Falling in Love: Casey + Nicole 2015
On April 7, 2015 I took the bus up to New York for the weekend, with many items on the agenda. You know things such as spending the weekend with one of my faves, nail connoisseur, lash finesser, one showing love to all people, Zsameria, reuniting us with our good friend, maker, mother, DIYer, Janine and giving us 3 days and 2 nights with our actress of a friend, Amelia. Guess what? It didn’t stop there. For me, I also had a date with Nicole + all of her bridesmaids. I thought I was simply going to assist with the event, which was an intimate gathering officially letting all the ladies know they were members of Nicole’s bride tribe! Little did I know, that I would be receiving a gift as well, a journal, with the following handwritten note inside:
“Shayla, who else could help me plan our wedding but you? Fashionista, Style Expert, Humble Diva, Awesome Sister Friend!!!! Thank you so much for being such a beautiful and caring woman. I admire you inside and out. You make my world brighter, warmer + happier just by being there. You are God’s gift to me at Pine Forge! Thank you for loving, caring, giving + nurturing more fiercely than anyone I know. I love you lots lady!” - Nicole A. Falconer (now Hughes).
Talk about taken back, however definitely ready for the assignment. Through serving as wedding planning + stylist for the now Mr. + Mrs. Casey Hughes, I really found my niche. From the many Connecticut bound road trips to the timeline, conference calls, one - on - one’s (O3s) and sleepless nights to assure everything was just right for that beautiful fall day.
While setting up Battel Chapel on the campus of Yale University, we worked diligently to assure no detail was left out. From the aisle decor to the courtesy baskets + florals strategically placed in the restrooms for guest to ensuring that all parties involved had a runsheet to assure we kept to our schedule, a tight ship was run. And yes, the same care was provided for the reception at The Waterview. It was after putting the final touches on the Sonju Weddings + Events designed + styled backdrop (structure built by Nicole’s Dad) I stepped back and looked at it all and said “Wow. Lord I think this is it!”
We never know how the Lord will reveal the intended plan HE has for our lives. This is why it is ever so important for us to trust the Lord + seek His face. What we do know is that Joshua 29:11 states:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
While this union marked the beginning of something new for the Hughes’ it was also the beginning of something new for me. Especially as I now watch God’s plan and my purpose filled life come into alignment.
One of the things that I loved about this couple is their love for + relationship with Christ. In the planning, we also designed a website that is currently still in use to keep everyone in the know as the grow their family. And don’t you just love Nicole’s spin on “Something Blue” with these beauties from Badgley Mischka! What will be your spin on “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue?”
From Me, To You
Love, Sonju
