Here Comes the Bride...

Mike and I were thinking about a fall wedding.  With my school's break being in October we had entertained the idea of scheduling it for that time and taking a trip out to California.  When we first started to discuss marriage we were planning to be married in the temple.  With our religion we believe that a man and wife can be married for time and all eternity in our holy temples and not just have this life to be together.  Being 33 and 36 years old, we had some existing challenges to making this happen. Mike has been married before me and was married in the temple to his ex wife so we would need a cancelation of the commitment they had made before we could go there ourselves. This could take some time depending on the cooperation of the former spouse and even having the wedding in October may have cut it close.  As we were discussing and planning we also took into account many of our friends and family members who were not LDS or who wouldn't be able to attend the temple for our ceremony.  I will also admit that the thought of planning a wedding while I was working each day, when I was currently in summer mode and had plenty of time, seemed not ideal and potentially overwhelming.

With all of those things to consider we decided we would kick our planning into full gear and shoot for a July wedding with a civil ceremony and go to the temple the following year. We chose Sleepy Ridge Golf Course as our location and booked July 16th as our date.  At the time that literally meant I planned a wedding in 3 weeks.  A HUGE thanks to my father who made it all possible and gave me the freedom to make it my (our 😂) special day.  One great thing about using a the golf course as the venue was that they had a lot of things that they took care of for us. All we had to do was pick everything out.  That took a huge load off of myself, my mother, and siblings.  Linens, flowers, decorations, were one meeting with the florist for the golf course and then it would be set up and taken down afterwards by the venue! We even found our photographer from the preferred list given to us by the venue. IT MADE IT SO EASY!  With a short deadline we quickly realized that we needed to get our engagement pictures done so we could get invitations out.  On June 30th we went up American Fork Canyon to Tibble Fork for our engagement pictures... I LOVE THEM! They might be my favorite pictures of us ever taken- even over our wedding pics! haha Check some out!

  

  

I just want to spotlight my hair here.  First I got some pretty incredible extensions for my engagements/wedding.  Seriously gorgeous. I also have never had my hair and make up done by someone else before this, and I would like to request a personal hair and make up person to always be in my life! I DIE over my hair in these pictures and just wish I could do it like that to myself! 

 

Just to die for, right? As I mentioned earlier I got my hair and make up done. I am going to just post some that Mike and I took ourselves that day too.  Selfies of course and I am going to throw one in there that should be so so embarrassing of me because it is such a typical selfie, but my hair and makeup were done by someone else and I will admit.. I looked good! Mike thought so too 😜 

    

My best friends, sister, sister in law, and mom quickly pulled  together a bridal shower for me and on the day of my test of wedding hair and make up, so I was looking very glamorous at this shower, haha. 

Mom, me, my sister, my sister-in-law 💜

 
These girls 👆 are the best!

Mike even made and appearance to play the "he said, she said" game. We killed it! haha

 

  This was my trial run for wedding hair/make up, I actually opted to not have the braid for the wedding day because it didn't stay very well through my shower. This is why you trial run :) 

We got our invitations out. I found a dress in one stop, maybe 90mins, trying on about 8 dresses. My best friend Laura and Megan went with me and it was quick and easy.  I didn't have time to waste, with alterations it would be ready just before the wedding.  My mom and I went to Maglebys for a tasting. They were catering hors d'oeuvres and making our cake. It was so awesome, we got to try everything and they gave us all these little versions of their cakes to try and take home to share. It all came together pretty seamlessly and before we knew it the big day was here.  

July 16th was a hot day. I don't know how hot, but hot enough that we were uncomfortable when outside.  Mike, my dad, brothers, some cousins, and I think my uncle went golfing the morning of while my mom, sister, and I went and got our hair and make up done.  Not having to go and set up, or cook, or anything really made for a nice day.  We arrived at the venue around 4:30 and Mike was already there all done up, the venue for the reception looked amazing, and we were scheduled to do some pictures before the ceremony started at 6:30.  We did some first look pictures and ventured outside on the golf course, but didn't last long before we got tired of the heat.  We still got some good shots though. 

 

 

 


After our pictures, family and friends began to arrive for pictures too.  We stayed inside for these ones, the heat was just too much!

 

 

 

The ceremony followed, it was outside, it was hot, but it was beautiful. My nieces were my flower girls, and my nephews our ring bearer (or ring master as the little one called it).  My dad was able to walk me down the aisle while Marry Me by Train played.  Mike and my bishop, Bishop Young,  married us and we hustled inside for the reception!

    

 

 

 

 


We were married! The rest the pictures are of the reception and I am going to post a bunch, mostly for my memory, but perhaps some will enjoy them too :)