the one where Brittani marries Cody

Wedding blog posts used to be up in 24 hours, but recently I've gotten addicted to the Snippet and Ink blog and they always put words from the couple in their posts and I love that little feature.  So, I've started asking the couples a few questions about their day.  Let's see how this rolls.  I may have to go back to my old way, though.  I sure hate sitting on these photos.  You know what I mean!  I like blogging and sharing and posting.  Hello!

Brittani + Cody were married at Autumn Oaks Event Center.  It was my first wedding to photograph there and I was pleasantly impressed.  You could literally walk on that gorgeous soft grass barefoot and never find a sticker.  I loved that!  It is new.  So, as far as trees go, they've been planted and there are still plenty of spaces to make beautiful photos, but it's not established.  That is a process that always takes time and is best left up to Mother Nature.  I hope they keep it simplistic and don't go overboard.  Some places tend to do too much and what a place sometimes needs is simply space. 

How did you meet?  
We meet on a blind date that his friend and my sister set us up on. We first saw each other at a double date at BJ’s. 

Why did you choose this location for your wedding?
It was a new venue, and the owner were very sweet and we just fell in love with it as soon as we walked in the door! 

Your ceremony in three words.
bright, intimate, and family-oriented

What was your ceremony music?
Sailboat by Brooke Fraser, I do by Jessie James Decker, and She’s like Texas by Josh Abbott Band

Your first dance music?  And why that song?
Say you Wont Let Go by James Arthur, Cody and I wear riding in the car and he said, “I heard a song on the radio that reminds me of you everytime I hear it” A couple days later we were driving and it came on and he said “this is the song” and the lyrics just fit perfectly for us. 

Who officiated your ceremony? How did you choose him/her?
Gary Smith, my grandmas brother. Glad that a family member was the one to marry us. He was also the same one that married my mom and dad when they got married. 

How did you go about planning your ceremony? 
I had no clue where to start, so I hired a wedding planner and went from there. She was awesome and the wedding would not have been anything like it was without her. 

Did you include any traditions in your ceremony? 
My mom and dad got divorced when I was young and are not remarried so marriage was not a big thing in my family. I am the only one married on my mom's side, so my mom and grandma were not much help since they had no clue what they were doing either. We like to think we started our own tradition for when we have kids and when they get married. 

What were your vows like? 
They were short and sweet. We both added little meaning jokes for each other. We wrote our own so we just wanted to make them personal to use. Cody joked about the lubbock wind in my vows because he hates lubbock, but he is staying because of me! :) 

What was your favorite thing about your wedding ceremony?
I liked exchanging our personal vows and tying the braid that symbolized the cord of three strands! 

What was the best advice you received as a bride?
Stay calm and don’t expect everything to go perfectly. Just enjoy the day and know that at the end of the day, you will be married to your best friend. 

How would you describe your reception?
Good music, smores, BBQ, grandma dancing crazy, huge fireball flask, lots of family and friends

What inspired you when you were planning your wedding?
I wanted bright colors since it was a spring/summer wedding and to be a little outside the trend of lighter colors. I wanted a lot of personalized decorations with our last name and wedding dates, and lots of pictures of us. 

What advice do you have for other couples in the midst of planning a wedding? 
Enjoy it all because it goes by so fast and your only get to do it once. Don’t stress out and know everything is going to work out. 

Are there any DIY details you’d like to tell us about? 
Etsy was my best friend when it came to wedding decor. They did it all for me, and Julie Hodges was the best wedding planner ever. 

Hair + Make-up:  Hannah Rocha

Wedding Coordinator:  Julie Hodges, Eventually Yours

Bride’s Gown:  David's Bridal

Groom’s Attire:  Men's Warehouse

Floral Design:  Julie Hodges with Eventfully Yours

Ceremony + Reception:   Autumn Oaks Event Center

Catering:  Shriners BBQ    

Cake:  Market Street

Stationery:  Minted, etsy, wedding paper divas

Every vendor I used was awesome and would trade any of them. They were all perfect to me!!! 

Enjoy the sneak peek!  Much love + laughter to the bride and groom!

Loves Does,
Kristin