Bleeding Purple

Our alma matter is very important to Josh and I, being as how we both met at and graduated from James Madison University. There was no doubt in our minds that we wanted to somehow highlight our love and deep ties to JMU at our wedding. And what better way to do so then by having the JMU Road Dawg make an appearance!

The JMU Road Dawg is a traveling statue that has been to hundreds of family get togethers, weddings, and trips all throughout the country. Then I found out the worst news ever (at least at that moment in time): the Road Dawg had already been booked for the weekend of our wedding! I am pretty sure I was depressed for a few days, but knew we could find other ways to show off our purple and gold pride.

I began searching around until I found the most perfect JMU Duke Dog cake topper. Ever. I emailed Josh right away; of course, his response was something along the lines of "I am at work. I will look at it tonight." After he saw it, I knew he immediately had a "We need to have that" feeling. It was a little on the pricier end of what I ever pictured myself spending on a cake topper (I don't even think I was planning to have a cake topper now that I think of it), but it was definitely worth it. After finding this, we decided that we wanted our cake table to be JMU-themed and also Vega-themed.

JMU Duuukes.

Photo wood blocks and an "All You Need Is Love...And A Dog" sign.

My easy DIY paper bunting and cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake.

If you're looking to do a similar cake topper for your wedding, the Etsy shop that I purchased mine from has every college and university you can think of. And if you don't see it, they can custom make one for you. Just keep in mind that you need to place your order at least 2-3 months in advance of when you'd want to receive it. You can customize just about everything, too - the groom's suit, wedding flowers, wedding dress color, accessories, etc. I paid extra to also have the base painted white, as normally it would be a natural wood color.

Mr. and Mrs. Duke Dog on top of our simple two-tiered wedding cake.

Wooden crates, cake stands, and white hydrangeas in mason jars for our cake table.

And to top it all off - Josh's brother secretly booked the actual JMU Duke Dog mascot to make a guest appearance at our wedding. We had no idea and we were both so surprised (and I am impossible to surprise). Definitely one of the most memorable moments from our wedding!

JMU alumni!

A Look Back / The Pupprosal

It’s so crazy to think that on August 6, 2011, we brought home Vega and got engaged, then we planned a wedding for a year - and now we are married! I loved every little bit of the proposal and our engagement, so here’s a look back...

I have always loved dogs and never really had one growing up. So I knew that when the time was right (if there ever was a right time), that I would want to get one someday. And after Josh and I had bought our first home together, I (secretly?) began researching breeders in Virginia. It wasn't secret for very long, because every week (sometimes every day), I would send emails to Josh: Look at this one!..Sooo cute!...I need this puppy!...That face!

We eventually found a breeder and had made plans to finally pick up the newest member of our family that day - a little girl yellow Labrador Retriever puppy! I had been so busy the past few days with puppy preparations, all while Josh was busy on his own with engagement preparations. But seriously - I would have never thought to be getting a ring AND a puppy on the same day!

Prior to picking up Vega, Josh had suggested that we drive to James Madison University - where we both graduated from - because the weather was supposed to be nice in the afternoon. So a few hours later, we finally arrive at our old stomping grounds with our sweet little Vega.

We get to the quad and begin setting up stuff for a picnic. It was a gorgeous day and we pretty much had the quad to ourselves because fall semester had not yet started. It just so happened that it was our monthly anniversary that day, and usually we try to do something each month around that time - rent a movie, make a special dinner, etc. We are always so busy and set in our ways and normal routines, that I like to take note of this date and do something nice for one another. Anyways, after we had had lunch, Josh mentioned that he had a gift for me. Not surprising at all, because I had a gift for him, too (which was a t-shirt!).

I opened my gift and it was a picture frame with a letter he had typed to me. It was about how excited he was to start this new family with Vega and a bunch of other sweet things about us and our relationship. After I finished reading it, I put the frame down and Josh is down on one knee in the middle of the quad. I can’t even begin to describe how amazing those few moments were (and I don’t remember much) - but I said yes! Lots of happy tears and phone calls later, we could not wait to get home to share the news (and ring! and puppy!) with our closest friends and family.

Whenever I see Vega, I never forget how incredible that day was and she will always be my little engagement pup. GO DUKES!