Happy 18 Months My Love!

Somehow I blinked and Hunter and I have been married for a year and a half.

Time has surely slipped away from me.

It's even crazier to think that for 6 of those months we have had Oaklyn here to crash the party ;)

Everyone told us the first year would be the hardest...

The first year could not have been better.

What they should've said is "The first year after having a baby will be the hardest"

(if your baby is as needy as my Oaklyn, that is)

But nonetheless, it has only been different and much less carefree.

Still, wonderful. 

Hunter and I met at a pool party the summer of 2008. 

Now we're here, the summer of 2015 is coming to a close and we are getting close to our second anniversary.

How.Did.That.Happen.

I still remember getting dressed every morning for school and looking in the mirror not to observe how I thought I looked, but trying to picture how Hunter would think I looked.

I remember pulling into the school parking lot and seeing his black jeep in the parking lot with him sitting inside waiting for me so we could walk into school together.

I remember hiding from my cheer coach in my car so she wouldn't tell me to go home instead of waiting for the football bus to pull up so I could see Hunter and congratulate him after a great game.

I remember when Hunter graduated high school. I was sitting on the track watching him wave to his family in his cap and gown. I put my sunglasses on so he wouldn't see me crying. 

I remember going over to his house at 6 in the morning to send him off when he left for his first semester of college. 

I remember talking on the phone for hours and hours on Sundays wishing he were back in San Diego.

I remember watching the car drive away after giving him the last hug for two years with mascara filled tears staining my cheeks.

I remember opening the mailbox several times a week and when his letters finally came, savoring every word he wrote.

I remember the night we were reunited. I was so nervous I thought I might throw up. But somehow, it all just fell back into place. My heart was beating so fast I thought it might beat out of my chest. 

I remember the day he got down on one knee and asked me to be his forever. He slipped a sparkly ring on my finger and I felt happier than I could've imagined. 

I remember saying the most important "yes" of my life on March 1, 2014. I was wearing white, he was too. We both had tears in our eyes and were so anxious to see what eternity had in store for us. I couldn't stop looking at my groom that day and just thinking how lucky I was to have the most amazing husband all to myself. Finally.

I remember Hunter carrying me across the threshold. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. We made it, our dream came true.

I remember showing Hunter the positive pregnancy test. I was so nervous, but his excitement made it all feel okay.

I remember our first road trip, our first cruise, the first BYU football game he played in, helping him with homework, our first Christmas...

I remember the day I went into labor. Hunter was right by my side all day timing contractions and trying not to get his hopes up.

I remember him holding my hand as I pushed and pushed then looking up at the biggest smile on a proud new father. 

I remember the high's and of course I remember the lows...

But most of all, I remember and still feel like, that smitten teenager I once was. 

You've stolen my heart forever Hunter, Always and Forever.
Even when I'm exhausted after a long day with that chubby 6 month old we have, I'm still so excited to see you walk through the door.

Here's to Moore and more memories to be made.

I love you with all my heart Hunter Miles. 

Here's to 18 months of marital bliss and an eternity of amazing memories.
I loved you then, love you still, always have and always will.

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

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Three Months of Marriage

Happy Three Months of Marriage Hunter Miles!

My sweet lovebug,

I love you Moore than I ever could have imagined loving another. I am convinced you are the most amazing husband out there and I love you with everything I have. These past three months have been the best three months of my entire 20 years of living. I can only imagine it will get better from here on out. I love the way you look at me, the nick names you come up with for me, the way you snuggle me every morning before you leave, that you ask to my hold my hand wherever we are, and that you tell me I'm beautiful when I'm not wearing an ounce of makeup. You are everything I could have dreamed of in a husband and Moore. I love looking back at our wedding pictures and remembering how happy and anxious we were on that day to finally begin our eternity together. We had been dreaming of our wedding day for just about all of high school and wrote love letters about it all through your mission. I always knew it would be you, and I'm so glad you felt that too. Every day just gets better and better. Though I am so excited to one day start a family together, you are all the entertainment I need ;) Throughout the day when we are apart, I miss you just like I did while you served for 2 years in Ohio. I'm in awe of all you do for me and how special you make me feel. Hunter Miles Moore, you are my one and only. You are my beginning and we have no end. You are my life, my love, my everything and I'm so grateful to be living this love story with you :)

Here's to the rest of eternity! :)

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

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Our Wedding Book

We got our wedding book back a few weeks ago and it has become one of my favorite hobbies to look back on the wonderful memories from that day. 

A few weeks before we got married there was a groupon for shutterfly making our wedding book about $15!

I bought that one really quickly and I am so glad I did.

We will cherish these memories for ever :)

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

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Bridesmaid Gifts.

I was going through my old pictures today and came across a few quick ones I snapped of my bridesmaid gifts, so I decided I would share!

I really enjoyed planning and making these little guys.

The necklaces were purchased early on and the color was absolutely perfect.

They ended up looking adorable with the dresses and they will look cute paired with any outfit in the future!

Just like the dresses, I sure wish I would have gotten myself one. 

Anyhow:

Wrapping these babies was quite fun.

I got all my supplies at Micheal's and went to town.

Each bridesmaid got a box with their necklace inside.

The outside had their nickname on a gift tag and a card from me.

The inside of the card said 

"I said yes, I'm glad you did too because I need you there the day I say I Do" 

My sister was my maid of honor so the inside of her card said 

"I'm such a lucky bride to have my sister right by my side."

I definitely teared up writing each card and loved the way the wrapping turned out :)

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

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The Bridal Party: What They Wore

I've had a lot of people ask me how I chose my bridesmaids and if I was afraid I would offend anyone by not choosing them. 

Hunter and I both decided we would stick with strictly family.

Using family alone, we had 6 bridesmaids and 6 groomsmen. 

I could have kept adding on, but then Hunter would have had to add more as well.

It seemed easier to keep it just family and I really love each person we had in our bridal party.

Family members are always willing to help, and want the best for you. 

We had a group message going between the bridesmaids discussing things from nail polish to hair and each time they were all so willing to help and excited for Hunter and I. 

The pairing of bridesmaids to groomsmen worked perfectly because most of the bridesmaids were married to the groomsmen and the ones that weren't, were siblings!

No awkward picture taking involved :)

Everyone was so comfortable around each other already and it made for some fun memories :)

Let's talk about what the bridal party wore.

Bridesmaids:

Oh bridesmaid dresses...

I didn't want them too fancy, but I didn't want them too casual either.

We went from a pencil skirt option that ended up only having large and xl by the time I said yes to them, to a dress that looked nothing like it did online, in person. 

One day my Sister in law, Michelle came across a dress on Jane that I absolutely loved and it was bought within 15 minutes. 

I LOVE those dresses!

I wish I would have gotten one for myself 

They looked flattering on everyone and were paired perfectly with the necklaces I gave them as their gift. 

They each wore Essie's Fashion Playground on their nails and chose any style nude shoes they wanted. 

I wanted each of them to do their hair and makeup as they felt best and it all worked perfectly. 

Groomsmen:

In the very beginning I wanted charcoal suits. 

Hunter switched it up to light grey suits.

Then he got a suit that so wasn't light grey at all.

Men's warehouse tried to sell me on tuxedos.

I don't like tuxedos, and they're overpriced.

So, we went with black suits because it was 10 times easier, looks classy, and just made sense. 

All they really had to worry about was bringing a white shirt and getting their peach bow tie we ordered off amazon. 

Life is so much easier as a guy.

Flower Girls:

Oh man, I gained the cutest nieces in the world.

These 5 pretty little girls wore mint and white striped dresses from Carters.

Their mommies put them in white tights and had them in white shoes.

Michelle, my talented sister in law, made their cute bows.

She has an etsy shop that you should check out! 

Ring Bearer:

Landon was a heart stopper in his khaki suit from Target.

Everything on him was actually from target and he looked SO precious.

Michelle made his cute bow tie.

Adorable. 

The Bride:

My dress, oh my dress...

I thought I knew what I wanted, but I guess I had no idea.

The day my ring was purchased I walked into a bridal shop.

Everything with lace caught my eye but sleeve length, gown shape, and everything else was up in the air.

One of the first things my mom and I did was go to David's Bridal. 

Since I was getting married in such a short amount of time we had to purchase a dress off the rack.

I got SO lucky with that.

I only tried on 4 dresses. 

All of them were completely different.

I wasn't sold on the one I chose at first, but as I kept looking in the mirror I couldn't get myself to take it off. 

It was strapless and trying to envision it with sleeves was hard, but lucky for me my best friend's mom is a seamstress and said she would work her magic. 

It had a corset, some beading, and of course lace!

Not to mention, it fit perfectly and all that had to be altered was the length. 

I rang the bell as I said yes to the dress and both my mom and I cried.

Once it came back from alterations the jacket was underway.

I was terrified of a jacket.

But, I LOVE the way it turned out.

The sleeve length was perfect and I personally loved it paired with the dress.

I wore a pearl and rhinestone headband with a matching bracelet. 

My earrings were teardrop rhinestones with little rhinestones outlining. 

My shoes were the same ones I wore to prom my junior year.

I wore all MAC makeup and my hair was done by the lovely Karen Mace that works out of her home. 

I felt like a princess :)

MY Groom:

I couldn't stop staring at my new husband on our wedding day.

I was in newlywed bliss as the thought "he's finally all mine" kept reoccurring. 

He wore a 3 button black suit, with a bow tie, no vest, and of course his new ring ;) 

It was simple, and that's what I loved about it. 

His bow tie was amazing, if I do say so myself.

I knew I wanted him to have a polka dot bow tie pretty much forever.

When I found this one from OTAA I died.

When I saw it on him, I swooned.

It was perfect, and it's from Australia!

And there ya have it!

Great Success :)

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

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The First Look

You know that new trend all over pinterest to have this big "first look" moment where the groom first sees his bride in her white dress?

I kinda love it. 

We won a couples photo shoot when Hunter was on his mission.

Since life happened way quicker than anyone could have guessed, we used that free shoot to take some bridals/groomals/first look pictures and a few fun ones out in the pouring rain.

It was a really fun experience because not only did we have one photographer there, but we had our actual wedding photographer as well.

I love the idea of a first look shoot.

It's a moment I definitely wanted captured on camera and I loved the way they turned out!

I was so excited to show Hunter what I looked like as HIS bride and his reaction was priceless. 

I know tradition says the groom shouldn't see you in your dress before the big day, but I really don't mind because these pictures are beyond worth it to me :)

We went to several high school dances where we got all dressed up together but we only dreamed of what each other would look like for our wedding.

I swooned over him in his polka dot bow tie and he twirled me around in my white dress. 

I'm so glad I'll never forget this moment :)

photography by: Morgan Rupp

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