April 22nd, 2019 *

December 26th, 2018

One of my favorite parts of this Christmas was receiving a bunch of newlywed ornaments as presents! I sat down today to look at all the ornaments we got and I was surprised at how different all of them were from one another! I just love all the cute customizations everyone choose! We got six in total.

Top-left is from my cousin Meghan and her husband Jimmy. Top-middle is from Mike's cousin Matt and his wife Jen. Top-right is from Mitch, and we actually got it as a gift last for our engagement...but I just had to include it here too. 😉 Middle is from my parents. Bottom-left is from Mike's Aunt Laura and Uncle Jeff. Bottom-middle is from Mike's parents. Bottom-right is from my Auntie Jan and Uncle Paul.

A huge thank you to everyone who bought us a cute ornament this year! We absolutely love them all! ♥️🎄

December 3rd, 2018

One of my sweet students gave me a wedding card tonight.

November 24th, 2018

Had fun helping to pick out my family's Christmas tree tonight! 

November 10th, 2018

We’re married!! 💒👰🏽🤵🏽

The Gembara-Donelson Wedding!!

(photos coming soon)

November 9th, 2018

Our rehearsal walkthrough and dinner was tonight! :) Everyone met at St. Cyril's for the walkthrough, then we all headed over to La Dolce Vita for a yummy dinner!

November 8th, 2018

November 7th, 2018

All this week I’ve been hectically running all over the place trying to finalize all the last minute details for the wedding. The biggest worry on my mind has been the set-up process for the reception. Because there was another function going on in our room on Saturday, we would be leaving 90% of the set-up to the staff and whatever family members had time between the ceremony and reception to rush over and assist them. I trust the amazing people at the William Tell completely, but my very type-A personality was really struggling with the idea of leaving everything I wanted to have done in other people’s hands.

I have been praying feverishly all week for everything to work out exactly as it should, and yesterday God answered my prayers in a BIG way! By some miracle, all of the events scheduled to happen in the Terrace Room on Friday night and Saturday morning were switched to other rooms! Meaning: our room is 100% empty until Saturday! This means we’re allowed to stop by any time between now and Saturday to go and do any set-up we’d like.

So... 😊 Tonight after work Mike, mom, dad, and I headed over to our hall and got to work! It was honestly SUCH a relief to get to set everything up and see in person that things turned out just as we’d hoped they would—and it ended up being such a fun, special time with three of my favorite people! We officially have things next to finished. Mike and I just need to stop by tonight to drop off a few extra things, and then our set-up is DONE!

I am so thankful for this sudden turn of events and the blessing He has so graciously bestowed upon us. ☺️ I am SO beyond excited for Saturday and I cannot wait for all our loved ones to see what we’ve been working so hard on! 💗

November 5th, 2018

“You’re a Gem...bara”...for just five more days! 😱 It’s honestly pretty crazy to think that today is officially my last Monday as “Jordan Rachele Gembara”! We’ve been eagerly counting down the days for so long—I can’t believe it’s finally almost here! 🤩

November 4th, 2018

Six more days until we get to put on the stunning outfits inside those bags and meet at the end of the aisle! 👰🏽🤵🏽👗🎩

November 3rd, 2018

November 2nd, 2018

November 1st, 2018

October 30th, 2018

Wedding favors and place cards are officially DONE! ;)

October 29th, 2018

So about two years ago at the IBC ladies tea, I was chatting with Camilla and she was happily telling me about the blanket she had been currently working on for a certain bride-to-be (it may or may not have been Paige 😊). She mentioned that she would be stocking up on yarn soon and asked what my favorite color was...seeing as she figured she might need to make a blanket for Mike and I in the near future. 😉 Today, after never mentioning it again since, I got my blanket! Not only that, it was the exact shade of green I had told her I loved over TWO YEARS ago! I was so touched by her thoughtfulness that I totally started crying as soon as I saw it. Camilla, thank you so much for this wonderfully sweet gift. It is so beautiful—the time and effort you put into making it is so evident! Mike and I are so blessed to have such thoughtful people in our lives! We will treasure this blanket always! 💚

October 24th, 2018

Our dining room is totally full of wedding-related things right now and I kinda love it. :)

October 23rd, 2018

October 21st, 2018

Did my make-up & hair test trial today AND picked up my dress after the final alterations!!

October 19th, 2018

Our guestbook came! 🖋💕

October 12th, 2018

Did I ever mention that my (future) mother-in-law is the absolute best?? 😍 She so sweetly treated us to a gourmet steak dinner followed by fun at indoor glowing mini golf! Such a wonderful evening. ♥️

Also! On a scale from 1 to 10, how adorable is my future sister-in-law? About 9 & 3/4. 😎 (I’m pretty blessed that she’s also a pun-loving Slytherin. 🐍) Thank you so much for the sweet gift, Char! Love you bunches! 💚❤️💚❤️