I'm so behind on my blogging that I'm going to skip right over my Colorado visit and my Napa Valley Spa getaway with my friends right up to this past weekend. J and I drove up to Canada to attend our niece's wedding. While there, we drove past our old haunts; the first and second apartment buildings that we lived in when we were first married a century ago. .
Our niece, who was just a darling little girl of 2 when J and I got married, was wed in Holy Matrimony to her man, J. It was a splendiferous affair indeed and she looked so beautiful. Not just in the way that all brides are beautiful and all babies are cute way; but in a really deep, wonderful, happiness glowy way.
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| stressed? whose stressed?....I'm not stressed! |
She was the picture of calm and serenity as she walked down the aisle accompanied by her proud dad, but here is a photo of her and her fiance that I took the night before while the hall was being decorated. He has a relaxed, "we're almost there and then I can have the real L back!" look on his face but I think she has a "do you think I have time to pose for the stupid camera right now!" pose.
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| A place for everything, and everything in its place |
...L is a wonderful friend and daughter (and now wife!) However, she does know what she likes. Therefore, in addition to her full-time job, she literally took on the job as wedding planner as well as the bride. My husband and I arrived just two days before the wedding, but reports were swirling and it had been released to the paparazzi that the future bride hadn't exactly been the picture of "sugar and spice and everything nice" like girls are supposed to be. Her dad even mentioned the word, "bridezilla" once or twice much to her disbelief...(he was smart enough not to say it in her presence). After the rehearsal dinner, she and her bridesmaids headed back to the hotel to decorate the hall. After everyone did as much as the bride would let them, she sent everyone home and remained at the hotel late into the evening placing everything "just so"....I never did hear what time it was by the time she got home that night. The next day, J and I arrived at his sister's house (parents of the bride) to find everything in order. The mother of the bride was the picture of composure. Her hair was done, make-up applied and all that was left was for her to slip her gorgeous gown over her head. One of the bridesmaid's was back at the hall placing the flowers on the tables and doing last minute things. The two remaining bridesmaid's were at the house waiting to help the bride into her gown. The wedding was at 4:30. The photographer was at the house and everyone was in their places. Except the bride that is. At 3:30, the third bridesmaid called to say she was just picking up some last minute items that were still needed (yes, it was T-minus 1 hour!) Eventually the father of the bride hopped in his car to go and drag his daughter away from her house where she was getting "prettied up"....They both arrived back just a few minutes before four. She had yet to be laced into her gown and have pictures taken.
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| Waiting for the bride.... |
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| I love this picture of F that J took |
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| F in her gorgeous gown |
Of course, once the ceremony started (the bridal party was only 20 minutes late or so) everything ran like clockwork! The chapel was so charming. Mother nature wasn't in the best of moods and it started to rain during the ceremony, but other than that, it was a wedding out of "Bride Beautiful." The hall looked magnificent and everyone had a great time for the rest of the evening. the bride visibly relaxed once the reception started and later in the evening, she was spotted flitting around the room telling everyone how wonderful her handsome new husband was, and how he had so patiently put up with her moodswings while she skillfully orchestrated the perfect wedding. Obviously that last part wasn't exactly how she put it...her words were more like, "I've been such a #%!*^ for the past few weeks and he has been so great...."
Enjoy the photos and congratulations to the Bride and Groom!
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| L's nephew, T relaxing at the church awaiting his ring-bearer duties |
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| the flower-baby |
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| brother of the bride, J and his fiancee K |
