Valentine's Day Gifts For Her

"I like perfume and flowers." - Donatella Versace

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching!

G and I got engaged one week before Valentine's Day (and a week and a half after my birthday)! Every V-Day we spend time reflecting on that special holiday. It was such a sweet moment and absolutely lovely. 

Each year we get each other a small gift. My birthday is at the end of January, and our wedding anniversary is in March! We have a lot of milestones to celebrate back-to-back. Our Valentine's Day is a bit more low-key, and we absolutely love it that way. 

This year G and I are having dinner at the restaurant we went to the night we got engaged!

Below are some of my favorite picks for the ladies on Valentine's Day. 

 

Enjoy!

XO, Analise

 

Photo Credit: Shannon Moffit Photography

Valentine's Day Gifts For Him

"Romance is thinking about your significant other, when you are supposed to be thinking about something else." - Nicholas Sparks

I've shared my V-Day selections for the ladies, now it's the guys turn! It is so much fun shopping for G, and I have a blast doing it.

Luckily, G is super easy to shop for. He really sticks to certain brands or stores. Typically, watches and a new pair of Nike's work well for him! I enjoy surprising G here and there with unique gifts.

Below I'm sharing some great gifts for the man in your life!

 

 

Enjoy!

XO, Analise

 

Photo Credit: Shannon Moffit 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

The Vow

"I want a marriage more beautiful than my wedding."

Before I met my husband, I never thought marriage was in the cards for me. G made me believe that true love was possible, and we knew pretty quickly into our relationship that we were "it" for each other. He became my person, and marrying him was one of the best and easiest decisions I've ever made - it just felt absolutely perfect. After nine months of dating ... yes that fast, he proposed at my parent's home, and it was a no brainer - G was the one.

While we were engaged it was a priority for us to make sure our marriage was successful. We attended several marriage classes and seminars in order to prepare ourselves for this journey. It was key that we were on the same page, failure was not an option.

Last Wednesday, Tidewater and Tulle featured our one year anniversary shoot! Today, I'm sharing more lessons that we both have learned so far in our marriage.

  1. Embrace each other's differences. G and I are very different. He is super outgoing, while I am more reserved. He's spontaneous, and I love structure. These differences actually make things fun, and we have both learned not to change each other ... we are who we are. We share the same values, but our varied personalities make us unique.
  2. Consistently communicate. It is so important to have good communication with your partner. I don't just mean verbal, but body language as well. We make it a point to sit down every night for at least 30 minutes (typically when we are eating), and talk about our day. Our communication has gotten so strong lately that we even finish each other's sentences sometimes! 
  3. Love one another unconditionally. No matter what the situation or circumstance, love your partner during the highs and lows. Life is crazy and things happen, remember to love one another no matter the situation.
  4. Support your partner. G is always pushing me, even in the moments where I'd rather just give up and take a nap. He is hands down one of my biggest supporters and cheerleaders. Nothing compares to having your partner in life always cheering you on, and helping you make your dreams come true.
  5. Protect your relationship. There are a lot of naysayers, and there will be people who may not respect or approve of your marriage. Keep those individuals at bay, and out of your relationship - they do not have a place in your life. Not everything you and your partner go through will need to be available for public consumption. Put each other first, and ensure the well-being of your partner above all costs, you did take a vow after all :) 

 

Photo Credit: Shannon Moffit Photography