You Make My Dreams Come True: Car Decorating

When I realized several members of our bridal party were missing for about 20 minutes late in the evening, I had a pretty good idea of where they might be. Thankfully I have some great photos so I know exactly what was going on!

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I’ve got to end the post with these next two pictures. I absolutely adore them!

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*Photos in this post (unless otherwise noted) taken by Becky of Stamp of Life Photography*

Need to catch up?

 

We started on Thursday.

We decorated Friday morning.

We rehearsed.

We got pretty!

I put on my dress. 

We had our first look!

The guys had their turn.

The girls stole the show. 

We got some fun bridal party pictures. 

We took bride & groom portraits.

We took care of the formal portraits.

We took pictures with the kiddos.

We spent time hanging out waiting for the ceremony to start.

The grandparents and parents were seated.

It was finally time for the processional.

A step back to the playing of the slideshow.

The ceremony started. (Part 1)

The ceremony continued. (Part 2)

The ceremony ended. (Part 3)

We had a little fun with our recessional. 

I shared our ceremony details. 

We made our grand exit.

And then made our grand entrance!

We listened to touching toasts.

Then it was time to cut the cake.

We had our first dance!

We danced with our parents.

We did our bouquet and garter toss.

And the dollar dance!

Then it was finally party time!

You Make My Dreams Come True: Hanging Out

After our formal pictures were finished we headed off to the bridal and groom ‘suites.’ The church basically had two big rooms set up with mirrors and chairs for us to relax in before the ceremony started. It was nice being away from the craziness of the guests arriving and it gave my girls a chance to eat – I was way too anxious to eat anything and forgot to arrange for lunch to be delivered for them. (I know, terrible!) My mom forced me to eat a couple crackers, but like I said before, my stomach freaks out when I’m anxious.

I pretty much paced around the room and we took some pictures while we waited for the ceremony to start. Having the flower girls in there distracted me, which was nice! :) 

Love those pictures of MOH A with my niece! 

 Photo by Lola Jo

Photo by Lola Jo 

We took more individual pictures and got one of all of the bridesmaids and flower girls (a shot our photographer didn’t get) so I’m definitely thankful for these! I have no idea what the guys were doing during this time, but Brandi was getting pictures of our ceremony details (that I’ll share soon). I figured she was getting a couple ring shots since David’s brother/best man had both of our rings, but nope – We didn’t end up with any.

With BM S

With MOH A

It’s ‘tradition’ for us to take serious face pictures – We have one from almost every single high school dance and plenty of random ones too. I guess Brandi didn’t catch that because she didn’t give me the one she took. :(

With my two sisters

 Photo by Lola Jo - Love that she caught this!

Shortly before we had to get ready to line up for the processional I was given another card from my very soon-to-be husband. (I know, a sweet email and two cards in one day?!)  I think it may have been even sweeter than the last one and I cried again and then passed it to my girls and let them cry over it too.

And for my memory’s sake, his message inside:

We are now 30 minutes away from the single greatest event of our lives thus far. And to think – you planned all of it, made all of it and I am so proud of you. I know I wasn’t always the most helpful, or the most exciting with helping out, but it was all worth it! Babe, the card says a lot about how life throws us amazing things that we don’t quite realize are amazing all along. I knew I had something special right from the beginning, though! You challenge me to be a better person and have made me the man I am today. The man that is going to love you in word and in action. The man that is going to take care of and provide for you. And I cannot wait! You will be the most beautiful bride I could’ve ever imagined! I love you, always and forever. I’ll see you soon!

It was really happening! I was seriously about to marry my best friend, my sole mate, and my better half! I went to the bathroom (by myself, thank you!), touched up my makeup, and got ready to line up for our processional! 

Tip #9: Even though you’ll be anxious/stressed/preoccupied, don’t forgot to have food arranged for your bridal party!  They’ll want to eat even if you don’t. :) 

Need to catch up?

We started on Thursday.

We decorated Friday morning.

We rehearsed.

We got pretty!

I put on my dress. 

We had our first look!

The guys had their turn.

The girls stole the show. 

We got some fun bridal party pictures. 

We took bride & groom portraits.

We took care of the formal portraits.

We took pictures with the kiddos.

You Make My Dreams Come True: Bridal Party

I have to say I absolutely LOVE the pictures of our bridal party. We didn't take any of your standard standing at the front of the church in staggered lines pictures. Instead we took pictures that have personality, regardless of if they're 'dated' in a few years. I already have some of them prirnted and framed in our house!

These next few crack me up - Normally the 'dip' picture is dramatic and romantic, but David was sweating and it was dripping off his face onto me, so in the second one I'm trying to avoid it, ha!

Jumping pictures crack me up. I don't care if they're overdone or just a trend. I smile everytime I look at these! Please click to enlarge these - They're that good. (David's showing off his bling in the first one! Yes, he wore it for pictures.)

The linked arm walking pictures are another of my favorites, but ours didn't quite work out...

Why? Oh, because my veil was attacking people:

Then we switched it up a little for the next few pictures:

And I just love these last few candid chaos pictures right before we left for the church - It's fun to see what someone walking by would've seen!

Next up are lots of pictures of David and me (I know, sorry! Almost done!) and then we were finally headed to the church!

Did you get fun pictures of your bridal party or did you stick with the traditional poses?

*All pictures in this post were taken by Brandi Coldwell of Lola Jo Photo Design*

 

Need to catch up? 

We started on Thursday.

We decorated Friday morning.

We rehearsed.

We got pretty!

I put on my dress. 

We had our first look!

The guys had their turn. 

The girls stole the show.

PS - Now only 2 followers away from 200! Let's do it! 

PPS - If you haven't checked out the giveaway from my etsy shop going on at OMGmom, you must check it out (and enter)!

You Make My Dreams Come True: The Girls

I apologize for the lack of a post yesterday - I had several of my girlfriends over Monday night and then spent all day yesterday nannying for a couple kids, so a blog post just wasn't happening. I have to give my ladies some time in the spotlight, though! Everyone thought the guys looked good - Just wait till you see these pictures! :)

I suppose we'll start with some pictures of me, though, since that's how I started the guys' post. I didn't want to take much time for pictures of just me (what do you do with them after the wedding?) but Brandi captured several in the few minute photo shoot!

Totally not an attractive face, but definitely one of my 'typical' looks!

Ok, enough of me. Brandi warned me when I suggested our photo location that it would be mid-day sun with very little shade. I knew she was right, but we had very few other options that were both pretty and not totally out of the way from the hotel to the church. So there are some squinty eyes in our pictures, but oh well. My lovely ladies were still just as beautiful.

I love this series of pictures and how it progressively zooms out - And focuses on our cute pink shoes!

Again, I wanted individual pictures with each of my ladies, and I love every single one of them!

My wonderful bestie, MOH A

My big sis, MOH A

My older sister, BM R

My high school friend, BM M

My college roomie and friend, BM S

David's younger sister, Jr. BM K

Both of my maids of honor

Did you get some cute pictures with your lovely ladies?

*All pictures in this post were taken by Brandi Coldwell of Lola Jo Photo Design*

Need to catch up?

We started on Thursday.

We decorated Friday morning.

We rehearsed.

We got pretty!

I put on my dress. 

We had our first look!

The guys had their turn.

PS - I have a giveaway in the works for when I reach 200 followers, and I'm only 4 away! If you're reading and haven't become a follower, you totally should! :)