I took some time off from my Wedding Wednesday series, but I’m back and ready to share a bunch of wedding planning goodness. To kickstart this new wave of wedding posts, I interviewed bride-to-be Cassie Natalie. Cassie is the creator of a new YouTube channel, Rosé Outlook. She recently finished her undergrad studies and will begin graduate classes this summer. Weddings, makeup, home decor, organization, and sweet tea are all things Cassie can’t get enough of! Read on to find out Cassie’s love story, what she’s most excited to plan, plus what she’s most looking forward to on her wedding day.

Tell us about your love story!

Daniel and I met at a Christmas party in December 2014. The hostess, my close friend/former roommate and his co-worker, had apparently briefed Daniel on all her “cute single friends”. I, on the other hand, had not be briefed and when I arrived late and the hostess went to introduce us, I kind of snubbed Daniel with quick “hello” before I turned to her to ask if she needed help with anything (oops). Lucky for me, that did not deter Daniel and he “made sure he was near wherever I was” throughout the rest of the party. At the end of the night, he asked for my number and the rest is history! 1 year, 1 puppy (Lexi), 1 move in, and countless memories later, and he popped the question just in time for Christmas 2015!

Do you remember the first time you both said I love you?

We had been dating for about 4 months and were about to make a trip to my hometown so that Daniel could meet my parents. I was so excited and nervous in the weeks leading up to it, but the idea of him meeting my family made me think (read: daydream) a lot about our future ahead. I realized that I had never felt this giddy and excited to be with someone before and that maybe I loved him.

A week before our trip, we were laying in bed trying to fall asleep when I decided to say it. I started to say it but chickened out. What if it’s too soon? Should I wait for him to say it first? After about 5 minutes of him probing me about what I was going to say, I said it. A huge grin spread across his face as he responded back and he told me if I had waited just a few days more he had planned to say it right before we left for my parents’ house.

In just about one year, you’ll be walking down the aisle! How are you feeling?

Excited, anxious, in love! Daniel and I have been engaged for over a year now and still have a little over a year to go! Now that we have taken our engagement pictures and begun the official planning, it is starting to feel more real than ever before. With each vendor we book and decision we make I am overwhelmed with happiness and excitement.

What stage of the wedding planning process are you at?

We are in the beginning stages, still! So far we’ve booked the venue, photographer, and I’ve ordered my wedding Dress. We’ve had a long engagement, but now that we’re almost at the year mark we finally feel ready to tackle the remaining plans!

What has been the most fun detail of your wedding to plan so far?

THE DRESS! Like a lot of girls, I grew up fantasizing about what I would look like and wear on my wedding day. I enjoyed every moment of the process, from compulsively pinning every dress in sight to ugly crying in my dream dress!

Which part of the wedding planning process are you most excited for?

Probably the decor! I am so looking forward to working with the blank slate that is our venue. I can’t wait to see it come alive with flowers, tablescapes, and a bunch of DIY projects that I am planning to use!

Describe your venue and why you and your fiance chose it.

I have always had a dream of getting married outside and when we went to see this venue, it captivated us with its wide open meadows and gorgeous scenery. What I love most about it is that it is a private property which allows us to pretty much start with a blank slate. I can’t wait to see it on our big day with all the personal and unique touches we’re hoping for!

How would you describe the style of your wedding?

We will be having both our ceremony and reception outdoors (fingers crossed for good weather) and are feeding off of that atmosphere with an ethereal/whimsical look.

Which detail of the wedding planning are you most anxiously anticipating or nervous about?

Reading my vows without crying too much! Even now, more than a year out, I find myself tearing up at just the thought of our wedding day! My hope is that I’ll be able to keep it together well enough for everyone to hear my vows and to avoid ugly crying at the alter.

I’ve seen your wedding dress (readers: you’ll have to wait and see) and it’s truly one-of-a-kind and jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Without giving anything away, explain what drew you to your gown and why you said yes to that dress?

Thank you! My dress is definitely a wildcard! As a former “Say Yes To The Dress” junkie, I thought I knew everything I would want or that would look good on me. However, and let this be a lesson to all brides out there, my dress turned out to be none of those things and I can’t imagine wearing anything else on my wedding day!

Once we had our venue booked, I knew I wanted my dress to parallel the light and whimsical feel of the outdoor meadows. But, I also knew that I didn’t want to be too simple. Initially, I was drawn to my dress by an element that I knew my fiance had like in pictures (although I was SURE that would not work for me). When I put it on, that was it! It was perfect and I could envision myself walking towards Daniel on our big day!

What are you most looking forward to – the wedding day, the wedding night, or the honeymoon and why?

Definitely the wedding day! I have a big family spread out across the country and it is so rare that I get to see them all at once. Obviously, we’re most excited to finally be husband and wife, but we are also looking forward to sharing a great time celebrating with those we love and care for most.

Don’t forget to follow Cassie Natalie on Instagram and subscribe to her YouTube channel for wedding updates, beauty tips, and more!

Photos by Gray Door Photography.