New Beginnings

As of today I have been married to my best friend for two weeks. And what an adventure these two weeks have been! Who knew just two weeks of being married would bring so many ups and downs?!
I  sure didn't. I will most likely have to split up our stories into another blog post or two....

Let's begin the Friday of our rehearsal dinner.

The rehearsal dinner was a feast of Chipotle burritos. We visited, ate, sweat in the hot sun, set up tables, and then ran through the ceremony for roughly 20 minutes. After that Clay and I hugged our final goodbye before the big day!

Surprisingly enough I was able to get a full 8 hours of sleep that night, but I was up and moving early that morning - rounding up final decorations, finishing packing, picking up my dress from the dry cleaners, getting my wedding day Starbucks drink, and trying not to get too sunburned or too stressed out.

We had a few hiccups ( One groomsmen went to the ER for stitches on his head after accidently dropping something on it, another got in a fender bender) but everyone was, thankfully, okay and we were set to go on time.

I spent my afternoon leisurely getting ready with my Mom and my bridesmaids, eating a few bites of a PB&J, trying to stay cool, and getting pictures taken. Surprisingly more relaxed than I thought I would be.

Then the moment came. It was time for my Dad to walk me down the aisle to my husband to be. I don't remember music playing, I don't remember if we started on time, or if I was holding my flowers the direction I wanted them to be. All I can remember was looking at my Dad and trying not to cry, looking at Clay and trying not to cry, seeing a few smiles in the crowd, and walking to my groom. The wedding ceremony couldn't have been any more perfect; crazy river kids floating by and an almost failed floating lantern and all. I couldn't have dreamed up anything better. The rest of the evening was a blur of laughs, smiles, so much joy I could burst, hugs, some dancing, a quick bite to eat, and some final waves goodbye before Clay and I drove off to begin our honeymoon.

My Dad even sang a song with his old group "The Tumbleweeds"
for Clay and I. So special!

  Just a few snapshots of our day!




Then Clay and I left for our honeymoon in Cosby, TN! Our first night was spent in a hotel in MI, and they upgraded us to a super fancy suite for free since it was our first night of our honeymoon. So cool! We woke up bright and early on Sunday to get to our cabin in-the-middle-of-no-where Tennessee. Coffee and breakfast in hand we started on our way. We arrived at our cabin, which was 45 minutes further in the middle of nowhere than our check-in point was, around 5:30 or so Saturday evening.

We spent our time getting a little lost on mountain roads, cooking, sleeping, watching movies, visiting Gatlinburg, enjoying the hot tub at the cabin, playing yahtzee (which Clay found out I am very poor sport about if I lose badly....haha), and enjoying mountain thunderstorms.
It was absolutely perfect.


Well.... other than having to kill a scorpion in our room! YIKES. That was an adventure.


We were watching a movie on the bed, I leaned over to get something off the nightstand, and there crawling on the floor was a scorpion.
I, rightfully, freaked out and told Clay and to kill it. So he grabbed (my) shoe and smooshed it real good. The creepier part was that a few days later when we woke up it was gone after having been dead on the floor for a those few days. Gross. Who knows what carried it away.
But otherwise, the cabin was great! haha

After we left the cabin we got to spend a couple days with our sweet friends Keilah, Matthias, and their sweet little girl, Addi. It was SO good to catch up with them and hangout like old times. It was a much needed visit and I really hope we can go back again soon!







After our time there,
Clay and I went to Ohio to visit some more friends, Cory and Jenn. Cory and Clay got to spend some quality time "nerding out" as they say. I think this picture more than adequately describes that.

On our way back to MI we stopped by Clay's Dad's house for dinner and then made our way back home to my parent's, where we are currently still staying - which a whole other story for my next blog.

Overall we had an absolutely wonderful honeymoon and beginning to our marriage. I'm excited to update you all on what we have coming up next (as we figure it out).

Next Week

It's hard to believe that after next week I will no longer be able to check the "single" box on different forms and applications or say that my name is Katelyn Brackney. At 5:30pm on Saturday, July 13th I will be saying "I do" to my best friend and boyfriend/fiance of 3 1/2 years. I cannot wait.

It's crazy to me that 1) We've been dating three and half years 2) that we've been engaged for almost a full year and 3) that we get married in about a week! I am beyond blessed and excited to begin this new chapter in my life with Clay. We have been so extremely blessed by so many friends and family in this wedding preparation process, I don't think there are adequate words to express how grateful we are to everyone.

Even though I am extremely excited for our wedding, I am also equally excited for post wedding life. No more running around getting different crafts and such done, no more packing, planning, etc... Not that all of that will completely go away after the wedding, but the stress of planning a big event will be over! Not to say that this has been extremely stressful, because truthfully, I don't think planning this wedding could have gone any smoother, which I am so thankful for, but I'm ready for a little bit more calm I guess.

But, on the other hand, I don't want to rush past this part of our lives. I want to soak in every moment of the next week and a half. I want to remember all the people who have helped Clay and I, I want to remember our entire wedding (which I've heard is difficult to do), and I want to soak in all the smiles and joy that come with this time in life. I hope and pray Clay and I are able to do so.

So I guess this is just a little update on my life. 

And most likely the last post I will write as a Brackney (weird). 

Next time you hear from me my last name will look a little different ;)