Mar 31st 2010 09:18:32 pm

I’ve been reading this great, new-to-me blog called Scoutie Girl and today it is hosting a “We Scout Wednesday: Weddings” theme. The blog author, Tara, wrote about her totally laid back and completely sweet wedding in 2007. Her post was super-cute and honest, and it inspired me to play along….

Travis and I were married almost seven years ago… it doesn’t seem very long, but man, what a difference those seven years have made in technology. All of our official photos were analog, taken on 3 1/4″ negatives that are now stored somewhere at my sweet and understanding mother-in-law’s house. The few photos that I do have in digital form were taken by my cousin, Matt, who is an excellent photographer – so I guess, I really came out with the best of both worlds.

Thinking back on the wedding, I am just overwhelmed by how much work my friends and family did for me (and Travis) for the event. At the time, I was really caught up in the planning and I was trying to do “it all” myself. I was obsessed with Martha Stewart Weddings and I wanted to include a lot of handmade elements. I did all my own invitations, programs, confetti, CD favors, the guestbook, and I hand-beaded all of the guy’s corsages. I felt like I did a lot, but it was nothing compared to all the logistics (and bill$) my parents dealt with, the fun rehearsal dinner my in-laws hosted (thank you Johnsons!), the great job Travis’ uncle did officiating, all the help we had in set-up and in clean-up (thank you, Manns!), all the miles everyone traveled, all the good spirits (thank you, brothers!), and kind words (thank you, everyone!), and patience with the millions of photos and the super-delayed cake cutting… I mean, my sweet sister-in-law sat with me while I cried at the hair dresser before the ceremony, and my extended family all came out to a post-wedding picnic in 100+ degree weather. That is the kind of stuff that I did not notice on the big day because I was too focused on my handsome new husband and our glorious new life, but it is the stuff I think about now and hope that I can pay forward someday.

Thank you, family.

6 Comments » Categories: Family, Feeling Happy, Just for Fun, weddings

Jul 3rd 2009 01:36:41 pm

8 Comments » Categories: Feeling Happy, Travis, weddings

Nov 14th 2007 11:27:03 pm

I swiped these two photos while I was visiting my family. (Ok, not really swiped – Mom gave me the one on the left and Chelsea printed me the one on the right.) My mom and dad were married in 1980. Travis’ parents were married in 1974. You can kinda tell… I think both couples are so adorable. They look so happy. I love them – the photos and the people.

7 Comments » Categories: Family, Photos, weddings

Aug 2nd 2007 09:30:41 pm

To top off all of the fabulous traveling I did last month, my little brother, Aaron, got married to his college sweetheart (and all-around adorable and awesome girl), Amber, last weekend at Powell Gardens in Missouri. The whole event went perfectly and it makes me a little teary-eyed still to go through the photos. Aaron and Amber are really good together, as evident in this photo:

The garden was beautiful, the ceremony was sweet, and the cake at the reception was delicious! Travis and I were both attendants, and I had lots of fun helping with the paper goods. It was great visiting with extended family and being a part of the whole event. I had a really nice time and lots of people complimented the invitations and programs, which made me happy.

Above is me with the groom, my handsome husband, my mom, and my dad. To see all my photos from the weekend, check out my Flickr Aaron & Amber’s wedding album.

It is always fun to spend time with family. The day after Travis and I flew out, Amber and Aaron moved the last of their stuff out to Colby, Kansas, where he will be teaching in the fall. My other little brother, Adam, (who gave a fabulous best man toast, btw) has already started orientation for KU med school, which he is starting this year. My third brother, Seth, is still in Africa, but coming to visit in December. Travis’ sister, Chelsea, and her husband, Scott, recently bought a home in Kansas and she is starting her second year of teaching first grade in the fall. Everyone is doing so well! It makes me feel very thankful… and totally pumped for all the things to come! xoxo

7 Comments » Categories: Family, Feeling Happy, weddings

May 24th 2007 09:30:57 am

My little (baby) brother is getting married this summer and I am helping out by making the invitations and other paper goods. I finished the invitations over the weekend (and the beginning of this week) and mailed them out to the bride and groom on Wednesday. Hopefully, they will arrive (they were sent Priority) by Friday, and then could possibly be sent out to the guests by Tuesday of next week.

I would post a photo of the actual invites, but I don’t know if the bride wants to keep them as a surprise… I will tell you that they are very beautiful!

8 Comments » Categories: Projects, weddings

Jul 6th 2006 08:39:26 pm

The ten ornament favors I got to take home after the wedding. I love them! They are being presented on the cake stand that June got us for our anniversary. Lovely.

Travis and I arrived home yesterday and promptly went and got Thai noodles for an early dinner. We were so tired and hungry from the trip. Traveling just isn’t my favorite thing in the world. I always end up getting sick and I’m never able to eat food that I’m used to. The trip back to Kansas City was totally worth it, though. I loved Chelsea and Scott’s wedding. We looked forward to it for so long and then it went by so quickly. It could almost all be a dream. If it weren’t for the 1000+ photos people took at the event, I might really believe it never happened.

We got back home and quickly got back into our routines. Travis and I both had to work today, but my boss ended up having to leave the museum at 10am so I got to leave then, too. I am glad, because I never would have been able to catch up on my blogging if I didn’t have the afternoon off. Travis and I went by the house tonight and ran into our floor guy. He is doing a great job and the floors look lovely. Now, we just have to start thinking about painting it inside. We are now kinda leaning toward doing it ourselves… we keep going back and forth – professional or DIY? We can’t decide. All I know is that I am getting so excited about moving in!

4 Comments » Categories: Feeling Happy, Home, Trips, weddings

Jul 6th 2006 01:26:01 pm

On Monday morning there was a brunch at the church for Chelsea and Scott and any guests who were still in town. Things were so busy during the wedding that Brad (the father-of-the-bride and wedding officiant) forgot to have Keith (the brother-of-the-groom and also his best man) and me sign the marriage license as witnesses. We signed it asap. The weird thing it that Chelsea and Scott didn’t have to sign their own marriage license, only the witnesses and officiant.

During the brunch our parents presented Travis and me with our own special anniversary cake. (Monday was our three-year wedding anniversary.) The cake was a replica of the cake topper that we had for our wedding. I was very surprised and excited that we got to celebrate our anniversary a bit. June also gave me the cute cake stand. I love it! Travis and I cut our cake in the traditional fashion…

Chelsea and Scott also opened a bunch of their presents at the brunch. They received a lot of very nice things that I know will help them in their new life together. There were so many presents that some had to be taken home to open later. In the afternoon I got so tired that I had to take a nap. The activity of the weekend was finally taking its toll. Travis and I did manage to make it to Panera for a fancy anniversary dinner, and then we went to the movies with Adam, Aaron, and Amber to see Superman Returns. I enjoyed the movie, but I was extremely tired by the end of the day.

2 Comments » Categories: Family, Trips, weddings

Jul 6th 2006 12:44:53 pm

If you haven’t noticed by now, Chelsea’s favorite color is pink. Her wedding to Scott on Sunday, July 2nd, was drenched in pink… and it was beautiful! The bridemaids wore pink tops, the flowers were pink, the cake was pink, her shoes were pink, the men even wore pink vests and ties. I have never seen a color theme used so extensively, or so well. Chelsea and her mom, June, did a wonderful job planning the whole event.

Close up photo of my bouquet. It was so beautiful. I wish I could have brought it home!

We started the morning at the beauty parlor at 10am. I was not entirely thrilled with my hair-do, but Chelsea’s looked lovely with her curls and veil. I arrived at the Clubhouse (the wedding and reception location) with the other bridesmaids around noon. We all got ready, took some snapshots, then went down to the wedding stage for the professional photos. There is never enough time to take all of the photos you would like to at a wedding, but I know that Chelsea and Scott will have lots of fabulous ones to choose from.

The ceremony started at 4pm and it was perfect. Chelsea’s dad performed the entire ceremony, and I was very impressed that he made it through without crying. The whole thing was very personal and sweet. I didn’t even get tired standing up on the stage! I had to fight from crying once or twice, which is weird because I didn’t even cry at my own wedding. I think I am just protective of Chelsea since she is like my younger sister. I am so glad I got to stand next to her as her Matron of Honor on this special day in her life.

The reception was lots of fun, even though we spent most of it standing in a receiving line. It was ok, though, because we got to see all of the guests. The pink cake was so cute, and almost all of it got eaten! Travis and I even gave a toast during the reception. I was very nervous to talk in front of all of the wedding party and guests, but I think it went ok.

The bride and groom with my entire family… except Travis and Seth.

At the end of the reception, Travis, Erin, Kyle and I went and decorated the Mustang that Chelsea and Scott were driving away in. Because it was a rental, we only tied pink ribbon and streamers to it so that it would be easy to clean. I think it worked out nicely, and it went with the color theme! The happy married couple didn’t want to leave the reception, but we finally got them out the door…

To read even more about the most beautiful wedding ever go here, here, here, or here. I also have all of the photos I took up on my Flickr “Chelsea and Scott’s Wedding” set.

2 Comments » Categories: Family, Friends, Trips, weddings

Jul 6th 2006 11:40:51 am

(I am back in Eugene, and I am going to try to recap all of the events that took place during the last week in KC…)

Saturday night was the wedding rehersal and rehersal dinner. Both events were held at the church that Chelsea and her parents attend. The rehersal went well and Chelsea surprised Scott when she walked down the aisle wearing Minnie Mouse ears and veil. The couple is going to Disney World for their honeymoon, so the ears were very approporiate. There was even a Mickey Mouse top hat for Scott to wear! They are both so cute!

Chelsea’s bridesmaids were all so nice and helpful. I had a lot of fun getting to know them all better. Erin (second from the right in the group photo) came all the way from Australia for the event! Chelsea gave us all a very nice thank you gifts of Coach writlets. I got a cute pink one. Chelsea also gave me a metalic picture book keychain with a photo of me and Travis from our wedding, and an empty spot for a photo of me and her at her wedding. I love it! The rehersal dinner was delicious and it was our first chance to visit with all of the out-of-town guests. I had a great time.

After dinner, everyone was moved back into the sancutary to watch an adorable video of the bride and groom. It started with baby photos of Chelsea and Scott, then progressed to photos of them together. The best part was after all of the photos… they had filmed a complete music video for the song “Accidently In Love” by the Counting Crows. They danced all around and lip synched to the lyrics. It is such a cute and fun video! I watched it three times over the course of the week. I think everyone loved the video and the entire evening.

For more accounts of the rehersal go here, here, or here.

1 Comment » Categories: Family, Friends, Trips, weddings

Jul 1st 2006 10:47:50 am

I think all of the girls had a fun time at Chelsea’s bachelorette party last night. I pretty much came up with all the activities, so I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. We didn’t do anything too crazy, a few games, some snacks, and a cookie decorating contest. Don’t ask what shape the cookies were in! There was lots of giggling involved. A total of 14 girls were there and a group of us stayed the night in true slumber party fashion. We were planning on watching wedding-themed movies, but we ended up just sitting around chatting about girly stuff. We were all so happy and excited for Chelsea! The party just made me even more excited for the wedding on Sunday. (Read a hilarious, and more complete account of the party here.)

4 Comments » Categories: Family, Friends, Photos, weddings