since last time..

Ah.. it is amazing how busy life is. Incredibly busy. I so so so wish I posted more frequently like I used to.. but this semester is kicking my bum. All I know is that I am happy. Extremely happy. And I love my sweet adorable loving and perfect husband. We are perfect for each other and though we are stressed beyond measure most days - Life is good! 

Here is what we have been up to.. since October 16th when I last posted about our daily life.. 

-I baked for the first time in our tiny apartment. Yummy healthy breakfast muffins. 

-I got my name changed on my Drivers License.. Step 1 of that long process

-Gavin DeGraw's new CD came out... and it is AMAZING!! 

-Made my favorite tilapia dish for dinner

-Taylor flew out to NYC for networking and interviews for a few days. Our first 4 nights apart. And I got to use my new amazing iron!

-We met with this family in Florida for a mini vacation (extended post to come)

-Taco Tuesday at Rubio's

-Halloween and Grandpa's Birthday. Too busy to dress up or do anything. We went to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party to make up for the lack of Halloween activities back home. 

-Spoke at the FCCLA Convention. My high school sewing teacher asked me to give a 50 minute presentation in Salt Lake City on the value of sewing. Due to my crazy schedule (work, school, vacation) I was left writing my entire presentation the night before and had a total of 30 minutes of sleep... Let's just say it was basically the first time since FIT that I stay up literally all night. It went extremely well though so I guess it was worth it in the end. (extended post to come)

-Taylor was one of 6 BYU students who got flown out to NYC for interviews with Credit Suisse!!!!!!!!!! (extended post to come)

-Cut down on my hours at Avenia Bridal

-Midterms. Taylor surprised me with yummy ice cream because I was taking two midterms on the same day. Friday. Late fee day for both tests... awesome. 

-Temple night 

-Calling to the nursery. If you know me, you know this was coming... and it's hilarious. Good thing is we have the calling together and it is every other Sunday.

-Seth's Birthday. He turned 26! I can't believe everyone is getting so old!!! Taylor and I are almost 24, Bain is a senior this year, AND Sy is turning 21 next month (and he comes home in 11 and a half weeks!!)

-Bain was awarded Dance Sterling Scholar!! I was given this award when I was a senior at Orem High School too so I was extremely happy to see Bain get it! Plus she is the most amazing dancer EVER!

-Kenzie's Bridal Shower (extended post to come)  

-Taylor was offered a Summer Analyst position with Credit Suisse for this summer!!! He accepted. We celebrated with Sushi and Thor. 

-Taylor went to NYC again for a week for more networking (again, extended post to come)

-Mom flew out to Atlanta to visit Seth and Jenn and wait for their sweet baby to come!

-Kenzie's wedding! It was so extremely beautiful and happy! Bain came with me to the ceremony and Daddy came to the reception.

-Girls night. Consisted of my besties (Talyn, Emily, Katie, Kiara), girl talk, soup and salad, and treats!

-I picked Taylor up from the airport after being gone for 6 days.. I seriously didn't think it was possible to miss him so much - and he brought back NYC treats for me! He's the best!!

-1 year since saying "yes" - full proposal story here

Some aBree Original news:

-My sequin maxi skirt has gone viral on Pinterest and I have received many many emails regarding it. I've started selling my first item of clothing!! I have had over 10 orders in the past couple weeks and I feel extremely blessed and grateful for this opportunity.

-A wedding store in Georgia contacted me about using the wedding dress I created for Cutting Fashion in their holiday window display!! So random and so exciting. I've been contacted by people all over the country regarding my designs and I am so amazed at all the support.

aBree Fashion Favorites this month:

And since Black Friday and Christmas is coming up - here are my top gift picks for women from J.Crew

And that is all for now - hopefully many more detailed posts to come between now and when the new semester starts in January!!

For daily photos of our lives follow me on instagram @breelena

Wedding Day {part one}: Manti Temple

Six months ago I married my best friend. It was literally the most amazing and special day of our entire lives. We had been preparing and waiting for this day to happen forever and we were so excited! With not much sleep (packing and last minute details) my 5:45 am alarm came bright and early. Janelle, my amazing hair and makeup artist was coming at 6:00 to get me all pretty, but unfortunately she was pulled over by a cop on the way down which pushed us back about a half hour. This is something that would normally have upset me but I felt like nothing could go wrong because I was getting married!

(I also beautified myself by getting my nails done by Alexa at Suggestions Salon, eyelash extensions by Elise at Suggestions Salon (who was amazing), waxing by Jessica at Wax Me Too, a few sunkissed highlights by Brianna at Remedez Hair & Spa, bi-monthly massages by Amber, and Pilates lessons by Shar) 

Literally every single person I worked with was incredible!! I highly recommend ALL of them. On that note, I recommend ALL my vendors. Everyone was so perfect and wonderful!!!

My sweet family was up early as well helping get things ready for decorating the Manor for the reception. I am so grateful for their help! My sister also got her hair and makeup done for the wedding and Versa Artistry did such an amazing job!! I couldn't have been happier.

Due to the late start Taylor and I were off to Manti about 45 minutes behind schedule....but we made it! We made good time and got there about 20 minutes late - just in time to meet Katie, one of my sweet bridesmaids, in the parking lot to help me take my dress in. We were suppose to be to the temple 30 minutes before our guests but.. we were happy for the familiar faces as we were rushing in.

The Manti temple was amazing. We chose this temple for many reasons. We loved that it was secluded and more intimate (and not Salt Lake, Timpanogos, or Provo) around busy marriage season. Also, the past three generations of Taylor's family as well as my grandparent's were married in the Manti Temple. It was a bit of a journey away (1.5 hours) and we are so grateful for those who made the trip.  Even for being late we were still able to stay on schedule and we were sealed at 10:30. For the sealing I wore my mom's prom dress from high school. It is long sleeved and white and I have loved it since I can remember. The ceremony was wonderful, filled with some amazing moments that we will never forget. It was the best feeling to be sealed to Taylor for eternity. I've never felt so loved, and so peaceful. Everything was perfect.

After the ceremony my mom helped me change and we came out to greet everyone to take photos. My amazingly perfect photographer, Rebekah Westover, was an absolute miracle worker and captured the day perfectly. I knew from day one that I needed her to be my photographer and I booked her, the Manor, and the Manti Temple the day after I received my promise ring in August 2012.

Without further ado, here are the photos (thanks Rebekah!!) of the temple.

{I have broken up the wedding into two parts, the temple and the reception because I have SO many photos that I LOVE too much not share on my blog. I will also probably do a final post with a smaller selection of my absolute favorites of the day to summarize.}

I hope you like pictures..

 ^^everyone who came to support us^^

 ^^Woolstenhulme Side - Aunt's and Uncle's^^

  

 ^^Groomsmen: Austin (cousin), Iggy, Hyunjin, Blake (brother), Seth (brother), Colton^^

 ^^Bridesmaids: Talyn, Katie, Bain (sister), Jenn (sister-in-law), Emily {not pictured, Brooke (sister)}^^

 ^^our sweet mothers^^

 ^^Granny and Grandpa Elizondo and Granny White^^

^^The Woolstenhulme's - Bride's Side^^

     ^^My Sister and Brother {Missing Sy...}^^

  

  ^^Absolutely ADORE this photo of my siblings^^

 ^^Wilkins Family^^

 ^^The Wilkins' - Groom's Side^^

And some silly photos from the day!

 ^^Would not be an event without a funny picture with my siblings - LOVE^^

 ^^pretty sure my veil must have whipped him in the face.. oops^^

 ^^Some sweet ladies at the temple wanted to take some photos of my dress...Flattering and awkward all at the same time AND Rebekah captured it on her camera^^

After the wedding we had a luncheon at the Manti House Inn for those who came to the ceremony. It was all amazing and perfect and wonderful!!!

Stay tuned for part 2 - the Reception.

For more wedding posts check out:

Engagements

Bridals

Wedding Day via Instagram

Grey Likes Weddings Feature

Honeymoon Week 1

Honeymoon Week 2

Vendors:

Photography: REBEKAH WESTOVER // Event Design and Planning: Bree Wilkins {the Bride} // Custom Gown and Veil: ABREE ORIGINAL // Hair and Makeup: JANELLE AT VERSA ARTISTRY // Bridesmaids & Maid of Honor Attire: ABREE ORIGINAL and J. CREW // Groom’s custom suit and shirt: DRESS CODE // Floral Design: Bella Fleur // Ceremony Location: Manti Utah LDS Temple