a surprise engagement party.

on the evening before our move to kinston, almost our entire wedding party - along with almost all of our parents - came together to surprise us with an engagement party at one of our favorite restaurants, bistro byronz. 

two of my very best friends & bridesmaids - anna claire & jenny - had been coordinating this sweet event since christmas - time; meanwhile, all of our friends & loved ones had to keep it a secret. and that was no small feat, as my mom & another of my bridesmaids, laura, told me. since i knew we had our move coming up, i had been trying to get as much quality time with those close to me as possible - & all the while, they had been bursting at the seams with the excitement of a party!

our wedding party hails from all over louisiana, as well as east texas - shreveport, baton rouge, frisco, lacombe, summerfield, alexandria, fort worth, dallas, denton, monroe... & my sister trekked from her college campus in jackson, mississippi. many of these folks traveled only to stay the night for the party, & turn around to drive all the way back home the next day. justin & i are so grateful, & we feel so loved. we couldn't ask for better, more generous people in our lives.

not to mention, the decorations were absolutely perfect. 

our wedding colors are yellow, gray, & black, 

& anna claire busted out her skills to really showcase those hues - i was in love. still am. 

i don't think justin & i could ever say thank you enough. 

if the engagement party was any indication 

of how awesome our wedding weekend will be, 

i know it is something we'll never, ever forget. 

i only wish i had more pictures! i was so busy having fun that i didn't even take my cell phone out of my purse the entire time. many of our sweet friends, as well as our parents & family, are not pictured above, & i wish they were!

photos: iphone, courtesy of kara & anna claire