Augusta Bridal Shower!

Old family wedding pictures

Gift Table centerpiece

The lovely hostesses!

What sweet women Mrs. Dale and Mrs. Vicky are to have thrown such a lovely wedding shower for me!  These ladies above are dear friends of Mrs. Golden's and absolutely outdid themselves on a gorgeous bridal shower for me at Abilene Baptist Church!  They really hit the nail on the head with delicious treats including petit fours and cucumber sandwiches.  They did gorgeous flowers and gave me a corsage for my dress.  It was so great to meet and see all the Augusta crew that will be at the wedding!  I got so many wonderful kitchen items off our registry as well!

So much fun! It was a really special weekend in Augusta!

My Momma, and future Mother in Law

My future sister in law and sister

The buffet!

Sweet sorority sisters who drove all the way to Augusta!

Awesome gifts!

Cake Tasting!

Cake Tasting at Cherokee Town Club- January 27th, 2012

Cake Tasting was perhaps the most fun event of the wedding planning process thus far! It is no secret that this girl LOVES cake! I could eat cake every single day!

So the way it worked was that we got to select (5) different options of cake variations and taste them all! We had our cake tasting on January 27th and it was quite a whirlwind! We ate cake, and ate more cake and more cake! Mom came along to help be our tie breaker in the event of that situation.  Thankfully, we all came to the same conclusion and are overjoyed with our selection!  Sarah Ogle, our wedding coordinator at the club was super sweet and brought each of us a rectangular tray of cakes to taste.  We really loved all of them, but there was a true standout.  Funny thing is- the combination we decided on was not one of the pre-selected options we asked to taste...we did some mixing and matching and came up with a delicious treat!


This girl loves cake...back at my birthday on January 12th, 2012



How Embarrassing!

My Oh My! Y'all...I am red in the face embarrassed about this blog, and my lack of commitment to posting lately.  I have a good excuse, but really, I hate that I have missed out on two months of documentation, because this wedding planning process is surely one that I want to remember and look back upon to say, "Gosh, I had so much time back then to do fun things!"

Kevin singing the lyrics to our 1st dance song

75% of the blame for not posting over the last two months falls on my tired digital camera.  I had that camera in high school and we had some great times together- New York City, Breckenridge Colorado, California, UGA football games...but the end was near and it finally bit the dust in early November- inconveniently right before my first wedding party!  I relied on my sister and cousin to document our first wedding party in Gainesville, FL a week before Thanksgiving.  It was a fabulous party and I am so thrilled that our family was there to celebrate with us! Kevin's parents stayed at our house for the first time and it was good bonding time for the two families. 

Engagement gifts!

Bride and Groom- Ready to go the party!

My mother threw a brunch for the Sunday after the party, and my grandfather even made it to enjoy a lovely day with everyone!

Mrs. Golden, Kevin, and Papa

Amrita, me, and Whitney

We spent Thanksgiving in Alma, GA with Kevin's family for the first time together and away from my family! It was fun to be with everyone and their food traditions are quite similar to ours.  


We then traveled to Gainesville on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to have a stone crab dinner with my grandfather and family.  Since I wasn't with my family on Thanksgiving, it was really special to have this dinner at Papa's house.  I didn't realize that this would be the last time I would spend with my sweet grandfather.  He took us all for a shock and passed away on December 17th, right before we were going to be re-united for Christmas.  He was a fighter and will always be remembered as such.  I have an empty void in my heart now that he is gone, but realize how fortunate we were to have some quiet special time with him at Thanksgiving.


So, December 2011 was a whirlwind.  My family pulled together his funeral three days before Christmas and the break went by in the blink of an eye.  We said goodbye to 2011 and welcome all good things in 2012 (there is so much to look forward to!)


Flashback to early December- I moved into a new home, where Kevin and I will live once we are married.  It is about a block away from where I used to live, so the move was quite easy.  I am getting it organized and decorated before we move in together- and the space has really come in handy with all the wedding paraphernalia!


Some photos of the place before I moved in:

Dining and Kitchen area

Gas burning fireplace...it's been quite handy lately:)

So that's a quick recap of the past two month's events.  There have been long days and nights, and so much has progressed on the wedding front.  I have so many further posts to share, and I promise I will be better about keeping you all updated! 


Tomorrow marks the 100 day countdown! 


Love to all,
Andra

O-C-T-O-B-E-R

Hey Everyone! We are almost half way through with October and time keeps ticking.  I am so very grateful I have had an extended engagement! I don't know how people who get married in 6 months do it? 

I left off last time at the weekend of our engagement photo shoot.  It was so much fun to take pictures together and gave us a lot of great practice for the actual wedding.  Here are a few of my favorites so far....

So in a nutshell that is what we have been up to lately.  I spent last weekend up at Lake Toxaway (without Kevin as he had to work) celebrating my sister's 27th Birthday.  I was sick so I couldn't do much, but we had a lot of fun out on the boat. 

I will be hosting Amrita and Hrishi here in Atlanta this weekend! They are coming to visit with us and see Atlanta.  We have a few fun events scheduled for the weekend like the Roswell ghost tour on Friday night and a fun Italian restaurant in Innman Park on Saturday called Sotto Sotto.  We might even hit up the new movie Footloose, as for my 13th birthday, Amrita and I saw the play!

The invitations for our first wedding party went out this week.  It will be in Gainesville and is being hosted by some of my mother's close friends.  We couldn't be more excited about the party.  Now, I just have to find something fun to wear!

Next week will be a short week as we are headed to Athens (the first time I will have been back after getting engaged!) for my cousin's wedding.  We will be staying at the Hotel Indigo which is one of my company's hotels, which is always fun! We will be leaving on Thursday to head to Athens! We couldn't be more excited for this family wedding, the first big wedding on the Rentz side!

Hope all is well with everyone! More pics of Amrita and Hrishi's visit to come! XOXO

Happy Fall Y'all!

Well, we are in a completely different season it seems like since I left off last! So much has happened I don't know where to start!  Kevin and I have had some down weekends that were MUCH needed.  It seems like the last few weekendss of August were spent here in Atlanta which allowed us to get back to a little bit of normal.  We have been hanging out with friends, going to Braves games, and focusing on all that is ahead of us in the next two months!  We were invited by one of my dear friends that I met when I lived in Birmingham, Caroline Inge, to attend a restaurant opening of 5 Napkin Burger.  It was fun to hang out and dine on gourmet burgers! 

My Mom came to visit for an entire week and I was so thankful she did!

She came on Labor Day weekend and we had so much fun doing all kinds of wedding things! We met with several florists, ordered the invitations for the wedding, visited some rehearsal dinner locations, shopped for wedding event attire, found adorable flower girl dresses for the three flower girls, decided on church music for the ceremony...the list goes on and on...but we got a ton accoplished and that was a wonderful feeling! Here are some pics of the events throughout the week- the first is at a floral/event design shop and the second is at a rehearsal dinner venue.

The absolutle best part of our week together was a floral/event design walk through and mock up of the actual center pieces and tablescapes.  This was on Saturday the 10th and my sister had come down for this thankfully.  It was just amazing to see an entire room set up the same exact way that I had dreamed of! My face dropped when I walked in and saw my wedding vision come to life! I was a very happy bride!

Speaking of my sister, she was in town to accompany us to the floral mock up, but she ended up coming into town earlier than that as she had an 3rd round interview for a job at my company, InterContinental Hotels Group.  She ended up getting the job and we are all so excited that she is moving to ATLANTA! We will all be in the same city now! So the hunt for a place for her to live is in full swing as her first day is September 30th!

Last weekend, I ventured solo to the beach south of Panama City for my cousin Maggie's co-ed bachelorette party.  Jenna was supposed to come, but couldn't due to her looming move! So it was a long 6.5 hours in the car all the way down to Mexico Beach, but it was so much fun hanging out with the cousins and all of Maggie's bridesmaids. 

This weekend, Jenna is coming to Atlanta to find her new home away from home, as well as host a shower that we are throwing for Maggie at a coffee and wine bar called JavaVino.  Mom was invited as well so I think she will join us and then help Jenna on Sunday at her various appointments to see condos.  Fingers crossed they find something wonderful for Jenna.  Meanwhile, Kevin and I will be taking our engagment photos on Sunday afternoon.  The weather looks A-MAZING! We will be going to two different locations and will be doing a wardrobe change.  It's been fun and kinda crazy trying to get our outfits together for these photos.  I will share the pics as soon as the photographer gets them back to me!

So, that's what's going on in our world...Hope all of you are doing well!

XOXO,

Andra

Mrs. Kittery Van Sciver and SAVE THE DATES!

It's been a while but I HAVE to post pics and recall events from Kittery's wedding.  Kittery is one of my bridesmaids and close middle school/high school friend.  She is a dear friend and we were so excited to attend her Davidson, North Carolina wedding!  Here are a few pics that highlight the events!


Airport Arrivals of my best friends!



Rehearsal Dinner with BRIDEY:)

Getting Ready for the Wedding at my sister's condo

They are married!

Picture Time!

Gorgeous Reception location

Cake Cutting! So pretty!

It was such a fun wedding and seeing Kittery's family after such a long time was also a highlight! Can't wait to hang out with my best buds more during the next 8 months!

It's been quite an exciting week around here as we (ahem, my sweet Mommy whom I shall forever be grateful towards!) sent out our Save the Dates for the wedding! I am so thankful for those who reached out and commented on them- (Shout out to the Engelke's!) It's been fun to hear that everyone has received them! I personally designed them with a fabulous artist, Ashley Brooke Designs.  Mommy tied all the ribbons and while we were all having fun at Kittery's wedding she sent me this picture which got me so excited about sending them out!

........So, it looks like Kevin and I are finally going to be in Atlanta for a few weeks solid.  Next trip is to the beach for my cousin's bachelorette weekend in mid September.

UGA football starts next weekend! We are getting very excited around here! Hope everyone is doing well!

XOXO,
Andra

Tiffany and Parker's Wedding, Austin, TX

We had so much fun at Tiffany and Parker's wedding in Austin! We loved every minute...just wish we had more time to explore and play!  Kevin got more time to explore the city than I did, but we had so much fun and helped two wonderful people to the alter!


We hit the ground running on Thursday night at a group dinner of some family and bridal party.  Then we went to Tiffany and Parker's neighborhood to meet some more of their friends.

Friday was the big day for my mom and my Aunt Lauretta as they were giving the Bridesmaids luncheon at a beautiful mansion.  The floral centerpiece was quite a show stopper- they did a fabulous job and Tiffany really enjoyed it.  

The men came to scope things out while we were setting up...but then it was time to get outta there and explore UT's campus.

The men- in search of authentic Texan BBQ

The lovely Hostesses

Place cards that served as party favors! (and smelled really good too!)

The Bride!

It seemed like the bridesmaids luncheon flew by, and it was time to help Tiffany get packed up and checked in at the hotel! Then it was a quick wardrobe change and off to the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner!

Daddy and Mommy!

Sweet Cousins Ryan and Megan and soon to be baby boy Fogg!

Dinner with lil' Steve and Aunt Linda

I was doing so well on photos up until this point! My duties as bridesmaid got serious the next day!  So these next photos are stolen from family members:)

Jenna and I had our hair done on Saturday morning and the rest of the day flew by! Tiffany looked absolutely gorgeous and we were so happy to be by her side!

Happily Ever After!

Now, onto the next wedding! Kevin and I are traveling to Charlotte tomorrow for Kittery Neale's wedding- she is also a bridesmaid in my wedding.  We are very excited to be picking up Amrita Ford and Whitney Smith tomorrow at the airport and start the weekend of festivities! We will also be sneaking in some time visiting with my sister! This weekend ends the world wind weekend travel schedule we have had since April.  We are so shocked that we will actually be in town for the next month or so.  So we are going to enjoy every last minute of Kittery's wedding- as attending our friends and families wedding has made it all the more real for Kevin and me!