. Keep calm. You will be pulled in a million directions - cake tastings, venue tours, and flower selections. Make sure to keep yourself calm, focused, and well rested. This time should be exciting, and not draining.
  2. Surround yourself with supportive people. When I was engaged to G, there were a lot of people who were supportive and kind. Then there were those who weren't so happy for our special moment. Surrounding yourself with a great support system truly makes all the difference in the world.
  3. Put you and your partner first. Unfortunately, people will try to make your wedding about themselves. They will try add their two-cents into your special day. At the end of it all, it's about you and your soon-to-be spouse. If the two of you want a chocolate cake wedding cake ... get it. Don't make decisions based on people's expectations. Do what is best for the both of you, and what makes you the happiest.
  4. Stay healthy. It can be a busy and chaotic time. Personally, I was working full-time, wedding planning, managing family expectations, and coordinating the bridal parties. Make sure to stay healthy - mentally and physically. Consistently work out, eat well, take a break, and get some rest. During my engagement, I went to yoga or barre class a few times a week, and scheduled a 90-minute massage once a month. These activities were key for me to stay healthy.
  5. Embrace every moment. We planned our wedding for about 12 months. It was a fun but very busy time. G and I made it a priority to enjoy every moment. The wedding day went by super fast! Make sure you take a moment to step back and embrace the moments leading up to and on the big day.

Tip: We scheduled date night once a week during our engagement where we did not talk about the wedding planning process at all!

What are some things you are looking forward to on your special day? Also, if you are a Mrs. what were your favorite moments from the big day?

XO, Analise

Registry Tips & Picks

Selecting items for our wedding registry was so much fun! It was one of my favorite moments during our engagement a few years ago.

G and I did our registry at Bed Bath & Beyond. We really enjoyed this activity together.

Below are some of the items we registered for. Included are a few things we probably should have put on the registry!

  1. Beverage Glasses - This should be staple in your kitchen! We have several beverage glasses that are amazing. They go with various place settings and are very functional in our day-to-day dining.
  2. Air Fryer - The air fryer has recently become very popular. My mom gifted us this wonderful item during Christmas and we love it!
  3. Nonstick Bakeware - If you are a baker like me, this set will come in handy! I love to bake around the holiday season, and this is a lifesaver.
  4. Dinnerware - This casual dinnerware set is durable and really nice! It is always good to get a neutral set that both you and your partner will love.
  5. Nonstick Cookware - I had a great cookware set prior to getting married, but now I'm kicking myself, and should have upgraded on our registry. G actually surprised me recently with a new cookware set. Did I mention how awesome he is?
  6. Picture Frame - We love pictures! When we received our engagement and wedding photos from our talented photographer getting the perfect frame was a must. This exact frame is in our living room, and our favorite wedding photo sits in it.
  7. Decanter - G and I love wine! We made sure that a few wine accessories made the list. Having an amazing decanter that you love or any bar accessory is key for a winning wedding registry.
  8. Sheet Set - Whether it is for your master suite or guest room, having extra linens is an absolute must. 
  9. Stand Mixer - This item didn't make our registry. G surprised me with the stand mixer a few months before our wedding. I absolutely love it! I use it for all of my baking needs. On our registry, we added some of the neat attachments to make it multi-functional! 
  10. Flatware - It is essential to have a quality set of flatware.  Whether you choose casual or formal flatware, a complete set is definitely needed to accompany your dinnerware or china.
  11. China - My mother and grandmother have always had the most beautiful china. Growing up, I knew it was a matter of time before I'd own a gorgeous set of my own. Our set was one of the many items my mama and grandma got us for our big day. This is our exact wedding china, and I could not be more in love with it. It took us awhile to select the perfect pattern. Yet, when we located this lovely design it was an easy yes!
  12. Table Runner - We have a wooden dining table, and it was necessary to dress it up a bit. You can select mats, runner, or centerpieces to elevate your table. Try and decide how you'll decorate your table, and add those items to the registry!

What are some things you'd like to add to your registry?

XO, Analise

 

Photo Credit: Shannon Moffit Photography