Blake & Alex’s Wedding Recap

Kristina Stubblefield  0:00  
What's better than just hearing from a bride about her special day? This episode? Because we get to talk to newlyweds Blake and Alex Fackler. about all the details leading up to their wedding and their special day.

Michael Gaddie  0:14  
And I'm so excited because Alex shares with us how he planned and had the perfect honeymoon.

Kristina Stubblefield  0:20  
Stay tune. You got engaged. Congratulations. Happy. Yes. joyful time. Of course. Now what timelines to do lists and checklists. 100% Don't worry, you're in the right place. Welcome to The Ring The Bling And All The Things. Hi, I'm Kristina Stubblefield, one of your hosts, along with my two good friends, Michael Gaddie and Sharon Rumsey. We have over 50 years of wedding industry experience between us. We have seen it, heard it, done it and found a way around it. We are here to get you from down on one knee to down the aisle. Our podcast will cover everything from you saying yes to the i do's and all that happens in between. So buckle up and enjoy the journey. Now let's get started with this episode.

Mike, I don't know about you. But our sidekicks not with us today? No, it's awful. But we are really excited about our guest. Mike, this is one of your brides, as well as sharing Aaron's rice. And I know we're going back. She got married this summer, July of 2021. Blake, thank you so much for taking time to talk to us about all things with your wedding and planning. We have so many different topics we want to talk about. But thank you so much for being our guest.

Blake Fackler  2:06  
Well, thank you for having me. I'm so excited.

Kristina Stubblefield  2:09  
Well, Mike, we've got a lot to cover. Oh, we better get she better get some popcorn and something to drink. Like your number one thing you remember from your wedding day.

Blake Fackler  2:19  
Oh, my goodness. So the number one thing I remember was the first looks, because all dead and get to see Alex or my dad. And I just remembered. That's all I wanted to do. I was like, I'm not nervous. I'm nervous about just the sheer amount of people that are going to be there. And I know he would call me down. And I just wanted to see him. So that was my favorite part. And that was like the most vivid part of the whole day. So

Kristina Stubblefield  2:49  
well, from just seeing your pictures. I know you said there was some ugly crying going on. But what memories to cherish for a lifetime.

Blake Fackler  3:00  
Oh, I know. I'm it's funny. You say that. Because the whole day I was sitting here and I was like, wow, I so I feel like I'm so in the moment. I'm gonna remember this little detail. And this one. I don't remember. Like, I don't want to say I don't remember anything. I do remember stuff. But it's just like, people tell me things. And I'm like, oh, yeah, that happened. And that happened. And

Kristina Stubblefield  3:22  
I'm like, this is one of the things. Well, Mike, this is one of the things that we talk about. You put so much time into planning this special day. And we talk about photos and video being so important. Yeah, I

Michael Gaddie  3:37  
mean, you know, I mean, you plan for months and months and months, but then the day comes and it's almost like a blur to you. But when it comes to photography and video, that's that's how important it is to have those things. Some people say, Oh, well, pictures aren't important. Important to me, or video isn't important. But really, it's what should be one of the most important things because you're going to have that to latch on to the rest of your life.

Blake Fackler  4:04  
I mean, I remember booking Sharon, then you and then our photographer, I mean in that order, because pictures were my, like top two things, flowers and pictures. Well, and then you know, they're sharing. She's in charge of it also. But um, you

Michael Gaddie  4:22  
have to have a good writer person. Yes.

Blake Fackler  4:25  
Oh, yeah. I mean, I remember that was my most important thing we interviewed. Our photographer asked her a lot of questions. We spent like two hours on the phone with her. And then we weren't gonna do a videographer. That was one of the last things we added. And it was actually my dad, he got remarried two years ago, and they didn't have a videographer. And he said, that's the one thing they regretted. And, I mean, we didn't spend as much as you could spend on a videographer. It was just a friend from my high school who was trying to start up a business and he only done like, five or 10 weddings prior to mine. Um, and I was blown away by that video. And then the video helped me be like, oh my goodness, I remember this and this and that. And so every time I look at it, I see something new or catch something, and I couldn't recommend it more.

Michael Gaddie  5:16  
Well, your pictures, we've been looking at them on Facebook, and your pictures are absolutely wonderful. I mean, I mean, every picture is just as good as the next.

Kristina Stubblefield  5:27  
And it looks like to me so many little details just in going over the pictures. Like where I want to start with this is you tell me a little bit about your engagement story.

Blake Fackler  5:40  
Oh, my goodness. So I, I'll start off by saying, I take pride in knowing everything that's going on. Like I rewatch shows just to know what's happening next. And so I don't feel like anything catches me off guard. Like, I always know what's happening next in life. I'm a planner. So having no control over this proposal was very hard. We gone ring shopping, the August before we got engaged. And then he gave me like a six month span. So, um, with our work schedules and school schedules, I really thought I had it pinned down to like a day. And I was completely wrong. Um, I had taken we had taken like a nap and he's like, Let's go for a walk in the park. And I was like, okay, but I have plans tonight to go to a friend's house. And he's like, Well, can I come? I was like, No, it's girls night. Well, he had planned this night with. I feel like I was lied to a lot. And so but oh, so worth

Kristina Stubblefield  6:42  
it though, Blake.

Blake Fackler  6:44  
I know because we went to the park. And my friend from my best friend from high school was hiding in the shoes sitting on a bench with a book in front of her in front of this gorgeous Zeebo. And he got down on one knee, she pulled the book down, and I remember looking at her and being like, that's Monica. Oh, Alex is on one knee focus. And so he propose, I was, I mean, of course, not expecting any of it. We went to dinner where he brought in another friend from out of town, and she showed up. So by then I was like, no more surprises, right? Like, this is it? We're just going out with my friends later. He's like, Yeah, just a few friends. We're going to go out to a bar and blah, blah, blah. No, he's like, I have to pick up some drinks that I made for us at my apartment before we go. And I was like, Okay. And so I'm walking up the stairs. I'm like, Oh, here's Alex's apartment introducing them. I flip on the lights. And there's like, 30 people screaming congratulations, his apartment. He threw, like a whole engagement party. People came from like me County, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana. I mean, it was a big a big to do.

Kristina Stubblefield  8:00  
That's awesome. She remembers the details. Yeah. And the thought that went into it. Absolutely. Yes. Well, okay, so he did good. So good. Okay, our listeners are going to be taking some ideas from that, Mike, don't you think?

Michael Gaddie  8:16  
Well, I think that's good, too. For our listeners, you know, you want to try to outdo each other. So I mean, you got to come up with other things. So that's awesome.

Kristina Stubblefield  8:23  
And it doesn't have to be a big elaborate dinner. Just like she talked about the park and she was surprised.

Blake Fackler  8:30  
That's how they're just taking a walk in the park. That was something we do all the time. So I mean, like, I wasn't expecting it. Because he was saying, you know, this is like the one time I get to surprise you. He's like, you get to surprise me with like, babies and all this. I was like, Okay,

Michael Gaddie  8:49  
you better hang out. Because he sounds like a good one.

Kristina Stubblefield  8:51  
I think he's a keeper. I think he's a key. Okay, so. So you got engaged. How soon did you start planning?

Blake Fackler  9:03  
Well, so we actually got engaged the weekend before COVID. shut everything down. So this it was weird to us, because that was the last time anybody had gone out or done anything, go to a restaurant the next weekend, that Sunday, everything closed down. So we actually got to see the refinery in person. But we actually picked our Church Online based on Google Google pictures. So that was pretty. We did that pretty quick. I remember. Actually. I remember talking to Katie Hill who has been on your podcast before. And she had told me that she because she got engaged. Like two months before we did, and she'd already obviously booked Sharon and I was thinking, oh, you know, I don't think I need a wedding planner. And she was like, no Just like have a phone call conversation with her and I was like, Okay. And Alex is like, no, no, no, like, we know everything we want. And I was like, that's true. And he's like, Yeah, we want a buffet. Lots of pictures, a Catholic church wedding and lots of flowers. And he's like, it's all it's all we need, right? That's

Kristina Stubblefield  10:21  
simple.

Blake Fackler  10:23  
Yeah, Mike. Yes. Simple. He's like, you know, and like, 400 people, and it's like, okay, not no 400. But we're sitting here thinking we can make these decisions pretty quickly. We know a lot about it. And then we got on the phone with Cher. And I was like, oh, you know, no. And so at the end, I mean, I don't know how long we talked to her. But by the end, we hung up, and he's usually the skeptical one. And he even was like, okay, so we need Sharon to plan our wedding.

Michael Gaddie  10:57  
Well, you know, one thing too, a lot of people and just like you just said, a lot of people does not realize how much detail how much work goes in to throw on that day off. You know, I mean, it takes a lot of work. And and I'm telling you since I've met Sharon and other wedding planners that I know, I mean, they are worth every penny, you pay them. Because I mean, it's it's it's mind settling for you, because you don't have to worry about it, and having someone else there to be to play you to make sure everything goes okay, is the perfect thing to have that day.

Blake Fackler  11:37  
Oh, yeah. And just someone to look over your contracts, make sure the wording is correct. I mean, and, you know, yeah, I knew I went to buffet, but where in the world was I couldn't get it. I didn't know. I mean, he found me vendors and set everything up for us. I mean, that was my first year teaching. And Alex was traveling a lot in his job. So we really didn't have a lot of time, as much time as we would like to plan this wedding. So she really saved us on that. I mean, and like my parents talked, she saved us time. My parents talk about how much time she saved them.

Michael Gaddie  12:17  
I mean, you know, that's important, too. Let me ask you this. What was your most difficult challenge? Since you said you got engaged the week before? COVID started? What was your biggest challenge through all that? Not even with Sharon or anything else? What was the challenge that you faced, personally, because of deal dealing, planning your wedding during COVID?

Blake Fackler  12:40  
I think it was that we had to, like, for example, like, find our church online, look at pictures of that online, then it was the you know, we wanted to have a big wedding. And you know, no one knew when COVID was gonna stop, people were postponing them a full year. And even like, a month or two before our wedding, my mom was like, You need to get your COVID list ready? And I'm like, No, I never made one. I don't know if that was stupid or not. But I didn't make one. Because right after our wedding is when that like, variant came around. And so it was a really tricky business. And so I think it was the unpredictability of COVID. And the wedding. I mean, I didn't know what was going to happen. So

Kristina Stubblefield  13:25  
and she mentions about your picking the place where you're exchanging your vows, online, not seeing it in person, I can understand why she would say, that's a big decision. A big decision.

Michael Gaddie  13:39  
Well, I know to over the past few months or past year. I mean, every time I talked to abroad, it's like, my biggest challenge was knowing if my wedding was going to happen. I mean, having to go to bed every day thinking, oh god, is this going to happen? And you're planning? What is tomorrow tomorrow brain? And it's just, I feel for all the brides that had to deal with all that.

Kristina Stubblefield  14:04  
Well, it's also vendors too. You know, it is it really affects the families, the friends, the wedding party, the couple the vendors it, it affects every single part of it.

Blake Fackler  14:16  
I remember the weirdest part of it all was wedding dress shopping with a mask on.

Kristina Stubblefield  14:22  
Oh, I even thought of that.

Blake Fackler  14:25  
Yeah, so up until I tried on I only tried on like five dresses, but I wasn't allowed to take my mask off until I thought I found the one. So we've never had

Kristina Stubblefield  14:37  
like I mentioned that so I'm glad that she did.

Blake Fackler  14:41  
Yeah, you couldn't take your mask off. I mean, like I was wearing, you know, a big white dress and I'm like, Well, I don't know how this is gonna look. Can I take the mask off or like not until you like basically say Yes to the Dress, like until you think it's the one even though I'm like six feet away from everyone. I could only bring two people. So I brought my mom and Alex's mom. And like they had to stay six feet from each other. They like it was the weirdest thing. They had to have their masks

Kristina Stubblefield  15:14  
out COVID I don't know that it's ever been mentioned about affecting the dress shopping and to people going with you.

Michael Gaddie  15:22  
That's never been mentioned before. There's

Kristina Stubblefield  15:25  
so many different aspects of that. So you said you tried on how many dresses?

Blake Fackler  15:30  
Just five. Um, but yeah, I had to sit there the whole time with my mask on. And then I can only take it off at the very end. And then before I even stepped off the pedestal to go take it off. I had to put it back on.

Kristina Stubblefield  15:44  
Well, one thing that I saw with your dress when I was looking down at your pictures, and I hope you'll be okay with us sharing some of these online was the detail. Again, I'm looking at pictures, but it looks like the straps and the back how it V down with a lace I believe.

Blake Fackler  16:04  
Mm hmm.

Kristina Stubblefield  16:05  
I mean, absolutely.

Unknown Speaker  16:06  
It's beautiful. Very pretty.

Blake Fackler  16:08  
Yeah, we um, I didn't think I was going to want a big poufy dress, I thought I would want more form fitting, but I just put that on and like I never thought I wanted to feel I just wanted to be like a bride. But then I tried that one on I was like, I feel like a bride and a princess. I just felt so special. Um, that that one just like it hit me like a ton of bricks. Like I know people say like, I have friends that are engaged. They're like, I don't know how I'm going to pick one. Like, I'm so picky. And I'm like, I don't know how else to explain it by you. Like you have a gut feeling when you try it on. Like, you just know, it's kind of love at first sight. But we've

Kristina Stubblefield  16:47  
we've heard something similar like you just know, there's no really a way to describe it. But this looks very flowy like very statement. But I mean, this really looks this dress obviously suits you so stunning. Yes. You You mentioned about the first Lux, who did you choose to do first Lux I know you mentioned it earlier. But I know you did. Your dad.

Blake Fackler  17:16  
And and Alex and I didn't want one at all. In the beginning. I wanted to see his space as I walked down the aisle. But then I talked to multiple people. And they said it's such a special moment. It's one on one time that you get before the wedding to talk to let all the nerves die down. And I will say like that's what I remember most I remember being up at the altar. And then I remember our first look, those are like the two things that stand out during the day.

Kristina Stubblefield  17:47  
And I'm so glad he brought this up because it's been talked about a lot lately, the difference between him seeing you come down the aisle or the first look. And recently we had a photographer on as a guest. And she was talking about how intimate that moment is. And it's not as much for the pictures as it is for the couple and their special day. You can't have that intimate moment in a church with 100 people or 200 people or 50 people for that matter. And I never had anybody say it to me that way. And I was like I always thought people did it for the pictures. And she was like the ones I talked to I tell them to be able to relish that moment together as a couple.

Michael Gaddie  18:31  
Well, we're sitting here looking at your pictures as we're talking to you and I see that they blindfolded. The groom is that is that when they were bringing them him to you. I thought that was cute. That's awesome. He's on the bus with his blindfold on.

Blake Fackler  18:47  
Yes. is not actually a blindfold. It's one of his ties, like one of his favorite ties. And he lost it like he had it on the bus and then he had it at the reveal. But we never got

Kristina Stubblefield  19:04  
so about pictures though, right Blake?

Blake Fackler  19:08  
Yeah. Oh, I so that's why I say I'm like you can just remember in the pictures, but we we blindfolded him he's blindfolded for like 30 or 40 minutes. It was pretty

Kristina Stubblefield  19:17  
funny. Is the on it the river? Is that where you did the first look? Yeah, the auto River. Yeah, waterfront that's

Michael Gaddie  19:25  
very pretty. So how did you say Did you see your dad first or did you see the groom first?

Blake Fackler  19:33  
I saw Alex first and an Alex watched my dad. Oh

Michael Gaddie  19:36  
my goodness.

Kristina Stubblefield  19:38  
This is so good. Where she's hugging.

Blake Fackler  19:42  
Oh, I mean, I get my tears from him. My gosh, he took one look at me and I about lost it. I didn't remember if my makeup artist put on waterproof mascara or not. So I was

Kristina Stubblefield  19:53  
you know another thing like this is something that you cannot experience with your parents. Coming down the aisle, if they're walking you down the aisle or if they're down there, you can't have this experience. So I'm so glad that she talked about this. Oh, yeah. You can just see how much that meant to both of those

Michael Gaddie  20:14  
pictures are 1000 words right there. In the pictures. We're

Kristina Stubblefield  20:17  
talking about Blake, let us share some out on our social media with that when this episode releases to so. So did you all end up taking some pictures together then before the ceremony?

Blake Fackler  20:28  
Yeah, it's funny you say that. So my biggest thing for pictures was that I wanted some outside because since we weren't doing an outside wedding, I wanted the greenery. I wanted the like a nice background. That just what because I knew we're going to get pictures in the church. I didn't want all of them there. So but it started monsoon in the morning of the wedding. I'm talking like sideways rain, and we hadn't come up with an extra place to take pictures inside. So we were just banking on that break. And it stopped raining from like 12 to six ish.

Michael Gaddie  21:05  
Beautiful day there and

Blake Fackler  21:08  
it looks beautiful. You would never guess. So we took pictures there. And then outside the refinery, there's this white brick wall that we also took pictures in front of. I mean, besides the you know, getting married part the pictures with our bridal party. And then Alex, we took pictures with all of us at both locations,

Kristina Stubblefield  21:31  
that we just got to the one with the bridal party. And so how long did you take pictures for approximately? Do you remember at all?

Blake Fackler  21:41  
I remember us being 30 minutes early to the refinery. So I think like I think we had two hours. For pictures at Waterfront. I think we only took an hour and 15 minutes. And then we know.

Kristina Stubblefield  21:58  
Yeah,

Blake Fackler  21:59  
hour and 15 minutes. And then we drove there. So we were 30 minutes. We were early to the church and to the refinery. So, um, it didn't take as long as we thought. But I still got

Kristina Stubblefield  22:10  
plenty of time. And I think that's one thing that surprises people is when they think oh, allow a couple hours for pictures. And they think a couple hours. One of the things that the photographer tip, you always want to have extra time and not be rushed. Because you can tell you're rushed in photos if you do that.

Michael Gaddie  22:31  
Well. And you can tell you have a good photographer too, because you did have extra time and the pitcher. She took her he took I mean they're beautiful, amazing

Kristina Stubblefield  22:40  
thing. Absolutely stunning.

Blake Fackler  22:43  
So we took I mean, we were 30 minutes early to the church, and that was downtime. There's some pictures of us in the church. Just like sitting on the ground. I got to talk to my bridesmaids for like half an hour, someone went to McDonald's and got us drinks. And then we kept sitting there and then we got to the refinery early and just found that like happen to find that brick wall to take pictures in front of and she loved that. So I mean, they allow they allow all that time, but I mean, they give you like, I think we got like 16 1800 pictures back.

Kristina Stubblefield  23:15  
Oh my goodness. Yeah. And I only posted like

Blake Fackler  23:19  
400 on Facebook. So I mean, they gave you so many options.

Kristina Stubblefield  23:24  
So Blake, what time did your day start on your wedding?

Blake Fackler  23:29  
It started at eight o'clock.

Kristina Stubblefield  23:32  
And what time was your wedding ceremony? 430 And then you did the reception following and so you ended about

Blake Fackler  23:43  
11

Kristina Stubblefield  23:45  
I think that's really important for people to realize that it is a long day and I think that's why even Sharon's mentioned about make sure you have snacks you don't go all day without eating and things like that. But just so people understand you started am your ceremonies not till 430 But you're allowing yourself time not to be rushed with hair makeup getting ready pictures, everything.

Blake Fackler  24:09  
Oh yeah, I mean I had so I had eight bridesmaids and so I had to make sure we had breakfast ready when they got there. And then Sharon had the best idea of getting lunch catered to the hotel so that came was ready for us. Because you for for getting ready. It takes a lot more out of you than you think it is just getting your hair and makeup done and shuffling from one location to another. I mean, it takes a lot out of you.

Kristina Stubblefield  24:37  
I'm looking at these I'm hesitating because I'm looking at the ceremony pictures. Just an absolutely gorgeous church. St. Elizabeth is very pretty in downtown Louisville. Absolutely stunning. What is what's something that you remember from the ceremony?

Blake Fackler  24:54  
I was just gonna say my, my favorite part. I mean, I remember like grabbing Alex's hands right as we got there, I just remember like catching looks at each other while father Steve was talking. I'm sitting during the homily, we're holding hands. I remember that. My hands are sweaty. But, but it was, it was awesome that my, my favorite part though, is we were exchanging rings. He was like, everyone reminded me to put my engagement ring on the opposite hand, so he could put my band on. And everyone's like, you're gonna forget, you're gonna forget, I was like, No, I will, I promise. So I remember to put on the right hand. And so he grabs my right hand. And I'm like, No, that's the wrong one. He's like, No, it's not. And everyone in the front couple rows can hear. And he's like, No, that's it. You have the wrong hand. You're giving me the wrong hand. I'm like, no look. And we have this like little funny exchange. And we're both so like, not nervous. But I don't know, that was just like a funny little story.

Kristina Stubblefield  26:02  
Like, do you see this picture where they're getting ready to come down the aisle? So you can she seems relieved. And she, they seem so happy and excited.

Blake Fackler  26:13  
We've been talking about this for so long. I mean, we've been together five years this month. And

Kristina Stubblefield  26:19  
that's awesome. And you know what this picture? I think she's looking at her dad, in this picture coming down the aisle. What? Again, I always say but amazing memories to be able to look back on. And what a beautiful place to take group pictures, and family photos. Absolutely. Awesome. So did you all would you do for transportation?

Blake Fackler  26:44  
We actually did a party bus for our bridal party. And that was so much fun. I I didn't really know what I wanted to do for transportation. I wasn't it wasn't one of the big things. But it's actually something I remember very vividly just sitting with all my friends chit chatting. We had drinks on the party bus and it was so fun to be with them before the wedding and after. And then on the way. We just had a regular bus come get them from the refinery and take them back to the hotel. But that was something that even some of my friends that got married after me said, you know, we wish we would have done something like that. Because we just took like, actually, at the last wedding. I was in out stroeve, five of the bridesmaids to the venue.

Kristina Stubblefield  27:35  
Mike, are you get ready say some about transportation? No. Well, one of the things I was gonna say Blake is you don't have the stress of worrying about if your people get to the place at the time they're supposed to did they take the wrong way? You know, you're together. But one of the things you just said is that's quality time together. Mm hmm. And that that's very special.

Blake Fackler  27:58  
I mean, these are your closest friends, cousins that are spending the whole day with you who came from all over? I mean, one of Alex's groomsmen, the Wednesday after our wedding moved to Guam. So like, these are Yeah, these are people that are came in from all over Indiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, Colorado. This is time that like you're never gonna see again. So

Michael Gaddie  28:25  
so really, that was good to hear from abroad that, you know, it's important to get transportation for your bridal party or this so you can spend more time together

Kristina Stubblefield  28:36  
well, and not we all lot of time say convenience and making sure you can stick to your timeline. But Blake said something completely different. I got to spend time together and I think that's an important

Michael Gaddie  28:46  
well, no what I'll get ready to say before when you asked me that is where she's sitting here flipping through your pictures and I see a lot of times when the bride and groom cuts cake sometime they'll be really delicate and you know, be very nice. It doesn't look like he were too nice when it came to cutting the cake.

Blake Fackler  29:06  
I catch so much flak for this because the whole planning this whole wedding

Michael Gaddie  29:12  
looks like they're laughing.

Blake Fackler  29:15  
Oh, well. I said. I said Don't you dare smash it my face, like getting this makeup done. But I did that because I secretly wanted to smash it in his face. And he was so bad. I mean, he still talks about it. Like we'll go to weddings, and he'll grab a piece and smash it in my face because he's so mad that I smashed in his

Kristina Stubblefield  29:35  
I mean, it looks like it's up his nose.

Blake Fackler  29:38  
It was I mean it was like up to his eyeballs.

Kristina Stubblefield  29:41  
I mean, we may have to have him join in this conversation, because I may I hear his take on this.

Blake Fackler  29:48  
I will text them to come in. Okay, so

Kristina Stubblefield  29:51  
while you're doing that, I'm glad you asked about this like because I want to talk a little bit more about cake cutting, but like what did you all do first at the risk? Did you all do a grand entrance?

Blake Fackler  30:03  
Um, we had our bridal party do entrances and we just kind of walked in, did our first dance. And then first dance with him and my dad. And then we sat down. Here he is.

Kristina Stubblefield  30:20  
Hi. So we want to talk to you about this cake cutting. Yeah, I

Alex Fackler  30:26  
heard you talking about it. So that's

Kristina Stubblefield  30:28  
your favorite part of the day, right?

Alex Fackler  30:31  
Uh huh. For sure on that one.

Blake Fackler  30:35  
I mean, he took it. He took it off his face and tried to smash it back into mind. He was so bad.

Michael Gaddie  30:41  
Or the photographer caught that moment perfectly.

Kristina Stubblefield  30:45  
She is relishing in that moment. It looks like that's the whole thing. The whole family.

Alex Fackler  30:51  
He sent me up from the beginning. I mean, it was I didn't stand a chance.

Blake Fackler  30:54  
Yeah, I know.

Kristina Stubblefield  30:55  
You for doing it to her at every wedding or event you attend from here on out. Yeah, I encourage you to do so. I'm sorry, Blake. But

Blake Fackler  31:07  
to be fair, Allen keys, just man. He's just mad because that's the only bite of cake he got all night. We had seven different kinds of cake. And so He's just mad that he didn't get more.

Kristina Stubblefield  31:23  
Well, I mean, I'm not sure he could taste it because it was up his nose and everywhere else. Exactly.

Michael Gaddie  31:29  
So So Alex. Alex, while you're in the room with us, I want to ask about a dance that was done during Piano Man. Tell us a little bit about that. Because I saw pictures of that. Or a video of that.

Kristina Stubblefield  31:46  
Is this the groomsmen dance? Oh, oh, yes.

Alex Fackler  31:52  
That's a it's something that our fraternity does. It's like the whole fraternity did it when we initiated and every time we initiate more people and it's just kind of become this thing that like, when we all get together to something like we remember, I guess. And

Kristina Stubblefield  32:12  
so Blake, did you know this was gonna happen?

Blake Fackler  32:15  
So what

Alex Fackler  32:16  
I actually didn't want it to happen. At first,

Blake Fackler  32:20  
it was on our mail, the truth comes out. Yeah, it's up. That's also my fault. So it was on our do not play list because he was like, my mom's gonna be there. Like, she doesn't need to see this and blah, blah, blah. And, um, but then we got to the wedding and all of his friends kept coming up to me asking when we are going to do it. I was like, No, he doesn't want to so as the night went on, they kind of broken down. So,

Kristina Stubblefield  32:50  
listeners though, could you tell them what happened during this dance. So they know since some people are just listening, they're not going to see the photos or anything like more videos.

Alex Fackler  33:02  
So, picture, I don't know how many of us were there? Well, guys, in a big circle, with our arms wrapped around each other. And at the beginning of the song, everyone drops to their boxer shorts, and we just sing along.

Kristina Stubblefield  33:19  
I just wanted him to explain it instead of me trying to that's all. Yeah. So, so why you're here? I'd like to know, what's your favorite memory from from your wedding day?

Alex Fackler  33:33  
Um, that's a tough one. I have a hard time picking favorite thing.

Kristina Stubblefield  33:38  
What's your top three then?

Alex Fackler  33:43  
I would say a top one would be just at the ceremony just sitting with Blake. Kind of enjoying that moment. And then at the reception, it was just like, so great to, to talk to everyone. Like I remember so many little conversations I had with people that it just been such a long time since we seen and it just felt great to have like, you know, it's like everyone is there for you. And we had so many people. I don't know, we just felt really loved.

Blake Fackler  34:19  
I think it was also because there was the COVID the biggest part of COVID was between our engagement and our wedding. So like he has two big Christmas parties where there's like 50 people at each party. And like they cancelled both of them because it COVID He hadn't seen these people in like a year, year and a half. So it really was more than a wedding. It was like a reunion.

Michael Gaddie  34:45  
That's awesome.

Kristina Stubblefield  34:45  
That is awesome. Oh well. I would also like to get your take on the honeymoon. But before we jump ahead if you want to stick with us through the rest of it, you can if you want to go off we can call you back in in a few minutes. Or Blake can tell you you can go Oh, wait, no, no, no, no,

Michael Gaddie  35:01  
he's got a chair.

Kristina Stubblefield  35:03  
Pulling up a chair. Okay, so, okay, so we talked about the grand entrance. What else went on during your reception that you want to talk about? Did you do other special dances that involve keeping the clothes on? Did you do parent dances? Did you all this? Did you all choose to do that? That which ones like dances with your parents?

Blake Fackler  35:29  
Yes, yes, we did. I did a dance with my dad. If you keep scrolling, you'll find it. It's about as emotional as the first look pictures. He did one with his mom. We did the generations dance, which was actually one of my favorites. His who

Alex Fackler  35:50  
know. I honestly didn't know who was gonna win the generation stands. And it was one of my aunts and uncles had

Kristina Stubblefield  35:59  
been married the longest. Yeah. Do you remember how long they'd been married?

Alex Fackler  36:05  
It was like 50 years or something like that?

Kristina Stubblefield  36:09  
Wow. Did they did they

Alex Fackler  36:11  
married longer, but they they left before it got to that point

Kristina Stubblefield  36:16  
before it got. Well, I'm glad that they could be there with you, though. Did they give you a piece of advice? Yeah. As that part of it, people talk about that. They really love that moment when somebody can share that advice.

Blake Fackler  36:30  
Oh, yeah. And it was obviously his uncle gave of some funny advice. And then his aunt what gave like, actual, like, good advice. Some serious advice.

Yeah, that's not sure.

Alex Fackler  36:44  
Oh, sorry. Well, Sharon's husband, I think predicted it like perfectly. He was the DJ. Oh, run

Kristina Stubblefield  36:50  
that rolling DJ. Okay. Yes. That's, he talks about doing that. That's one of his favorite things to do.

Michael Gaddie  36:58  
Ron keeps it going to he's good guy.

Alex Fackler  37:01  
Yes. Yes. Great. Yes. Good.

Kristina Stubblefield  37:04  
Yes. So um, let's talk about where did you where you hands on in the picking of the food.

Alex Fackler  37:14  
Um,

Kristina Stubblefield  37:15  
this is for both of you all.

Blake Fackler  37:18  
So, he we only this was also something with COVID We picked southern ladies catering which sharing recommended, and we did like what should have been like a in person taste test was a to go containers. Um, she let us try like a me and two sides. And then it was enough for like six people. So we got to take it home to my house with my mom and my dad and all eat it together. So that was our like, taste test. And then for cake, we did huysmans. And we did like a three tiered cake. But then we had four sheet cakes. Other flavors.

Kristina Stubblefield  38:04  
Which ones to get?

Blake Fackler  38:06  
I mean, they had nine flavors. We picked seven.

Alex Fackler  38:10  
As many as they would let us

Kristina Stubblefield  38:12  
right. Right. Oh, yeah. Um, so what did you all do for your food? Did you go with a certain theme?

Blake Fackler  38:21  
We did barbecue and I had these little Oh, paper bags. It says it said I do barbecue with our names on it and our date. And then we put the utensils in those and those were at the head of the buffet. Let's go super laid back.

Michael Gaddie  38:41  
Going back to your anniversary or generation dance. That's the first time and I've been around a sharing for a long time. I've never heard it called a generation dance. Is that what share? Or did you also shoot?

Blake Fackler  38:54  
And Ron called it together?

Kristina Stubblefield  38:57  
You know, it is probably the anniversary dance. Yeah, I think they're more calling it generation Dan.

Michael Gaddie  39:03  
better actually.

Kristina Stubblefield  39:04  
Yes. Yeah. I mean, I think it's so neat to people in your family. You might not realize how long they've been married.

Blake Fackler  39:13  
I had no idea about his aunt and uncle. We I mean, both of us together. We sat there and like brainstormed, when we when we talked to Ron, we're like, okay, who would? Who would win this? And we both had no idea. I mean, absolutely none,

Michael Gaddie  39:25  
though. Did you choose to do that over the traditional toss bouquet? Or did you do? You did it? Oh, yeah. Okay. Did it. Oh, all right.

Kristina Stubblefield  39:34  
So you did the bouquet and Garter? Well, we're hearing. Well, we're hearing that some people are not doing that. But they're using the toss bouquet to give to whoever ends up do with the generations dance or anniversary dance.

Michael Gaddie  39:50  
So I have not heard that. That's awesome. That's great.

Blake Fackler  39:53  
Yeah, we have some friends who decided against the bouquet toss but I say I'm traditional but then you know last Speed drop, they all drop their pants at our wedding. So I didn't feel like I am very traditional. So I wanted to do all of the traditional activities except for that.

Kristina Stubblefield  40:09  
Well, you did traditional with a spin.

Blake Fackler  40:12  
That's true. That's true. You have to you have to stand out somehow.

Kristina Stubblefield  40:16  
I love new traditions. Yeah, absolutely. I love the market lights. Absolutely. It just gives it another touch at the refinery. Mike, I know you love my market lights, too. So,

Blake Fackler  40:31  
Alex, we go ahead in our backyard, we have some in our backyard that were hanging up. I mean, I just like them in general. And when I walked in, and we saw it, I was like we have we have to have these I mean, especially at night with and then we had you put so many candles on the tables, and it just kind of

Michael Gaddie  40:51  
yeah, very trendy and very popular right now. Alex, I'm looking at pictures too. And I see that you have some fun socks on. So did all your groomsmen have a different kind of socks on? Or were they? I mean, that's very tricky right now having a look and socks.

Alex Fackler  41:09  
Yeah, we did all the same socks, but they were pretty fun.

Kristina Stubblefield  41:13  
I mean, that's cool. Nail Do you? Did you just do this for your wedding? Are you in two different socks all the time? Because some guys love doing the different socks.

Alex Fackler  41:23  
Yeah, I'm pretty basic when it comes to socks. But I know what you're talking about. A lot of people have all different kinds.

Kristina Stubblefield  41:30  
Oh, he lived on the edge just for the wedding day. Yeah,

Blake Fackler  41:35  
he did lay it all out there.

Kristina Stubblefield  41:38  
He did. Okay, so how did you wrap up your evening? How did you choose? You know, when? When it was getting closer to the end of it? How did you choose Canada wrap up the event?

Blake Fackler  41:50  
We didn't really have like an exit. Um, our so you picked it?

Alex Fackler  41:57  
Oh, well, it was something that our DJ suggested to us and share it to like, have everyone in a big circle and do a last song. Yes, that's my good friends in low places, which I've never seen that done at a wedding before. But

Blake Fackler  42:15  
we love that song. So it was really cool. And then, you know, we sang the song and the lights came on. And that was it. You know, we want I mean, I remember is a couple weeks before the wedding and my dad and share my like, how are you getting back to the hotel that night? I was like, I mean, we can just Uber. Uber from your wedding, and I was like, but it's efficient and cost a lot of money. And it'll be the two of us. Like it doesn't matter. And they're like, No, that's absolutely not. So that was the one thing that I didn't plan that apparently I really should have. Because my dad was in share and they were not having it.

Alex Fackler  42:58  
Yeah. So they booked us a bus.

Kristina Stubblefield  43:01  
A bus us. So it's just the two of you on the bus or did your wedding party go with you?

Blake Fackler  43:07  
Our wedding party went with us. Okay, all right. Yeah, our special moment was the first look because it was just my photographer, us and then my dad came down for his first slip. But that was really the time that we had together.

Kristina Stubblefield  43:21  
Gotcha. Well, and I'll tell you, you know, I know some people are doing these exits, and they're really doing stuff there. But I've heard people that do exits, they turn around and come back in come back in and party more. Because they're Yeah, I want to be with people. They don't want to just get in a car and leave and so I've heard that too. And I've seen some amazing exits. But I've heard a lot of them go right back in. So I know that Ron has done that before with kind of like a closing song. And I think that's such a great way to end together as family you know, it just really summarizes that entire day of unity.

Blake Fackler  44:01  
Oh yeah. And the people that are there till the end with you, you know are going to stick it out during your the rest of your relationship and the life you have together. So, I mean, I remember everyone that was there in that moment. And that was that was another special thing that wasn't necessarily too big. Didn't cost a lot of money. It was just memorable. And very special.

Kristina Stubblefield  44:24  
So when did you leave on your honeymoon?

Blake Fackler  44:29  
Monday morning there was Yeah, we were not leaving. I know Katie, he left the next day I don't even know she slept but I Yeah, we left Monday morning.

Kristina Stubblefield  44:38  
But that's interesting. You bring that up because we are hearing people are waiting a day or two before they leave. Some people are even doing Sharon called it before like a lunch or brunch brunch or next day like for family going back out of town. So I'm glad that you said something. So you all waited a day to to leave. So we

Blake Fackler  44:59  
Go ahead since we're from Lexington, we we had to go get the gifts. Um, Sharon had us do the best idea the most redneck idea was renting the new mass. Oh my gosh, she was so smart. I'm like, I don't know how I am. Think of this. This is brilliant.

Kristina Stubblefield  45:20  
And it is. Absolutely. You almost want to video, a wedding when there's not. And people are shoving stuff in people's cars. You've got drunk people that aren't even gonna drive but they were supposed to take the stuff home. It is a hot mess. And I'm so glad I got to say that since Sharon's not here. She'd say, Honey, it's more than a hot mess is what Sharon would say. Because I mean, my gosh, it can take you forever. But the amount of people that it takes you to shove it all in the cars. When Sharon first said that to me, right after I met her, I was like, That is genius. That is one of the best wedding tips I've ever heard.

Blake Fackler  46:03  
Unreal, and and, you know, you order all of this alcohol for your wedding. And you people are like, Oh, you always get more than you think you'll need a mic. No, we have like 200 people, it'll we'll have we won't have anymore. And like, we had so much extra that we had to take back the next day and got money back for but I mean, you don't think about that. So who would take all the alcohol and put it in their car?

Kristina Stubblefield  46:29  
Well, and it's so much more than gifts. Mike, we've talked about. Sometimes you have decor, you have linen, or you know, depending on what you're doing with your rentals, and so much. So I'm glad you said something about that. So you gave a day in between before you left for your honeymoon. Now we get to dive into this fun topic. So you let him have one thing that he could plan.

Blake Fackler  46:57  
He asked, he said we were in the middle of like wedding planning. And he was like, okay, but I want one thing on myself. And he picked that.

Alex Fackler  47:07  
Yeah, it's really the only thing I wanted to plan.

Kristina Stubblefield  47:11  
Well, you picked one of my favorite places. So kudos to you. I've been there. But I'm gonna let you go ahead. How did it all come about?

Alex Fackler  47:19  
Yeah, so really, she kind of picked the place. But I like I like, you know, planning all the nuts and bolts of it and figuring out how we're going to make it happen. And so I travel a lot for work. So I've been thinking up points with different hotels and airlines and stuff for a few years. And so we were trying to figure out like, you know, what are the best resorts we can stay at for the least amount of money. And so we spent five days in Hawaii, and four days in Maui. And it was amazing. He had we stayed at like really, really nice resorts or like beachfront at both of them.

Michael Gaddie  48:10  
Did you have a a travel agent help you? Or did you explore it on your own? Yeah,

Blake Fackler  48:20  
he booked it. I mean, he had two guidebooks, one for Maui one for coai. And he had like, highlighted things we needed to do places we need to eat. I'm booked it all through all the points and you know, with different credit cards and things like that. I mean, I remember getting there and they're like, Oh, you're Mr. Fackler. And he's

Kristina Stubblefield  48:46  
like, Oh, what

Blake Fackler  48:47  
are you the crop theory? They're like, here's your free water bottle and went and champagne and glasses. Would you like a upgraded room? And you know, all this stuff? And I'm like, Oh my gosh, who did I marry? How does this

Kristina Stubblefield  49:03  
that's what went through my mind is like, okay, you've married now what do you find out?

Blake Fackler  49:08  
I'm like this this? Yeah, I he was, I mean, a very VIP at these both these places. So we got moved from like a Street View to an ocean view room. And I'm like, I don't know how this happened. But I'm not questions.

Michael Gaddie  49:22  
That's amazing. That's awesome.

Kristina Stubblefield  49:25  
Yeah, so she shared with us earlier that you all did so may have been even before we were recording that you all did some excursions and things like that in both places.

Alex Fackler  49:37  
Yes, we did. So when we were in Hawaii, the big excursion that we did was a catamaran ride along the Nepali coast. It's like a famous coastline.

Kristina Stubblefield  49:51  
It's the one that they shoot movies at right but you cannot get to it on foot. You have to Zac Bowden, so they don't have to worry about. It's very private, I guess I should say. I remember them telling us about that. So I couldn't remember the name of it.

Alex Fackler  50:10  
Yeah, think like Jurassic Park, and Pirates of the Caribbean. It's like a dramatic coastline. There's, like 3000 foot mountains, right up against the ocean. It was beautiful. And then we got to snorkel with sea turtles on that same trip.

Kristina Stubblefield  50:30  
There's something different about being out in the open water, snorkeling or swimming with them. It's a gosh, if you get seasick, it might not be the thing you want to sign up for. But

Blake Fackler  50:43  
we I scared my dad because we went snorkeling. Right. Well, what's her name?

Alex Fackler  50:49  
Bethany. Bethany. I forget her last name, but it's a famous surfer.

Blake Fackler  50:56  
Who lost her arm.

Alex Fackler  50:58  
Um, Shark Attack on that beach,

Blake Fackler  51:01  
Bethany Hamilton, she so there's this thing called like the lions jaw or something? And it's two rocks right before you go snorkeling. She went through there. And her arm got bitten off. And we were snorkeling right there.

Kristina Stubblefield  51:17  
Oh, wow. I can. I can remember when I went, we went past Princeton, I think it was. And there was a state park. And you could snorkel on your own. And as you went out over the reef, it just dropped off hundreds. I mean, it was very, very deep. And when I wouldn't go over it, but I would get to where I could see over it. And it was absolutely amazing. And like you said it, it was everything was picturesque. It's almost doesn't, it doesn't seem real, or so to speak. And I can remember the water and all of that stuff was just breathtaking. It was absolutely beautiful. I mean,

Blake Fackler  51:58  
the colors are brighter there. I mean, it just looks like some kind of painting. I mean, we went in Maui, we went hiking on a waterfall hike, we got to see like three or four different waterfalls. We did the road to Hana all the way around.

Michael Gaddie  52:17  
That's my fan. I've done that. And that is that it's a long day. But it mean, it's it's it's worth it.

Blake Fackler  52:24  
absolutely worth it.

Kristina Stubblefield  52:26  
Well, yeah, here's where I, here's one thing that just popped in my mind a big takeaway from this, how important it is to plan out your honeymoon, if there's things you want to do, if you want to do excursions and things like that. It's not like you're there forever, you're there for a set number of days, that he put a lot of time and thought into planning it out and being able to do things.

Michael Gaddie  52:51  
And while you grooms out there need to listen, listen.

Kristina Stubblefield  52:55  
But also, you possibly even save some money and things like you mentioned, by actually planning it out and doing that kind of stuff.

Alex Fackler  53:05  
Definitely with Thank you. So like I joined some Facebook groups about Hawaii travel. And the big thing that they were saying is like, if you don't book it before you leave, then you might not have a decent place to go eat dinner. Or you not might not be able to do any excursions, just because of how the COVID restrictions were at the time with reduced capacity. So we had it all planned out. And it was amazing. So it definitely paid off.

Kristina Stubblefield  53:39  
It was I mean, I'm so glad he would come in here and sit down and talk to us because I think this just showcases that you did speak up and you did say you wanted something to yourself to plan and be able to take care of in it's okay that you do that. Communication is key. I feel like we talked about it in so many episodes before you get married during the wedding afterwards. But you communicated that that was something that was important to you. And I think that's a great message to put out there to everybody.

Michael Gaddie  54:16  
Oh, Blake, I want to say one more thing. I want to you know, you I have done your wedding. I've done Katie's wedding, there was another girl that is in your little pod that that did her wedding in their little pie. I mean, it's it's been really exciting to work with three different girls, that their vision is totally different than each others. And you all are so close because I mean, I've been to a few weddings that you and Alex has been out and and I've seen you all there and I think it's great that you're just going through a time in your life where everybody's getting married, and I'm sure you've got more weddings to go to correct or hopefully you're maybe not

Blake Fackler  54:58  
this weekend actually are

Kristina Stubblefield  55:01  
How many more do you have to go after that?

Blake Fackler  55:05  
We have two left, but that total this year would make 10 or 11.

Kristina Stubblefield  55:12  
Now we're supposed to be last year.

Blake Fackler  55:16  
Yeah. Three of them are supposed to be last year. Three of them. Oh, wow. Three of them. Yeah, we're just I mean, it's been a fun year. It's been a really fun year. And, and we have more next year. We already have three booked for next year. So we're ready. I mean, it's such an exciting time getting to share that with your friends like seeing Katie. I mean, I was bawling. Watching her go down the aisle, I mean, and getting to plant alongside her to like, could because she was one of Sharon's girls, too. We like we went hand in hand, I'm like, did you do this, you book this yet? And she's like, No, I'm working on it. Like, just just as you go through that, there is really cool.

Kristina Stubblefield  55:59  
It's also so nice to be able to bounce ideas off each other, what worked, what didn't work, it's so invaluable that other people have experienced that. And you're at different stages. Because let's also admit that the wedding and that day is phenomenal, but it's also going into married life together. And whatever else that entails down the road, that's really special that there are so many of you all that are close together that are experiencing that at the same time. Oh, yeah.

Blake Fackler  56:31  
I mean, there's, um, there's little details that you don't think about, or will you, you do spend too much time thinking about that really don't matter. Like, I remember being like, Okay, I need to whiten my teeth and be tan and go do this and that. And it's like, it didn't matter. I didn't care that they have like that none of that stuff. I mean, like, first of all, you can touch everything. But I told Katie I was like, okay, don't worry about this, do worry about this. I mean, I remember something I was stressed about that. He really wasn't it was like people cancel the week of like, people will say yes to coming. And then they'll be like, Oh, I'm sorry, I can't make it. Like, I had people text me the day of and he's like, no big deal. You know, like, don't sweat it. And then I was and it was nice to have it?

Michael Gaddie  57:19  
Well, the main thing is, at the end of the day, you all got married. That was why you were there. That's why we were all there. So that's the most important thing that they are not, they're

Kristina Stubblefield  57:30  
the people that were supposed to be there that day was there or there.

Blake Fackler  57:35  
That's literally what he told me. So there are some some things you're meant to sweat and some things you're not. And so it's nice to be able to give past that advice on.

Kristina Stubblefield  57:44  
Well, I mean, let me give me a name. So we're talking about Katie, and we're talking about this person and that person is Blake, thank you for spending so much time in Alex, for spending so much time. A lot of we have a lot of followers and a lot of listeners. And it seems as if the feedback we're getting from people is they hang on so many words, and so many things we talked about. And I think it's so important to talk to couples, you know, after their wedding, so they can hear from the source not just from professionals that work in that industry. But to hear you say, Don't sweat the small stuff in just be there and enjoy it and be present. It's so important for us to help get the word out and your experience, share that with others. Because in this hour of this recording, I can't begin to tell you how many takeaways that this is going to help so many other people down the line. So we really appreciate you taking time to talk to us. And on behalf of all those other people that you're going to help down the line both of you all I tell you that will mean a lot to a lot of people. Very well. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. I didn't even read that. Oh, my goodness,

Blake Fackler  59:02  
means a lot that of all brides you all have, it really means a lot that you asked us to be here and we wouldn't be anywhere else.

Kristina Stubblefield  59:11  
And Alex, I'm sorry, we didn't plan ahead to have you on here. You know, a lot of times, Mike, I think it just pops in our mind because you're used to working with the bride or one person of the couple. So Alex, we've learned something, we will make sure to invite the groom the couples up. Yes Mr. And Mrs. However, to take part in in sharing with us. So thank you all so much. Thank you for letting us share some of your pictures absolutely beautiful. And all I can say is keep reminding her about what she did with that

Blake Fackler  59:52  
he forgot by now.

Michael Gaddie  59:55  
Thank you all so much.

Kristina Stubblefield  59:58  
Thank you

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of The Ring The Bling And All The Things. If you liked what you heard, make sure to hit the subscribe button to get notified of upcoming episodes. You can also visit our website, theringtheblingandallthethings.com for past episodes, and make sure to connect with us on social media. If you would like to help us get the word out about this podcast, make sure to share with your family, your friends and anyone you know in the wedding business

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