On the morning of the wedding, May 21st, Ashley, Virginia Leigh, my dad, and I woke up early and headed out to Eden Gardens State Park to set up the arch for Laura and Shannon to stand under when they recited their vows. We were on a tight schedule so I drove around through the exit to avoid a car whose driver was taking too long to pay at the honor system drop box. Laura had informed us that we did not have to pay when we went to set up, we were probably only the second group of people there so early in the morning, and I honestly didn't even think anything of it but
that park ranger shot out of the guard shack faster than a speeding bullet and proceeded to verbally reprimand me! And I, just having been scolded like a school girl, with all seriousness said, "Do you want me to turn around and drive through the entrance?" To which my passengers, Ashley and VL, thought was hilarious!! I guess my question got that ranger in a nicer mood (maybe she hadn't had her coffee yet!?) and so she proceeded to let us in the park. Virginia Leigh also sweet talked that middle aged park ranger, "Elizabeth" telling her that Laura was her best friend since age 4 and this day needed to go perfectly, so whatever she could do to help that happen would be greatly appreciated, I think Elizabeth thought she was our BFF by the time we were done setting everything up! Haha!
I would consider my family pretty resourceful and my dad is an A++ handy man! He and my mom found the base to this table on a trash pile when they were taking a walk one day. My dad made the table top, mom painted it white and distressed it, and viola, a beautiful shabby chic table where Laura placed her guest book, a flower arrangement and some bug spray for the guests.
I wasn't really feelin' this arch that Laura wanted SO bad! She wanted it to be simple. My dad found three small trees on my uncle's farm, chopped them down and cleaned them up, then figured out a way to stake them into the ground at Eden without disturbing the ground too much or leaving large holes in the ground (a strict rule at this state park- you can't poke too many or very big holes in the ground). After one minor injury involving floral wire and blood spurting out of a finger, we were satisfied with the look of the arch. When it was completed, I loved it and I was pretty sure Laura would love it too! She did! :) (She didn't see it until she was walking down the isle toward her groom!).
This shabby chic chalk board helped to direct the wedding guests towards the path that led to the wedding spot under a huge, very old oak tree.
Laura in her pretty "Bride" robe getting ready to put her wedding dress on.
Can you hear the music?? "Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married..." we sure did!! That song was crankin' on our 10 minute drive to Eden thanks to Ashley making an awesome/fun wedding weekend playlist!
Thankfully, Daniel napped between playing all morning at the beach and time to leave for the wedding. I had to leave the beach house early for pictures with the bridal party. Mike did an awesome job getting Daniel ready in his cute little ring bearer outfit and bringing him out to Eden in time for some pictures. Here he is with his Mimi, a.k.a. beautiful Mother of the Bride!
The photographer, David and his lovely assistant, Amy (who were both terrific, by the way, were BFFs with our family by the end of the night!!)told us to be sassy or silly in this pic, OH...we can to both sassy and silly!! Please note Laura's dress has pockets! Laura loves dresses with pockets and she was more than thrilled that her wedding dress had pockets!! It's just confirmation that she picked the perfect dress! (P.S. our bridesmaids dresses had pockets too!! The perfect spot to hide the Kleenex I definitely needed when my littlest sis said, "I DO!" sniff sniff :) You can check out more of Laura and Shannon's GORGEOUS wedding pictures on Amy's blog HERE.
Laura was a BEAUTIFUL bride!!!
These are some of my favorite pictures of Daniel and me! I'm so glad Mike snapped these as I was getting to see my littlest man all dressed up in his ring bearer outfit for the first time! Mommy loves you buddy! You were SO cute and did such a good job being Aunt Laura and Uncle Shannon's ringer bearer!!
Daniel amazed me during the wedding! He hadn't cooperated so well the night before when we were rehearsing so to say I was nervous about how this would fly is an understatement! But to my surprise, he stayed up at the front AND quiet during the whole ceremony! He held the fan and I held his ringer bearer pillow but I think that worked out ok. He did pick a tulip off the arch and try to eat the stem but at least he was quiet! Ha!!
I love that most of my grandparents are still living and well and were able to witness this joyous occasion! These are my paternal grandparents, Pete and Arlene, in the foreground, then my maternal grandmother, Doris, (her husband/my grandfather Curt passed away 16 years ago), and then my parents are on the end. I love all the bright colors in this picture!
The Mr. & Mrs. being announced at the reception at the Shrimp Boat, a restaurant overlooking the bay.
The sun was beginning to set so the lighting is off in this picture. The same lady who made my cake, made Laura and Shannons, and it is sitting on the same silver cake base that was used at our wedding. Unfortunately, I didn't get a bite of either cake, a travashamockery!! I think the wedding cake was carrot cake, red velvet, and something else; and Shannon's groom's cake was peanut butter with chocolate icing!
The reception was fun because I got to see so many people that are dear to my heart and a big part of my growing up years who I haven't seen in a long time! This is my dear friend Katie, who drove down from Atlanta for the wedding, ahhhh, it was SO good to see her!
This is my cousin, Kevin's wife, Jamie. She has two precious daughters, her oldest, Kaitlin, is Daniel's age and they had fun playing together at the beach during the wedding weekend!. Mike's parents drove down from North Carolina to celebrate with us!
These next pictures are histarical to me! Wyatt was bustin a move during the reception and Daniel was trying his best to copy every move Wyatt made!! Wyatt comes by his dance skills honestly (his parents have rhythm!), Daniel...not so much! Haha!! But he sure is cute!!
These boys are best buds!! They have so much fun together!
A family shot out on the porch as the sun was setting. (sorry, the lighting is off)
It's official, welcome to the family Shannon! We couldn't be happier for you and Laura!!
This next picture is blurry, well...because there was ALOT of movement going on!!! My 91 year old grandmother was shakin' her tail feather with my sis to some good ol' booty music!! Yep that's right folks, it was awesome!!
We aimed fun poppers at the bride and groom instead of throwing birdseed or bubbles as they left the reception. The poppers were really cool, it was a cylinder that when the bottom was twisted, confetti and streamers flew out.
A lot of love and hard work by family and friends and the bride and groom contributed to a perfect wedding ceremony and reception that went off without a hitch!! Shannon, you are so perfect for Laura and I've never seen her happier! We love you and are so pleased to have you as part of our family!! It was such a wonderful week being with my family and culminating at the beach houses with the wedding and reception!
