Finding Love At Any Age!

I am so grateful to Essence magazine. This publication has been super supportive of my wedding and I can’t find words to express how I feel. I wanted to tell my relationship story because I knew it would benefit someone. So I put my skills as a publicist to use and crafted my real-life experiences regarding my wedding for all to read and submitted it to Essence magazine.

They loved my story, pictures and location. The hubs and I received recognition on three separate occasions. The first highlight was on Essence.com’s Bridal Bliss. The editor told me that our story was the most popular of 2012! On their Facebook page we received more than 10,000 likes, over 700 comments and 600 plus shares in addition to 140 comments on Essence.com. The second honor came with two Bridal Bliss awards. One for MOST BEAUTIFUL BACKDROP and the other for MOST TOUCHING UNION.

Now I am proud to announce that our story was once again spotlighted in Essence. But this time we are in the magazine! If you purchase the February issue you will find us featured in one of the cover stories titled, “You Can Find Love At Any Age” starting on page 80. We are on page 85! And guess what?! Permed to Natural made the article as well. So how cool is that?!

The 2012 Bridal Bliss Awards

I am more than excited to tell you all that my wedding earned two aspects of an ESSENCE.com 2012 Bridal Bliss Award!!!

The first award is MOST BEAUTIFUL BACKDROP (picture #2) and the second is MOST TOUCHING UNION (Picture #23).

The editors told me that on Facebook our story was the most popular of 2012 with more than 10,000 likes, over 800 comments and 700 plus shares! And on Essence.com we received more than 140 comments. I have to say – some of the comments were racial but most of them were positive. By telling my story to Essence I accomplished my goal. I wanted to inspire women in their 40s who have not married. The editor said, I did just that!

If you want to, please leave us a congratulatory comment on Essence.com by clicking the link below and going to our pictures.

http://photos.essence.com/galleries/2012-bridal-bliss-awards

Essence.com’s Bridal Bliss

My wedding is currently being featured on Essence.com’s Bridal Bliss. Check out our story by clicking HERE!

Enjoy!!!

Eat, Drink and Be Merry

The Range House at Seven Canyons Ranch in Sedona, Arizona provided everything I wanted for my reception. But most importantly, the venue offered a space for the Full Moon to join us, and that was extremely necessary.

A Married Lady

Officially a married lady and celebrating with family and friends. My reception was held at Seven Canyons Ranch Range House in Sedona, Arizona.

Rachel’s Knoll

I had my wedding at Seven Canyons Ranch on Rachel’s Knoll in Sedona, Arizona. Check out the continuation of my big day below!

Preparing for My Big Day

I finally received my wedding pictures and would like to share some of them with you. So over the next few days I will post various photos of my big day. Enjoy!

Honolulu and Kauai

We took a quick flight from Kauai to Honolulu to go jet skiing. Word of advice - never go jet skiing for the first time with a maniac-driver. I was laughing but scared the entire time.

Thank goodness we were being called in after 45 minutes of sheer torture.

Dune Bugging it up. Remember, I didn’t plan not one adventure. I just showed up and was surprised. Will you look at my Michael Kors top. I am glad I was able to get all of the dirt out.

This was a completely dirty trip. But fun!

Jumping in a lake was a nice refresher.

Animals seem to find him.

Staci + Joe Married 6/4/12.

Dinner view.

Chillin’.

Enjoying a day of shopping.

I like this road.

I wrote the note using OCC’s Lip Tar in color “Pageant.”

Can you see it?

Home at last.

More Adventures in Kauai

We stayed busy throughout our time in Kauai. I did not plan any of the adventures and didn’t know what I was getting into until the day of. Check out the pictures below.

If another horse didn’t try to bite my horse this would have been a completely lovely experience. You never know what’s going to happen when you ride a horse.

Remembering his days in the Army.

Water Falls, rivers and lakes were every where.

Hiking up a mountain and sort of scared on the slippery rocks.

A real live bee hive.

Kayaking was fun but I couldn’t take many pictures for fear of dropping the camera in the water and tipping my kayak.

Zip lining is next.

I’m getting ready.

Let’s go!

I should not have looked down…

Or studied the width across.

Now I am nervous.

Eyes closed the entire time.

Excited.

Adventures in Kauai

Attending the Smith’s Family Luau was fantastic. This place offers a nature walk, pig ceremony, food, music, live performances and more. The Hubs said the Luau was the highlight of his trip. Check out the pictures below.

The beginning of the Pig Ceremony.

The pig was cooked under ground.

There it is. This vegan just took a picture of the main course. There was plenty of vegetables and legumes for me to eat. The Hubs said it was tasty.

The “Smith” Family thanks to an English ancestor.

The main event.

It was a good show.