November 10, 2012

On November 10th, 2012....I married my best friend and became Mrs. Kevin Smallwood....aka Autumn Smallwood.

 

 

We said our vows in front of our family and friends. Our wedding was everything I envisioned it would be. I'm still waiting on our "professional" pictures....but for now...some photos our wonderful friends too. 

Rehearsal Night. L to R.

Brent (Kevin's Groomsman)

Eric (Kevin's Best Man)

Kevin

Me

Danielle (Matron of Honor)

Tamera (Maid of Honor)

 

Walking out as MAN AND WIFE!

 

My New Family

 

My hubby and I

 

Our first Dance

 

Dance with my Daddy

 

Artsy Pictures



My birthday

Today I turn 32.

I'm okay with this...because in the last year and a half, I met the love of my life:

 got a dog:

and planned a wedding.


I've lost 50 lbs. Yeah that's a huge accomplishment for me. I started running.


In a few words. Life is good. I'm happy. Next.....babies...I hope. :)



Guardian Angel

I believe Kevin and I have a Guardian Angel.

On Monday, Kevin called the Arch Diocese in Baltimore because we still had not heard the the word on if the annullment was going to go through. The secretary for the Deacon that was dealing with our case took a bunch of information and told him she would call him back. It wasn't 5 minutes later and she called back with the dreaded words. "Non-response from the defendant (Kevin's ex), it will now go before a hearing and will take another 2-3 weeks."

Kevin tells me this and I about break down in hysterics. I need to order my invitations. I just want to know where we are getting married. The stress of everything is seriously getting to me.

Kevin asks the secretary if there is anyone to rush it, and explains how long its taken and what we have been through. She said she would put a note in the file, but there is no guarantee.

Here is where things get interesting.

Kevin texts me Wednesday afternoon and tells me that we have a letter from the Diocese and asked me if I wanted him to open it. I'm thiking its probably just a letter telling us what the secretary told Kevin on Monday.

The words I got back from Kevin:

"Guess what?" "We are free to marry each other in the Catholic Church."

My response:

"OMG! Take a picture! Happy Tears! Now I can order invitations"

Kevin called the secretary today to thank her for whatever she did to help speed along the hearing, her response:

"I didn't do anything out of the ordinary - but sometimes things happen around here quicker than normal, and only the Lord knows why."

Honestly, I don't care what that woman says....she was my angel when I needed one. So to the woman in the diocese that heard our story and helped us when we needed it....this couple will forever be indebted to your kindness. Thank you for helping me get the wedding of my dreams in the church of my dreams.

P.S- I ordered the invitations last night. :-)

Have a Little Faith?

The title of this post....while fitting....is very hard for me to do right now.

Kevin and I are just over 5 months from walking down the aisle and we just don't know if it will be a Catholic cermony or not.

Let me give you a background.

Kevin was previously married. I was not. Kevin's ex wife was Catholic and they were not married in a Catholic ceremony....therfore it should be an easy annullment. Empasis on the word EASY! It's not.

First we have to prove she was baptized Catholic. We can't locate her baptism certificate and the fact that she refuses to help us further than telling us the location of where she "thinks" it was....isn't helping.

Second. My priest. Gigantic "tool." Yeah. I said it. He took his sweet ol' time starting to locate the baptism certificate and now that we can't seem to locate it, he now decides to tell me....maybe we shouldn't have scheduled your wedding till we had all the documents in order. I never thought I would want to punch a priest....but I so do.

I love Kevin and have to rely on that a lot right now. My faith is being severly questioned right now, because while I still believe in the almighty and all the covenants, I am extremelly disheartened by the steps I am having to undertake to marry a man that the Church may not deem "fit" for me to marry because he was previously married. I can't help that I fell in love with him. It should NOT matter that he was married before. It should ONLY matter that we love each other and wish to raise our future children in love and faith. Kevin has jumped through hoops to try and give me this Catholic wedding and frankly most men would have balked over everything, he just asked what more could he do to help.

Have a little faith???

God willing I will see the light at the end of the tunnel and faith, in whatever form, will see me through.

The Church of my Dreams

When I was a little girl I always envisioned walking down a long aisle on my daddy's arm to the man I loved at the end. It took a while....but I finally found that place.

Kevin and I have been through 3 churches before finally finding the one that brought tears to my eyes and the words "I wanna say "I do" here" out of my mouth.

My home church....while I love it and was confirmed in it.....looks like an Easter egg thru up in it. It teal, pink, yellow and white. Its just NOT pretty. Its also exceptionally tiny and close to the highway.

Our second church was more modern and they were able to accomodate an evening wedding, which was important to us. It was laid out in a T design, with no real center aisle. I was resigned to get married here, because they were able to accommodate us, but when they stopped returning my phone calls and informed me they were also hosting a Christmas Festival the same weekend....I knew it wasn't going to be the best fit.

I went to visit a friend in Kentucky for her wedding in April and while at her rehearsal, I texted Kevin and told him I refused to get married in the second church. He spent the entire weekend looking for alternatives. I called one church when I got home on Monday and the following weekend I dragged Kevin to mass on Saturday and the minute I walked in....I just knew I had found the church I would become a Mrs. in.

The church is gorgeous.....

Thank you Kevin for putting up with my ever changing desires as a bride....I know I am driving you insane.....less than 6 months and we'll be on our Honeymoon. :-)

I love you.

~Autumn



The Venue

I've always known that I wanted a fall wedding, so when Kevin and I got engaged we decided on the date immediately. He knew it was important to me to be married in the fall and we agreed that November 10th was the perfect date. My best friend was married November 17th and its kinda cool that our anniversaries are going to be only a week apart. (We actually had the date picked out before we got engaged....its engraved on my engagement ring).

Trying to find a venue to have our reception was not as hard as I thought it would be.

The first place we visited was Turf Valley in Ellicott City. I had read a lot of revues, both positive and negative. I would say my initial reaction was negative. I wasn't in love with the setting, but was willing to settle, because it was in our budget range and was able to accommodate us. What pushed me to not going with them was when I was emailed an initial outline of costs, it was NOTHING what we had discussed with the event coordinator (that we met with for 15 minutes) and that was extremely off putting. I'm sorry but if I am going to be paying you an exorbitant amount of money, than I am not just another person to you....I am a name and a face and you should treat me as such rather just someone writing a check. This place was promptly crossed from our list.

The second place we visited was The Historic Savage Mill Manor. Kevin actually found this place. When you drive up to the house, it looks like an old Victorian mansion. It was built in 1844. When you walked inside it had a huge staircase that was frankly gorgeous. We sat down with Bobby from Putting on the Ritz catering for almost two hours and discussed all aspects of what we were looking for. He went over our budget and incorporated everything. By the end of our meeting, I looked at Kevin and said.....

"I want to get married here." So on November 10, 2012, after saying I do at a Catholic church in the area (that post is to follow...believe me it was an adventure finding a church).....our reception will be at:

The Historic Savage Mill Manor House. I can't wait to party with my new hubby, friends and family!!!

Wedding Weight Loss

Pretty much any bride will tell you that trying on wedding dresses is shock factor x1000. I knew I needed to lose weight. What I didn't know was how awful I would look in a white wedding dress. Granted....I am my worst enemy when it comes to critiquing myself.

In December, Kevin and I went home to Florida for the holidays to visit my mom. My mother decided it was the perfect time for me to start trying on wedding dresses. I was game....I wanted to experience everything that being a bride had in store. My mom and I went to a little boutique in Sarasota. I tried on about 8-10 dresses and found one that I really did like.....full disclosure....I was a size 22. Yeah. That sucks....granted wedding dress makers....you all suck...cause that is not a real pant size for a woman....just FYI....it just succeeds in making a bride feel even fatter. Well my mom took pictures....I'm not even going to post them....lets just say that was when reality set in, my happy ass needed help.

Fast forward to February. (I had a minor medical issue in January....I had to get migraines under control). I joined a gym and got a personal trainer. Joey is EVIL in the best way possible. He makes me curse at him, sweat A LOT, burn a crap ton of calories and so far lose 25 pounds. I love him.

In April, my mother, aunt and best friend spent a weekend wedding dress shopping with me. 4th dress I tried on....tears ensued. It was the most gorgeous dress I have ever seen and I can't wait for Kevin to see my walking down the aisle in it. From December till now I have dropped from a size 22 to a 16. Yes. I said it.

22 to a 16

I am extremelly proud of that accomplishment. I still don't see a huge change in my appearance and Kevin has to remind me that he see's it. I guess when you see yourself daily, you just don't. One of the biggest difference's for me, was my face. (specifically my neck and chin). Its a constant work in progress and I am confidant that I will continue to kick butt and be the beautiful bride that I wish to be and Kevin should have.

I love you Kevin and thank you for all your support with my constant food changes. I know its tough not having the snack food in the house....but it means a lot to have your support. You are my rock.

~Autumn

It's been awhile....

Why hello Blog. Nice to see you.

It's been a long time since I've said hello to the blogosphere. Granted I read blogs everday, its just been a long time since I've felt like contributing.

A lot has happened in my world.

I met a boy. Well a man. A man/boy. What shall we call him??? How about the love of my life.

I met Kevin nearly 1 year ago. May 27, 2011 in fact. He just popped into my world....and has yet to disappear...even when I tried to disappear on him.

November 25, 2011 he asked me to marry him. Of course I said yes. :o)

Six months from today....I'll be his wife. Wow....what a word. I'll be someone's "wife, misses, other half". Weird.

On top of planning the wedding we got a puppy.... Koda. I love this dog. He is seriously the best puppy EVER. He is an aussiedoodle, which is an Australian Shepard/Poodle Mix. He is awesome.

I promise to update more soon....probably with stuff on the wedding and the stuff going on w/my weight loss as well as back to food posting (still LOVE to cook and I'm pretty sure that's how I hooked Kevin)...to date I've lost 25 lbs (its amazing what a sparkly piece of jewelry and a white dress will make you do!).

~Autumn