Saturday morning - 4:30 AM - 6 AM
I was awake - wide awake. I didn't need to be up until 6 and for some reason 4:30 came and I was wide awake. I refused to get out of bed and just laid there until Dad knocked on the door at 6:00. He or mom are our alarm clocks in WI as our cell phones get NO service at their house.
6 AM - 8:30 AM
Joe stayed sleeping as I tip-toed downstairs only to find out that Mom and Amy were awake too. They were on the couch trying to get the motivation to get going. It was a little sad too - I think the realization hit everyone that morning. For Mom and Dad, it was the last morning they'd wake up and Amy would be in the house and for Amy, it was the last morning she'd wake up in the house. It was definitely sad but happy.
Meanwhile, I'm running around getting ready and making sure I have everything, and I mean everything I could think of needing for the day and especially, Amy and Luke's marriage license which I decided I would be in charge of as to take the pressure off Mom and Amy. Joe and my Dad did whatever was asked and I couldn't ask for a better husband or Dad.
8:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Adriane (Amy's sister-in-law) was dropped off at Mom and Dad's at 8:30 and her, Amy and I squished into my car (which was packed with a ton of bags full of hair stuff, dresses, shoes, etc) and headed to the salon where we were meeting up with the rest of the "best girls" - Jayme, Danielle, Sara, Jenny and Callie.
I left the salon a little early to unpack the car at the church and to get my hair stuff set up as I was doing Amy and Mom's hair. When I got the girls 'getting ready room' this is the message I found:
11:00 AM - Ceremony (3 PM)
This was the busiest time ever - I was getting Amy's hair in hot rollers, eating lunch, fixing other girl's hair, doing mom's hair, doing Amy's make-up, etc. I started to take the rollers out of Amy's head and back comb her hair when her soon to be nephew, Owen walked in (he's 6 and was delivering a card from Luke). He was quite adamant that he would not tell Uncle Luke what crazy hair Amy had because he was quite sure Uncle Luke wouldn't marry her if he told.
I don't know if I would have married that hair either
Finally, I was able to get myself ready and Mom, Sara and I got Amy in her dress. I'm super glad that I was able to watch Rebecca lace up Anna's dress last September so I knew what the heck I was doing for Amy's dress. Next up was pictures of the girls. They were fantastic - love, love the photographer and love, love Jenny (Amy's other sister-in-law) who was a picture taking machine. If you view the slide show, most of the pictures on it are from Jenny!!
Mom, Amy and me
After pictures it was back into hiding until it was time to walk down the aisle. The air was a little more tense and we were all trying to not cry. To lighten the mood, and at my husband's expense, I told a story about a certain poker party he had a couple years ago in our garage, in January, with kerosene...
Ceremony
As the girls were starting to line up, I told Amy to remember that story and to my surprise, a couple other girls were remember that story (myself included) while Amy and Dad were walking down the aisle so we wouldn't cry.
I got super nervous walking down the aisle, I kept telling myself to slow down and smile. I got to the alter with the other girls and Trent, Owen and Callie walked down. They did so good!!! The best flower girl and ring bearers I have ever seen. Next up Dad and Amy. I seriously have no idea how I did not cry. I couldn't look at anyone else in the church because I knew that if I saw other people crying, I would start.
The ceremony was beautiful, Pastor Sean was amazing (Joe and I actually discussed divorcing so Pastor Sean could re-marry us). It went off without a hitch, nobody objected and both said I do. Standing in the receiving line after, there were so many people I haven't seen in so long and it was wonderful to see everyone. Once the last person went through, we were herded back into the church for more pictures.
Dad walking his baby down the aisle
Mr. and Mrs. Luke Smith
3:45 PM - 5:30 PM
Pictures, pictures, pictures.
My absolute favorite!
We ended up heading outside and it was a hike. It finally dawned on me she was taking us to the shade but the only shade was far away. I was holding Amy's dress on our hike to the shade and handsome little Owen come right up next to Amy and slips his little arm around her waist and walked with her like that the rest of the way. It was the sweetest thing I have ever seen.
Owen, Amy and me
Callie, Jayme, Danielle, Sara. Adriane, me
The kids did so good with all of the pictures and the second sweetest thing of the afternoon involved Callie. It was the last picture and they needed Callie. Jenny said to get in the picture because we have to get going. Callie started to cry and we all thought it was because she was done with pictures. Nope. It was because Jenny said they had to go and started saying she didn't want to go. Poor Callie thought Jenny meant go as in leave be done. When Jenny explained "get going" meant to the party aka reception, Callie immediately stopped crying and was fine. It was adorable.
The photographer dismissed us all and just needed Amy and Luke so back inside to pack everything up and everyone else headed over to the reception. Jeff, Adriane and Owen were standing out front with us waiting for Amy and Luke (we were chauffeuring A&L) and Owen exclaimed how he had one more thing to do and that he already had done two things. So I ask...
Me: What have you had to do Owen?
O: I've had to kiss Amy twice and now I have to dance with her for our special dance!
Me (I turned to Jeff, Owen's dad): You better watch him, in 20 years it will be Amy Kramer (Owen's last name) instead of Amy Smith.
O: Yeah - I want Amy to live with me at my house.
Reception:
We finally got to the reception and got situated for the grand march. Amy and Luke cut the cake right away which I thought was a great idea.
Amy and Luke cutting the cake
The DJ took control and told us to sit at the head table and then asked if anyone would like to speak. This was my thought process: 'Holy &$%#. I thought I was going to be able to have a drink first. &$%#! I need beer. No, you'll be ok, you've practiced. &$%#! I need beer.'
Some of the guys spoke and then I got my turn. It went well and I did have some help from our copywriter at work (seriously Tabbatha - you ROCK!). I didn't start sobbing although I did tell Amy I one point I couldn't look at her anymore so I could finish the speech.
The dinner was great and so was the cake. More people spoke and thank you Adriane for letting me hold your hand while our Dad's spoke! If you want to see those speeches click here.
Sisters and brothers
Adriane, me, Amy, Luke, Marshall and Jeff (brother-in-law)
Adriane, Joe, Jeff and me
Adriane and I decided we were going to switch husbands
I got to hang with Kari and Bryan for little bit and even got Kari out on the dance floor when they played a Michael Jackson song.
I'm sure I'm forgetting a ton but like I said, once the music started, it was a blur. By far, the best wedding I have ever been too.
Dad and Joe
Dad dancing on stage
Amy crowd surfing
The Dad's - Bruce and Scott
2 comments:
Hey Brooke, Thanks for the Photo Props! I love how you told the story. Almost as fun reading it as it was living it!
You were such a great help through all this!!!
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