mountain – Blair Emma

My favorite part of planning a wedding is most definitely finding the dream venue. I think booking the venue is easily the best but most stressful part. I have always dreamed about my wedding and wanting it to be the most special day. I was so excited to start touring venues but I always had one in mind that I knew I wanted more than anything and that made looking at other venues extremely hard.

I figured that if I found a venue that was all around a perfect place, then I wouldn’t have to worry much about dećor because the setting would be just enough! Working in the wedding business has made it quite difficult to go somewhere without nit picking everything. I find myself doing that when I go to other weddings too!

Can you guess what venue we picked?!

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center

This venue was one that I worked at a few months back and one I kept in mind. I loved the history of the building and how beautiful it was! It was definitely a dream being on the property. The photos are from the day I worked. The atrium is where the reception was held and it was so cute and once we had all the decor up it looked so dreamy. This was definitely a venue to keep in mind!

Little River Farms

This venue was one that I kept seeing pictures of and was obsessed. I loved the modern look of the reception space and the elegance of it. When I had the opportunity to work there I immediately took it! I was so anxious to see a space that I had only seen in pictures. I loved the reception space and the gazebo was really cute for the ceremony. I went back a few weeks later to tour with my mom and Nathan’s mom so they could see the venue too!

The Greystone Estate

Greystone was easily a venue in my top three. It is fairly close to home and I loved working with the owners. I had a good relationship with the husband and wife and that made me feel like it was definitely somewhere I wanted to hold our wedding because I knew I would be treated right. Words can’t express how much I love how different the venue is and its setting overlooking the mountains! It’s dreamy for sure!!

Foxhall Resort

Legacy Lookout is one of the venue locations on site. I loved how many people the venue could hold and everything about the building. It was a rustic elegance and I really loved the look! The beams in the reception area were a selling point for me!

The Stables have a history to them and that’s something I loved. This is where the horses from the 1996 olympics came and trained! How cool! A few years ago the building was renovated and made into an event venue. I loved the wood floors and the shiplap throughout the building! I really liked that there was a back up spot to hold a ceremony if the weather were to change. The outside arbor is my favorite! There is something so elegant about this beautiful venue!

I kept telling myself through out this process that I wouldn’t lose sight on what this is all really about. Our covenant with God. We can all easily lose sight and get overwhelmed with planning a wedding. It really makes me sad that having a wedding is all about the money. Who can spend the most money on a single day. Is it special? Yes. But forgetting what this is all really about has happened a few times and I have to reel myself in.

I really can’t wait to marry this man of mine and I am so excited that we officially have a venue booked and a date set! I’m ready for this phase of life and letting God’s love shine through us!

Comment below and let me know what venue you think we picked!

I can’t believe we’re engaged!! I keep looking down at my hand and keep forgetting it’s real. It’s a day I have been really anxious for and now that is has happened, I am so happy.

I honestly wasn’t expecting anything to happen. After church I went to my friend Rachel’s house and after that I met up with Sarah to take pictures of her and Reid. Well little did I now that was just a coverup for the proposal! We went and got our nails done because she wanted her nails to look good for pictures. Well I guess they just wanted my nails to look good for pictures! After our nail date we headed to Starbucks of course.

I was really quiet and to myself and I really feel bad now looking back because Sarah and her friend Maddie were doing all they could to make sure I was surprised and they knew what was about to happen.

When we arrived to Kennesaw Mountain we had a long walk from the parking lot til we made it to the building to meet with Reid who was in uniform and looked extremely handsome and I knew their photos were going to look great! Well as we started walking through the field Sarah ended up taking my camera from me and was “practicing” taking pictures. As we started getting further in the field and closer to the trees I saw a blanket laid out and remember saying that would be a good prop for us to use if someone left it there!

As we made our way closer I suddenly saw Nathan walk out from behind a tree with roses in his hand. In that moment I knew exactly what was about to happen. And it finally made sense why he wasn’t talking to me all day after I left him after church! I couldn’t be too upset anymore!

I set down my purse and my Starbucks drink and made my way to Nathan. He handed me the flowers, gave me a hug and started saying the sweetest things to me. (Which we both can’t even remember) At that moment, I was the happiest and most emotional girl in the world. When he got down on his knee it all suddenly became so real. Hearing those words is the most incredible thing. I was so ecstatic to say yes!!

After he put the ring on my finger and gave me a hug I remember hearing cheering in the background and turning around to see both of our families walking our way. I am so happy everyone was there to experience this moment in our lives. And I am so thankful for Sarah and helping him pull it all off so last minute!!

Why was it pulled off so last minute you may be asking? Well… our “family only” trip to Tennessee made me really suspicious that he wasn’t allowed to go.. because normally he’s invited everywhere we go. I just had a feeling something was off and kept telling my friends I had a feeling that he would be proposing while we were there. Well turns out, I was right. I hate how I find out everything and that I am never surprised with anything because I ruin it for myself in the long run. So Nathan made plan b.

He did really great for something so last minute!! I think he’s happy it’s over so he can finally rest and not be so anxious for it! I can’t wait for both of families to be in Tennessee next weekend to celebrate together! What an exciting time in our lives!! Morgan (his sister) is getting married next October so we really get to plan together!

I’m excited for this next step in our lives and excited to see what else will come! Oh how I love this man.

See our proposal video here !!