Tuesday, September 4, 2012

A Wedding to Remember




To kick off the Maggie and Seth's wedding weekend, all the bridesmaids, Maggie's mom, and Seth went out and got our nails done. Yes, that's right, Seth, the groom, got a manicure and pedicure. I still can't believe it happened! Never in a million years would Dan consent to such a feminine past time. I must admit, I discovered a new love, shellac nails!
 So much fun!
Before the Rehearsal Dinner, we rehearsed the wedding ceremony at Holy Cross, a beautiful Cathedral in Omaha. I was paired up with John, one of Seth's life-long friends, for the procession down the aisle. We were the first of walk as the music changed. It was absolutely beautiful. John was very nervous and shook, full of nerves, the entire time, which made me nervous that he would trip and pull me down on the already slippery tile. But after lots of practice, we had everything down to an art. We even bowed at the alter with impeccable grace. It was a lot of fun.
The Rehearsal Dinner was in the attic of the Old Mattress Factory, a restaurant owned by local firefighters.It was decorated beautifully. We talked over delicious appetizers (cheese crackers, veggies, and nachos). For dinner, we had barbeque brisket, southern backed beans, mashed potatoes, salad, and mixed veggies. YUM! 

The Bridesmaids
With the Bride
While everyone was finishing their dinners, Maggie and Seth, gave their parents gifts to be worn during the wedding. The mom's received bracelets to match their dresses and the dad's received handkerchiefs embroidered with a beautiful poem about a little girl growing up and marrying her sweetheart. It was precious. My eyes wallowed up in tears.
The little flower girls and ring bearers received gifts as well. It was so cute! 
The groomsmen received knives, how suiting! 
The bridesmaids received purses, jewelry and shoes--A girls best friends.
 
After dinner, we ate Sam and Louie's Homemade Ice-cream catered from the popular ice-cream parlor in downtown Omaha. 

Maggie and Seth thanking everyone for supporting them.
After the festivities were over, the wedding party went back to the hotel suite and finished making the programs for the wedding ceremony.
While everyone finished up last minute touches on the programs, Maggie and I went for a drive to her house to grab a few things she had forgotten. We had a great time talking and talking and talking! When we got back she taught us the dance we would be performing at during the reception. We had so much fun!
After a quick shower, I was deader than a doornail. Morning came too fast!
Maggie had her make-up airbrushed, while the bridesmaids ate breakfast--biscuits, sausage gravy, and fruit!
Then, we got our hair done at Aveda Salon and Day Spa. Oh, how I wish I could do my hair like that every.single.day!


 After hair, we went back to the hotel and helped Maggie get into her dress. What a fun experience. Then, like magic, her dad arrived to take her to see the groom for their "first look." I helped Maggie climb into her dad's tiny little car. It wasn't an easy feat! 
Since we were running behind, our make-up was rushed. When I say rushed, I mean like 5 minutes rushed. Nearly impossible for this girl. I don't wear a lot of make-up, I'm just particular ;) Bottom line, I wasn't happy with the way it turned out, but that's life.
Just like any wedding, there was plenty of drama. It seems like the moms of the married couple get entirely too stressed out. Maggie had to delve down very, very deep not to go off on her mom. I'm glad that she held her head up high and chose to make the best out of things.
The ceremony went just as rehearsed, simply beautiful! 
 After the ceremony, we bid everyone goodbye, and hopped on Ollie the Trollie. We rode Ollie to downtown Omaha for beautiful pictures! We went back to the hotel for more pictures and drinks. Water never tasted so good!
Amber and me! (My garments showed a little in this one.) That's red headed John in the back ground. 
The bride and groom with their wedding party!
 Bridesmaids!


Finally, it was reception time. We ate delicious appetizers and I had about a million Shirley Temples. I chatted with Maggie and Seth's family, school mates, and the wedding party. It was a ton of fun, but I missed Dan so, so, so, soooooooooooooo much! 

Beautiful flowers!
 Guest book
 8-4-12 (Maggie's favorite number is 12. 8+4=12)
 Did I mention how much I loved the flowers!!?!
 Such a cute idea! I love looking at old wedding pictures! Especially, my parents'!
 Such a pretty arrangement!
 Around 300 people attended!

 The center pieces and menus

 Chair covers and bows
 Maggie and Seth!
 My seat!
 :)


 The guest book was adorable!
 Mr. & Mrs. Yakel

 So happy for this girl!

 
When dinner time came, the wedding party was introduced in the same pairs who walked down the aisle together. We all wore hilarious costumes. I wore bright pink flamingo sunglasses! When we were introduced, John and I danced the disco!  
Finally, we ate steak and chicken, garlic potatoes, salad, and mixed veggies. YUM!
After dinner, everyone was in tears from all the toasts followed by the daddy-daughter dance. Seth and his mom danced to rock and roll music, which had everyone laughing. Again everyone was in awe, when Maggie and Seth danced for the first time as a married couple.
Then, they cut the cake!
Maggie looks a little evil here! I can't blame her! I'm pretty sure I looked about the same when it came to feeding Dan cake! "Don't you dare smash my face in icing!"
Seth will graduate in December with a degree in geology so naturally the groom's cake was a geode!


 
Finally, we danced as a wedding party. It was a blast! Everyone was laughing and cheering us on!

Here's our dance! Just copy and paste the URL:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151046327389678&set=t.500458849&type=3&theater

I danced the night away. I'm glad there weren't many slow songs since Dan wasn't there. But they did turn into great opportunities to grab something to drink and catch my breath from dancing so hard.
When I got home that night, I crashed into my pillow after video chatting with Dan. It was the perfect ending to an absolutely beautiful weekend.




Monday, August 27, 2012

Last Fling Before the RING!

During nursing school I became really good friends with two of the sweetest girls in nursing school,
Maggie and Jessica.

How we became friends...

...On the first day of nursing school, Maggie invited me to go over to her house for lunch. While we were heading to the parking lot, Jessica, a girl whom I had never talked to before, came up to me and asked if she could have lunch with me. Naturally, I invited her over to Maggie's house! Aren't I just the sweetest friend? Inviting other people over to a house I was just invited to myself?

Oh boy!

Fortunately, Maggie is the type who lives by the philosophy "The more the Merrier!"  
Needless to say, the rest is of the story consists of early mornings and late nights studying together at the library.
Quite exciting, huh!

Actually, since both Maggie and Jessica got engaged during nursing school, we would often take study breaks to talk about wedding plans, which was a ton of fun! Earlier this year, Maggie asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding! In mid July, we threw Maggie a Bachelorette Party! 

It was Maggie's last Fling before the Ring!

I had to work the day of the party, so I hurried and got ready for the party at home and then met up with the ladies at the hotel before we went out to dinner at Upstream Brewery! 
Dinner was delicious! 

The drink AJ ordered also matched his outfit, perfectly!

Maggie, very excited for her dinner to arrive!

Showing off her sash and opening all her presents! I gave her one of those AMAZING head massagers from Bed Bath and Beyond!

After dinner, we played a game where Maggie had to guess how Seth, her fiance, responded to a series of questions about their relationship.

We laughed so hard, our faces hurt!

 Maggie did really well at guessing exactly what Seth had said. Obviously, they're meant to be!

For dessert, we indulged in delicious Jone's Bro's Cupcakes decorated with Martini glasses and High Heels. YUM!!!


All the ladies, plus AJ, ready for a fun night!

Striking a pose! Too many inside jokes to count!

While we were walking around downtown, a guy asked Maggie if he could take her picture for a school project...Yeah, right! 
Dude it's the middle of the summer, you're not in school! But what the heck!

The Cat Walk.
 Have you ever thought, "Man, I really hope I don't trip" and then you do? Well...

So did Maggie!

Tripping just a little! She was trying to break in her wedding shoes before the big day.

She even had a cute little vale!

Back at the hotel we played a few different games. Here's a picture of Seth's rockin' bod!

We also had everyone who came to the party buy Maggie a pair of underwear that matched their personality. We put all the underwear in a bag and when Maggie pulled one out, she had to guess who bought if for her. 
During our long nights of studying during nursing school, Maggie and Jessica discovered my sweet tooth. We would constantly joke around about my love for candy. But Maggie did it relentlessly lovingly! So naturally, I purchased Maggie candy underwear! 
There was no fooling Maggie, she knew right off the bat I got them for her! 


Before heading out for a night of dancing, we indulged in the delicious fresh fruit tray that Dan made for us. (Best husband, ever!) 
While the ladies drank champagne and wine, I sipped on strawberry speckled lemonade (more props to Dan)!!
My ears rang the entire next day from the loud music we danced to. It was a night I'll never forget!
Happy Bachelorette Party, Maggie!