[ Pre-wedding Fun ]

This weekend was a total blur, to say the least. 

I'll have to write several posts to cover all the fun.

I want to sleep for a week. and then, wake up and sleep for another week. Im EXHAUSTED. 

Here's a lil recap of the pre-wedding festivities. 

{Friday}

My family and bridesmaids all came into town Friday morning. 
Everyone traveled safely, to my relief. 

We met up for lunch at one of my favorite places, Blue Lemon. 

Then, we went to get our nails done. It was so fun to have all my girls together. It has been a long time since I've seen several of my girls and several years since some of them had seen each other. So, it was quite the reunion. 

{Rehearsal Dinner}

Friday night, Matt and Julie hosted a beautiful rehearsal dinner for us at the Skyroom at BYU. The views of the mountains from the Skyroom were breathtaking. The food was delicious. There were tear-filled toasts, and lots of laughter. It was a wonderful way to kick off our wedding weekend with our family and friends. 

Next post, I'll tell you guys about our fun girls sleepover at the Hyatt Friday night. 

Now, I'm going to go make my new hubby dinner. 

XXO, Natalie 

{ April Showers }

 It's wedding week!!!!

It's here!!!

Everything is coming together so well.

My family and bridesmaids fly in Friday morning. 

I've booked an awesome salon for all the bridesmaids and I to go get our nails done. They reserve a private room for you, with refreshments, fun music and decorations for us. Such a cute way to celebrate with my girls! 

The rehearsal dinner is Friday night at the Skyroom at BYU. 

I've always wanted to have a big sleepover the night before my wedding, to spend my last night as a single girl with all my best friends. We've booked rooms at the Hyatt in Lehi and I cant wait for our fun girls night. My Matron of Honor Jen is planning a lil special bachelorette party for me and I cant wait! 

Saturday is the big day!

Everyone is asking how Im feeling. 
{ S T R E S S E D }

Just trying to remember everything we need to bring and make assignments for people to help with certain things. I have been trying to stay really organized by making lists and organizing our decor into boxes, all labeled and ready to go. Im def not sleeping as well right now. Trying to work out every day, and eat clean has been really tough, too. Let's hope my wedding dress still zips. hahahaha. 
 It's a good thing that Cole's stepmom, Julie and my mom and Cole have been great at helping me remember the lil things and reassure me that things will be fine.. 

SO... the other thing stressin me out is the weather. There's a spring storm rolling through this week and I'm praying that it passes through this week and dies off by Friday. I know it's not the end of the world and all of you must be thinking......Natalie! Youre getting married! Get over the not-so-perfect weather! 
But, you dont envision a rainy wedding day! You envision sunny beautiful weather. Esp, if you are planning on getting married outside! We can easily move the ceremony inside, as well as, the few tables we planned to put in the garden during the reception. But, it would be a bummer. The whole reason we booked Wadley Farms was for the gardens (which arent exactly in full bloom, by the way! another sore spot right now...ugh) 

I bought some cute umbrellas, just in case. We will just have to make it fun, if it does rain. I LOVE the rain usually, but not on my wedding day. On any other day, I would love to take cute kissing/dancing in the rain pictures but, not on my wedding day.  

So,  everyone please pray for good weather for us and that I dont lose my mind this week trying to get all the last minute details sorted out. 

On a better note, this time next weekend, I'll be a wife! 

XXO, Natalie 

hahahahaha this quote! 

{ real talk }

Hey friends, 

I just wanted to share some thoughts and personal updates. Cole and I both, obviously, have had a lot going on lately. Things have been stressful, not only because of all the wedding planning, but a few weeks ago, Cole lost his job. The reason behind why he got let go was so stupid and we both were upset about what happened.  Poor management is the reason, really. The timing was just horrible, and it just added to our stress to now, start job hunting on top of everything else. It was just so unexpected that it threw us for a loop. Cole doesnt like change (who does?) and this was hard for him, but he really looked at it as a blessing in disguise to find something better.

 I'm so proud of Cole for being so on top of his job search, though. Within a day or two, he had several interviews lined up and within a week, he had two job offers! Cole's stepdad's girlfriend, Sofia, had a connection at 1800 Contacts (a contact subscription company based in Draper) and she found out that within their Health and Wellness department, one of their personal trainers is goin on Maternity Leave soon. So, Cole applied for a customer service rep position, got an interview and was hired on the spot. We are hoping that this trainer position opens sooner, rather than later, and that they will hire within, and Cole will be their first pick! 

Cole started his training this week. It's a 4-week long, 5 days a week, paid training period. Cole wasnt too excited about that, but so far, they seem like a great company that strives to put the happiness of their employees as a top priority. They have great pay and benefits, a wellness center, with a gym and obviously, trainers, for their employees, and an amazing cafe/cafeteria for everyone. Cole told me that they are very social and have company events pretty often and I am very excited about that. I need more social outlets and would love to get to know some of the wives and co-workers. All in all, this is a great opportunity for Cole and Im so happy that he is working so hard to provide for us. 

This may sound funny, but I am actually missing school, a little bit. I dont miss the homework, of course. But, I want to be working towards my degree and want to just be done already. I want to graduate and be out in the real world, making a difference. I want to make an impact in others' lives and help make their world brighter, better. I've been so consumed with the wedding, and everything that I'm missing working on my other goals and dreams. Cole and I will both be back at UVU in the fall and I cant wait to talk to a counselor about graduation and where Im at. 

That's all for now xxo Natalie 

{ Vows }

When Cole and I started talking about marriage and things were getting serious between us. (sometime last year) I remember a conversation about vows and how we both imagined that part of our (hypothetical) wedding. Cole told me wasn't exactly on board with the idea of standing up in front of our friends and family and telling them all his most intimate thoughts about me. I was fine with that, although I had imagined that part differently. But, I respected that he would want to keep that part just between the two of us. 

Now, that we are planning our ceremony and all the details, we've decided to keep our personal vows private. But, I wanted to still do something! So, what we are doing instead is, writing each other letters that will be exchanged the day of the wedding. I'm hoping our videographer or photographer can grab a few sweet candid moments of us reading them to capture that moment. We'll see if that pans out or not. 

Our ceremony will be short, sweet and to the point- the I Do's. I know some people will be disappointed that we arent exchanging vows during our ceremony but, I hope that our ceremony still reflects the love we have for each other. 

We are 18 days away! I cant wait! It's getting so close! We did our bridal session last week at Wadley Farms, which is where we are getting married. I had this whole plan to do our bridals up in the canyon but, it is still so snowy up there! I was pretty crushed that the vision I had for our bridals shoot wasnt going to be what I wanted. But, even though they arent in the location I had originally wanted, I think they are going to be beautiful! 

We had our photographer do a "First Look"  and catch Cole's reaction to me in my wedding dress. I was getting dressed in the Bride's room with my future mother-in-law and I looked at her and was like, "OMG Im getting married! Like, this is really real!" In that moment, it all hit me! I got crazy butterflies and was so nervous all of a sudden! But, as I walked out into the gardens and saw Cole, in his suit, with his back turned away from me, those nerves turned to happiness. I walked up and he turned around and he was beaming! I could tell he loved my dress and as I hugged him, he whispered I love you in my ear.  I cant wait to see how they turn out. Our photographer will be sending them to us tonight or tomorrow, so that we can get prints in time for the reception.

 I cant wait to begin our married lives together. I cant wait to have more sunrises, breakfasts in bed, tickle fights and laughing til we cry, spontaneous road trips, canyon drives, holding hands everywhere we go, singing loudly and being goofy in the car, cooking new foods together, stargazing on the trampline and talking about how small we feel in comparison, walks around the neighborhood, late night gym sessions, sunset kisses and everything in between. There are so many firsts that I cant wait to experience together...getting our first place together, buying our first house, our first baby and so many others. I cant wait! 

these pics pretty much sum up our relationship hahahahaha 

xxo, Natalie 

{ 28 days }

It's officially wedding month! I can't believe it's here! I feel like we've been engaged forever and not long enough at the same time. I feel such a mixture of emotions. I'm feeling stressed out, so excited, and anxious and nervous all at the same time. Planning a wedding isn't like planning a birthday party or a family get-together! There are so many little details. Like, buying cake stands, and what type of containers are we goin to be our cutlery in and who is going to be in charge of gifts at the end of the night. It goes on and on. I have been waking up in the middle of the night, thinking about things we need to do, or things we need to remember the day of. I have a few lists to help us remember but there are so many details. I have a vision of how I want everything to look like but, there's this anxious anticipation of everything. I know some of that anxiety wont go away until the day of the wedding. 

I have been in so many of my girlfriends' weddings (yes, Im like the last of my group to get married!) and with that experience under my belt, I've always thought to myself, as Ive seen girlfriends fret and fuss that, "it's one day! you put so much into ONE day! and you probably won't remember most of it." 

Now, that my big day is coming, I've totally lost sight of that perspective. There are things that I can't imagine my wedding day without. Like, the perfect venue. Some have asked me why we arent just doing it at one of the local church meeting houses and sorry, no matter what you do to decorate, you can't hide the basketball hoops or the gym flooring and funky walls. I had to have my favorite (and quite expensive) peonies in my bouquet. Or, a videographer, which some might find unnecessary. Or having a big sleepover with my bridesmaids the night before my wedding. 

I'm starting to realize as it gets closer and closer, that, yes, these things will all make our wedding memorable and beautiful. But, at the end of that special day, all that matters is that Im marrying the most amazing man. It doesn't matter if my centerpieces dont exactly match the pictures I've pinned on Pinterest. Or if the cake doesnt taste like The Cake Boss baked it himself. Or, if our pictures dont get featured on Utah Bride Blog. What matters is that we are making vows to love, honor and cherish each other forever. What matters most is the man waiting for me at the end of the aisle.  What matters is that I'm choosing him to be my partner in life and that every day after our "I Do's" that I keep choosing him. That I make him and our family my top priority. That I think of him in all my decisions. 

I am also grateful for his wonderful family. Cole comes from a blended family and everyone has been so welcoming and supportive of us and I couldnt be happier to be joining such an amazing family. Tonight, the Lallatin and Aaron sides (Cole's stepdad's side and his mom's family) all came together to celebrate our upcoming wedding. We had a great time and it was so wonderful to meet some of them I hadnt met yet and get to know them all more. I look forward to many more family gatherings over the years and more memories with them. 

{Let the countdown begin...}

Hey everyone, it's been a while since I posted. Planning the wedding, working two part-time jobs and trying to have time with my handsome fiance has been hard to balance. I'm so glad that we decided to take the semester off, otherwise I think I'd be pulling out my hair trying to keep up with homework and tests on top of it all. 

We are 7 WEEKS out! 

Everything is coming together nicely. We set out our wedding invitations this weekend, which is a huge step. We have a few things to finalize like our music playlists and PA system for music, and finalize a few decor items. But, I'm really happy with everything we've found and bought so far. 

A few weekends ago, I flew home to Northern California. My best friends and mom threw me an awesome shower! It was so nice to see and visit with old friends and people I usually dont get a chance to see when I go home for visits. 

We had great food, and I'm not one for games but, we had He Said/She Said game where everyone had to guess whether it was something Cole or I said or did. Cole wrote all the questions so it was pretty funny. Then, we had everyone write down their favorite memory of me. Then, I had to guess who wrote it. I have the worst memory so it was actually hard. I only got one wrong though! 

My best friend planned the BEST surprise for me, too. She asked Cole to film a lil video message for me and all my guests. It was the sweetest and such a great surprise! I loved it so much! Have your tissues ready...

{ winter wonderland }

Truthfully, I hate the snow. I'm a California girl! I thrive in the sun. I could live year-round in sundresses, shorts, tank tops and flip-flops. I don't know how to live in the snow. I can't walk in it or drive in it! I totaled my car just 2 months after moving here from California and ever since, I get a little anxiety every time I have to drive when it's snowing. My family lives two hours from beautiful Lake Tahoe. So, anytime we wanted to go have a snow day, we could drive up and come home. Now, living in Utah, I have to learn how to deal with it. I've gotten a little better at handling my car in the snow, but I still would rather have Cole drive. The snow is so beautiful to look at, though. Cole and I took advantage of the fact that we live so close to the canyons and went for a snowy drive. It had snowed the night before and the roads weren't too bad. We went up to Sundance resort, really close to where he proposed, actually. The mountains were blanketed with snow and the trees were all frosty and glistening. It was so incredibly gorgeous. I'm feeling grateful to live somewhere that I can experience such beauty. It reminds me of the hymn, For the Beauty of the Earth. I love that hymn. It reminds me who created this beautiful world we live in and to be grateful for the blessings I have. Here are some photos I took from our drive. Just on my phone, too bad I don't have a good camera. They don't do it justice at all. But, I hope you enjoy them! 


XOXO, Natalie