f.y.i.

don't ever,

ever, ever

click on a "security alert"

pop-up on your toobar.

trust me.

I did it today.

Yes, friends.

I clicked allow and

simultaneously downloaded

the worst virus, ever.

[google images + stressed computer lady]

within minutes, my computer was destrying itself.

I had to completely recover my entire computer.

Meaning - back to square one.

thank God I'm not a college student.

thank God I have all of my digital pics on my memory card.

thank God I have my wedding pictures on DVD.

boy, do I have a lot to be thankful for today.

nonetheless, 4 hours later...I'm alive!

Hopefully you had a blessed Monday!

xxooxx

.:ashley.rebekah:.

Outdoor Pictures

We got to take pictures at

the private Trout Club.

It was absolutely gorgeous..

say 50* and sunny

in November in Ohio...

you know that's prettystinkinfabulous!

just.gorgeous.

the lovelies & hubs <3

me & the boys...

And the following...

are some of my

favorites.

and we're off to the reception!

Next up: cake cutting & first dance.

I'm sorry if I'm boring you

to death.

I am just sharing a fraction of my

500+ pictures

...my favorites.

only a couple more & we're on to

married life.

thanks for watching.

xxooxx

.:Ashley.Rebekah:.

Ceremony

The ceremonmy was

beautiful.

I can't begin to explain

the way it took my breath away...

when the doors to the church opened...

there were

so many people!

i'm talking...

standing room only.

and daddy gave me away...

and we prayed for lots of love, loyalty

& a life full of happiness.

[that was not planned - say it with me...awww!]

we exchanged rings...

and lit our ohsocute unity candle

haha...hubs is so serious!

oh sweet kisses!!

[butterflies!]

and we now pronounce you...

mr. & mrs.!

i'm going to do another post...

now.

just so I can get these out of the way,

and try no to bore you.

coming right up...

xxooxx

.:Ashley.Rebekah:.

the dress goes on...

before I start showing you pictures

of me putting on my dress...

can I just say this? --

I want a reason

to wear my dress again.

oh, and yes. I'm still recapping my wedding]

My friend K and I are planning...

I will let you know

if we come up with any ideas!

Anyway, you saw us getting our make up on, & brushing teeth, and standing around. Danah did a great job of getting all of our hair done with plenty of time for us to get to the church & get ready, photos along the way.

diving in...

beeeeeautiful

[if I can say so myself...]

Here you can see the detail in my veil

I'm not sure why it is taking me so long to finish up my recaps...maybe it's because I want to go back and do it all over again! It all went so fast [and perfect], was such a happy day with ohsomany memories! Hubs looked at me the other night after a wedding commercial and said "Let's just get married again." Of course, we won't be doing that but we both have just a sweet taste left! I love, love.  [and I will try to hurry up and finish these recaps forheavensake!

I do have some news though:

these two birds are moving!

stay.tuned.

I will finish up these recaps with some pictures, and then we will call it over & get to real life ;) Things have been super busy, and such a yo-yo! I'll explain it all some other time - for now, back to the football game.

Have a blessed week!

xxoooxx

.:Ashley.Rebekah:.

and the guys get dressed...

my handsome groom & the boys

got ready in the church too.

They were on the other side of the church

so that hubs couldn't accidentally see me

B & Hubs

BM & Hubs

Puttin on the necktie

little bro & his gf, other bro in the corner

FIL on the bubble guns

getting them ready for the FG & RB

for the post ceremony bubble action

Next up: Putting on the.dress. & some before-the-ceremony-pictures

All photographs were taken by Mark Meade, Wedding Memories Photography.

love.love.love.

.:Ashley.Rebekah:.

goin to the chapel...

and i'm gonna get ma-a-a-rried!

that song just makes me want to skip.

Anyway, we went on in the church and started getting ready

brushed our teeth...

put on some make up...

Next up: Guys Gettin ready, followed by putting on the dress.

.:Ashley.Rebekah:.

the day of...

getting ready.

I'm not going to lie:

I got NO sleep the night before my wedding.

I woke up at 5:00 am

[i have no idea, belive me, i HATE mornings]

and I could.not. fall back asleep.

UGH!

I did doze off for like .2 seconds

but that doesn't count, does it?!

Around 7:30ish we rolled out of bed & I hopped in the shower for some oh-so-necessary shaving and threw on my favorite bride sweatshirt [that I'm not even sure if I got a picture of - tear] and some sweatpants and we headed to the salon with a bottle or ten of water in hand. While we were getting ready, we had fruit & mimosas, chatted, snapped pictures and joked all while trying to wake up and get a few extra winks of sleep [you'll know what I mean when you get there...].  I was so excited -- I don't really remember having butterflies or getting nervous,

I just knew I was doing the right thing,

Marrying the love of my life.

the best explanation of the aformentioned

finishing touches

the girls + mom with our hair all done up ;)

We had a blast! Danah did a great job, and we were done in PLENTY of time, and even were early heading to the church. We even had time to stop and get a no-no [McDonalds - TRUST! I couldn't tell you the last time I was there, but it was right there & fast] snack!

Then it was to the church we go!

Next up: makeup & getting dressed

.:Ashley.Rebekah:.

2010

i figured first things first in this new year.

a facelift for my blog.

important, no?!

oh well!

After too much time playing here,

I shall prepare dinner.

[oh & make some fun stuff]

my hubs will be glued to the tv

for the National Championship game.

[i may or may not be as well]

and then,

we will simultaneously

wipe the tears from our eyes.

college football season

is officially.over.

[enter GIANT sadface here]

i'll sure miss you.

until fall, I'm not sure what I'll do wth my Saturday afternoons I will manage to keep myself busy doing couple things with hubs, shopping, relaxing, shopping, working out [did I say shopping?!]... you know - keeping busy & relaxing in betwen.

recaps will resume tomorrow!

.:ashley.rebekah:.

Set Up & Rehearsal/Dinner

WARNING:

The beginning of this post is boring & wordy...ahem.

Anyway, Friday we went to the Reception Hall to start setting up around 9 am.  Most of my bridesmaids came to help, my parents, Jon's parents, his Aunt & Uncle, the neighbor lady, some his grandparents...well, you get it - we had a lot of help!  You see, we're from a small town in Northwest Ohio -- out where you don't really have the option to have someone do those things for you - well unless you have a million dollars to spare, which I obviously don't.  So we decorated ourselves.  It really was fun.  I got to be there and make the decisions rather than wait until I arrived at the Reception [church & hall were 25 minutes apart]  All of our decorations looked really nice...
AAAANNNNDDD of course, I didn't take any pictures.  My MIL has a few that I can maybe get my hands on soon, and add through an edited post.  We'll see.

Around 1:00 myself, my BM's & my parents grabbed some appetizers at Applebees, before heading to my Parent's house to get ready for the Rehearsal Dinner.  We got ready & headed to Rehearsal around 5:00 which went really smooth.  I made the modifications that I wanted and we headed out to the dinner. 

We had our Rehearsal Dinner at a little Pizza House that Jon & I love!  It is in his hometown, and they serve excellent pizza, wings & lasagna.  MIL had it decorated so cute with little favors and everything.  We passed out our gifts [I mention the girl's gifts here & guys here].  Then we feasted & had some drinks while we watched a fabulous picture video that his gracious Aunt Lynne made for us [I will post it on here someday, if I can ever figure it out!] 

me & jes

some of us with my momma

'maids minus Beck & Andrea

Coleen, me & there's Andrea!

After all the shenanigans at the Rehearsal Dinner, us girls headed out to the local hole-in-the-wall with my momma for a few more drinks that none of us needed and a little more fun!  We danced our pants off & my mom was such a trooper!  The guys were there too, but us girls owned the dance floor!  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that night!

rockin' out!

After all of that fun, we headed back to my parents house to try to get some sleep.  We pretty much had a blast all night together.  I miss all of those girls so much -- makes me hate living in South Carolina!

UP NEXT: Morning of :)

.:Ashley.Rebekah:.

home.sweet.

home.

We headed home [I think Ohio will always be our home...] for the wedding on Friay, November 19 and we were beyond exited.  We loaded up all of our goodies, well, the ones that we still had down in SC... and headed home just as soon as school let out.  It was sort of like a school child getting out for summer break.  You know, when you were like 14 and could.not.wait. for summer break. Yep. That was us.  Anyway, we got home at our usual - about 3 am.  I headed straight to bed, Jon - straight to hunt.  I spent the week before the wedding doing last minute things, picking up last minute gift items & being giddy.  I can honestly say...I was not stressed or worried at all!

When it came to gifts for our parents, we agreed that for all that they've done through the years & for the wedding, they deserved something sentimental.  I am the only girl in my family, and Jon is an only child... For the mom's, we did Pandora beads.  They have both been collecting them for over a year, and are always so excited to get a new one!

source

Couldn't be more perfect! A silver wedding [or so I tell myself] bell, with a pearl bead.  They LOVED their bead and both put them on their bracelet immediately.  Easily satisfied ;)

The dads...on the other hand were a little tougher.  What do you buy a dad?!?! I had such a hard time with my own father, let alone Jon's!  I wound up going with the tride & true...

source

cuff links with his initials engraved...Let's be honest, I'm my dad's only daughter.  He has 3 sons that are yet to be married, and will be able to wear them for their formal weddings, and maybe -- just maybe -- he'll go on a cruise or have a formal even to wear them to again.  He was in tears [my dad was very emotional all weekend -- you'll seeeee in upcoming pictures!]

and for the oh-so-tough-to-buy-for father-in-law...

source

the engraved money clip. Ugh, this might have been the one thing that I anguished over!  I wanted something that he would use/enjoy & be sentimental to him now & in the future....I'm not sure if he's using it or not, but I thought it was neat.

Up next: Friday Rundown - Setting up & Rehearsal Dinner

good to be back...

.:Ashley.Rebekah:.

sneak peak.

cheers to shopping with my hubby

& a little sneak peak :)

one of the many pics taken by our fab guests - this one: Uncle Dan

much, much more to come!

.:Ashley.Rebekah:.

freaking fabulous friday.

yes, I know...

it's been a while.

you have to excuse me though,

I just got married 700 miles away

&& had Thanksgiving.

Don't get me wrong.

Thanksgiving is one of my faves

[and will forever be close to my heart]

but paired with the wedding, it was busy.

I could not be happier with the way everything turned out.

It was perfect.

I will talk about the details later.

I am still taking it all in & enjoying the memories, while I patiently wait for my professional pictures to be available.  For now, I will tell you about my

freaking fabulous friday

I came home to quite possibly the best wedding gift, ever.

source

A Tiffany's necklace from my bestie

[love & miss you jes]

monogrammed with my new initial - S

and...

got to go pick up my other wedding band.

[Hubs announced to me the day after our wedding that his gift to me [after MUCH anguish] was my other wedding band.  He has a hard time picking things out for me, which has so far turned out pretty ok for me...that means I get exactly what I want -- i'm not spoiled, wink wink]

So now, let me inroduce

[nevermind my unprofessional photography]

my entire wedding ring set.

love.it.

I am such a lucky lady ;)

I will be back shortly to recap & share pictures...no worries!

Ashley.Rebekah

niner, niner, niner...

yes.

nine days...

and I'm on CLOUD NINE!

And, I wanted to share a few things with you.

First of all, meet my new friend Rapid Lash.

source: google images

A friend of mine owns a spa and she introduced me to this fabulous stuff.  I was blessed with almost no eyelashes.  My mom has hardly any, and I undenyably got her genes in the eyelash category.  I have them, but they are definately thin and short. Not the ideal combo.  Anyway, that fabulous friend of mine surprised me with some Rapid Lash, and boy did I have no idea what I was in for!  After about 3.5 weeks of feeling no results, it seemed like one day I woke up and had lashes.  Now, they are long and beautiful and I won't have to get eyelash extensions for the big day afterall.  Thanks for saving me, dear Rapid Lash!  And to any of my bloggie friends that share my eyelash issue, I would definately recommend this magical stuff! [although I am not real sure where you can buy it other than a spa or specialty salon; and it cost $40 -- well worth it though!

let me know if you try it :)

.:Ashley.Rebekah:.

i've got it.

on Saturday, I finally ventured out

to get my flip.

previously discussed here.

this little gadget is quite possibly
the coolest thing ever.

 

It is compact, easy to use

& oh so accessable.

I can not wait to use it do document the fun things in life: you know, random wedding week events to share with all 10 of my loyal blog pals. 

I have been quite absent, keeping busy doing wedding preparation things like cooking dinner every night, doing lots of laundry, cleaning, dishes, walking the dog, working out, tanning, getting my hair & nails done, etc.  I'm pretty sure you get it, if you don't & you're wedding planning -- you will.

So, in true bird fashion, I will remind you:

I am getting married in

days!

We have been packing our things & can.not.wait. to head back to Ohio on Friday after we both get off work.  We are going to get in just on time to celebrate the biggest rivalry in college football:

Ohio State v. MICHIGAN

and I will be true to the family, proudly cheering on the

maize & blue

come on boys! make us proud!

I will try my very best to keep on top of posting during wedding week.  We have a lot in store. 

Monday: Marriage License

Tuesday: Pedicure with my mom & the girls

Wednesday: organizing wedding stuff

Thursday: Thanksgiving/RELAX!

Friday: Decoration Nation & Rehearsal

Saturday: THE BIG DAY!

love & patience :)

.:Ashley.Rebekah:.