Ashley & Blake | 365 Days of Marriage!!!
Ashley & Blake | 365 Days of Marriage!!!

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Weddings are great.  Sure.  I like them.  Let me tell you a secret though.  Even more than I like being there when a couple starts their life together…. I love creeping on them as they journey together those first few years.  That’s when it starts to get really good.  That’s when they start to realize that had no idea how much they could love each other.  They had no idea how fun it would be.  They had no idea how hard it would be.  Ashley & Blake were married a little over  year ago and they were kind enough to pull back the curtain and fill us in on what their first year together has been like.

What do you miss most about the single life?

The freedom to do whatever YOU want.

What was the the thing you stressed out most about in planning your wedding that now you look back on and laugh about?

We kind of put a lot of effort into figuring out which Bible verses we wanted read during the ceremony and who would read them, but then our pastor completely skipped that part.

Give us your best cheapo/fun married date idea.

Well, we LOVE ice cream. So to make us feel okay with it, we’ll go on a hike, grab some lunch, go check out the local succulent/gardening shops, and then discover one of the many amazing ice cream places of Los Angeles. And then spend 40 minutes trying to find the best free movie online. P.S. It’s LA, so cheap is relative.

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What have you liked most about your first year being married?

A: Being in the same city/apartment as Blake. (2.5 years long distance before)

B: Practical jokes are way easier to do when she lives with me and not 1,500 miles away.

What’s been the hardest part about being married?

A: Realizing how selfish we both are.

B: Samesies. Marriage isn’t about MY wants and needs. You have to be willing to serve your spouse on a daily basis.

What surprised you the most? (Either good or bad.)

A: Blake leaves used paper towels everywhere he goes. Bedroom, Bathroom, Living Room, Dining Room…. Literally everywhere.

B: Apparently women don’t poop rose petals. But seriously, you think you have figured her out and everything’s going great — then BLAMMO — back to the drawing board.

 

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What have you fought about most and why?

Trying to find time for guy-time/girl-time while still making quality time for each other – especially since Blake has really long work hours during the week.

Do you have any advice for couples about to take the plunge?

A: Marry someone you have complete trust in and can really open up to when you have something you want to talk about. It’s very difficult to make yourself vulnerable enough to speak your heart even when you do trust that person. Also, be honest and genuine, while still loving, when you talk about the hard things.

B: You HAVE to discuss the important issues in life before tying the knot: religion, family/kids, money, politics, moral issues, etc. It’s terrible to see married people get a divorce over issues that should have been discussed while dating or engaged. Also, remember that love is not just a feeling, it’s a daily decision.

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top 10 2013 | wedding photos
top 10 2013 | wedding photos

Get Excited! It’s your chance to help someone win a 16×20 print! Voting is open till midnight. Tell your friends.

Today’s category: Weddings

Bridals, engagements, photo booths, they are all fun, but this is why we are here,  to witness the union of two people. Here are some of my favorite photos from weddings in 2013.

Take a look at the entries then vote at the bottom of this post.

1. Ashley & Blake: I loved this moment from their First Look.  Just the two of them sharing one of many many laughs on their wedding day.

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2. Gabrielle & Kendal: I’m a bit partial to this photo.  The little man is my oldest son.  He got a bit embarrassed when the bridesmaids commented on how handsome he was.  (Also, how hot is that bridesmaid on the left?)

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3. Angela & BJ:  When BJ had Angela’s daughter come up so he could give her a necklace and promise to love her forever.  Everyone teared up.
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4. Jaimie & Nolan: Jaimie had been feeling bad all day and was not up to a big first dance grand entrance.  So Nolan did the next best thing.  He danced with her in the kitchen in a back room before they made their entrance.
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5. Heather & Travis: All Heather & Travis wanted was a wedding out in a big open field.  I think they managed to find one. :)

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6. Dee & Dustin: As a general rule, if you get married in a red dress, you are gonna make the top 10.

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7. Amanda & Clayton:  I always love it when couples do a get away that involves people throwing things at their face.

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8. Jennifer & Jonathan:  This military couple was up for anything.  Including jumping up on a big hay bail.

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9. Meagan & Joe: Most brides know in advance they are gonna get popped on the way out.  Most brides still forget. :)
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10. Natalie & Jason: I’m not exaggerating when I say that Jason must have repeated the words “you are so beautiful.” about 30 times during their First Look.

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