{Real Rural Wedding} Ashley & Jeremy

Due to spending time with my family in the past two weeks, I have fallen terribly behind in posting real weddings.  Want to hear the good news?  In order to catch up, I am deeming this Wedding Week & I am posting a new, fabulous real wedding for you each day!!

As August winds down & takes summer with it, now is the perfect time to enjoy a summer wedding with bright pops of pink & green.  As always, Vendla Stockdale captures the hot wedding day perfectly:

Warm, sunny summer is the perfect season for weddings, although it can tend to get hot & sticky as it did on Ashley & Jeremy's wedding day.  The happy couple didn't let the heat ruin their big plans for a fun wedding with a cheery palette of pink & green.  They spent four hours before their ceremony with their bridal party capturing their love for each other & their love for the rural western slope countryside they call home.  The Bride & Groom visited a scenic bridge, a dramatic railroad track, a park gazebo, an abandoned mill &, my personal favorite, a vintage truck in the perfect shade of green.  How cute is the matching pink & green Just Married sign in the truck photos?!  The new Mr. and Mrs. prove that big smiles & tons of fun always beat the heat!  

Congratulations, Ashley & Jeremy!

VENDOR LOVE:
Photography: Vendla Stockdale Photography  /  Submitted via Two Bright Lights 

{Mrs. Monday} Family Matters

My husband & I got married one year & seven months ago.  Sometimes it seems like just yesterday.  Yet, very sadly, we have said good-bye to two of our guests in that short time.  Just three months later, we lost our dear family friend, Esther.  She is forever missed for her welcoming nature & her out-of-this-world cooking.  Esther's eggplant parmesan was simply the best.  Then, just about two weeks ago, we lost my Uncle Paul.  He was a great man who seemed to effortlessly excel at his many roles in life- husband, dad, handyman, cook, actor, Marine, etc.  I will always remember his long-winded stories, usually accompanied by my Aunt Tami urging him to get to the point, & his helpful driveway traffic control to guide us out of their steep driveway without running over their mailbox.  We miss both of them so very much.  I wish Esther & Uncle Paul were still with us but how lucky were we to have them celebrating our wedding with us? 

At times like these when our memories are everything, I realize our posed wedding photos are oh so important.  The candid photos of Esther & Uncle Paul are precious too but there is just something really special about a good family photo.  Here's my side of the family including Uncle Paul- we're together, we're dressed up, we're happy.  I'll be honest- posing for the family photos was not the most exciting part of our wedding.  It's not easy to gather & arrange large groups of people, yet alone get them to look at the camera & smile at the same time.  A solid plan, good photographer & skilled wedding planner definitely help!  When it's all said & done, we are lucky enough to have a beautiful photo of our beautiful family on our beautiful wedding day to grace the pages of our wedding album, the walls of our home & the heart of our memories.  One moment in time captured & treasured forever.  

The family photo session may take a bit of time away from dancing & celebrating on your wedding day but it is well worth it, my friends.

My Uncle Paul (in the blue tie above) & Esther (not pictured) may not be with us today but they live forever in our hearts. 

Photography: Timothy Glenn Photographers

More Radio Silence

My sweet little blog has been silent this week & will remain so until further notice due to a family matter.  Family always comes first!  They are the love in my life; they are everything to me.  Please have patience with me & I will be back as soon as I can.  Do me a favor- hug your loved ones tight!

Photography: Gabe Aceves via

{Sneak Peek} Ashley & Jeremy

Raise your hand if you're thrilled it's Friday.  Me too!  Let's have a sneak peek at the fabulousness coming your way next Wedding Wednesday, shall we?

  

Ha, the handsome Groom & his groomsmen goofing off just make me smile!   The summer wedding day may have been hot (100 degrees!) & sultry but that didn't stop the pink & lime wedding from remaining cheerful & fun.  Check it out next week!

 

Wondering what happened to this pretty little wedding?  I may post it next Tuesday or post a double feature next Wedding Wednesday.  Keep your eyes peeled!

Happy Weekend!

Photography: Vendla Stockdale Photography  /  Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Radio Silence

 

Hello, my dear Koru family & friends!  I must sincerely apologize for the radio silence, especially on Wedding Wednesday when I expected to feature this amazing wedding.  Unfortunately, the very thing I rely on to share such beautiful weddings with you, my Two Bright Lights account, is not working.  They can't seem to get a handle on the problem, let alone fix it.  Frustrating!!  I'm left to just try to breathe easy & have some patience.  

On that note, there seems to be no better time than the present to show you this bright, colorful bridal bouquet.  It makes me happy just looking at it!  May it bring a bit of cheer into your life today! 

Photography: Jennifer Williams Photography via

{Still Standing} 6 Months

Yesterday, August 6, marked six months since my first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage at 10 weeks.

In some alternate reality where all my dreams come true, my husband & I would be one month away from welcoming our first child into the world.

Instead, we are here. 

Here we are battered & broken yet we are resilient & hopeful.  Here we know exactly when our dream died but we have no idea when & if our dream will begin again.  Here we are completely lost & we can't ask for directions but we believe this is the only way.  Here there is a lot of darkness yet the light, sometimes bright & sometimes dim, always shines.  Here can be very lonely but we are always together.  Here we haven't stayed long yet it seems like forever.  Here is our new home, our new reality.

We never wanted to be here.  We wouldn't wish here on our worst enemies (if we had any!).  Still, we can't complain about here because compared to much of the ugliness in this crazy world, here is practically paradise with non-stop sunshine & free-flowing tropical drinks.

I will always be hoping & wishing & praying that we find our way from here to there: having our rainbow baby.  May there be just around the corner from here!    

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On the first Tuesday of each month, I link up with The Journey at Still Standing Magazine to discuss where I am on my journey towards motherhood after a devastating miscarriage in February.  Other brave women are discussing the very same thing on their blogs today.  Please show a little support & love for the others sharing where they stand in their grief journey or motherhood journey: 

{Sneak Peek} Corley & Jake

Happy Monday!  Is anyone else in as much shock as I am that it is August?!  I can't believe it.  Summer is just flying.  I've been having so much fun in the sun that I'm way behind in posting about my birthday, my Cape Cod vacation, my Boston getaway.  Hopefully, I'll catch up soon.  In the meantime, this Wedding Wednesday's sneak peek never posted Friday so here it is:

As a beautiful couple says "I Do!" & blends two families into one at the historic Opryland Hotel, there are tons of bright peacock feathers & meaningful family details to inspire every Bride.  Oh, & did I mention there is a Cinderella carriage?!  I'll see you this Wedding Wednesday with every last detail!

Please join me tomorrow with a little love & support for my monthly Still Standing post.

Photography: Joe Hendricks Photography  /  Submitted via Two Bright Lights