5 Questions I’ve been asked about our wedding day:
- Did we have a videographer?
- YES! I highly recommend using a videographer! It captures so much of your day that you may otherwise forget years down the road. It is so sweet to be able to hear people’s voices from that day, see the interactions of your guests, and just to be able to physically watch your day unfold year after year! I would say this is an investment I would encourage you take if you are able!
- Did we do a first look?
- Hyle and I chose not to do a first look. We both wanted to stay traditional and have that “first look” when I was coming down the aisle! However, I believe there are so many benefits of doing a first look prior to the ceremony! This is a personal choice you and your groom must decide on 🙂
- Did I do bridal portraits prior to the wedding?
- I did not have any bridal portraits done before my wedding day. However, I wish this is something I would have done. It would have saved time the day of the wedding. Let’s be honest, you can plan time for this, but things often get crunched and you may not have as much time as you would like for “bridal portraits” on your big day. PLUS this is a great opportunity to have your trial makeup + hair and see how everything photographs before your wedding.
- Did I have a wedding planner?
- During the planning process, I did not have a wedding planner. My venue had a day of coordinator they offered, and I would say this was super helpful. Even if you do not hire a “day of coordinator,” I highly recommend having a specific person (maybe a family member) to meet vendors as they arrive, finalize any payments to them, and to just keep everyone on schedule!
- Did we write personal vows?
- No, Hyle and I both decided to not do personal vows during our ceremony. We did, however, choose to write a letter to each other and read those the morning of our wedding. This was just as sweet and sentimental for us and did not add the extra stress/ anxiety of having to read personal vows during the ceremony. Again, this is something that is definitely a personal choice for the bride and groom to make!
OUR WEDDING DAY
Thinking back on our wedding day, so many sweet memories come to mind. It’s hard to believe you can have so many memories and emotions just from one, single day!
I woke up that morning around 5 am (so much for getting my beauty sleep, right haha!) It was so peaceful and calming to be the first one up and to watch the sunrise! The Airbnb we stayed at had the most beautiful views!
I came back inside, started the coffee for all the girls, and sat down to spend a couple minutes in prayer and to just thank God for the wonderful life He had blessed me with and how awesome it was He allowed Hyle and I to meet and be joined as husband and wife on this day.
My mom was the next one up. We grabbed our coffee and set out on the porch and just spent the next few minutes talking about how excited we were for the day! As each of my sweet bridesmaids came out to join us, my excitement continued to grow because of their words of encouragement and the true joy they also had for Hyle and I.
I cannot express how thankful I am for my mom and these girls who were there beside me not just on this day, but for the whole process!! Again, God has truly blessed me with the most wonderful people in my life!
The morning started off slow, but it quickly became time to pack up and head to the barn to start getting ready! We were on a very tight schedule, and everyone knew we had to stick to it 🙂
We arrived at the barn and jumped straight into hair and makeup! As the girls were getting ready, I began writing my note to Hyle that he would read later in the day – how could words even begin to describe how excited and happy I was for that day?? I did my best to let him know this and that this was going to be THE BEST DAY EVER!
These letters Hyle and I wrote to each other that morning were so sweet and personal and something I will cherish forever! It may have been a bad idea to read this AFTER my makeup was done!
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We then began playing the game of – “Shelby’s coming out for pictures, where is Hyle?? Make sure he stays in the grooms suite!!” (Like mentioned earlier, we chose not to have a first look and wanted to make sure this was the case!)
Pictures were so much fun- I attempted to pop some champagne, but with my lack of experience, that was a sight to see for sure 🙂
The boys were doing their best to have some fun too and keep Hyle calm! We could hear duck calls all over the venue!
They say something you didn’t plan for will always happen on your wedding day and to just go with the flow!
My bridesmaids may disagree, but I truly feel like my day was absolutely perfect. There may have been just a few small hiccups like how we were going to get the sheet to stay up (it was extremely windy!), how it would be opened, and how I was going to get to the back of the aisle without being seen!
This is the “infamous sheet!” It all stemmed from me wanting to have this dramatic entrance with the curtain being pulled back and Hyle and I seeing each other for the first time! In the end, it all worked out just as I had planned!
As we got closer and closer to the ceremony time, the more excited I got. I can’t tell you how many times I got asked, “Are you nervous?” Surprisingly, I did not feel nervous at all, and this is not like me! Hyle is normally the calm one, but personalities were definitely reversed! I kept hearing from the girls about how nervous he seemed. Poor guy had hardly eaten anything all day!
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Trust me when I say, the day will fly by! Before I knew it, it was time to get married!!!
The girls and I said a prayer, and then we headed out of the barn to get ready for the moment we had been preparing for all day!
I was driven around to the back of the aisle (again, in hopes of not being seen and it worked!!). As I sat in the truck for a few brief moments by myself, I felt the slightest bit of nerves! I would more so call them butterflies! My excitement quickly took over once again because it was finally time to see MY GROOM!
The ceremony, like everything else, was nothing short of perfect! We exchanged I Do’s and I Love You’s and happily came back down the aisle as Mr. and Mrs. Robbins!! The following moments were so surreal.
WE. WERE. MARRIED!!
As if the day had not been beyond perfect already, the reception was SO much fun!!
We danced, took pictures, ate cake, and celebrated surrounded by the best friends and family!
And they lived happily ever after!!
I wrote this post to share with each of you, but also in hopes that I will never forget each precious moment of this day! Thank you for reading! Let me know if you have any questions!!
Photos by: Laney Oakes Photography
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