Wedding Wednesday: The Hunt for our Dream Venue

Hello dolls! Oh, I could just squeeze all of y'all in the biggest hug ever because I've missed you so much! Life has been go go go since I got off the road from traveling as Josh and I were trying to make up for a "missed" 2 months of wedding planning when I was away and could not really plan. But I am back for good and cannot wait to kick this summer off with each of you! 
Today's Wedding Wednesday post is all about the hunt for our dream venue. I'm not sure if I have said this before but, up until the moment we got engaged I thought I had my dream wedding all planned out. It's funny though how once you get a ring on your finger and wedding planning becomes real, everything you ever thought you wanted completely changed. Josh and I decided that since neither one of us were dead set on a certain location or venue, we would have tons of fun traveling across the state in search for our perfect one. So with that being said, we have taken the past week and toured from High Point, North Carolina down to Wilmington, North Carolina and in between visiting 9 wonderful venues. Each had their own unique style but we loved a little bit of them all! Without further ado here is a little preview of the 9 we visited in no particular order: 
KRESS TERRACE // GREENSBORO, NC

 The Kress Terrace sits upon the roof top of the Kress Building in downtown Greensboro. It offers a beautiful outdoor space that overlooks the city and then you have a mini ballroom inside where the food is served. Many couples rent a tent outside and decorate with lights.

SAINT THOMAS PRESERVATION HALL // WILMINGTON, NC 

 Saint Thomas Preservation Hall is located in Historic downtown Wilmington about two blocks back from the river front. Originally a Catholic church, it has been renovated in the past few years and used now as an event venue.

REVOLUTION MILL STUDIOS // GREENSBORO, NC

 Revolution Mills is an old textile mill that has been renovated into commercial and event use. Couples typically get married in the gardens outside (pictured above) and then travel inside for their reception.

BELMONT HOUSE // REIDSVILLE, NC

 The Belmont House has been on my mind for several years now as I would drive past weddings held here every spring. Couples get married on the front steps with their guest sitting under the oak trees and the reception is then held on the side under a tent.

BALCONY ON DOCK STREET // WILMINGTON, NC

 The Balcony on Dock Street is a very long and open room that provides a fun but sophisticated atmosphere. We loved the mixed look of exposed brick and the wood.

BELLAMY MANSION // WILMINGTON, NC

 Growing up as a young girl in Wilmington, I can remember going to a wedding here and dreaming one day I too would be a princess bride. Located right in the center of historic downtown, the Bellamy Mansion offers so many choices for your big day!

BURKE MANOR // GIBSONVILLE, NC

 Burke Manor is located near Elon University and is a beautiful home for several acres of land. Couples typically get married in the side gardens with their reception in the beautiful 4200 square foot tent out back.

LOFTS AT UNION SQUARE // HIGH POINT, NC

 The Lofts at Union Square offer so many spaces for a couple to hold their special day. We loved the feel of open space that the windowed walls created and it is truly a room that you can make it your own!

PRESTON WOODALL HOUSE // BENSON, NC

My mother actually found this venue through a Google search and we just knew we had to go visit. The Preston Woodall was the only venue we visited close to Joshua's hometown and everything it comes with just blew us away! Couples typically get married out back and then have their reception in the ballroom. 

If you follow me on Instagram you will see that we decided on a venue last night, paid our deposit this morning, and officially have our date set! I'll leave you hanging on which one we picked so make sure you stop back by next Wednesday to see where we will be having the wedding of our dreams...

Blog Baton

Today I have the wonderful opportunity to hold the Blog Baton on Instagram! Please feel free to come join me on my adventure as I have a very exciting day planned :)
For those of you hopping over from the Blog Baton, welcome! I am so excited to have you here and hope you will stick around for a while to get to know me. Please feel free to read my two most recently updated sections (About Me and Love Story) to get to know the "girl behind the blog." 
I hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday!

Five on Friday [Catching Up on Life Edition]

Happy Friday sweet friends! Oh does it feel so good to be back in the blogging world! I know I've taken a little break for the past week and a half but with my job winding down and the teacher job search in full swing, I just had to take a few days to get my life together. However, I'm back and I am excited to have a full summer ahead to spend with each of you getting to grow this blog and turning it into the blog of my dreams. Without further ado, I'm linking up with my favorite ladies (Darci, Christina, April, Natasha) for another Five on Friday post. Enjoy :) ONE // "HAS BEEN" TRAVELING LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT

If you've been following this blog for some time, you know that since graduating last May I have been traveling the country as a Leadership Consultant for my wonderful sorority Zeta Tau Alpha. Well Tuesday my ten months of traveling ended and it still hasn't sunk it with me that I'm home for good and not just home on another short break. The people I have met this year, the things I have gotten to experience, and the places I have been able to see can never be summed up in words for anyone. I try so hard to describe this "job" to people and I always fail because to me it's become much more than a job; it's become my passion, my life, and an unforgettable journey. While I am still in the unpacking and adjusting back to normal life phase, I cannot wait to share some exciting parts of this journey with you all next week in a future post!

TWO // EASTER SUNDAY

I am so thankful that I got to be home a few weeks ago for Easter Sunday with my family and Joshua! Mama's flowers in the back yard where in perfect bloom to capture this picture on our 5th Easter together!
THREE // WEDDING PLANNING Thank you all so much for the sweetest words over the past few weeks! It still blows my mind to be receiving comments on our blog post weeks after I put it up but they always make my day. For those of you that have been asking "where is the video?" well all I can say is our sweet friend is still working on it. However, I promise as soon as we have it back it will be up! Wedding planning is picking up a little steam and I am so excited to spend the next week and a half going to tour ten venues with Joshua...yes you read that right, TEN! We are going all the way from Winston-Salem to Wilmington and in-between! Stay tuned to my Wedding Wednesday post next week to see the list of where we are looking! 
FOUR // BEACH REUNION 

::Fort Walton Beach, FL::

15 days until me and 13 of my sweet TLC sisters are laying out by the beach for a whole entire week with no set plans except to get tan and laugh at all the memories we had this past year. To say I am extremely excited to see these girls is an understatement! While I have had the joy of running into a few of them on the road, many of them I have not seen since we left training in August and I cannot wait to just have girl time with them all!
FIVE // WEEKEND PLANS  This weekend will consist of studying for a teaching interview on Monday morning and running down to the eastern part of the state to see Joshua's little brother take pictures before his senior prom! What type of plans do y'all have for the weekend? Follow along with me on Instagram so we can keep up with one another!