Truly a Fairytale.......

Couldn't let this day pass without a little love for The Royal Wedding and Will & Kate! I believe we all still want to believe in fairy tales, and today their fairy tale became reality as they wed. 

Truly beautiful. 

Timeless and classic. 

Did you watch today? What did you think?

I created a special Pin Board for my Royal Wedding Love! Speaking of this; have you pinned lately? 

Good Night!

Tomorrow you'll wake up to a lovely Day Spring giveaway!

She's ENGAGED!

This won't matter to most (all) of you, but I just had to shout it from the rooftops!! A BIG Congrats to my friend Jennie and her boyfriend Caleb, they are engaged!! So, so, so excited for them! Can't wait to celebrate with you and hear all about it, so excited for your wedding!!!!

An engagement in the mountains! How amazing!

photo credit: Caleb's phone

Sam & Jessie's Wedding Day!

It's hard to believe that my little (not so much anymore) brother is now married! One of the primary reasons for traveling back to the Midwest was for my Brother's wedding to his girlfriend of two and half years, Jessie. They were married January 16th, 2010 in a beautiful winter ceremony. I've since decided that winter weddings are my new fave! There was just the right of frost covering the trees that morning to make it so romantic.

Orion and I sang in the wedding for the Unity Candle Lighting. We sang, "When God Made You" by Natalie Grant & New Song. We had this song sung in our wedding, and it was a special treat to sing it together in my Brother's wedding.

Here's a few pictures from the BIG day, to see more click here.

Us with the Happy Couple
The Wedding Cake by Andrea Rouse


Us at the wedding. 7 months preggo! I was 30 weeks the day before!
Aren't they adorable!?!!

Me with my Brothers & Sister at the wedding.

Orion and I at the rehearsal the night before. One of my new fave pictures of us!

So happy for them, and excited to have a new Sister in the family! Congrats Sam & Jessie!

Simple Elegance

A just-released photo from Ivanka Trump's weekend nuptials to Jared Kushner show the bride looking luminous in a custom laceVera Wang gown and jewels from her own collection. Doesn't she look stunning & classic? I don't care if you love her or like her, she's classic. I love the lace, the cream and the jewels! Happy wedding and marriage to these two!

Eric & Meliessa's Wedding

Do you ever go to a wedding and just feel the love, and know that these two were made for each other? This was that kinda wedding!

My first and only attempt at match making, ended up in success this past weekend with the marriage of our really good friends Eric & Meliessa to each other. Eric is one of Orion's really great friends, they were roommates and Eric was in our wedding too. I became friends with Eric through my husband and the 3 of us have hung out so much, shared a lot together and a lot of laughs. Enter Meliessa, my husband met Meliessa when they were both in Masters Commission together in Florida for 3 years. I met Meliessa through her sister Sara, who just happens to be my BFF and former college roomie. It's a small world we live in.

Sara and I started dreaming about two years ago how perfect we thought the two would be together. Since that day, we started dreaming up ways to get the two together to hang out whenever we could. The result; soon they started dating, fell in love and now are getting married!

Orion and I couldn't be more happy for two people. It's so awesome when two great people find each other, and it's just PERFECT!! The wedding was so emotional, beautiful and magical! You have to really know the two to understand just what I'm saying. There's no two better people that could have found each other than Eric & Meliessa.

Congrats you guys we love you and are so thankful that we could be apart of your special day!

Bride & Groom

Me & Sara; matchmakers!

Yeah! They are married!

Us with the happy couple!

Me and Orion

Seven

Two weekends ago, I went with my future Sister-in-law Jess and the rest of her bridesmaids to go dress shopping. Now, this will be my seventh time being a bridesmaid in a wedding! I thought the last time was the last wedding I'd be in but I was happy and thrilled when I was asked by Jess to be in her and my Brother's wedding next summer! Sunday morning, the dress shop made an exception for us and opened the store especially for us. So we got the while store to ourselves to try on dressed, and see Jessie in her wedding dress. So fun!
This is a picture of our dresses in platinum. This is probably one of my hands down favorites! I love the shape on this dress, and how it flatters everyone. I also love the sweat heart neckline. I'm super pumped to wear this dress!

Save the date for Sam & Jesse 7-10-10!

Vintage Glam *Engagement*

I found this adorable couple's engagement pictures online this morning! Aren't they cute?! Their session reminds me of the movie The Notebook, one of my all time faves! Click here to see more of their vintage insipred engagement session. Jen Stewart Photography did an amazing job of capturing the look and feel of their 40's style wedding! To read more about this adorable couple, and see more of their vintage glam wedding, click here to read about the couple who hails from Sacramento, CA.

Happy Looking! :)

Valentines Day, a Pageant, and a Proposal....

This is going to be a long one.... so sit back, grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and enjoy as I tell you about a very long weekend.....

Valentine's Day:

As I mentioned earlier in a post it was my turn to plan Valentines Day this year, I figured I'd give him a reprieve! Well, I planned a really great trip up North to Duluth, MN to stay at a hotel and explore Duluth since Orion won a gift card to a Marriott property we were going to use it and explore Duluth, since we'd never been there. But, at the last minute our plans fell apart when our dog sitter for Bentley back out. Well, I was crushed since I had this great plan all in my head. I quickly came up with another idea, since Orion already had taken the day off Friday before we headed to Stillwater, MN to shop, explore, and eat. It was nice to sleep in Friday, and mosey our way to Stillwater. We ate lunch at Nacho Mamas, and then explored every inch of Stillwater, and shopped. I found a lovely vintage bench from the 1800s that I wanted for my office....if it didn't cost $3000! Couldn't believe it, but boy was it beautiful! We headed home for a quiet night at home on Friday. Saturday, (Valentine's Day) Orion and I went to one of our favorite spots to eat lunch Rudy's Red Eye Grill in Rosemount, MN. We love that place! Then after stuffing ourselves it was time to come home and exchange gifts. Now, I'd come up with an idea to make or buy each other something that reminded each other of our first date as a gift. I was so excited I thought of something really great to get him that would do just that. Well, since Orion and I have been married this is the 2nd year in a row that we have bought each other the same gift!!! It's crazy, last year we each bought each other the John Legend CD and took one back. This year..... we each bought each other the movie Ladder 49. Needless to say we took one back and I got Seasons 1 & 2 of Jon & Kate Plus 8! Here's the story about Ladder 49, in case you don't know Orion and I watched this movie on our very first date...so that's why it was fitting to buy him this for our Valentine's Day.

out for our Valentine's Day Lunch!


The Pageant:
Later that evening on Valentine's Day was the Miss West Metro/Miss City of the Lakes Pageants.... Orion was going to go, but then decided not to. Which was ok, I met up with the ladies to head to the pageant. It was a great night, Tricia did awesome! And it was nice to see Judy, Kathy and Sara. Afterwards Dr. Glenn took us all out for dessert. Plus, during the pageant I won the raffle for Lakers vs. T-wolves tickets for Hubby!! Can't wait to go next weekend!! It's going to be so much fun. He loves the Lakers...and I was so happy I won them for him!!!

Now, on to the proposal......
This Valentine's Day my little brother Sam got engaged!! Yes, that's right!! I can't hardly believe it myself..but it's very exciting and we're all so happy for them. He called me a week ago and told me about it, so all this week I've been helping him plan a perfect engagement. He took his girlfriend Jessie out for dinner, and then had my parents and her Mom hang up a sign on a bridge that read, "Will you marry me." After dinner they took a walk around this park and he led her to where the sign was hung, got down on one knee and asked her to be his wife!! So cute, and so clever! I'm so happy for them, and proud of my little brother. Sam will leave for AIT training for the Airforce this summer, and won't be back till November 2009, they are planning a 2010 Summer wedding!!
Aren't they adorable!!! Congrats Sam & Jessie! Welcome to the family Jessie!! We love you!!!

Jimmy & Jessie's Wedding

As you know Orion and I spent the weekend in New England celebrating two very good friends of ours, who got married this weekend! Jimmy and Jessie, we're so happy you've found each other. It's pretty awesome when you think about it, two of our good friends, found each other and got married. We couldn't be more happy for them. They are a great couple, one of my most touching weddings I've been to in a long time. It was also a ton of fun taking a few days off work, to relax with them, and be apart of their day!It's so exciting to watch them find each other and fall in love! We're so excited for you guys, and what life holds for you now! Enjoy your honeymoon, we can't wait to see you when you get back!

click here to see more pics from the wedding

Mini Vacay, a Birthday, and a Wedding!

I promise the amount of friends that are left to be wed are getting slimmer by the year! It seems like the past 3 years all I've done is help my friends get married, be in weddings, attend weddings, plan them and the list goes on. But, I love weddings and I love my friends! This weekend Hubby and I are headed to New England to be with our friends Jimmy & Jessie, and stand up for them in their wedding. This will be my 6th time as a bridesmaid. We're making a long weekend out of it and spending a few days in Boston. I'm so glad they chose to get married in such a wonderful place. Orion and I get to walk down the aisle together, it's going to be so fun. So... I will be taking a little break from blogging, emailing, etc. to spend a few days with our wonderful friends. I'm so excited.
Tonight, we've got to pick up the tuxes, pack and get some sleep for our 6 AM flight! That's right we're crazy, but I'd rather fly early and get in early rather than later.
Tomorrow we'll fly into Boston around 11 AM, get picked up by the wonderful Papia family! Ready to spend the weekend with the Bride & Groom.
It's also my 26th Birthday on Saturday, I'm not sure what the day holds for me in between wedding details, but after it's all over on Sunday Orion and I are headed to spend a day and a half in Boston. I'm looking forward to it all! Till Monday, I'll be back with pictures!

Stephanie & Brian

This past weekend I traveled home for a wedding. I love weddings, and I especially when they are for two amazing people. That was Stephanie & Brian! I've known Stephanie since high school, we were best of friends, were in cheerleading together, shared a love for Brueggers Bagels, and spent Friday game night shopping before cheering. We've had so many fun memories together. Brian and Steph have been together for what seems like forever, and through all of their ups and downs, they finally have their happily ever after, and it couldn't have happened to two better people.
It was so fun to see her so happy and so in love. They had the most adorable wedding. The ceremony alone was beautiful, and they pulled out all the stops at the reception. Every cute detail you can imagine having at your wedding they did. Everything from a kids dinner table with hot dogs, apple sauce and juice packs, complete with individual cakes at each table with different flavors to get guest mingling.

Here's a few pictures from the day!

Mr. & Mrs.

congrats to the newlyweds!

the cute little cakes at each table

he did smash cake in her face..so cute.

boquet toss.

garter toss.

high school reunion

me and my sister
me and the beautiful bride

Paige & Joe

Wedding season is officially here! This past weekend Paige & Joe got married, I had the privledge to help Paige and her Mother plan the wedding of a lifetime, I also took Paige and Joe's engagement pictures this past fall. It was an honor to be apart of the planning and big day! It was a beautiful day on Saturday, couldn't have asked for better weather for a wedding. It was so fun being with Paige, her Mom and their whole family all day long from doing hair in the moring, to helping her at the church, taking pictures, and seeing the cake get smashed in her face by her new hubby! It truly was a beautiful wedding, so looked so happy and so in love! Here's a few shots from the day;

The Newlyweds

Eunice & I at the reception

Eunice, Pam and myself.

Me and my Hubby!

To check out more pictures of Paige & Joe's big day, check out my website!

xoxo

Road Trip

This weekend Orion and I made a "little" road trip to Oklahoma! We drove from Minnesota to Oklahoma. We're in town for Orion's friend Kyle's wedding, Orion is a groomsmen and I am looking forward to seeing him in a tux! We left Thursday night and rolled into Kansas City around 12:30 am and got some sleep. We arrived in Owasso this morning around 11 am. It was such a fun trip, we had some great times keeping each other awake by playing the state capital game, and state mottos!

We're happy to be here, even if it's just a couple days. Orion's friends from home are so wonderful, and I have enjoyed spending time with them in the three years that we've been together! I leave wishing I had a southern accent too!

Orion & I finally arrived in Ok!

Tonight was the rehersal and dinner. So fun to be with great people, and have a down home southern BBQ! Kyle's fiance' is truly wonderful. Melissa is even more beautiful and charming in person. Kyle really has picked a good one! She's adorable. Tomorrow is their wedding and I am so excited! I love weddings, and I especially love them when they are between two of your close friends. Orion is out having a "guys" night with Kyle and the rest of the men, while I am sitting here blogging and catching up on t.v. Ahh.....I love vacation! More to come on our Oklahoma adventures!

Toodles!

Picture Perfect!

Today was a ton of fun for me, I got to do wedding stuff with one of my best friends. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love weddings. I especially love being in my friends' weddings and helping them with their special day! Today I got to go wedding dress shopping with Jessie. It was a ton of fun, and she's going to be a beautiful Bride in her dress. She looks stunning! We ( Me & her Sister Kayla) got to try on bridesmaid dresses. Jessie chose a really pretty bridesmaid dress in Truffle! And after 5 trips down the aisle (coming on the heels of my 6th) I am super excited for this dress, it's not like any of the others I've worn and it's chocolate brown! How wonderful.

My highlight of the day besides all the fun we had at the bridal shop was taking engagement pictures with Jessie & Jimmy. It was a pretty perfect day for pictures. I took them over to Loring Park in Minneapolis and we got some pretty fun shots. They are both beautiful people, and such a great couple it was pretty easy for me. Plus, I got to shoot in some locations that I've never done before. They all turned out to be pretty amazing, it's hard to choose just one favorite. So here's a couple of my favs:

Ok, so I have a few favorites! It was privilege to be able to capture some great pictures for some amazing friends of ours! I truly can't wait for their wedding! Check out more of Jimmy & Jessie at www.andreaworleyphotography.ifp3.com