Just like our readings, we spent a lot of time choosing music for our ceremony. Music has always been important to us individually and as a couple, from the Arcade Fire songs we listened to when we first started dating to the Death Cab for Cutie and Postal Service songs that will always remind us of college. We were excited to add to our “collection” with the wedding.

Furthermore, music has always triggered my emotions like nothing else, and in this situation, I wanted them to be triggered! I wanted to feel the enormity of what was happening. Have you ever noticed how much more impactful words layered over music is than just words? Like in movies? Or at my church, when they always play Borning Cry in the background as the confirmands are blessed by their parents and pastor? (I used to make fun of my mom for crying every year, but now I do, too!)

Photo from our ceremony by Nancy Ray

In the end, we were so, so happy with the musical choices we made. Here they are:

Entrance of parents and gentlemen: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
Played by: String trio
My mom, accompanied by my brother in law, and John’s mom, accompanied by John’s dad, walked into Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. Once they had been seated, our pastor, John, and his groomsmen entered from the front side entrance of the church. This song just says “joyful wedding” to me like nothing else, and sure enough, when I heard the first swells from where we were waiting in the narthex, excited bubbles rose up in my stomach, and I might have let out a few squeaks :)

Bridesmaids’ processional: In Christ Alone
Played by: String trio and pianist
I think this was the choice we were most unsure about, but in the end, it was beyond perfect! Even Philip, one of our videographers (who has excellent taste in music), complimented us on it after the service! Both John and I love this hymn, but we were unsure of how natural it would be to walk to. After much practicing around the apartment, we decided it would work… and happily, it did! It set the perfect reverent, moving tone at the beginning of the service. (We also considered Down to the River to Pray.)

Bridal processional: A Thousand Years
Played by: String trio and piano
If we were most unsure about the bridesmaids’ processional, we were most divided on the bridal processional! I wanted something that evoked strong emotion in me, and that had a solid forward movement/thrust. The first song I got stuck on was a live version of The Chain by Ingrid Michaelson. I adore that song, and thought it would be gorgeous played by strings and piano. John, however, pretty much flat-out refused it. I next considered Pachelbel’s Canon in D, but although that song is beautiful, it didn’t move me like I was hoping it would. (Maybe a similar issue to my wedding gown – I’ve heard it at too many other weddings?)

John was initially skeptical of the song we ultimately chose for the processional, and I’ll admit, I was, too. Somehow I had stumbled across the Vitamin String Quartet version of “A Thousand Years,” and I thought it was achingly beautiful. Even though we would use an instrumental version, I liked the words, too. The downside? It was written for one of the Twilight movies. I’ve never read any of the Twilight books or seen any of the movies, so it wasn’t colored for me — I was more worried that others might think it was weird or cheesy. I was also worried that I might regret not choosing something more classic. In the end, though, I went with my gut, and somehow got John on my side. And it was perfect. My processional was highly emotional, and its beautiful soundtrack played a large part in that.

Congregational hymn: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Played by: Pianist
John and I share a deep love for old hymns, and we knew from the start we wanted to include a congregational hymn in our ceremony. Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee was an easy choice – it’s one of my very favorites, and John loves it, too. I hear I surprised some of our guests with my mastery of the lyrics — that’s one of the ones I know by heart, and boy did I sing it! :) I loved looking around the church at all of our guests’ happy faces during the hymn, too.

Communion hymns: Come, Thou Font of Every Blessing and Set Me as a Seal
Played by: Pianist
These were easy to choose, too! We immediately picked Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (patterned on the Sufjan Stevens version!), and happily added Set Me As a Seal when our pastor suggested we might want two for timing purposes. We were EXTREMELY blessed to have our dear friend Anna sing both of these as a solo. Anna has been one of my very best friends from third grade until the present day, and she has possibly the most beautiful voice of anyone I know. For timing, we probably could have used a third hymn, but these two were perfect as is!

Recessional: Ode to Joy
Played by: String trio and pianist
We considered a few upbeat secular songs for our recessional (Hallelujah I Love Her So, Wouldn’t It Be Nice, You’re Still the One), but decided pretty quickly to go traditional and repeat Ode to Joy. It’s the same hymn my parents and older sister used for their weddings, and I loved that we could continue the tradition!

I created a Spotify playlist with similar versions of most of these songs which you can access here. Let me know what you think, or, if you’re married, tell me what you used for your bridal processional! :)

Dahlias are one of the most beautiful flowers available this time of year, in my opinion, and so when I saw the pretty arrangement in the middle left, below, I knew I had to craft an inspiration board around it. I’ve never been the biggest fan of Halloween, so this combination feels just right for today. I love how the golden orange, bright red, and blue stone hues came together, and doesn’t that pumpkin meringue confection look amazing?!

Credits:

Orange dahlia button boutonniere from Martha Stewart Weddings, amazing deep-dish pumpkin meringue pie from Martha Stewart Living via At Altitude, Pendleton blankets, dahlia and berry centerpiece by Honey of a Thousand Flowers (photo by Leo Patrone) via Once Wed, dried leaf escort cards photo by Ali Harper via Once Wed (concept by Joy Thigpen), canning jars photo by Young & Hungry from Food & Wine, wooden invitation photo by Jose Villa, pumpkins and gourds photo by Foret via Design*Sponge

P.S. Another fall inspiration board

I truly apologize for discussing anything Christmas-related before Thanksgiving, and especially before Halloween, but I do have a legit reason for the timing of this post. For a few years (as I mentioned here), I’ve wanted a basket to hold the base of our Christmas tree – I prefer the look to a skirt or a plain stand. Examples:

From top to bottom and left to right: Country Living, Country Living, Country Living, unknown, Yvestown Blog, Country Living, Country Living. Clearly Country Living feels the same way about Christmas trees in baskets that I do.

True story: Last year, I attempted to buy a peach-basket type thing off of the employees at Carolina Pottery. Granted, the baskets were not for sale (they were being used to display other things that were for sale), but don’t you think they should have sold one to me regardless??

Moving on. From my research over the last few days, I found three online companies — Wisteria, Pottery Barn, and Crate & Barrel — that have a basket similar to what I’m envisioning.

1. Large woven seagrass basket from Wisteria (22″ high, 23″ wide — $105) | 2. Extra-large round beachcomber basket from PB (23″ high, 21″ wide — $129, or $150 with S&H) | 3. Basay basket from C&B (23 1/4″ high, 20 3/4″ wide — $70 (only in stores)) | 4. Basket tree skirt from Terrain (10″ high, 24″ wide at base — $49.30 with Cup of Jo discounts through October 31) | 5. 8 gallon round galvanized wash tub (8 1/4″ high, 17 1/4″ wide at top, 14 5/8″ wide at bottom — $26.06) | 6. Galvanized round wash pan (5 1/4″ high, 17 3/8″ wide at top, 13 1/4″ wide at bottom — $19.96)

If you like the look of the galvanized tubs, I’d recommend trying to find a feed store in your town. I think that look is a little too rustic for me, and besides, I like the idea of being able to use the woven basket year round to hold other things besides a Christmas tree.

More great options for Christmas trees in baskets available this year!
Woven tree basket in natural or gray
Beachy woven tree basket
Woven basket (GREAT price!)
White rope tree collar (also great price!)
Rattan Christmas tree basket

Affiliate links are used in this post!

In order to offset all of the eating we did in Asheville, we went on several hikes! Being outside together in beautiful places is one of my and John’s favorite things, and Asheville in the fall certainly fits the bill. This year our hikes were waterfall themed, and as such, they were even lovelier than usual!

The first was Catawba Falls in Old Fort, NC, just a few miles outside of Asheville. You can find more info on this hike here and here.

This trail is ripe for discovering hidden gems. The little guy above right wasn’t even technically part of Catawba Falls, I don’t think, but was the loveliest tucked-away pool and small cascade!

Lower Catawba Falls is above. For most hikers, this is the end of the road. The trail is pretty much flat or gently sloped to this point, so it would be great for kids!

Being the adventurous sorts we are, John and I decided to hike the remaining distance to Upper Catawba Falls. And by hike, I pretty much mean rock climb, sans gear. There’s even a rope at one point! We didn’t take pictures the rest of the way up because things got even more precarious.

Cue the chorus of angels — Upper Falls!

There were two other gals enjoying the view when we arrived, and we were surprised to see a group of six middle-aged people arrive while we were resting. (Because of how challenging the description of the latter part of the hike was, and how challenging our ascent was, we hadn’t expected to see many other hikers.) The late arrivals had entered the pool in a different way than we had, which made us curious, so once we were ready to go, we set off the way they had come. After only a short (and fairly easy) distance, we joined up with our original trail. Cue face palm. We had taken a wrong turn at this point on the way up, bypassing this moderately difficult trail in favor of a much more life-endangering trail (really not exaggerating). Needless to say, the rest of our descent was uneventful.

If you attempt the hike to Upper Catawba Falls, make sure you stay to the left at every chance you get, and make sure you can always see the Falls/gorge – we got out of eyesight range when we took our wrong turn. (The only exception to this might be in summer, when there are more leaves on the trees.)

Our second hike was Crabtree Falls, at milepost 339.5 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was less taxing and a bit more dramatic than Catawba Falls, though I didn’t think quite as lovely. The hike is also oriented so you’re moving downhill on the out and uphill on the back, which is not my preferred mode.

For our hard work, we were rewarded with a moody sunset over the Black Mountains as we drove back down the Parkway.

I hope you enjoyed our Asheville adventures! If anyone has been to Asheville or Western North Carolina and has a hike to recommend, we’re all ears!

Note: Hiking around waterfalls is inherently dangerous. I’m sure it goes without saying, but do NOT attempt to hike directly up a waterfall, and use caution at all times whenever you’re in the vicinity of one. Also, even though we made the hike to Upper Catawba Falls more difficult than necessary, even the “easier” route is quite challenging, and should only be attempted by experienced, fit hikers.