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Civil Ceremony - South Dakota 7.3.2020
Thursday, July 30, 2020 • civil ceremony
"I feel like we've planned for 6 different weddings" is the story of planning a wedding during a pandemic. Can I get an AMEN COVID19 Brides?!
Originally, we were having a large wedding in Mexico - Which has now turned into our religious ceremony & reception. Then, we were going to do a Commitment ceremony in Washington in June, but COVID19 restrictions had other plans. Then a month before we even knew we were going to South Dakota, we decided to have our Civil Ceremony in South Dakota.
It was the best decision we didn't know we needed to make. COVID19 Brides that are debating on doing a small ceremony then a large celebration for later, I am bias, but the small, intimate ceremony was everything I needed it to be. So, I wanted to talk about some of my favorite elements that made this Civil Ceremony a sweet treat, and how we kept it on a very small budget. If you are like us and have invested your pockets into your original wedding, here is also how we saved money and kept things meaningful.
I knew immediately I wanted to get married in Spearfish Park. If you grew up where I did, you know Spearfish Park has it all - waterfalls, feeding the fish, nature, playground for the kids, and it's well kept. I hold so many memories here. I also really wanted to focus on incorporating nature into our backdrop. Since Mexico will mostly be indoors and in a city, I wanted the Civil Ceremony to reflect my upbringing. And that is exactly why I am so glad we had the Civil Ceremony in my hometown area. 2 different personalities and hopefully getting to have 2 different celebrations to fit our preferences - Best of both worlds :)
Spearfish Park - To reserve the picnic shelter was $30. To reserve this space for our vows was FREE - My Dad just went a little early to claim the area. I chose the ceremony to be 10:30am because I knew the heat would be worse after 12pm and the park would start to crowd.
We both REALLY love flowers. Aaron is more romantic than I am, but when we were first dating, for many Sunday's in a row he would bring over a bouquet of roses and then drive back 35 minutes where he lived. I also grew up on a farm in South Dakota that had rose bushes - So having roses as the staple and any subtle flowers was perfect. We bought the vases from Walmart and 10 Flower bouquets from Safeway. All in all this was $150 for flowers and vases. We saved A TON of money by not getting our flowers from the flower shop. I even made my bouquet the night before the ceremony. My parents bought a karaoke machine for the microphone and speaker too - Also cheaper than renting, and since my Dad got to legally marry us (Certified Pastor), he gets to keep a memory sake :) The machine was $130 from Walmart and you can play music through it too.
We chose our song to be "Die a Happy Man" by Thomas Rhett. The lyrics and our day to day life go hand in hand.
Because we were going to the steakhouse shortly after the vows, we just wanted something light and sweet as we did toasts, games, and mingled. My cousins actually made all of these beautiful cupcakes and the cake and got all the decorative garnishes on top. They turned out better than my Pinterest board! All in all, I am going to guess this was closer to $75-100. The decorations we set the cupcakes on came from my Mom's house.
1 tradition I did want to keep was having my grandparents photos with us. I was so fortunate to live near both sets of grandparents and had relationships with both. My Grandma Meda - I would eat lunch with almost every day in High School and I lived with her for an entire Summer when she was sick taking care of her Monday-Friday. My Grandma and Grandpa Brunner I spent time with on the Farm, but they also helped me choose a graduate school and encouraged me to move to California! I miss them all very much and wanted their presence there.
Finally...The people. Even though not many Brunner's could make it (Dad's side) due to everyone being so spread out and this being last minute, I was SO thrilled to see them there. Same with Mom's side who was home for the 4th of July festivities. Then, there were my home team friends I've been friends with for 7-20 years - College, Pageants, Church Camp, Cal State Monterey Bay, and High School. Aaron's Grandma, cousin and her family all got to join us from the West Coast and took a major trip to see us all. I was really overwhelmed by how much love we received after such a difficult year. My Aunt and cousin took all the photos and my Aunt fixed my Mexico wedding dress - MIRACLE worker. I can't wait to show everyone the before and after photos. But sis n law and Mom helped a lot the week of, and honestly I am just so happy to see so many of my favorite people in one area.
This goes without saying, but the most important piece was that it was this guy, me and God. What I loved most about the details of this day were our vows. Neither one of us wanted to repeat the typical vows. We also didn't want to say things that were over the top or taken from the internet. So, we actually decided to use words we say to each other all the time. He always says, "I am grateful for who God gave me"...and I like to say, "You are my person". So we included those into our vows.
I avoided dating cowboys, farmers, country boys, ranchers - Because that's who raised me. Also, when I lived in SoCal, I didn't like like the SoCal attitude of men (I know, general statement). I preferred the Bay Area and NorCal when I lived in both locations and I thought 100% my love story would be someone from the Bay Area....But who do I marry? A guy raised on a ranch in Mexico, but also in the suburbs of SoCal, and doesn't like the Bay Area....The irony :)
Our outfits: I got my dress from ASOS for $40 and boots were from home, jewelry were Christmas gifts from his Grandma and Aaron's Madrina (godmom). Aaron bought that Cinch shirt for $60 at the local Cowboys Too store in Belle Fourche, SD. Overall, very low cost and easily things we could wear again. If you couldn't tell, I am definitely a bride, person, wife, etc who wants to buy something she will use again!
The last pieces - The banderitas were $7 from Amazon and the tablecloths were $3 from party city & the mason jars were from my Mom's pantry.
And here is where we really saved money. I cringed a little when I had to let people know, but the reality is we were budgeting for 1 wedding not 2. So, we asked our guests if they wanted to join us at my favorite Steakhouse - Steerfish in Spearfish, but they had to pay their own meals. I know this can be really heart crushing to ask your guests this, especially because it's your big day and they are traveling to celebrate you. But considering everything that's transpired this year, I was really happy people understood.
OUR FAVORITE PART of every July 3 - The Rodeo. My 3 friends from High School, College, Pageants - We normally get together every 3rd of July, which makes us getting legally married on this date extra special. We typically get steak tips at The Stadium and then head to the rodeo and watch the fireworks. Getting to our Civil Ceremony day in this tradition made my heart soar. Great crowd, great runs, and getting to see fireworks light up the sky. There is no place like home during the 4th of July!
That is how we planned a Civil Ceremony in 3 weeks and how we budgeted and ASKED for help. I tried to find the pieces most important to us as a couple, my upbringing, and only spent money in areas that were mutually important to Aaron and I.
I love love, and I love our love. Hope you enjoyed a glimpse into our day!
Mom: Mothers day & B-day
Sunday, May 10, 2020
I wrote about MY PARENTS in September of 2018.
But this month is about my Mother. It's Mothers Day & her birthday month!
My Mom's dream was to be a Mom. Ike and her were her dream...Well, until grandchildren came along and her new favorite kids are her daughter in law and son in law, right Mom ;)
But besides being the best Mom, I'd also title her as funny, fierce, contributor, hostess, community driven, involved, Queen, and the ultimate teacher.
My Mom made sure my brother and I felt like we had everything - I mean, she drove me to Soccer practice an entire town over just so I could have opportunities I wouldn't have experienced otherwise.
She gave me my first and only piano lessons in 2nd grade. She was my Sunday school teacher at one point, and she was also my Christmas concert teacher as well at Church.
Sports? My Mom is the reason I am wild about sports - She is the reason I pitched in Softball, pursued Cheer/Dance in High School (My Mom was a Ballerina growing up), and why I also know the rules of Sports and am passionate with my Fantasy Football team, October baseball, and why March madness might as well be a holiday for me...Ok maybe that has a little to do with my Dad too. But baseball? That was my Mom. Oh yeah my Mom also sings, plays piano, and she used to play guitar and drums as a kid. Yes, she is one of those people, could sing, dance, play softball, and sew. I know...I'm jealous too.
She was/is such an encourager. She encouraged me to enter my first pageant. Which spiraled into entering many contests and competitions of all sorts - She is the reason my childhood room is packed with trophies, medals, ribbons, sashes, and crowns. She was essentially my first Coach and made sure I practiced outside of practice...Made sure I was enjoying my time...But also, was in it to do my very best..and hopefully win it. She really wasn't the participation trophy type of Mom.
She also brought me to the bank to open my first checking account. Which led to teaching me how to pay my own bills. She made me get a job to pay for my own school supplies and clothes in High School. When I was 14-18, I probably didn't appreciate that, but she raised me to be independent. So, if anything ever happened to her or Dad, I'd be okay...And she wasn't going to raise a lazy kid.
My Mom is a warrior. Many of you have heard about her beating late stage 3 ovarian cancer. But you may also not know her Dad died on Christmas - just 4 days before her Wedding. She lost her Mom on Mother's Day in 2008, her big brother died 2 days before Christmas, and her big sister I believe died around Christmas as well...yet every Christmas, she makes it feel like the most magical time of the year. She has shown me that you can still live and miss those people and they can still live in our hearts, our recipes, our gardens, and our picture frames.
I wanted to highlight some of the non-traditional things that aren't always associated with Moms. Of course my Mom made me delicious meals - homemade little cinnamon rolls anyone!? She also loved me so much - Gave everything, so I could have choices. So I could explore life the way I dreamt of. She taught me about Faith and God. She was all the traditional Mom things and then she was also many other life lessons that I don't think Mom's always get the credit for.
I love that my brother and I were my Mom's dream and she made sure to carry that through to this day and I see it in how she is as a Grandma and as a Mother-in-law. She is the true definition of a hostess - She invites people into her life and truly loves on them, invites them to be part of our lives as well.
Happy Mother's Day Mom, I love you so much. I am so proud to be your daughter. Thank you for all the life lessons and for being so present in Ike's and my life.
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