The Wedding Planner

One of my two younger sisters called me in March and said she and her b/f were going to get married, but since they didn't have much money they would get married in a courthouse.  And what do you think was the first thing that came out of my big mouth?

"Like HECK you're getting married in a COURTHOUSE!  Not on my watch!  I'll plan your whole wedding and we'll get a budget from mom and dad.  I CAN DO IT!"

Yep.  I heard this quote once:

"Stress: when your gut screams, "NO!" but your mouth says, "I'd love to!"

Anyway, I planned my sister's wedding and it went off as smoothly as possible for an overcast day.  It was April 2nd, but I was waiting to post about it until we got the pictures back from the photographer.  I was a little busy the day of the wedding and didn't have time to take any pictures of my own.  So, bragging time, here we go!

I went dress shopping (along with my mom and another sister) with Jacquelyn and HOURS later, she decided on the first dress she tried on.  Bonus: it was $100 cheaper than the clearance tag said!  WOO!

I won't go in to all the details, but, trust me, it took a lot to get from the day she tried dresses on to the day before the wedding.  OHMYHECK there was a lot to do.  I wasn't even that stressed with my own wedding.  Anyway, Shane took the day before the wedding off so I could go decorate at my mom's house (the wedding & reception were in her backyard).  I made Jacquelyn come help.  She's gotta do something, right?  ;)

Mom's backyard before

I wanted a grand "after" pic of the backyard, but the wind ruined everything the day of the wedding, so I was frantically running around an hour before the wedding, trying to put the yard back together.  It was CRAZY, but it all worked out.

Jacquelyn and her bridesmaids getting ready.  P.S. I told them to be there at 3:00, but apparently I didn't specify to already be ready when they got there.  That was stressful.

Ready to go!

Gary waiting.  We decorated that arch and had to stake it to the ground (without damaging it) so it wouldn't fall over in the wind.  Good times.

Taliyah and McKayla were the flowergirl and ring bearer.  SO CUTE!  Suzanna made the basket and pillow from scratch....a week before she had her baby.  Super mom, that's for sure.

My mom's bishop married Gary and Jacquelyn.  He was SO great!

They danced down the aisle after the ceremony and this is one of Gary's brothers.  As much as I love this picture because it's hilarious, I included it so you could see the background.  I made an aisle with shepards hooks, tulle, and twinkle lights.  See it?  It looked really pretty.

Here comes the......groom?  hahahaha

Do you have any idea how hard it is working with high maintenance bridesmaids??  "But I can't wear strapless!"  "But I don't want to wear just a skirt!"  And then the week before the wedding, Jacquelyn decided to ADD another bridesmaid.  Oh the fun.  Natalie was the maid of honor, so she got a cute jacket with her dress.

This is all of us sisters with our one and only brother.  I love this picture.  :D

This was one of the bridesmaids' bouquets.  I was trying to show off the tables and centerpieces, but this is the best you get.

Ok, so I wanted something really special for the centerpieces and this is what I came up with...

 Each table had a vase/bowl thingy on it with a different phrase from their song "All My Life" by K.C. and JoJo.  There were also some decorative hearts I threw on to fill space and add some cuteness.  I stuck a couple of tea lights in them so that there would be a pretty glow.  I also got disposable cameras for each table and I haven't seen how those pics turned out yet, but I bet we got some funny ones.  :)

FOOD!  My mom insisted on making 200 rolls because it would be cheaper than buying them.  Holy hannah that took FOREVER.

 OH!  And after the ceremony, but before the reception, I was yelling orders at people to move things around.  Like the chairs and the lights.  I wanted the reception area to glow with the twinkle lights, too.  :D

I frosted over 100 of these bad boys.  :)

I love the look she's giving him here.

The cake and topper!

For the record, Gary took it like a man when Jacquelyn smashed the cake in his face.  :)  There are pics of that, but I felt I was already posting a ton.

The sign-in table.  I found a frame and painted it hot pink to go with her colors, then printed off one of their engagement pics to go in it.

So pretty....

Everyone who came to the ceremony.

The wedding planner!  hahaha

Honestly, I'm pretty shocked that Kristy (the photographer) didn't get any pics of me running around barking orders at people.  Maybe she did but she deleted them.  ;)

About an hour into the reception, we got rained out and moved the party inside my mom's house.  It was a fun night and I'm never planning a wedding again!  :D