Event: Getting Ready

The few days before our big Event, family and friends started to arrive. Some stayed here with us but most stayed in the area either at hotels or with other family. The ones staying with us were put straight to work doing various little jobs with the flowers or food.

The evening before, the entire party met at the venue for a run through of the ceremony. Everyone not involved in the ceremony outside were persuaded to help with the set up of the tables inside. The rentals had been delivered earlier, and we brought the rest in several carloads.

Each table included a tablecloth, brown paper runner, flower centerpiece, six pillar candles, four glass punch cups with tea light candles, four votive candles, childhood photos, table number, ceramic plates, plastic plates, napkins, forks, glasses, pinecones, thank you cards, and copies of a hymn.

We were able to get almost everything set up in our allotted two hours. We had planned all the different elements separately, so we were very pleased at how things looked when put all together.

We all went back into town for a lovely evening meal hosted by Hunter's parents. It was a nice relaxing event and we were able to celebrate the couple with several sentimental and humorous speeches.

The following morning started early with a long list of things to do by certain times. We had a couple of panic moments, as things went wrong - like when some of the flowers wilted because our fridge was too cold and then had to be replaced.

After arriving at the venue with several hours to get ready, it seemed like the clock just whirled around.

So many people were helping and doing all the right things at the right times. Saying thank you later seemed very inadequate. One sweet teacher friend of Teacher offered to help with the overall coordinating, another did all the girl's hair. Our daughter did all the makeup for the girls. A couple of my sweet friends gave invaluable help with the oversight of the food. A couple from church picked up the chicken on their way. 

The photographer and the videographer arrived as planned and quietly captured the day. In hindsight, we should have hired someone to take candids throughout the day just for us to have since we were busy and forgot to stop and take any photos.

So, once again, I am thankful to those who have shared their photos with me and have agreed to let me use them here. (RF, JC, LG, CW)

I'm sure I've completely bored you by now, so here are a few more photos. I am hoping I can wrap this up with one more post to come.


Setting up the evening before

We used this layout to set up the tables. There were 14 tables for the guests.

Most of the 8' tables had eight place settings, a few had 9 or 10.

The head table was made with 6' tables, seating the bridal party of 18.

We put out the floral centerpieces the night before with the exception of the hydrangeas.

The table runners were made using one roll of brown contractor's paper.

The ceramic plates were used like chargers, with clear plastic plates for the meal.

Setting up outside

Hunter made the sign and Teacher painted the words. They're a good team.

The chairs were set up under the trees.

A couple of the ring bearers just wanted to play.

The finishing touches inside

It was a beautiful sunny day and the windows provided plenty of natural light.

We used the same set of rental chairs for the ceremony and meal. The chairs were moved inside after the ceremony.

The centerpiece flowers did well sitting out overnight.

The glasses were filled with ice and the candles lit before the ceremony.

The delicate hydrangeas were added at the last minute to the centerpieces.

One flower girl had a special message for the groom. One ring bearer carried the ring box.

Family wedding photos and the couple's engagement photos were displayed along one wall.

The wedding cake was embellished with a couple of deer.

Back in the bridal suite

The girls all wore their appliqué t-shirts.

Here's the dress waiting to be worn.

The flower girls all had special hair styles. They wore pink pinstripe Laura Ashley dresses.

The dusty blue bridesmaid dresses went well with the pink flower girl dresses.

The veil was pinned to the back of the hair on each side, creating a dip in the middle.

Hunter wasn't allowed to see Teacher before the ceremony, so he sent her a letter.

Ribbon was added to the bouquet at the last minute.

The bouquet