Our Wedding

Y'all, I can hardly believe it but our wedding day is just around the corner!

I have been hard at work on all sorts of projects: final vendor logistics, purchasing and putting together items, working on many crafty DIY projects, and relishing the time I have to plan and enjoy this stage of life. It truly has been a full time job for the last month or so, but I'm grateful to be able to invest my time, intention, and effort into something so momentous.

There has been lots in the works, so much that I (obviously) haven't been able to keep up with all of it on the blog! I also wanted to be careful of over-sharing... since most of the people who read this are probably my wedding guests I don't want to show off ALL of the things I've been working on and have no elements of surprise when the big day finally comes.

So I guess this is probably my last wedding planning post. It's been such a fun ride and I'm glad that I took the time along the way to thoroughly document and share my experience. I'm planning to make this blog into a little memento book to keep with all of our wedding planning memorabilia... but ultimately I'm ready to enjoy all the fruits of my labor, experience the whirlwind that will be our wedding, and then sink into married life. I'm ready to turn the page and move on to focusing on my marriage, my friendships, and my career more fully. I am looking forward to cultivating my married life with just as much thoughtfulness and intention as I have put into planning our wedding.

Thank you for reading and supporting me during this very special time. I am so humbled by the love I have felt from my community and I truly will never forget it.

All my love to you,
(Soon-to-be) Mrs. Hoback

My Under-the-Sea Bachelorette Party!

My friends are the absolute BEST. Before I even asked them to, they all started secretly planning the bachelorette party of my dreams!

I was told a time and day, but not a location or ANY information about what would be involved. When the day finally came, I was excited, but a little nervous. Ben and my maid of honor were in cahoots and Ben was instructed to drop me off at a specific location when the time came.

We ended up driving to my friend's house. I walked up the stairs, opened the door, and was met with the craziest screams, the grandest jubilation, the loudest rendition of "Part of Your World," and a thoroughly crafted underwater scene. I couldn't stop screaming... like really, over and over again... as they adorned me with a tiara, sash, fairy wings, and massive wine glass with a bendy-straw that read "bride."

The entire scene was so well thought through: there was a fish net hanging from the ceiling, bubbles drawn outside, fish toys and balloons strewn about, a photo booth set up, chalk-drawn fish and festive lettering, a libation station (a staple of mine), mermaids in mason jars of water, and so, so much more!

We all got to catch up a little bit and do some sipping and snacking, before our first official activity began. We were all lead out onto the deck and I was given the seat of honor to behold a custom-choreographed fish dance that three of my friends put together. They started the whole thing with a card from my pet fish, Buddy, to set the scene. They put on one of my favorite songs to groove to and entered in rubber fish masks before breaking it down into a dance that was hilarious, skillful, creative, and included all of my favorite moves!!! It was truly surreal and incredible, something I will never, ever, ever forget.

Then came the emotional kicker: a jar full of memories that each person had written. I both laughed and got a bit teary as I read through them all and tried to guess who had written each one. It was a very special, sentimental time and made me remember all of the fun and hilarious times we've shared together.

Then came the grand finale: a fish piñata! They strung it up outside and I had a blast whacking away at it with laughter and glee.

It was such a beautifully thought-through night and I felt so loved and known from all of the hard work my friends put into it. It was the perfect mix of Disney-princess, fun, wild, and sentimental. I will never ever forget this special, sensational night!