2 Years Ago

On August 26, 2011 I was:

waking up next to my future sister-in-law

enjoying a slow morning at Mary Jo's with the Jumps and Mom & Dad

getting a manicure and pedicure

checking into The Westin

assisting Kirstie with the flowers (she's a pro)

welcoming friends from out of town

visiting with Mom, bridesmaids, cousins and my aunt in my hotel room

setting up the centerpieces for our reception (and putting the groomsman to work)

wearing my pink dress with one shoulder and ruffles

walking down the aisle with Dad for the first time

rehearsing for our wedding

eating (hardly!) at Maggiano's

smiling big for lots of pictures

listening to sweet toasts from family

laughing and tearing up at my favorite toast from my brother

handing out gifts that I put a lot of thought into to the most important people in our lives

kissing Paul goodnight in the parking lot before he ran off to play whirlyball

having a sleepover with my favorite people at a super nice hotel

going to sleep for the last time as Mariel Unverricht

I can still remember so many moments from that day. I was so excited when I woke up I jumped out of bed to start the day. I felt like I couldn't wait for the moments to happen but also never wanted them to pass! I can picture myself sitting in the chair at the nail salon with the biggest secret, I was getting married tomorrow! I remember the smell of the hotel as I walked in that afternoon. Even now, any time we've walked into a Westin hotel (once or twice) it brings me right back to that weekend. I love how smells can do that! I remember sunlight streaming in the window as I floated around the hotel room doing my hair and getting ready for the rehearsal surrounded by some of my favorite women. I remember goofing off with Paul and his friends as we set up the tables for the reception and I remember hugging my grandma as she walked into the room. And I remember sitting next to Paul at dinner as we had probably 100 times before. It felt familiar and normal, but yet we knew it was different than any other meal we had shared and our lives were about to change forever. I remember giggling in the car with friends after dinner. I was light, and carefree, and peaceful, and giddy all at once! I remember not feeling at all nervous, which surprised me. I always figured I'd be nervous! The day was just full of joy and hope and love. Tomorrow I would marry Paul Schmitt! I would be his!

New Product Pictures

A couple weeks ago I got to take a quick trip to Albuquerque to visit my sweet and talented friend, Jasmine. She is an amazing wedding photographer and had invited me to work on a couple projects with her. How lucky am I!? On the second day of my visit, she generously spent the day photographing all of the wedding invitations I had designed and now offer in my shop. It was such a cool experience for me, and I feel like it's something that every designer should do. I loved getting to spend time styling each set to show off the vision I had for each one. It made me more confident in my work and I felt proud of seeing how much I've grown as a designer in the past couple of years. I normally struggle with feeling like my work isn't good enough, so to actually have to print it out, and get it photographed was intimidating, but also really freeing for me. It's okay to like what I've created now, but also have goals and dreams about how I will improve. I'm trying to stay balanced in that way. So without further adieu, here are a few shots she captured. More can be seen in my shop!

Not only did this opportunity help me to feel more confident as a designer, but I also believe that it's so important to have good product photography when you're selling things online! You may have the most beautiful creation, but if you can't express that in a photograph, no one will look twice. If you're interested in learning about product photography, there is a free class right now on Skillshare called Make Awesomer Product Photos that I think looks good. And I recently read a great blogpost about it on Elm Street Life as well! I'm soaking all this info in because I don't think I'll be able to make a trip to New Mexico every time I come out with a new wedding suite – although I'd sure love to, Jasmine! ;)

August 27, 2011

The day I married Paul was the most beautiful day I can ever think of. Not just weather-wise (although it was beautiful weather) but just in the way the day felt. The week leading up to the wedding was a lot of fun too – all our family and friends coming into town, all the excitement! But still nothing compares to the actual day. Our ceremony was so so sweet to us, and I thought it FLEW by! We were surrounded, supported and witnessed by so many dear family and friends. And I thought our reception was a serious blast. The room was so lovely, the dance floor was always full, and the photo booth was a hit! I will always look back on that day with such sweet remembrance, and thanks to Tony and Sharon at T & S Hughes Photography, we will have the most gorgeous pictures to remember it by! Below are some of my favorites, although you should definitely check out the whole post and all of their amazing work.





























Ceremony: The Orchard Evangelical Free Church, Arlington Heights, Illinois.
Reception: The Westin Chicago Northwest, Itasca, Illinois.

Our Wedding Invitations

One of my favorite projects from our wedding was making our invitations! As a newly trained graphic designer, I knew I wanted to design them myself, but I had a really hard time choosing a "look." But once I did, I loved them! To be honest, I pretty much based my whole wedding style off of my invitations. And since I loved them so much, I decided to splurge and have them letterpressed. Best decision I could have made. I was so pleased with the outcome!