wedding wednesday

How many weeks can I do wedding wednesday without any actual wedding pictures? Apparently a lot, and that's not ending today. Sorry Charlie. 

Today I'm just going to get sad that my hair is no longer that long and I am no longer that tan. And yes, that is tan compared to what I am now. Which is a ghost. I am surprised I didn't blind Ashley at our blate on Saturday. 

Friday before our wedding I woke up bright and early to finish the 94386390 things I still had yet to do. We had family come in Thursday night and had Carabba's catered for them (do you even KNOW how hard it is to not eat pasta and bread when it is sitting right in front of you?! HARD. also, I'm not sure why I even included that bit of info, it doesn't help anything here) and then all the rest were coming in Friday morning. I had to jet back over to my parent's house (I stayed at the hotel the night prior) and prepare for the family lunch. Then I ran to the airport to pick up my bridesmaid Stephanie and her boyfriend. Then it was back to my parents house where my bestie Alexa's family had just dropped her off. We lunched with my extended family and then I took them to the hotel to check in. And then I went to Sears. Who goes to Sears the day before their wedding? And why? Well, me. And to get A a grill because I procrastinated getting him his wedding gift. Then it was back to the house to shower for the rehearsal and I strolled in the church just a few minutes late. I call that a win. I also know that none of this information has anything to do with the rehearsal dinner, at all. So if you don't keep reading, I understand. Just know it gets better and pictures are coming.

The rehearsal went great. Except I don't think that the priest was even there. Could be why he got my name wrong three times during the ceremony, but that's a story for another Wednesday. A was perfectly fratty and even changed into a dinner jacket after that day jacket. Yes, I picked a winner, I know. 

We got off the bus in the parking lot and were greeted by a full on mariachi band. I am not even joking, as you can see by the pictures. My father-in-law went all out and it was AMAZING. They played for the first hour while the guests mingled and drank. 

family - Elizabeth & Chad and Mike & Tiffany

groomsman Ross, best men Michael & Phillip and us. After a lot of drinks, clearly

mis padres with my brother and sister

older sister & younger sister - matron & maid of honor. We didn't mean to match!

I don't think I was without a margarita the entire night. It was pink and delicious and I paid for it at 7am the next morning.

A and I with his Aunt Reta and her daughters Annie & Maria. We love this family!

We decided to do all of the speeches on Friday night at the rehearsal dinner. Mainly because I didn't want to take time away from dancing on Saturday and also because our family members were all there on Friday and they were probably the only ones who cared about the speeches. And we didn't have to limit it, we opened up the floor to anyone and everyone. And maybe because my dad's speech at my sister's wedding was the most hilarious and embarrassing thing ever, so we don't do wedding speeches in my family any longer. He called her husband the son he never had...yea, I have a brother.

The speeches were amazing - we are lucky to have such loving and supportive people in our life. A's brother Phillip had us all in tears with the sweetest speech I have ever heard. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house. And then my little sister asked A to write hers while others were going...typical. He didn't, by the way, which is why it ended up saying something along the lines of her being a bitch to me all the time. Which is true. And then something about A taking 9274987543 hours to tell a story. Also true. 

We were SO blessed by such an amazing rehearsal dinner. I have the best in-laws ever and I seriously will never be able to thank them enough for hosting such a lovely event. They even matched the flowers that night to what I used for the wedding - so that's a bit of a sneak above, I guess :) And they did this all from 3.5 hours away. Like I said, they are amazing.