Our Wedding in KY Bride Magazine

Holy Moly have I been keeping a secret from y'all!
If you follow me on instagram then you already know that

OUR WEDDING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED!!!!

Let's back up to about February - That was when our wedding had been submitted to Kentucky Bride Magazine. I was then notified mid April by the magazine editor that I had made it to the 2nd round selection for publication.
Say what?!?!?

Time marched on and I hadn't heard anything.
In the back of my mind I had started to find peace that it just wasn't meant to be, and that was A-okay.
Then on a friday morning this email came in right before I was about to walk into my next client's house. I could not believe my eyes.

I know it sounds so silly, but I was overcome with so many emotions.

They picked us?!?!

 I was speechless, honored, blushing and smiling from ear to ear! I sat there and read the email at least 20 times.

I immediately called Kev.

He couldn't believe it and was so happy for me, because he knew how much it meant to me.

I then called my mother and we both were shrieking over the phone. Screaming at each other and startling my dad who was in the car with my mother at the time.

We had both, along with Kev, put so much blood, sweat and happy tears into our big day.

I was notified early last week that the magazine should ship mid week. I was frantic about checking the mail every day. We ordered lots of these beauties to go around for family and friends and I knew they would most likely be delivered at the doorstop. I called Kev Friday at lunch to check on the latest mail status, sadly still no magazine.

and then this was posted to pinterest







link here

- followed by Kentucky Bride announcing the magazine was now on sale at local newsstands. (Target, Meijer, Barnes and Noble, Joseph-Beth, Kroger, etc)

I though about just waiting till the mail man brought our multiple copies of the mag, but I just couldn't. That friday afternoon at work I stopped with no luck at one Target, 2 Krogers, but finally made my way to Joseph-Beth Bookstore. And low and behold.....there she was!

I literally squealed out loud with excitement.
You see, Kev and I had no clue what to expect. We had no idea what photos they had chosen, what the layout would be....nothing!

I took a moment by myself on a corner bench in the back of the bookstore ....and......

SWOOONN
I fell in love with our wedding all over again.

 There we were....Uggie Sue and Bailey included.
I couldn't believe it.

And that's just it - it meant the world to me.

But not because we are "published in a glossy magazine," but because of what wedding planning and our wedding meant to me and still means to me.

Let me break it down.....

1. Our Wedding - at the risk of sounding cliche, it was the greatest day of my life to date. I married the man of my dreams, my best friend, partner in life and future father of my children. We got to have all our close friends from different walks of life and our families under one roof celebrating our love and commitment to each other. It was such a good day. A special day. The best day.

2. Wedding planning - I have been planning my wedding since I was 16. All that was missing was Kev. I would have piles of bride books in my teens and twenties, call me crazy, but I have always loved all things wedding. I am a forever bride, still obsessed with the latest wedding trends in all the mags.

So for 9 months my wedding planning consumed me. Not in the bridezilla way...at least on most days, i just loved it.

Like LOVED it.

I loved spending hours on pinterst and etsy, talking to my mom about this or that every single day, crunching numbers with kev, the DIY, the excitement building up to it, meeting with vendors, the showers, the to do lists, and finally, seeing my vision come to life.

I knew exactly what I wanted and it was just fun for me. I can honestly say that I truly and thoroughly enjoyed planning my wedding. The day it arrived, it was everything I had wanted.

3 - and then there is Kentucky Bride Magazine

I have always looked through it's timeless pages, long before Kev and I, and long before an engagement.

It's always been special to me because the majority of the wedding professionals showcased in this magazine were right at my fingertips in Kentucky.

I know how inspirational and helpful this magazine has been as a resource to me in making my wedding dreams come to life.

These were real Kentucky weddings and that has always been my favorite part.

I am so proud to be a part of magazine that is so special to me and to so many future, past and present brides across the Bluegrass State. I can't remember an issue of KY bride that hasn't sat on my kitchen counter of coffee table.

The fact that some little girl or young lady may look at our wedding and admire it, find inspiration from it, fall in love with it or just enjoy our gorgeous photos - is so nostalgic for me.

 This whole experience has truly has made a dream of little girl turned bride, and forever lover of all things wedding, come true.

=================================================================
Below is "Our Love Story" that is published in the magazine

Whitney and Kevin Winchester 11-18-2012

Kevin and I met in 2009 in Lexington while living at the same apartment complex, when I came across him and his dog on his front stoop. Being the dog lover that I am, I of course asked to pet her. He introduced himself - and the rest was history. On a weekend in February we traveled to my hometown to visit my parents. It was on top of a snow covered Eastern Kentucky mountain, that Kevin got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

When planning our wedding, Kevin and I both knew we wanted to focus on a laid back country-chic/rustic atmosphere with our closest friends and family. We both loved the idea of getting married in a barn. We wanted our wedding day to be full of southern charm and homemade character. The Ca”barn”et Barrel Barn at Talon Winery had that perfect “down home” feel for the backdrop of our big day.

We wrote our own vows and were honored to have one of my closest girlfriends marry us. She made the ceremony so special and sentimental. There was hardly a dry eye in the house. We replaced traditional wedding music during our ceremony with bluegrass tunes by Newtown. I walked down the aisle to “When You Say Nothing At All” by Alison Kraus. Our dogs joined the bridal party - one wearing a tutu and one a burlap bow tie. Kevin’s best man sang acoustic versions of our first dance, mother/son and father/daughter dances.

My bouquet was wrapped with lace from my mother’s wedding veil and the buttons placed on it were from my Granny’s wedding suit from 1948. I had my Grandfather’s handkerchief sewn into my wedding dress for my something old, as well as a blue heart from my late papaw’s robe in remembrance of those who could not celebrate with us. I wore my granny’s diamond ring on my right hand as my something borrowed.

Our bbq buffet with country fixin’s made guests feel right at home. Guests also sipped sweet tea, Kentucky beer and local Talon wine out of mason jars. My mother’s homemade dessert bar was the perfect complement to our wedding cake and groom’s pies by Martine’s. My mom also handmade our wedding favors – her apple butter in mini jelly jars. She also made the ring bearer burlap pillow and flower girl/program baskets. Kevin was so hands on in wedding planning too, there with me every step of the way for all the DIY projects. He did all the calligraphy for our wedding invites, designed our programs, made the labels for our favors ,and Kevin and his dad made the wooden wedding signs we used around Talon. The homespun details meant the world to me.

My favorite part of the day was by far seeing Kevin’s face light up like a Christmas tree the first time he saw me. I will cherish that moment for the rest of my life. I also loved dancing the night away with my groom and all our close friends and family. We had a blast!

Wedding Planning/Day of Coordinator – One Fine Day

Band: Newtown

Catering: Dupree Catering and Events

Flowers: House by JSD

Cake and Groom’s Pies: Martine’s Pastries

Photographer: Amy Campbell formerly of Angela Anderson Photography

Hair and Makeup: Ana Crane of ACS

Venue: Talon Winery

Rentals: Purdon’s Rental

Wedding Dress: Wendy’s Bridal of Cincinnati

Groom and Groomsmen Attire: Geno’s Formal Affair

Videographer: In Motion Video Productions

Bridesmaid Dresses: Bridal and Formal

Rehearsal Dinner: Ramsey’s