Hey all!
I realized that I haven't written a single blog post since April! Well I have a TON to tell you.
DC to South Padre Island huh?! I wonder how many people actually make that move in their lifetime! Let me tell you how it all started:
April- Let's take this story all the way back to April. On April 9th I was back at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in DC helping Karen Tran coordinate her DC Master Floral Class. This was the evening of our dinner and my husband Brandon was invited to join :) While we were putting the final touches to the chair covers he told me of a promising email he got that might lead to a job. He wanted to be an immigration attorney and we were game to head wherever the job market might take us (since the job placement percentage for new law school graduates was low.. we would be thankful wherever the good Lord took us).
May- After a few rounds of interviews, B landed a job! Perfect timing because graduation was just around the corner. Originally we thought he would be located in Harlingen, Texas.. and I distinctively remember saying to myself, "Where the heck is that?!?!"
The last weekend we were in DC was insane!! Imagine having a commencement, a wedding to coordinate, AND a cross country move all within 3 days! Holy crazy! We planned to move back home for the summer to allow B to study in peace for the Bar Exam.
The Bar Exam was no joke. Can you imagine how much pressure that was? Our future was literally riding on this one test. A couple of weeks later, we got to boogie down to Union Station in Indianapolis to celebrate one of my favorite couple's wedding, Jen & James! Trips down to Indy are my favorite :)
June- Two weeks after that, I flew back to DC to coordinate Kendal & Chris's wedding celebration in Old Town Alexandria. (You gotta check out the pictures from that wedding! It was a fantastic celebration! I promise to blog about it soon!) Then, my mother, mother-in-law, and I headed to Texas to check out the area and try to find a place to live. As much as B wanted to come along, he had to study. So we hit the ground running and toured over 30 places. Originally we were looking for an apartment but ended up stumbling upon a little neighborhood really close to South Padre Island. It is perfect. :) Palm trees and all.
We quickly realized that it made more sense to buy a home here rather then rent... Yet again we were in limbo because we couldn't officially "buy" until we heard back from the Bar exam results. If B passed then we would stay and if not then we would have to head back home.
July- Being home in Wisconsin for the summer allowed us to spend some much needed family time and also gave B the peace of mind to be able to focus on the biggest exam of his life. It was perfect timing because then we were able to be home to celebrate my brother and sister-in-law's wedding in July! They are absolutely perfect for each other! I can't wait to blog about their fun rehearsal dinner! Stay tuned ;) Oh! And my mom and I also got to take a trip together back to Indiana to celebrate my BEST friend's bridal shower! (Again, I'll blog all about it very soon!)
It was an absolutely wonderful laid back summer filled with love and happy memories :) I even got to compete in the cardboard boat regatta where my best friend Alea and I won the "Most Dramatic Sink" award!
August- So for the second time in a year, we did ANOTHER cross country move from Wisco to South TX (26hr drive). But before the move, I scheduled a wedding the day before we moved.... naturally.
This time all we brought were clothes, a Swiffer, and our two kitties. haha! Talk about crazy!!! We were able to rent a condo that was fully furnished. We figured it was in our best interest to wait to move everything until we got official word on the exam results.
September- Two weeks after moving it was time to fly back to DC for Minh & Genna's wedding at Rouge 24! This one was an ultra modern celebration with food to die for! Here is a sneak peek!
Claudia Oliver Photography
Claudia Oliver Photography
Then a week after I was back in Indiana to be the maid of honor at my BEST friend's wedding! Word of B's bar exam results came when I was in church for Kaylie's rehearsal.. and he passed!!! HALLELUJAH! Finally we were able to plan the next step of our lives. What. a. relief. (Editor's note - I wasn't that nervous. - BB)
The next weekend I was back in the DC area to coordinate Dana & Jeff's wedding at Morven Park in Leesburg, VA. They totally win for being the most fun reception I've ever been to! Filled with a DC twist to reception food with food trucks and a killer DJ!
Hino B Photography
Hino B Photography
Hino B Photography
October- Just a few weeks after I got back to Texas it was time yet again to go back to DC for Samantha & Michael's big day at Stroga in Adam's Morgan. They had a band that literally... and I mean literally... had every single person on the dance floor! I love me a good dance party ;)
Skip ahead to Halloween and we were closing on our very first home. Life is a journey filled with peaks and vallies but boy is it awesome to know that I have a wonderful husband to share the journey with. I would be lying if I told you that our move wasn't filled with tears and worries. But I also would be lying if I told you that I didn't like it here.. I LOVE IT HERE!
Man, the weather is fantastic! Over Thanksgiving Brandon's family came down to celebrate at it was in the 70s their whole visit! The beach is a hop, skip, and a jump away, and southern hospitality is all around. ... Oh and SWEET TEA! Gotta love sweet tea! haha
Now that our move has settled down, I can FINALLY announce that I will be happily coordinating weddings for couples in the Rio Grand Valley and all of South Texas. For my East Coasters who ask, "Wait, so are you still going to coordinate weddings in DC?" My answer is YES! I am happy to coordinate weddings in DC, VA, MD, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Each state has a special place in my heart and I would be overjoyed to go back to do business. In fact, since moving to TX, I planned 5 out of state weddings all of which went exceptionally well!
I am lucky enough that my passion is easily transferable where ever we may travel. Love is everywhere. I am excited to learn more about the island, destination weddings, and beach ceremonies. More importantly, I look forward to sharing my journey with you. I am rebuilding my business from the ground up in a new location and I could use all the support possible to make it a success :)
Thanks for joining me on this journey!
JoAnna
