Today is my birthday. Fun fact, I’m 32, which is 1 billion seconds. I’ve been so excited for my birthday this year, just so I could share that fact. 🙂
So how does a 32 year old spend her birthday? Oh you know, playing Lego video games. 🙂
I’m so glad I have a hubby that it’s just as silly and fun as me. He actually bought the game for my birthday!
Here’s a random old picture of us having fun in front of the camera. 🙂
We got this shot while location scouting a few weeks back….these two are getting married in a few days and tonight is their rehearsal!!! 🙂
If you look really, really close, you can see Bret and I in her sunglasses!
Today’s post comes to us from Bridget Moore of K&B Bridals. Bridget is one of my highest recommended vendors and she is one of my dearest friends. (She was also one of my brides!)
K&B Bridals and Event Planning offers LOTS of things! Today Bridget is going to talk about the all-inclusive bridal boutique.
When I say all-inclusive, I mean it! They offer wedding dresses, accessories, bridesmaid dresses, mother’s dresses, flower girl dresses, tuxes, and prom gowns! If you’re looking for a one stop shop, THIS is it!
I can personally attest to the amazing service you will receive from this bridal boutique! I have been in the store when brides have been trying on dresses and the staff is SO attentive and really takes the time to find the perfect dress for YOU. There is such an awesome vibe in the store, it’s hard to leave!
I could talk for hours about how awesome they are, but I’ll save that for another day! I’m passing the blog over to Bridget!
What is one thing that would surprise most brides about your business?
When it comes to finding a wedding dress, about 99% of brides buy the complete opposite of what they come in looking for. It helps to be open minded when looking for your wedding dress. Most brides think that there will be that moment when they cry and know it is the one, but very few brides cry when they find the perfect dress. It usually comes down to the dress that fits the bride’s style and personality and makes them feel the best when they are in “the one.”
Walk us through what a bride will typically experience working with you.
When working with a bride we usually encourage them to start their bridal gown shopping 12 months in advance of their wedding. The whole process take about a 12 month period, and the wedding gown tends to set the tone for so many other parts of the wedding.
When we meet with our brides we try to find out about their style and the style of their wedding. We first start with trying on the 4 basic silhouettes that all bridal gowns are created from to help narrow down the search and keep it from being so overwhelming.
Once we know which silhouette the bride feels the best in, we work to pair her with the dress that makes her feel and look the best and brings together her personal style with her wedding… creating her “BrideStyle.”
After helping the bride find her dress and accessories, we work with her to find her attire for the bridal party that will compliment her wedding.
What is your favorite thing about weddings?
All of the excitement around the wedding, and hearing the love story behind it all. It’s so fun to hear the bride talk about their fiancé and the wedding and all the details surrounding their big day. One of my favorite parts of the actual wedding is that moment when the couple sees each other for the first time! I love to see the look on their faces!
Since this is a blog more about marriage than the wedding day, what is one piece of advice you’d give to future brides and grooms?
Not to stress too much about the wedding itself. This is just a small step to the beginning of the rest of your lives. It’s so easy to get caught up on the wedding, and the stress that can come along with it, that you can lose sight on the reason you are getting married.
If you could go back and change one thing about your wedding, what would it be?
I don’t know that I would change anything about our wedding… Maybe just that I would have had it closer to home so that more of our guests could attend.
If you got married while you were working in the wedding industry, did you make a change in your business based on what you went through?
I realized how expensive and stressful weddings can be, so we made the concept of our boutique to be an affordable boutique as well as all inclusive, so it is less stressful by doing everything all in one place.
Would you like to offer any special deals on your post?
I would be willing to offer $100 off a bridal gown purchase.
Now that you’ve heard how this bridal boutique can help you find your “BrideStyle” go make an appointment at K&B Bridals!
If you’re not convinced, check out a few of their dresses!!
Take a walk down memory lane while you celebrate!!
Today’s post comes from the Senior Pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Joppa, Maryland. He is not only the Senior Pastor of the church, but he is the pastor who married us and a friend. He has a lot of great advice about marriage!!
This first picture is one of my favorites from the wedding with Jimmy…and the second is a nice one. 🙂 Both taken by Craig Copelin of Nilepoc Media.
Here’s Jimmy!!!
When you face a struggle or disagreement in your marriage, how do you handle it?
-Communication! I find that if we don’t talk through things, we begin to harbor bitterness and the longer we let things go, the worse it gets. Also, being sure to listen and hear the other person out goes a long way. I Peter 3:8 says, “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” My wife and I try to remind one another that we are a team. We are for one another and working toward the same goal. Also, this takes humility to recognize if we’ve failed and need to ask for forgiveness. And when we ask for forgiveness, we try to be as specific as possible. This not only assures the other person that you see clearly how you’ve sinned against them, but also it makes it easier for you to change and for them to freely forgive you.
What are some of the ways you try to bless your wife?
-In the book “Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God by CJ Mahaney (a must read for Christian husbands) one of the chapters talks about being a “student” of your wife. I’ve found this helpful over the years. In any relationship, the more you know and understand someone and have that “sympathy” that was mentioned from I Peter 3:8, you will truly know how to love them in a richer, deeper way. For example, my wife isn’t a “flowers and chocolates” kind of girl. Don’t get me wrong, she wouldn’t turn them away, but she would much prefer me to walk in the door with a drink from Starbucks and a magazine with floor plans of homes from cover to cover. Taking an interest in what makes her “tick” means a lot to her. Another thing I’ve tried to do over the years is to ask her not only how is she doing, but how am I doing in her eyes. Are there areas that I can grow or that she has concerns about. This has really kept the communication line open and left no room for the enemy to bring any disunity into our marriage.
What advice would you give a couple going through a struggle during the beginning of their marriage?
-First of all, I would encourage any young couple to never be “content” with where their relationship is at. And this would include if they have struggles in the marriage or if they are experiencing hardship, not to “throw in the towel” or lose heart. A marriage takes work. Living up close to another sinner takes constant sacrifice and the ability to say, “I’m not going to make today about myself. I’m going to choose to serve and lay down my life not only for my Savior, but for the one who is most important to me on this earth.” This is a difficult task, but by God’s amazing power and His promised Holy Spirit, we can learn to love others more than ourselves.
Also, I would encourage young couples to seek help. Ask for input from parents, respected leaders in their church, and especially their pastors if need be. So many have gone before on this path of marriage and have much wisdom and insight that will not only encourage, but also truly help them to grow.
And Lastly
-My final remarks are from Hebrews 10:24-25. This scripture helps to point us in the right direction, especially as husbands. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” This passage gives such clear instruction. So basically, we must tell our spouse where we see God at work and what we appreciate about them, meet together (date night), and this will stir her up to love more and good works are the fruit! Woo hoo! This is only possible through God’s grace and thankfully, because of Christ, we have all the power we need to do what He’s called us to. I thank Him for the gift of marriage and for giving me a wife who is willing to work through anything in order to keep our little “team” in unity and love. God is faithful.
365daysofmarriage 