It was a tame year for the hubby and me since we spent most of it drowning in the deep end of planning a wedding. We were able to sneak in some valuable moments, though, and make some pretty great memories.
Here are the highlights of our year:
How Many Breweries Did We Visit in 2017?
10
Justin and I are huge supporters of the craft beer industry in North Carolina and are fortunate to live close to many of the state’s best breweries. We spent 2017 checking out new and new-to-us breweries, and had a blast exploring different beers across our beautiful state. We look forward to experiencing even more in the coming year.
How Many Baseball Games Did We Attend?
6
We really wanted to take in more of the city this year and enjoy more of what it has to offer. One way we did that was by going to as many Charlotte Knights baseball games as we could.
It’s as if they plopped BB&T Ballpark right in the middle of Uptown, which makes for gorgeous views of the city from inside the stadium.
Lake Weekends
Most weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day, we could be found on Lake Norman with family and friends.
It’s A Boy!
Our best friends shared with us that they are expecting their first child, a boy they are naming Wyatt. He will make his grand debut in March, and his aunt Hali and uncle “Bam” could not be more excited to meet him.
Bridal Shower and Bachelorette & Bachelor Parties
Most of 2017 was devoted to planning our September wedding, and while that was a source of stress most of the time, we were able to unwind at several celebrations thrown in our honor.
First, my bridal shower was a beautiful event hosted by my lifelong bestie.
Then there was my bachelorette party — a day of lounging by the pool and a night of drinks and dancing — and Justin’s bachelor party — a trip to Topgolf and a Charlotte Knights baseball game.
We are truly thankful for the kind, selfless, and wonderful humans we call friends.
The Wedding
This was the day that Justin and I have been dreaming of for 7 years.
I will never forget the moment the officiant, a very good friend of ours, pronounced us husband and wife. Justin and I looked at each other, both smiling so big our checks felt like they would explode, and said: “We did it!”
The entire day was a dream; a beautiful, surreal dream.
Foo Fighters
As a wedding gift, I surprised Justin with tickets to see the Foo Fighters (his most favorite band of all time).
It was an incredible experience, and we rocked out so hard. Like, so hard that we lost our voices from screaming and threw out our necks from head banging.
When someone else’s happiness is your happiness, that is love. And watching Justin enjoy that entire night was worth every penny I spent on those tickets.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZLp_e2ntpY/?taken-by=halidawnschaefer
What’s Next?
We leave for our Christmas Walt Disney World honeymoon in just one week.
Hali will continue to work toward a master’s degree in liberal studies.
In March we will visit California. This will be Justin’s first time on the West Coast.
We’re excited for all the adventures 2018 has waiting for us.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!
