Perfect Pair Inspiration: Weslie & Troy

[Pictures by the lovely Amy Squires]

How did you two meet? Tell me your story! Well we met in 6th grade and went to middle school and high school together. We were friends throughout and ran with the same crowd. He was the football player and I was the cheerleader. We never dated though. After high school we went our separate ways. He stayed in our home town and I went to San Diego. Occasionally we would run into each other at the local pizza place since my mom still lived there a couple blocks from his parents. We would say hi eat lunch together and then exchange phone numbers making plans to maybe meet up that winter to snowboard together at the local mountain. We never did. I decided to move to Orange County to go to nursing school and was going through my phone erasing all the people I wanted to leave behind in San Diego and came across Troy’s number. Hmmm I thought what the heck I think I will send him a text hello and see how he is. He wrote back and soon after that we made plans to meet at Starbucks for a casual hello and catch up on life. When I first got there I was so nervous. This was weird because we were just good old friends having a coffee right? Well he looked better than I had remembered and we had great conversation that night. He had to go to work after about an hour and a half of nonstop talking. He asked if he could call me later and I said of course. He did call me later and we still had so much to talk about and made plans for the following weekend to get together again. We had a real date planned and after that one date we were together every weekend after. The rest is history!
How long have you been together? We have been together for a little over three years now. Married for 6 months.
How did you get engaged? We were at Disneyland for the day. The day was just about over and he wanted to go to the castle. He said that he wanted to get a picture of us in front of it. I thought that was a little weird but I do scrapbook and so I agreed to go. We found someone to take our picture and then I went to turn and pose. He said hold on and pulled a paper towel out of his pocket. (Yes he had the ring wrapped up in a paper towel!) He unwrapped the ring and got down on one knee.
What is your favorite thing about each other? My favorite thing about Troy is he loves me for me and makes me laugh.
Troy’s favorite thing about Weslie is that she keeps him on track and organized.
How or when was it that you knew you were in love with each other? I knew that I loved Troy when we went to my dad’s for thanksgiving and he fit right in. He was good with my nephews and even let us stay one more day without hesitation.
Troy knew he was in love with Weslie when we went on a overnight trip to Pasadena. We just got along so great, no drama.
What was the first thing you picked out or decided after you got engaged? I was online looking at places to get married and found Pala Mesa Resort and we both knew that was our place. Done.
The hardest part about planning your wedding? Was wondering how we were going to pay for everything.
Your favorite thing about your wedding? Marrying my best friend. The whole day was perfect and flawless. The atmosphere and feel of the wedding was exactly how we wanted.
Where and how did you pick out your wedding dress? Who was with you? My mom and I went to look at a place close to my house. Mary Me Bridal in Orange, Ca. We were going just to look and get some ideas. I had an idea of what I wanted and told the lady my vision she ran around picked out some and I began the process of trying them all on. The second dress was on I walked out looked in the mirror, looked at my mom and we both said this is the dress. We ended up buying it that same day.
Did you have something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue items? What were they? I didn't have something old. My something new was my shoes, dress, panties, veil, etc…. My something borrowed was my bracelet. My something blue was on my garter, I do was stitched in blue, and on my panties bride was written in blue with blue ruffles.
Any traditions in your family you followed/used? No
Did you have a theme for your wedding? Our theme for our wedding was young, fun, and modern without losing the backyard garden feel.
Colors used? Tangerine orange and Apple green
How did you choose the rings? I loved the look of antique rings so we looked for something that was along those lines. My hubby ring was modeled after a watch he always wears and loves. It’s very big and chunky. Also he works construction so he needed something sturdy like tungsten.
In one word, your day was...perfect
Favorite moment in the whole day?
Weslie :Looking at Troy down the aisle, the look he gave me when my dad gave me away was so cute and sincere.
Troy: Looking at Weslie as she walked up the stairs with her dad.
Where was the honeymoon?! We went to Sandals Regency in St Lucia. Fantastic!!!

Perfect Pair Inspiration: Laura & Matt!

This wedding was photographed by Altmix Photography!

How did you two meet? We met when our dad's were on staff together at our church. Matt was in the 7th grade and I was in the 8th grade. We were really good friends because our families were around each other all the time!
How long have you been together? We actually started dating when we were 17 so we will have been together 7 years in January!
How did you get engaged? Matt took me to 5 different places that had significance in our relationship: first date, first kiss, first held hands, defining the relationship dinner, first dance:) Each place represented 5 different foundations for a godly marriage and at each place he had a letter and a gift. The final place and final gift was the back porch of his parent's house. He had candles and roses EVERYWHERE! He was also playing my favorite kind of music! He told me that he loved me with all his heart and wanted me to be his wife! Of course, I said YES!
What is your favorite thing about each other? My favorite thing about Matt is his sensitive heart and sense of humor (sorry, two things, but it's hard to pick!). Matt's favorite thing about Laura is her heart for God and love for other people.
How or when was it that you knew you were in love with each other? We went on a missions trip to San Francisco in high school. While we were there we got to kind of watch each other serve the Lord and serve other people. It was during a service project that we knew we were in love:)
What was the first thing you picked out or decided after you got engaged? Our wedding date!
The hardest part about planning your wedding? Choosing a theme was the hardest! There are so many beautiful and unique ways to have a wedding that it was hard to pick just one!
Your favorite thing about your wedding? We loved our location! It was so perfect for us!
Where and how did you pick out your wedding dress? Who was with you? I got my dress from Bride Beautiful in Atlanta, GA. My mom, sisters, and friend were with me. I told them I was going to try on 3 dresses without telling them which was my favorite and they had to tell me which one suited me best. They ALL fell in love with the one I like the best! Perfection!
Did you have something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue items? What were they? Of course! My something old was an antique Romanian hanky that was given to me when I went on Mission trip there. I had my new monogram on the hanky in blue. My veil was borrowed from my best friend:)
Any traditions in your family you followed/used? We rode away in my Great Grandfather's 1920 Chevrolet-- the same one my older sister rode away in. It was very special!
Did you have a theme for your wedding? Not really a theme, more just classic elegance.
Colors used? Pink and Brown
How did you choose the rings? Matt picked mine out all by himself! He did a wonderful job, too! We went together to pick his out:)
In one word, your day was...? Perfect
Favorite moment in the whole day? Walking down the aisle... oh, and doing Soulja Boy with everyone at my wedding! Ha!
What was the "first dance" song? I Just Love You by Five For Fighting
Where was the honeymoon?! Elizabeth Point Lodge Bed and Breakfast in Amelia Island

Perfect Pair Inspiration: Karrie & Brian

This is the cutest wedding ever. Karrie made all the paper work! She has her own site and now works with her sister in law at Posh-Paperie! The photographer was the oh-so-amazing Amy Squires.

How did you two meet? We met at a Wedding, I was the guest book attendant, and I asked him to sign the book. We spoke briefly, then he asked me out on a date later that week!!!
How long have you been together? Now, we have been together for 2 and a half years!
How did you get engaged? Brian had a limo pick me up, and it took me to the Hotel Del Coronado. He was there all dressed up, and had a blanket out on the sand (the hotel is on the beach) covered in rose petals.. he popped the question in the most beautiful place ever!!!
What is your favorite thing about each other? we are both quirky.. so we admire that about each other, and try to get the other one laughing!!
How or when was it that you knew you were in love with each other? 3rd date.. He was such a gentleman! I thought "if this guy is for real.. i am in!!"
What was the first thing you picked out or decided after you got engaged? colors!!!!
The hardest part about planning your wedding? I am a designer so my taste changes all the time!!! But I decided and stuck to it!
Your favorite thing about your wedding? the actual day.. after all that planning.. just enjoying it :)
Where and how did you pick out your wedding dress? Who was with you? my sister.. my mom. my ma in la, and my sister in law.they all voted on it.. so i said.. they ALL must know what looks good!
Did you have something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue items? What were they? no.. too bad.
Did you have a theme for your wedding? shilouettes.. i did them through out the big day. a shilouette cutter, all over the paper products, and of course.. shilouette cookies!
Colors used? grey and green
How did you choose the rings? HE DID!!!
In one word, your day was...? PERFECT.
Favorite moment in the whole day? when my mom and I stood at the reception at the very end... and decided it was a success!!!
What was the "first dance" song? Michael Buble.. "everything"
Where was the honeymoon?! french Riviera!

Perfect Pair Inspiration: Meredith and Ben

How did you two meet? Tell me your story! It is a funny story. We were in the same 3rd grade class. Ben was the “coolest” boy in the class and I had a huge crush on him! He didn’t even know I existed, but I remember pawning over him with my little friends. The next year I moved to a school across town and never heard or thought anything else about him. After college when I was 22, my girl friends and I were hanging out with one of our guy friends named Chase. Chase was trying to get us to go to a party with him. When I asked him who would be there, he said, “A bunch of guys from Trinity,” which is the school I left in 4th grade. I said, “Like who?” He named a few people and then he said, “Ben Spell.” I started laughing and said, “I had the BIGGEST crush on him in elementary school!” I asked Chase what he was like now, and he said he was really tall (which I love) and really funny and a great guy, and single! I was single as well, so Chase and my girlfriends immediately started scheming to set me up with Ben. We all met up at a restaurant the next week, and I thought he was even cuter than he was in the 3rd grade and the crush was still there! We started dating and it was all down hill from there! It took me a few weeks of getting to know him to come clean about my crush from all those years ago!
How long have you been together? When we got engaged we had been together for three years. Now, we have been together for 4 years.
How did you get engaged? Asheville, NC is our favorite place in the world. Ben rented a cute cabin for the weekend and asked me there! It was perfect, but I knew it was coming because he can’t keep anything from me!!
What is your favorite thing about each other? It’s funny because our favorite things about each other are the same. We love each others sense or humor first and foremost. And, if we are talking physical, we love each others smile.
How or when was it that you know you were in love with each other? Within the first few weeks for sure. I just remember feeling like he was everything I ever wanted and more. He made me feel so good about myself and the life we could have together. It was a feeling neither of us had ever experienced before.
What was the first thing you picked out or decided after you got engaged? My Dress was the first thing I ordered or firmly decided on. But I always knew who I wanted my bridesmaids to be and that I wanted a black and red wedding.
The hardest part about planning your wedding? The hardest part was defiantly dealing with the stress of obsessing and going over every detail over and over again in my mind. For a while, I really felt possessed.
Your favorite thing about your wedding? I loved everything about my wedding!! But if I had to pick one thing, it would be my reception. It was the most fun I have ever had in my life. We were completely surrounded by everyone we love most in the world and just having a great time. We danced the night away and we even had a dance off, girls vs boys. Two of my little brothers (Adam, 16 and Joel, 11) had the best time of all dancing with all my bridesmaids!
Where and how did you pick out your wedding dress? This is a great story! About a year before I got engaged I saw a wedding gown designer named Amsale on the Oprah Show. She was showcasing some of her pieces and talking about her simple, yet elegant perspective on design. There was one dress I saw on the show that I totally fell in love with and I remembered it. When I got engaged, I got on Amsale’s website to find a vendor in my area, there was only one store that carried the line near me. I went to the shop the next week and THE DRESS was there. It was the third dress I tried on. I stopped there and ordered it that day! I was in love and it was meant to be!!!
Did you have something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue items? What were they? No, I am not big on tradition. I did not have my wedding in a church. I had the ceremony at the same venue as the reception, in a big ballroom with huge windows covering two walls. I wanted to stay clear of anything “stuffy.”
Any traditions in your family you followed/used? Like above, no traditions.
Did you have a theme for your wedding? No, I just wanted the whole vibe of the day to be “fun.” I wanted everyone to have fun and feel happy. Ben and I love to laugh and have fun and I wanted our day to be a reflection of that!
Colors used? Black, Red, Ivory
In one word, your day was...? AMAZING
Favorite moment in the whole day? When the DJ played, Don’t Stop Believing, by Journey, everyone got in a circle and put their arms around each other. We all just sang the song to the top of our lungs and took turns going out in the middle of the circle and doing a little “air mike karaoke performance.” I remember looking around that circle at Ben all everyone that we love most in the world, singing with their arms around each other, thinking I was the luckiest girl in the world! I still get chills thinking about it.
Where was the honeymoon?! Sandals Ocho Rios in Jamaica.