Then and Now: Miss Palm Tree's Version

After my recent dramatic post, I've decided to regale you all with hilarity in the form of my past. I've mentioned once or twice that I was kind of a bitch in high school, but this time there are PICTURES.

all photos personal

THEN:

Sophomore year of high school. Oh yeah, guys, this is real - except, I didn't say any of that. One of my classmates was on the yearbook committee and they needed a filler, so they used me. One of my first claims to fame. ;)

In high school, I was such an affected, miserable girl. I felt like I had no place in the world. Don't get me wrong, I had fun for a lot of it and I wasn't, like, pushing people into lockers or anything. I was mostly just a bit of a know-it-all with a chip on my sleeve. I think my attitude was basically, "yeah, well, my life is tough and I'm better than this high school and I CAN'T WAIT TO LEAVE and never come back, so THERE." You know. 

The Final Countdown

Please enjoy the musical stylings of Europe, provided for your reading pleasure. ;)

Hive, I'm in the final stretch. I have gone from counting a year and some months, to just months, to weeks, to DAYS. Single digit days at that. 

In the interest of full disclosure, I have been a little bit crazier than usual (which is saying something - I'm kind of bananas). There has been so much going on lately that hasn't even been wedding-related. I've been working like crazy, there have been a lot of personal happenings and just general stuff. Granted, it's helped the time fly, for which I am grateful, but it's also found me in a weird place.

I've been so scatterbrained and, well, blonde lately. For instance, I was working an event earlier this week and had to park both my car and the catering van in a parking garage. I lost both vehicles. . .and by 'lost' I mean that I walked the entire seven or so floors of the garage looking for both of them, only to find them both on the first and second levels. I've been unable to focus lately and have caught myself staring off into space or having completely blank moments. It's so unlike me.

Dun-Dun-Dunnnnnnn: The Palm Tree RSVPizzle Breakdizzle!

I think I'm losing my mind, so just be aware that it's entirely possible I'll start talking/writing like a a loon. With less than three weeks to go, a minor list of to-do's, an incredibly packed work schedule, an even more packed personal schedule that doesn't really lend itself to food, water and/or sleep, I'm just going to exist in a permanent state of delusion. That's okay, though, because it will all be so worth it. :) I just wanted to give fair warning to all. 

Anyway, Hive, it's here: the Palm Tree RSVP Breakdown. I've always loved these posts from other Bees and the Type A nerd in me loves to see things categorized so neatly. 

We invited 226 people (93 invitations), in hopes that about 200 would show. Our total guest count is 186.

Goodnight, Moon. . .

. . .or, more accurately, The Moon On Our Good Night.

 

Sigh.

 

Well, Hive. I did something I promised myself that I would not do - not because I didn't care, but because I tricked myself into believing that if I didn't acknowledge the possibility, it could never come to fruition.

 

Yes - I admit, I. . .I. . .I. . .

Daydreaming: The Palm Tree Wedding That Wasn't

I love everything about our wedding - really and truly. I'm in love with our colors and their meaning; I'm all about my girls and their get-ups (both bridesmaids AND flower girls); I think my dress is so dreamy and perfect for me, even though it's not what I thought I wanted; our invitations are very fitting and of course, I'm a HUGE fan of our venue, our photographers and all of the other vendors playing a role in this shindig.

There are some weddings, though, that I stalk see and they just make me swoon. I mean, get out the smelling salts, I might utter 'I do declare' and flutter my eyelashes, someone catch me before I hit the floor straight-up swoon. So, with under a month to go (eepies!), of course I find myself Pinteresting in a completely different direction. . .I'm sure some psychology-based folk would be able to chalk this up to some subconscious desire or something, but I'm just going to stick with the fact that I've always been a dreamer and a thinker and I'd be doing this regardless. ;)

So, Hive, without further ado: this is the story of The Palm Tree Wedding That Wasn't.

#TSAApproved: The Palm Tree Bachelorette Party (photo explosion)

Let's get real, Hive: if there is one thing my friends and I know how to do, it's party. For real.

My bachelorette weekend was absolutely amazing. Yes, I had a full weekend, and yes, it's really because I'm that damn special. ;) Really, though, it's because a chunk of my core group of girlfriends live across and/or out of the state, so we had to make it worthwhile! Plus we wanted a night of under-21 fun built-in, for BM Badonk. 

About a month prior, MOH Mem designed and sent out these bad boys:

I don't really have words for my excitement. Although my shower was wonderful and really, everything wedding-related has been wonderful, I knew the bachelorette party would be where it was AT, you guys. There was a really cute silver bow in the upper right hand corner (our cats got to it). Behind the little info card read our whereabouts/plans for the weekend - Dave & Buster's on Friday and McFadden's (one of my favorite bars in Pittsburgh) on Saturday.

Dressing Our Flower Girls

Despite their brief appearance as photo bombers in my shower recap, Flower Girls Pad and Pie have not been properly introduced or discussed. These girls became a part of my life during my junior year of college, when I started to babysit them. The babysitting grew into nannying during my senior year and they've been a steady part of my life since then. I cannot imagine my life without them, their wonderful, strong, amazing mother or their collective words of wisdom (both wine-fueled and not ;) ). It was no question that they would be our Flower Girls. In fact, those were Mr. Palm Tree's words when I brought it up to him way back when. "Is it even a question?" 

Pad and Pie's mom and I searched for.ev.er for the right dresses for them. I, personally, am not a fan of white dresses for Flower Girls. I know that's the standard and I'm not saying there is anything wrong with it, because there isn't, I've just always envisioned my Flower Girls as my splash(es) of color, to match their vibrant personalities and overall cute and 'awwwwwww'-inducing-ness. 

We searched high and freaking low, almost the entire time I was engaged, for inspiration. We were thinking everything from pettiskirts to formal dresses in colors (we went from navy blue and pool to the yellow and grays that we have as part of our overall color scheme).

Seahorse Dress by Watters, image via Weddington Way

via Bella Bean Couture seller on Etsy

via Giselle Boutique seller on Etsy

image via The Little Pea Boutique seller on Etsy

image via Posh Baby Boutique Store

image via Posh Baby Boutique Store | I won't lie, Hive, for a while this was my #1 favorite - rainbow and all. 

image via Posh Baby Boutique Store

image via Vintage Gypsy Mama seller on Etsy

We would send each other images or links, squeal over them, and then - nada. No decisions. The only thing that I/we knew is that the girls would be in the Tiny TOMS glitters, to match mine. Eventually, though, Mama Pad&Pie had the idea that she would make the girls' dresses. She was going to try it out on Pie's Halloween costume (Pie insisted on being an "angelfish princess" which is "totally a real thing, I swear!") and if it was a bust, we'd go back to the drawing board. It wasn't a bust, though, and she made two skirts for Pad and Pie soon after Pie's costume trial.

When she originally made the skirts, I had another mini-panic because I had no clue what could possibly go with them that would look right. Leotards didn't look right and they made the entire thing seem dance costume-y instead of flower girl-y. I was hunting, though, and I found these sequined tank tops in Navy blue at Old Navy. I hurriedly sent the link to Mama P&P and she went to Old Navy that day, tried them on, and that was a wrap. 

I recently made a trip to Chez Pad and Pie to give the final okay on the girls' get-ups, as well as discuss hair options and logistics, and oh, man. My heart exploded into multiple pieces all.over.the.place. I mean, really, how could it not? Just LOOK at how ADORABLE they are!!

Pad on the left and Pie on the right. This is about as normal as it gets with my girls. ;)

My heart cannot even take this.

Pad's new favorite thing is bunny ears and Pie's new favorite thing is to stand like this. . .I'm surprised her tongue wasn't out as well. 

Pie's instructions to Pad: "Act like you're going to torture me!"

To add insult to the cuteness injury, Pad also had to sign a contract. Since she's been growing out her hair, she REFUSES to let anyone touch it - seriously, if you look at it too long, she'll tell you to stop. Which is fine for everyday, kid wear, but for a wedding, Mama P&P and I were both in the 'we have to do SOMETHING' camp. After we sat her down and talked all grown-up to her (she's caught between being eight and being a teenager. It's a thing), she agreed to let her mom curl her hair and pin some of it back; we shook on it AND pinkie promised. Oh, and she signed this:

personal photo | Sorry for the blurring - please take my word for it that Pad signed her name in cursive! Serious business, folks.

So, the Palm Tree Flower Girls are ready for their big day as well. We've practiced tons of times (with and without Mr. Palm Tree, actually - their favorite part is when we switch roles and Mr. Palm Tree is a flower girl) and they've watched the wedding episode of My Little Pony: Frienship is Magic multiple times in preparation. 

Any other brides-to-be having colorful flower girls and/or DIY'd dresses?