We Live a Sweet Life Filled with Wild Adventures.



Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Honeys Do: Pictures with 20 People and A Dog

The guys took a few minutes to warm up inside the venue and then Zak quickly gathered the whole wedding party to go back outside for a group shot. With snow accumulating very quickly, dangerous driving conditions and the early arrival of some guests, we had a record setting quick shoot with the 20 people who made up our wedding party, and of course the dog.

Zak recruited a couple brave volunteers to stand on the two corners of the road and request drivers slow down for our wedding party pictures. We got friendly honks and a few celebratory hollars from passing cars. Or, maybe people just thought we were nuts?!




The snow was coming down so hard at this point, so kudos to our wedding party (especially the little ones!) and the photographers for sticking it out with us and providing these shots!

High on our list of photo requests was pictures with Zeus, our dog-of-honor. We made it a priority to be able to have him at our wedding and it was like he knew he had a special role that weekend. He was such a good boy all weekend long. He rocked that tie proudly, he listened to anyone who requested he behave and he even posed for important pictures. We felt so lucky to have him be there with us, representing all of our pets, on our wedding day and I have no doubt the day wouldn't have been the same without his big, goofy presence. After our wedding party booked it for the warmth of the venue, we took a few special moments with Zeus and got these amazing pictures.

We got him situated and gave him lots of praise...


At which point he rewarded me with a big sloppy kiss...




All the stars aligned and insisting our big dog be a part of our wedding was all worth it when Zak captured this perfect picture.


And with that perfection, we called 'formals' a success and got to head inside to mingle with our wedding party and family before the ceremony.

*All Photos by the talented duo of Zak Fleming Photography


·         We had a busy wedding week
·         Teamwork made our Dream Work
·         We rehearsed casually
·         There was a pizza party!
·         Friday night was Princesses, Panties & Practice
·         Bridal details made me reminisce my morning  
·         I became a bride!
·         The Honey Girls took a walk in the snow
·         The Dudes got handsome
·         We did our First Look, with our doggy!
·         The Honeys posed as bride and groom
         The Honey Dudes played in the snow

Monday, March 26, 2012

Honeys Do: Dudes In Snow

After Mr. Honey and I stole a few moments to ourselves with the photographers, I headed inside to warm up. The guys took this time to get their turn in the snow. It was fun because I got to observe the playfulness of the guys shoot from inside our venue.

They trekked through the snow, that was getting super deep super quick, to an open space just down from the venue.


The guys didn't go anywhere that weekend without their mugs (I seriously nailed it with this gift!) filled with beer!


In true male fashion, a snowball fight broke out, with Mr. Honey being the target. These pictures make me laugh because I think had Mr. Honey been a groomsmen in this situation, he would have playfully gone with the snowball fight...but being the groom he tried to convince the guys not to throw snowballs at him. This is SO not Mr. Honey's style, he is usually the instigator not the stopper! He took his role as groom seriously, he's a good man!




Zak was able to refocus the dudes and get some amazing pictures of our guys. This is quite possibly the only picture of the guys without their beer.


Ah, not for long though. The mugs made their appearance once again :)


I absolutely love this next picture; all smiles on our dapper dudes, even in the midst of the hard-falling snow.


Wet and in need of a refill, the guys headed back to reunite with the ladies for a ultra-quick wedding party shoot.

*All Photos by the talented duo of Zak Fleming Photography


·         We had a busy wedding week
·         Teamwork made our Dream Work
·         We rehearsed casually
·         There was a pizza party!
·         Friday night was Princesses, Panties & Practice
·         Bridal details made me reminisce my morning  
·         I became a bride!
·         The Honey Girls took a walk in the snow
·         The Dudes got handsome
·         We did our First Look, with our doggy!         
·         The Honeys posed as bride and groom

Friday, March 23, 2012

Honeys Do: Snowy Portraits

We embraced for a few hugs with our friends and family after our first look, but Zak quickly pulled us away for our bride and groom pictures. We spent a little time in the heart of the snow storm...armed with an umbrella, which happened to be a lifesaver during this time.






We posed and cuddled and smooched until I was chilled and my hair had lost nearly all of its once perfectly coiffed style, so Zak directed us back to the covered porch, to our first look corner. Maybe it was the sentiment of that corner or just good picture taking, but I'm in love with these pictures. One has already been made into canvas and is displayed in our home.



When we first met with Zak we emphasized that while we certainly didn't want to compromise getting pictures, we also didn't want to spend an absurd amount of time away from our guests. This is why we chose a first look, we wanted ample amount of time with our friends and family. To party, to celebrate and mingle. Zak obliged us and our bride and groom portrait time was perfect...we got beautiful pictures that we are more than happy with and it didn't take hours to do. This certainly isn't for everyone, but if you have the same feeling, know that it's okay!

This may seem crazy, especially because I've seen how many pictures other couples choose to take; it makes our amount seem so tiny (well there's a ton of shots, however Mr. Honey and I are not the most in-sync smilers of all time!) . But, it's what we wanted and trust me when I say we have no regrets. Not only was time a consideration for us but it was cold out! I got to go back inside and warm up, but Mr. Honey had to join his dudes for some good 'ol male bonding!! Do guys bond over picture taking?!

*All Photos by the talented duo of Zak Fleming Photography


·         We had a busy wedding week
·         Teamwork made our Dream Work
·         We rehearsed casually
·         There was a pizza party!
·         Friday night was Princesses, Panties & Practice
·         Bridal details made me reminisce my morning  
·         I became a bride!
·         The Honey Girls took a walk in the snow
·         The Dudes got handsome
·         We did our First Look, with our doggy!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Honeys Do: A Sweet First Look

The girls and I piled into cars, I jumped in with BM Candace and her boyfriend G, we traversed the snowy roads a couple miles back to the venue. This was the most suspense filled moments of the day...I had jitters, I had tears swelling, I had excitement bubbling over. Not only was I going to see what would be the final presentation of our hand crafted wedding space but I was going to see my groom and I was ready.
We pulled up and waited as the photographers situated Mr. Honey so that he couldn't see me when I stepped out of the truck. I'm hidden in the big black truck below; my parents seized this moment to make their way over to me and catch the first glimpse of their daughter all gussied up as a bride.

Annnd cue the waterworks. My dad is one emotional guy anyway, but the tears came flowing quicker than I could say "Hi! I'm a bride!". It was a quick moment catching up with my parents...my dad had to walk away as to prevent a full on cry session and my mom needed to warm up her toesies. Once I got the thumbs up from Zak, I stepped out of the truck and made my way to the porch where all of our closest friends and families stood.

I spotted Mr. Honey on the far end of the porch and my heart skipped a beat. It was like I hadn't seen him in weeks, and there he stood in his wedding day attire, entranced by our wedding blizzard, waiting for me.
I remember muttering a "Hi everyone!" to the crowd that had formed on the porch, giving out hugs to each of the groomsmen and bridesmaids that I met along the way and giving one file hug to my dad.

Fortunately, Mr. Honey had found something to keep himself occupied while he waited for his bride to hand out hugs to everyone and their mother. Snowballs!
Photo by GM Steele

I took a few deep breaths, held back some tears and made my way to this handsome face.

I walked down the porch for what felt like forever, accompanied by Zeus, who was very excited to see me but couldn't understand why I wasn't paying attention to him. I was a woman with focus! I remember that knot in my throat and the tears swelling...


Once I got to that corner, I can't remember if I tapped his shoulder or what, but I do remember finally looking into his eyes and feeling a rush of emotions...joy, happiness, love, relief; all bundled together and tied with a big fluffy bow. It was that good. And I didn't cry, once we made eye contact the tears disappeared and I was overcome with warm fuzzies.
We smooched and then embraced for one of the best hugs in my life. All while Zeus persisted he be a part of the moment...which is typical of our life.




I was so in the moment, that I didn't even notice our big doggy tromping all over my white dress...he just wanted to be acknowledged! Needy much? He was trying his damndest to get some love. In a matter of minutes our dog had stood on the white train of my dress and even nibbled on my arm. But, it certainly wouldn't have been the same without him there!

After I wiped away my man's tears, I finally said hello to Zeus and we gave him some much needed confirmation that he was indeed a part of the moment.


Mr. Honey and I took a few more moments to ourselves, we exchanged compliments, chatted about the morning, snuck in a few more kisses and laughed. 


Those moments with Mr. Honey felt like there was no one else in the world, they were intimate and special and emotional. Then we remembered we had a whole posse of people just dying to give us hugs.

As soon as we finished our first look and our moment together, my jitters and butterflies were gone instantly. Seeing him before the ceremony was the best decision...in the final hour or so leading up to our ceremony, it was calm. I held his hand, I told him I loved him and we even got to do a cheers before our ceremony, but I'm getting ahead of myself. We had to get some pictures out of the way!
*All Photos by the talented duo of Zak Fleming Photography
·         We had a busy wedding week
·         Teamwork made our Dream Work
·         We rehearsed casually
·         There was a pizza party!
·         Friday night was Princesses, Panties & Practice
·         Bridal details made me reminisce my morning  
·         I became a bride!
·         The Honey Girls took a walk in the snow
·         The Dudes got handsome

Friday, March 16, 2012

Honeys Do: Things Dudes Do

I'm gonna take a break from all things bridesmaids-n-girls and switch to the dudes of the Honey wedding. All morning long, I was (un)selfishly basking in a bridal glow, getting pampered and pretty...all the while thinking my groom was basking in some sort of groom haze, drinking beer with his guys. When our photographers arrived at 10:30, Karlee stayed with the ladies and Zak headed over to take the guys-getting-handsome pictures. Only, he showed back up at the girls house a short hour later. I inquired as to why, but all he would say is they were busy...not getting dressed. He ensured me it was fine, but that my groom was actually working...at the venue.

Apparently, falling snow had caused my groom to shift focus from getting dressed to getting the ceremony site just perfect. Mr. Honey didn't have near the amount of visions I had for our wedding, but he did have visions of a perfectly crafted, snow-covered stage, so the morning of our wedding he was in his Dickies, leather gloves and snow boots, working up a sweat with some shovels. That's my man!



Fortunately he wasn't alone, he called on Honey Bro and Friend A.L. to help move snow, yeah boys!


Our trusty Dog of Honor, Zeus, was also right by his side...while handsome as ever, he wasn't quite ready for the aisle either, he still didn't have his tie on!


Once the ceremony site was up to Mr. Honey's standards, he finally headed to the boys cabin and began to become a groom. The guys were clearly running behind so Zak was only able to capture a few pictures of the guys getting ready (a white dress trumps a suit any day, right?!). But you know what, the pictures accurately reflect what I imagine the guys house to be like that morning.

Beer.
GM Steele pours himself a Budweiser

Kicking back.
Mr. Honey, A.L. & GM J.C .

Fussing with Shirts.
GM J.C. gets ready for his shirt...

Beer.
but then chooses a cold one over getting ready :)

Ironing Shirts.
Honey/GM Bro diligently ironed every guys shirt!

You guessed it, beer.
GM J.S. showing off his mug

And, tie tying.
GM Steele perfects the knot for his tie

I like to think the guys morning was just fun...perhaps not as sentimental as my morning, but just as memorable in that they were doing what they do best. My groom got all gussied up and not surprisingly beat me and the girls to the venue for our...first look!

*All Photos by the talented duo of Zak Fleming Photography


·         We had a busy wedding week
·         Teamwork made our Dream Work
·         We rehearsed casually
·         There was a pizza party!
·         Friday night was Princesses, Panties & Practice
·         Bridal details made me reminisce my morning  
·         I became a bride!
·         The Honey Girls took a walk in the snow