Two years had passed since I've seen my Missouri friends in person... as soon as I landed, the gap of time vanished. The hugs, the hugs, nothing beats it :) I was so happy to be back and see all my friends, make a few new ones and most of all, be a bridesmaid at Elsie and Jeremy's Wedding! It was a super exciting weekend of amazing wedding activities and get-togethers and felt like I was in a dream! Here are some of the highlights of my vacation, Part 1 of 3 :)
Emma picked me up at the airport and we headed to Red Velvet. The space is incredible, I secretly teared up being there! I'm so proud of my friends, they've built a really special boutique & sweet shop and it's beyond amazing! Plus-- much bigger than it looks in pictures!! I shopped a few times ;)
The bachlorette party was super fun... dresses, girl talk, making new friends, lots of fun picture taking, telling too much, yummy drinks, getting the giggles and Elsie surrounded by her girlfriends :) We had so much fun! // Bridesmaids drawing + pic from Elsie's post
I loved helping get things ready for the wedding... I was mainly on "writing duty" and wrote up the placecards and table seating chart :) The decorations at the wedding were really sweet and totally suited Elsie and Jeremy... there were so many fun details :) My favorite was that the wedding meal was breakfast for dinner! That's suits E+J so well, they eat pancakes a lot!
The rehersal evening was the perfect icebreaker for the group... we got to know our groomsman partner (I was with Phillip, standing behind Jeremy), practiced the wedding ceremony and had a yummy dinner at Pizza House. Elsie and Jeremy gave really special gifts to us all and there were a few sweet, tear-jerking speeches... it was a perfect night :) Afterwards, the bridesmaids made our bouquets together... then, Holly, Katie & Hope and I played dressup at Red Velvet. IT was a dream moment... I felt like I was living in my blog. I had a few of those moments. // Top 2 from my camera, others from Sarah/Arrow & Apple.
My purple vintage dress was fun to wear!!
Elsie and Jeremy's wedding ceremony was sweet and intimate (and in such a beautiful room) :) Standing in the wedding party, watching their dream day happen made me sniffle as soon as I finished walking down the aisle. Luckily, I'd "tucked a kleenex" and when Elsie came down the aisle and everyone looked at her, it was necessary for me to quick grab it out of my neckline. Lol. I thought I kept it together quietly and it was very minimal happy tears, but Katie and Holly laughed afterwards that they could hear me.
Elsie looked absolutely gorgeous in her Orla Kiely wedding dress and as she walked down the aisle with her Dad, I saw Jeremy's face. It was a priceless moment and my happiness level was at the max :) Their vows were said quietly & sincerely to each other, their kiss was sweet sweet sweet and their walk down the aisle as Mr. and Mrs. was to Queen, You're my Best Friend... their friends and family threw white and turquoise tissue confetti and IT WAS A MOMENT I will never forget!! So much happiness! The feeling and noise in the room was Magic and after Phillip and I entered the back room, we held hands like kids and jumped up and down together. Hardly know each other but we were that excited, couldn't help it :)
This table was so pretty & yummy, it was painful! Emma is seriously amazing at food-everything and I hope she can do it more and more... Emma's pretty much a rockstar in my mind and she was an incredible maid of honor! I say the table was painful because it seemed like people were respectfully waiting till they had permission to dig in-- and I had a hard time waiting. It called to me, but I waited for permission.
We all wore different jewel tone tights with creme or white dresses (of our choice) and it was pretty much the funnest and cutest bridal party I've every seen!
Holly and Sarah gave us all beehives that morning, something I've never experienced and now could easily be addicted. I was so tall! lol... secret, all the long hair girls had a loofa hidden in our hair ;)
My Outfit: I got my dress on Modcloth and sparkly flats from Spring, purple tights from WeLoveColors, earrings from Stella&Dot (thanks Holly!), white cardigan fr. Target, Spanx from an old lady store in Winnipeg where Kyla and I thought we'd entered a timewarp, like in the Sweetest Thing. Probably not supposed to talk about my Spanx in What I Wore but I'm a big fan ;) On a sidenote, I got 2 sizes of this dress from Modcloth and forgot to return the extra one in time... email me for details if you're interested.
The cocktails were a big hit. Followed by the photobooth ;) There was a laaata girly giggles later in the evening! Good memories :) And Rachel's husband Brett was cracking me up constantly. The Denbows are so awesome :)
Katie (above) and Sarah (below) become two of my new friends. I kinda knew them before I got to Missouri, but in person, we became quick friends and I miss them now. So glad I can read their blogs and do email :) And it was so good to see Rachel again!!! We caught up, got our regular backrub in and ran out to get false eyelashes together at the last minute ;) Holly and I live quite close so we'll see each other sooner than the rest, relief! And I met Holly's husband Ryan... they're super cute together and Ryan and I had a few laughs at Elsie and Jeremy's house. He's a good guy and I gave him a nickname that'll stick ;)
Eeek, this was a fun moment!! The Larsons were adorable and all the guests were so happy and excited to send Jeremy and Elsie off-- lots of fun! The wedding was more than perfect and I have so many good memories... some of my fave little wedding moments were:
- Seeing Jeremy and Elsie as married :)
- All the speeches. Especially Todd's because Jeremy was laughing more than I've ever seen before. And Todd accidently told a secret that his Grandma didn't know, which we all laughed about after.
- Being in the back room before we all made our way to the front, Vanessa directing us and all of us giggling like it was our high school concert coming up... only instead, our best friends wedding :) Then, returning to that room afterwards, all excited with what'd just happened.... it was really special :)
- Hope and Bella carefully dropping each feather as they came down the aisle :)
- Lovelove the pug breathing loud from Elizabeth's lap during the ceremony.
- Emma's hair.
- Elsie spun into Jeremy's arms when we were downstairs after the ceremony. It was a little movie moment :)
- Like Sarah said in her letter to Elsie, there was so much calm & enjoyment throughout the wedding weekend. The couple was about each other and family & friends... truly :)
- The gelato cart and sweets were really neat :) And the heartshaped pancakes!
- All the pretty outfits at the wedding :)
- The bridesmaids group was so fun to be part of, each girl amazing, fun and sweet :) We had lots of great times and supported Elsie and each other :) (ie. Katie pulled my dress out of my tights before I left the restroom. Thank goodness she caught that!)
- Breakfast at Tiffany's playing silently at the reception... loved :)
- Elsie and I had a smile across the room during the dinner... I think the smile said "I married Jeremy!"
- Emma catching the bouquet, turning around with a face like "you guys never had a chance"!
- The little cake fight... oh laugh, "*(smush) eat it Elsie"..."(high voice) No, gross!"
- Seeing rose petals cover Commercial Street the next day :)
- Different than other weddings I've been to, there was a lot of people with blogs... so it's been insane fun to relive the great weekend through everyones photos & stories :) And to see the video Brandon Goodwin made, the best!
- All the smiles and love :)
Your dreams came true and I've been so happy to watch them happen. A toast, to living in your dreams with the one you love!
Love Leigh-Ann
[ceremony photo from Kinsey Mhire, photobooth pictures from Chris Bown, shoes picture from Holly, Bridal Party from Arrow & Apple]
See more of my vacation & trip here :)
