Day 6: Weddings

I'm bound to lose count on my days soon here but as long as I'm still in the single digits I feel I have no excuse to put the wrong day in my title... so, for the future, who knows what will happen?

Anyway, today I saw a post on Facebook of some friends of mine celebrating their 10th Anniversary.  I believe their wedding is the first that I actually remember.  They had said their vows to each other and proceeded to also make vows to each other's families. At the end they - and their wedding party - danced out of the hall to some hip music at the time.  10 years ago puts it at, what? Beyonce's Crazy In Love?  Anyway, besides the point, it was fun and the reception was also fun.  

Since then I've been to countless amounts of weddings so I took some time to reminisce a bit today.  I know I've forgotten a lot on my list (which is crazy to me - but I guess I've just been to THAT many that I can't even remember them all).  Anyway, here is the list, along with a some cool highlights and memories from each one. 

(I adore how each wedding is unique to the couple and always fits so well.  Such happy occasions!)

• Betsy & CJ - 2003 - Vows to parents and some humor included.
• Christy & Dennis - Family Reunion
• Kara & David - 2005 - Hogshead on the "Just Married" Vehicle and explosions - A family notorious for their love of fire.
• Jennifer and Kagen - 2007 - Beautiful church with a delightful courtyard.
• Liz and Israel - 2008 - Irish Harp playing at a vineyard.  Bridal Party alternated man-woman as they were all considered friends and family of the couple.
• Vanessa and Caleb - 2008 - Magical wedding.  Everything was in a park that had ribbons hanging from trees. Lawn games all afternoon - picnic baskets and blankets provided, wooden swords for young boys and lace umbrellas for little girls, ceremony held right when the sun was hitting between the trees at the perfect moment.  This bride is an amazing wedding planner.
• Christi and Christer - 2008 - Interactive wedding book, take a photo as you enter and write on a page that will include the well wishes and picture. Cocktails in a garden while the bridal party took pictures and the ceremony area and the courtyard was transformed into a reception area.
• Chante and Logan - 2008 - A late reception with board games on all of the tables.
• Kathleen and David - 2008 - Bilingual wedding (French and English).  Bride's parents sang Once.  Beautiful.
• Katie and Erik - 2009 - Winter wedding, flower petals on the ceiling fans showered down like snow.
• Kelsey and Shea - 2009 - "New York Style" wedding - red, black and white.  Lake as the backdrop.
• Mandy and Carl - 2010 - At the end of the wedding they showed a movie interview of the couple answering all of the questions anybody might ask at the reception - "How did you meet?" all the way through, "What's next?"  Very clever and well done.  Lots of dancing at the reception - bridal parties can make the difference.
• Linsey and Derek - 2010 - Small ceremony on a cliff with a gorgeous valley backdrop recorded and shown at a larger reception.
• Sara and Jordan - 2010 - Biscotti, tea and a card of "The Ungame" as the wedding piece take home - very cute as that's how they got to know one another, and also good for creating conversation at the reception tables.
• Lindsey and Daniel - 2010 - The second of two weddings in one day. So much dancing.
• Rachael and Jake - 2010 - Hot summer's day.  Wedding fans with the date as a keepsake.
• Andrew and Morgan - 2010 - Hot chocolate and fillings at the reception. Big picture with all guests.
• Daniel and Becky - 2011 - Beautiful, long ceremony with all prayers, communion and elements included. Very spiritually centered.
• Madi and Colin - 2011 - River backdrop.  Flowers given to guests as entering and put into a bucket at the end of each row and later used as centerpieces for the reception.
• Sharon and Sean - 2011 - Cabin wedding - 7 minute ceremony, no chairs, walk around cabin for greeting line and barbecue set up.  Party and dancing into the wee hours of the morning including a family dance off.
• Melissa and Evan - 2011 - Beach wedding.  The most amazing DJ as Master of the Ceremony for the reception - really went to show how valuable a good DJ can be.
• Taalyr and Spencer - 2011 - Ring guided in on remote control car by the best man.
• Becca and Zach - 2011 - Young, vibrant love. Reception at a cute coffee bar with a balcony.
• Erin and Dan - 2011 - Ceremony-Reception combination.  Flashmob dance as a gift to the bride and groom from a sister (Betsy from wedding one!)
• Bethany and Josh - 2012 - Reunited many friends from over the years.  Learned at this wedding that it's more fun to fight for the bouquet than to stand awkwardly in the back every time.
• Megan and Justin - 2012 - Wedding out in some beautiful gardens.
• Brittany and Paul - 2013 - Canadian wedding - bridesmaids and groomsmen from all over North America.
• Katie and Zachariah - 2013 - 3 day wedding at a campground, campfires, reuniting with friends, decorations coordinated by Vanessa's magical hand.
• Heather and Dalton - 2013 - Colorado mountain wedding.  Rain during the ceremony didn't cause the bride nor groom to lose focus.  Barn reception with 2 levels and the bridal party in the center so all felt they were near them.