Category Archives: Weddings

Happy Memorial Day, kittens!

I solemnly swear that after this, the last wedding post, we will be 100% back to our regular programming and I will finally have the time to (1) catch-up on blogs and (2) draw a giveaway winner.

Between laundry, cleaning and tanning, I was just done-for on the productivity front today.

Our Madelyn got married yesterday and the only way to describe it is to say that when she walked down the aisle to Here Comes The Sun, It Was Perfect.

A photographic summary of last night.

Look.

We call it: Attack of the Sweaties.  Really.  My hair was a total rat’s nest by the time the night was done.

I know that based on the number of (non-hired) cameras in the room, there have to be more snaps of us.  Of the tables.  Of the ceremony.  Of the most gorgeous wedding dress that I no longer have to deflect questions about.

re: The Dress.  The Parents, Christine (Madelyn’s sister-in-law) and I went shopping with her for The Dress, and thus we were the only ones who knew what it looked like.  It was a wonderful honor, but when people started asking questions about the dress, I had to play Sphinx because I was never sure if she had started sharing little details here and there.

But instead of posing, we were busy throwing back drinks and fully committing ourselves to the art of dance.

By “commit” I mean three hours worth of full-frontal, everybody-everywhere should probably have a safety-circle, maybe I discovered a bloody scratch on my right eyebrow today.

Yes, really.  There’s no way you’re as surprised as I was.

This is in contrast to this morning when I woke up with Priscilla next to me in bed and Marcus and Ben on the floor.

Of the many things we did last night, driving home was not one of them.

Truth be told, I found out this morning that everyone assumed I was hitting the bar hard throughout the dancing (reality: I cut myself off after dinner) which explains why Lindsey and Marcus were force-feeding me Korean tacos from the Home Street Home food truck that they rented for when the late-night munchies struck.

Like, coolest idea ever?  Or coolest idea ever?

In all seriousness, I think I probably had…six tacos?  By the time I had snarfed the last one, I was like, no really guys.  It’s cool.  We can stop now.

When I die, bury me in short ribs and radish slaw.

What’s the most interesting wedding food you’ve ever eaten?

Because the largest number of you seemed curious about the 22-year-old, we’ll go there.  At some point during Madelyn’s bachelorette party, someone produced a pair of handcuffs and started stealth-handcuffing people together in varying combinations.   This was all right and good until Kelly accidentally threw the key down the sink at Bullwinkle’s.

We are so good at this game.

In as many words, while we were handcuffed together, I got his name, number and e-mail address.  Because when I am drunk, I like to play matchmaker.

So, if you are also around the age of 22 and want to go on a date with a reasonably attractive guy named Joey who seems to have his life together, call me.  Maybe.  I’ll give you the deets.

Since we’re leaving forMadelyn’s wedding in about an hour and a half, I’m photo dumping.  If there are any transitions at all, they’re going to be just awful, so stay sharp, kittens.

These were on the ends of the benches at Jenna’s wedding yesterday.

They weren’t terrifically elaborate but they were SO beautiful.

Since we had three hours in-between the ceremony and the reception, Marcus and I went on a side-trip to Como Zoo (two minutes away) because I have been many, many times and he has been never.

And the suggested donation is $2 for adults.  Which basically translates to “free.”

On our way out, he asked me if I wanted to ride the carousel.

Answer: Always yes.  I have absolutely loved them since I was a pup (it’s the horse-thing).

But as evidenced by the snap above, I had to ride side-saddle since I was frocked-up.  I can truthfully say that this was a first for me.

Jenna’s husband John is A Major Fan of Nautical Themes.  As in, when Jenna moved in with him, all of their bathrooms had one.  Jenna is…not.

So even though I know that this is a declaration of war to my dear sorority sister (and an act of kindness for her husband), I tried to fashion a nautical-themed envelope for their card/gift that would be beyond impossible for John to throw away.

I think there’s a chance that it may actually survive the gift opening.  Some of you may think that I am kidding.  Really, I am not.

Homage to Steel Magnolias.

Enough said.

And finally some artistic looking shoes.

Don’t ask.  I don’t get it either.

What are you up to this weekend?

Last night: Bachelorette Party.

Which, among many other things, involved me getting handcuffed to a 22 year old.

What I didn’t plan for was an ending like this.

Marcus: Is the cat flicking you off?

Me: No, it’s just missing bits.  At least I got most of a single tattoo instead of three different ones like the other girls.

Waking up to it this morning?

Priceless.

Do you do temporary tattoos?

I spent the majority of the day napping.  And running 15 miles.  So I apologize if I seem a bit frazzled.

Because in about 10 minutes I’m about to shoot out the door for Miss Nina’s wedding.

I can’t wait.

I feel like we’ve been waiting forever.

Actually, I feel like we’ve been waiting forever for A LOT of the weddings we’re meant to go to over the course of the next month-or-so.

But that’s one hell of a  feeling, actually.

Because I feel like those are the weddings where you show up to the ceremony site and everyone is so…intentional.  And purposeful.  And so present.  They really did put on their best suit.  Their prettiest dress.  That special piece of family jewelry or a tie that only comes out for Really Important Stuff.

Because this couple is finally getting married and nothing, NOTHING is going to stop us from witnessing and celebrating that.

So, I’m off to go be an intentional-purposeful-present guest for the lovely lady who helped to save my bridal-sanity by living through it with me.

I can’t wait to welcome her to the other side

What is that prettiest dress/most important piece of jewelry/secret accessory that you ONLY wear for celebratory occasions?

When you wake up in the morning and are greeted by this…

You should really just pretend that there’s two feet of snow on your doorstep and go back to bed.

Because it’s basically the same thing.

Apparently, it was more humid here today than it was in the Amazon rainforest.  I don’t know where the Minnesota Summer got the idea that Channeling The Jungle was the Thing To Do, but apparently that’s just how it’s going to be ’round these parts for a while.

Rather than hide from the humidity, for the past 24 hours I’ve dedicated myself to all manner of Bridal Shower/Bachelorette-mania.

On Saturday night, I headed over to Missy’s apartment for Bri’s Bridal Shower/Bachelorette party.

We kicked off the Bridal Shower-portion of the evening with a rousing game of Toilet Paper Bride.  Apparently we’re all major-veterans of this classic shower game because our styles were more likely to resemble Herve Leger or Vera Wang than Princess Di.

Naturally, we won.

And we were richly rewarded for our Industry.

Pomegranate…Melon…A lovely little pre-bar snack.

After watching Bri play the Newlywed Game (her answers and Dan’s answers actually matched really well!), we transitioned into the Bachelorette portion of the shower.

Before we rallied to the bar, Bri entertained us with a festive round of Match The Panties.  Each guest brought a new pair as a gift for the Bride and then it was her job to match the panties to the giver.

The camouflage briefs killed us all.

And even though I had already eaten my body weight in chocolate and yellow Oreos, there was cake to be had.

Since we weren’t about to embrace moderation in any sense of the word, Missy actioned a chocolate cake and a vanilla cake.  Something for everyone, I suppose

After doing a bit of recovery this morning with The Most Intense Yoga Sesh in recent memory and one of these…

I headed down to Shakopee for Nina’s Bridal Shower/Bachelorette Party.

It was a PERFECT contrast to last night’s festivities.

Her heart’s desire was to have an afternoon tea and Celebrate The Boy Who Lived.  So we all donned our loveliest frocks and set about behaving in a Ladylike manner.

We were all sorted into houses (I drew Hufflepuff from the hat, though I must say I’ve always been a Ravenclaw at heart), given wands that were beyond adorable and then enjoyed a (truly!) great feast.

And yes, this is the part of the show where I tell you that I was an EPIC failure at taking pictures.  They had the loveliest spread of tea sandwiches, fruit kabobs and macarons from Cocoa & Fig.  I think the one that I sampled was Coffee-flavored and it was just out.of.this.world.

For one game, each house had to fill out a questionnaire with their best Wedding Advice for The Bride.  As per the worksheet, we had to come up with Always/Never-style edicts for the topics of Honesty, Money, Fighting and Chores among others.  It was so cute to hear what the other groups had pieced together – I should like to think that collectively we came up with some seriously good advice.

I was absolutely tickled by her favors – we were invited to bring the tea cup and saucer we supped with home.  Each one was different, so a bit of strategy was involved when we were getting our first cup of tea.

I settled on a pattern with some lovely yellow flowers and just a bit of gold-edging.

I adore it 11/10.  Now, I’m just trying to decide where it’s meant to sit.

What’s the best bridal shower theme you’ve ever heard of/experienced?

What’s the best shower favor you’ve ever received?