We Bought a House

Big news in our neck of the woods, it is now official we closed last night we are now homeowners! We are so excited that it is now final. It has been a long but very exciting process along the way. We started scoping out neighborhoods about a year ago and once we had in narrowed down to a desired area we started attending open houses just to see what we could afford and what we liked. After we returned from our honeymoon we official started the search with our realtor.

Turned out our timing was great because when we were going to open houses during the summer houses were selling in a matter of days, most going into a multiple offer situation. Summer is the most popular time to buy in the area since parents are trying to move before their kids go back to school. Once we started hunting school was back in session and a lot of the craziness died down, however the inventory was also a tad lower but it worked out just fine.

After hunting with our realtor for about a month we had pretty much seen all our options in our desired area and knew which house was our best bet. We were excited to put in an offer, and it was accepted without a battle.

While we closed last night we will not get the keys to our new home until December 1st, so we have about a two week wait before its truly ours and we can start moving our stuff in. We have already started packing up our apartment and I am busy picking out paint colors for the walls. Our minds have really been on overdrive thinking about all the projects we want to tackle and what to do any buy first.

I cant wait to share the journey of home ownership with you all and any projects we take on so stay tuned!

Honeymoon Video

See our Honeymoon Pictures: Part 1 Here, Part 2 Here, Part 3 Here  and Part 4 Here

In addition to lots and lots of photos that we took on our honeymoon using our GoPro we also took plenty of video footage that we hoped to put together into a honeymoon video recap... Well easier said then done. I had no idea what kind of project it would be to edit my first video but I did my best. It may be about two months later but I have finished that video and am excited to share.

Again this was our first time recording video and editing so it is very amateur status and it shows but you can only get better with practice so hopefully the next one will be better. Highlights of what is included in the video

Opening: Wailua Falls
Tunnel of Trees
Poipu Beach
Spouting horn
Kayaking Wailua River
Hiking to Secret Falls
Waimea Canyon
Smiths Family Luau
Sunset Cruise- Na Pali Coast

Wedding Photos: Signs and Details

Now that I have shared all the photos of the events of our Wedding Day I wanted to do one final post, pictures of many of the signs and small details. These small details are some of my favorite parts of weddings.

Signs 

From my past posts many of you already know that I went a little sign crazy for the wedding and made quite a few, here are a few shots from them in use on the big day

Chalkboard Welcome Sign, See DIY Here
This one was located at the entryway to the reception

Wooden Welcome Sign
This one was located at the beginning of the aisle of the ceremony

Please Choose a Seat Sign, See DIY Here
This one was also located at the front of the ceremony

Mr and Mrs Chair Signs, See DIY Here

Love Story Timeline
This was located next to the guestbook at the reception

Flowers

We didn't get many pictures of just the flowers but here are a couple

This is one of the bridesmaids bouquets at the reception, each of their bouquets were different which I loved. They were made up of assorted blooms in fall hues of white, peach, pink and cranberry with greenery.

Evans boutonniere, his was cranberry while the groomsmen's were white

A picture of one of the table centerpieces at the reception, they were all a bit varied as well

Lastly the best pictures I had of the head table garland flowers and greenery

Cakes

Cake Table

Cutting Cake- Berry Chantilly from Whole Foods

Oreo Grooms Cake

Gifts

Evan gave each of his groomsmen and the fathers a personalized pocket watch

I gave my bridesmaids these robes from the picture on handmade white and gold personalized hangers

Wedding Photos: Reception

The ceremony was finished, family photos and sunset portraits done. It was time to party with our guests and we were so excited! Our reception took place in the indoor ballroom down the drive from the golf course, we had all our guests trickle down there and then it was time for the wedding party to enter. The groomsmen and bridesmaids were announced and entered in couples to "Shut up and Dance with Me" then it was our turn.

 After our entrance Evan and I went straight into our first dance to "Me and You" by Kenny Chesney. Then we sat down to eat, we were both starving and needed to get some food in our systems quick before we made the rounds to say hello to all of our guests.

 After everyone had dinner it was time for the speeches. The maid of honor, best man, and both our parents gave great speeches that were so heartfelt.

In addition to the speeches Evan's fraternity brothers and my sorority sisters did our chapter wedding traditions. For Evan that was a chant they all do as a group which I love to watch at all the LXA weddings. For me my sisters all circle around the bride and groom and sing a song, I love these pictures of both.

Then it was time for the mother son and father daughter dance, and finally cutting the cake.

Once all the mandatory events were completed it was time to just visit with everyone, dance and play around in the photobooth.

Next Up: Final Pictures, Wedding Signs and Details, Stay Tuned!

All Photos by: Tony Gambino Photography 

Vendors: 
Venue: Paa Ko Ridge Golf Club
Flowers: Floriography
Bridesmaids Dresses: Wtoo Dress 295 in buff
Bridal Gown: Trinity by Maggie Sotero
Groomsmen Suits: Mens Warehouse
DJ: Dreamweaver Productions
Photobooth: Clik Photobooth 
Cake: Whole Foods- Berry Chantilly 

Wedding Photos: Portraits

After the ceremony we took all of our family photos and released everyone to go to cocktail hour. Unfortunately we don't have any pictures from cocktail hour since the photographers were with us but it took place on the patio overlooking the golf course and pond. Guests were greeted with cocktails, a couple passed appetizers and lawn games. We really wanted our guests to have a good time so we were very into having lawn games at cocktail hour, there was: giant Jenga, corn hole, ladder golf and ring toss.

While our guests were enjoying drinks and games we took off with our wedding planner and photographer in golf carts to take our sunset portraits. When we picked our venue they let us know they always liked to take their couples up to the top tee that has an amazing overlook for pictures. Also we booked our photographer largely because his specialty is the portraits of couples after the ceremony.

Us quite literally riding off into the sunset, on our golf cart!

On our way up the mountain our photographer had us pull off to the side in some tall grass to take these, the backdrop colors and the lighting turned out so dreamy, I love them

The rest of these were taken on two different rocks on the mountain, I have seriously never seen views like this in my life we were in awe the entire time we were taking the photos. There were amazing views in both directions the ones you see behind us in the pictures and the ones in front of us looking back towards the venue.

As always Stay Tuned, Next up: Reception Pictures

All Photos by: Tony Gambino Photography 

Vendors: 
Venue: Paa Ko Ridge Golf Club
Flowers: Floriography
Bridesmaids Dresses: Wtoo Dress 295 in buff
Bridal Gown: Trinity by Maggie Sotero
Groomsmen Suits: Mens Warehouse
DJ: Dreamweaver Productions
Photobooth: Clik Photobooth