Weddingbee boards

It took a while for the pro pics to come back. My sister had a budget of 10K for about 125 guests so she opted just to pay for the negatives and have any editing/prints done later. All photos are courtesy of Ashley Crim of The Pros. She was AWESOME!! She even pitched in to help us get things ready.

My sister ended up staying in the hotel with me and my daughter the night before the wedding. We got up at the crack of dawn to get her to her hair appt on time. We had a few sprinkles of rain for good luck =) Bees...I had to FORCE her to get her toes done before her wedding b/c she felt like she didn't need it. Chipped polish on your wedding day...I don't think so. I got her stylist to drop her off at the nail salon and I picked her up from there...way to go stylist!!

Then I rallied the troops to go decorate the venue for the wedding. I was planner/maid of honor for this shindig so I got maybe 8 hours of sleep in the 3 nights I was in VA...and let's not talk about the speeding ticket I got on the way to Norfolk....but I digress ;)

While my sister was showering, the photog took some pics of the rings, etc.

Then... I took MY shower..and my hair (ended up in a ponytail due to time constraints) and makeup, so that I could do my sister's makeup.

We took some more pics:

Me and my sister

My sister and neice:

My sister by herself:

Her holding her gigantic bouquet (I got a little carried away while making it...oops). The brooch pinned to it belonged to our great-grandmother and was her something old.

Now it's wedding time (I left out the other BMs b/c there are just too many pics to choose from)

My mom and her escort:

Me =)

...and I will continue after the break =)

.....continued

My niece and nephew got shy when it was time for them to come down the aisle. Luckily one of my sisters was also a hostess and dressed in the right color b/c she grabbed their hands and escorted them down the aisle. Side note...my niece refused to drop any rose petals b/c she said they were pretty and she wanted to keep them...and true to her word...she didn't drop a single petal. Luckily, I lined the aisle with rose petals prior to the ceremony so it was fine.

Here comes the bride...being serenaded down the aisle by yet another sister...I have 6 siblings guys.

OK...here comes the bride for real =) Being escorted by my daddy who will be 79 years old in 3 days.

The Rings...the photog was shocked that he actually carried in the REAL rings...but my sister didn't want it any other way. They were attached to a bear. It was secure b/c I sewed the ribbon on and tied the rings to it myself.

The Vows...even the pastor teared up when my BIL read his vows to my sis. My BIL and I had a bet that whoever cried owed the other 20 bucks...we both teared up...but none fell so it was a draw =)

Then they jumped the broom that our mom made. My mom put the broom way out b/c she was scared they would get hurt jumping off the platform. But my sister and the pastor asked me to move it closer. This pic is one of my faves:

I love the jumping pic! And obviously good looks run in your family! Congratulations to your sister and new BIL! :)

The Reception:

Bride and Groom busted a pose:

and got low:

and danced:

and ate:

and here are some randoms:

@veganglam: Thanks...she must have been going on pure adreneline that day b/c we got about 4 hours of sleep pre-wedding. She was glowing with happiness.

@mrscandy: Thanks...it was tough planning a wedding from a state away but I only have one little sis so it was definitely a labor of love. I think everything including the color came out well.

@trugem: Thanks...we are loud and crazy...but everyone really pulled together to make my sis and bil's day special.

@trugem: That backdrop gave us fits! The venue had burgundy curtains so we had to purchase and hang the black ones. I actually purchased a crystal beaded curtain and dismantled it to space between the pomander strings.

@Amaryllis: Thanks! They are deliriously happy. They closed on their home about 2 weeks before the wedding so they are settling in to married life and homeownership.

I HAVE to give a HUGE thanks to weddingbee for helping me pull off this day.

Everything was DIY...I was SICK of glueguns and pomanders by the time I was done but everything was beautiful. From the pomander aisle decorations, backdrop, and centerpieces, to the DIY flowers, and makeup, to the cute ideas I borrowed from here like bathroom baskets and cute table numbers. From the tips about making aisle runners and heads up about coupons. From the vendor recommendations (DJ and pastor were found on the 'bee) and to the encouraging words when I was sick of planning...THANK YOU. I have 6 siblings but only 1 little sister and I was able to give her the day of her dreams thanks to you guys and I REALLY REALLY appreciate it.

Now it's time for me to get serious about planning my own wedding...after I get over wedding hangover that is. Is it bad that I plan to hire a planner after planning my sister's wedding? *shrugs* oh well

Awwww..., this was so beatiful. I can't believe you did the make up. So flawless. I hope your wedding is the same way. An amazing day filled with relatives and friends having fun and you and your groom looking happy and gorgeous!

@picturemeurs: Thanks!

@AnamCara: My daddy is a trip...he is so short and little but VERY feisty =) I told my little sis that's why she found a short man for herself...she married a replica of our dad...lol

@bRooklynRocks: Can you believe that less than a year ago I didn't even know how to APPLY makeup? I rarely wear it. I got a sephora consultation and practiced, practiced, and practiced some more =)

FI and I planned to elope...but since he lost his mom this year, we have re-thought that decision. We want to share our day with the family we have left. I am just too tired to plan right now =)

@LetsGoPens: Thanks...we actually murdered two bunches of the hydrangea before I did the flowers =)  We smashed them with the grocery bags so only 2 out of the 4 bunches survived for her bouquet. The photographer did a good job of capturing the side that actually HAD hydrangea's in it....LOL. If you are DIY-ing flowers...definitely buy extra.

@OurWedding: Thanks...and on a side note....we were born and raised in South Carolina...90% of my family is still there =)

@OurWedding: Florence....WAY in the country =) My parents house is literally surrounded by fields and woods. I LOVE it...I was just there this past weekend.

@aribari: my date is just a placeholder....both FI and I have decided that we don't want to get married in the same year he lost his mother and we both lost our grandmothers. I'll change the date once we start actively planning.

@OurWedding: I actually posted a tutorial in the DIY section.

@Bug29: Thanks...it was really fun. My 5 year old nephew danced ALL night =)

@quiche: Thanks!!

@plantains: Thanks plantains....I honestly couldn't have pulled it off without weddingbee. There were projects we scrapped b/c we didin't have time to implement them but overall everything went well.

@crebre80: Thanks...my sister and her husband humored me by playing the original "Electric Slide" even though it was on their do not play list....the dance floor was packed =) Even my 78 year old daddy had to dance a step or two of that...LOL

@RavenM: Each of the three rings were purchases separately and not as part of a set. I mentioned to my sister and BIL that they match each other really well.

@Golden139: Thanks! Funny story...I LOVE snuggies so as a part of my thank you/birthday package they sent me...they found the UGLIEST snuggie on the planet to give to me b/c they HATE snuggies....LOL. I laughed so hard!

@jordynrose: Thanks...I think I will stick to family events only =) Although I seriously considered it at one point for a side gig =)

@soon2bmrscolson: Thanks! I had lots of practice. I would be walking around the house with full makeup doing chores so I could see how well it would hold up....LOL! Ridiculous I know but I wanted her to be beautiful on her big day.