Signed Seely Delivered

While reflecting on mine + Hopper's wedding weekend, the only words that come to mind are grateful, thankful + blessed.

Our wedding weekend was filled with family, friends + so much love. We started our weekend by heading down south on Thursday afternoon. However, Thursday was anything but perfect. While the sky flooded Memphis with lots of rain, our crew began to pack up 4 SUVs + a Uhaul trailer full of dresses, shoes, fake eyelashes, hotel guest happies, wedding day supplies + anything else you may need to fulfill a magical wedding weekend in Oxford, MS. After arriving in Oxford at The Graduate Hotel, we spent about an hour and a half unloading all of the vehicles and trailer. Shortly after we got somewhat settled in, we went with family to Oxford's yummiest Mexican restaurant, El Agave.

Friday morning was the official start of everything wedding. My mother + I hosted all the bridesmaids + close female friends + family at a private luncheon at Grit in Taylor, MS. This lunch was so special for me. I got to spend one on one time with my closest girls while we were totally pampered with some of Mississippi's most divine food.

Following the lunch, we all headed back to rest up before the big rehearsal.

Everyone in the wedding party met up at The Jefferson Oxford at 4 o'clock in the afternoon for one of the smoothest wedding rehearsals ever. We got a sneak peak of the flowers galore that were going to fill the building the next day as Hopper + I became husband + wife.

Following the rehearsal, we all made our way to one of Oxford's most beautiful venues, Castle Hill, for dinner. Our rehearsal dinner was filled with laughter, Smirnoff Ice (thanks to Hannah) + bittersweet tears as we all got a glimpse of the past ten years of mine + Hopper's relationship.

Following the rehearsal dinner, everyone, well almost everyone, made their way back to The Graduate Hotel for a few night caps at The Coop, which is located on the rooftop of the hotel. Within this 5 minute trek back to the hotel, we had one friend run out of gas on the highway + another drive completely off the road leaving them stuck in the middle of a field. Like anything else in life, this weekend had it's flaws, however, Hopper + I were determined to not let anything ruin our long awaited day, as long as everyone was okay.

Saturday morning, the day I became Mrs. Seely, started off bright and early. My bridesmaids, my mother + I all climbed into The Graduate's van as they transported us to The Jefferson to get our makeup and hair started for the big day. Heather Sappenfield, a close family friend, was head of the "hair department," while Keely Williams, owner of Hotty Toddy Tan & Beauty Bar, was head of the "makeup department." They ran a tight ship, which was needed in order to get 15 bridesmaids, a great grandmother, 2 mothers + the bride (aka me) ready for the big day. Also, my "stand by me girls" were pampered and catered to by some special ladies in my life. They provided us yummy food and mimosas while we prepped for the big day! Shout out to them, they know who they are (;

As always, a few minor hiccups occurred during the morning leading up to the wedding. These hiccups were including, but not limited to, my dress collecting some mysterious black markings all over the back of it after being photographed before it even went on my body. Magically, the silky pajamas that I had gifted my bridesmaids was the only thing that would take the markings off of the dress if rubbed against the material of the dress. My sister aka my MOH, made it her duty to rub these markings off anytime they appeared. She truly was the BEST MOH. My wedding shoes that I had been wearing all wedding season ended up getting messed up while taking bridesmaid pictures outside, so I had to resort to the back up heels. A groomsmen forgot his bow tie and a few other miscellaneous items that went with his tuxedo. So many things went "wrong," however, I had been preparing myself for these kinds of mishaps. Leading up to my wedding, I truly had been praying that I would have inexplicable peace during this big day + God TRULY answered those prayers. Given the past couple years of my life, I decided that I wanted this day to be happy. I wasn't going to let anyone or anything upset me. Therefore, that day, it was like God had placed a complete feeling of euphoria over me. I was determined to be as chill as possible and whatever is meant to be will be. At the end of the day, the only thing that mattered to me is that I still get married to Hopper. Also, at the end of my wedding day, multiple vendors told me I was "the chillest bride" they have ever worked with (;

Our wedding was beautiful +magical even given the few hiccups that continued to occur throughout the day. For instance, our guitarist had trouble knowing when to start and end the processional music + never quite caught the cue to start mine and Hopper's recessional music. LOL. Despite the music being anything but perfect, we still had the most beautiful and genuine ceremony. Following the ceremony, we took all of our pictures and were blessed with beautiful weather to capture our picture perfect day.

Side Note to Future Brides: One thing I regret during this is that I wish I had kept my veil on for more, if not all, of my pictures.

Our wedding coordinator prepared a delicious plate of our caterer's food for us, which we gobbled down before we even stepped foot into our reception. Our first dance song never got played, therefore, the band just picked a random song to sing + we went with it. To this day, no one knows what we danced to, + it only makes me laugh when I think about it. Our reception was full of dance offs, laughter + everything else delightful.

As we made our grand exit, Hopper + I got to end our magical night under the beautiful display of sparklers. We had one more hiccup as one guest got knocked off the stairs and into the bushes right before we walked through, but thankfully, they were okay.

Hopper + I left behind our family + friends as we rode off to the Chancellor's House hotel in a vintage Rolls-Royce, per Hopper's ONLY wedding request!