Going to the Chapel!

Tomorrow my sis-in-law, Jenna, and future bro-in-law, Ferrell, will tie the knot. All four Ferri have roles in the wedding - I'm the Matron of Honor, Tom is a groomsman and an usher, Will is the Ring Bearer, and Hallie is the Flower Girl - and we're traveling hundreds of miles for the festivities, so to say I've been busy preparing would be an understatement.

Because I've been so busy and I'm in total wedding mode, I decided to replace today's High Five for Friday post with a few fun photos from our wedding and related festivities nearly 11 years ago.

As she sits next to me and watches the photos upload to this blog post, Hallie cries and through her tears wonders "WHY, Mama?! Why wouldn't you invite me to your wedding?!"

The only one of our engagement photos I can
find happens to be one I don't particularly love.

With my friend, Katy, my sister, my mom, and Katy's mom,
Mary Jo. Katy and Mary Jo threw me a lovely wedding shower!

With Tom's grandmas and mom at the shower.

Headed out on our wedding bar crawl. (We got married in Iowa in January,
and despite the fact that it was snowing, this is all we wore. It's miraculous
none of our 30 or so bar crawlers ended up with hypothermia or frostbite.

I included this photo to show just how long
the beans have been a part of our lives.

The moms, grandmas, and wedding party ladies at the
lovely bridal brunch my friend Carrie threw for me.

I do! I do too!

Our families met when Tom and I started dating and became friends
over the years. It means the world to Tom and me that each side includes
the other in special events and makes an effort to stay connected.  

Our maid of honor, bridesmaids, best man, groomsmen, and ushers. I wish
we lived closer to these close friends and family members - I miss them all.

Our musicians - more wonderful friends who I miss tremendously.

Yes, my maid of honor and bridesmaids and I sang
"Going to the Chapel" to the boys during the toasts. 

First dance with my hubby.

First dance with my dad.

And then the dancing really got crazy. This is one of my favorite
pictures ever of Tom's youngest brother, Grant. He was 16 - and
had the dance moves to prove it - when we got married. 

Tom's band performed quite a few original numbers
and covers midway through the reception.

And Tom and I performed an impromptu lip sync of the Elephant
Love Medley from Moulin Rouge. (Yes, I changed out of my wedding
dress and into my own bridesmaid dress after the formal dances.)

And finally, my favorite photo from the day.

We need a witness to our lives. There are a billion people on the planet… I mean, what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you're promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things… all of it, all of the time, every day. You're saying 'Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go un-witnessed because I will be your witness.' 

~ Shall We Dance?

Congratulations, Jenna and Ferrell!