Monday, May 31, 2010

Sara & Craig's Wedding

I think I need to preface this entire post by saying that Sara is one of the most artistic people I have ever met.  She studied art in college and actually sold a lot of her work at her senior art show.  We both essentially furnished our apartments with the same things (IKEA and Target furniture and decorative things), yet her apartment looked like something out of a ritzy interior design catalog and mine - well, that's another post for another day.  She had this beautiful painting of two horses in her kitchen and when I told her how much I liked it she said, "Oh yeah, I painted that first year," like creating incredible pieces of artwork was a normal, everyday occurrence for most people.

That being said, I wasn't all that surprised when Sara sent me a Facebook message last year and told me that a member of her church had offered her backyard rose garden for their wedding.  The site was quintessential Sara - beautifully simply elegant.  The house was gorgeous ...


This was the pathway towards the rose garden that Sara and her girls walked down.


The garden where the ceremony took place.  Sara, Craig, the officiant, the maid of honor and best man stood up front while the rest of the bridal party circled around the fountain.


Beautiful, BEAUTIFUL fountain.

And the flowers ...


... ohhhhhh the flowers ...


I want a macro lens.  Badly.


I won't bore you to tears with every single botanical photograph I took this weekend, I promise.


Okay, maybe just one more.


Okay, I'm done.  Promise.

Bruce, Sarah and I left Atlanta around 8:45 on Friday morning.  We hopped a time zone, shopped our way through a truck stop, got to Jackson around 2 (central time) and settled into our hotel.  We decided we were going to do a little bit of exploring, but then Sara called and asked if we would like to go to the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner - yes, please!  We were honored to be asked to be part of all of the festivities and had a wonderful time.

I love watching the bride and groom during rehearsals.  The looks on their faces is a combination of nerves, excitement and absolute love for another.


See what I mean?


They just laughed the entire time.

At one point one of the bridesmaids got completely overheated and needed to sit down inside, so Sarah stepped in as a stand-in bridesmaid.


She rocked the part, if I do say so myself.

After the rehearsal, we headed over to a local restaurant for the rehearsal dinner.


It was so nice of Sara to invite us to join them for the evening.  I know how hard it is to coordinate out of town guests and I felt like Sara and Craig and their parents went above and beyond for us.  Thank you to everyone!

After the rehearsal we headed back to the hotel and set up camp in Sara's room to assemble the favors.  Let's go back to the beginning of the post where I talked about Sara's artistic flair - she bought 150 fresh green apples and created a leaf-shaped note to attach to them.  Simple, green (figuratively and literally) and fitting with the overall wedding.


Delicious.


Simply delicious.  Or perhaps I should say ... Golden Delicious?  Ohhh, I'm funny.

Or not.

The next morning we were up and at 'em and paid a visit to Sara again while she was getting her hair done.


Sara's hairdresser told bad jokes the entire time and had us all in hysterics.  Perfect start to the morning.


He wasn't a bad hairdresser, either!  Doesn't her hair look beautiful?  Eventually she put fresh flowers in it.

Sara and her bridesmaids needed to get to the site, so Sarah, Bruce and I checked out of our hotel room and explored some of the shopping that Jackson had to offer.


We ended up in the kitchen & dining section at Kohls and Sarah found multiple pitchers and bowls that could double as a fount for foot washing services.  Shopping with clergy / future clergy / seminary students is always fun because we see things through a ... um ... different ... lens.

After a quick lunch at TGI Fridays we headed to the wedding.  We were a little bit early, so we tried to stay out of the way.  But I did have my first bridal sighting ...


Check out that train!

Once all of the family and bridal party portraits were over, Sara called over Sarah & me (has all of this Sara(h) talk confused anyone yet?) and asked the photographer to get a photo of the three of us.  Her photographer was awesome and I asked him if he wouldn't mind getting a shot with my camera as well ...


I love these girls.

The ceremony was PERFECT.  The forecasted rain was no match for this wedding - the sky was blue with white puffy clouds and a light breeze to cool everyone off.  The only rumble of thunder heard happened during the final prayer after they exchanged rings.  And really - I'm pretty sure that was just the thunderous applause coming from heaven ...


The vows.
I think this was when I started crying.


The rings.


The kiss.
Apparently Sara said to Craig, "Make it a good one."
He did.

The reception was finger food, cake and punch - it was laid back and intimate.  The cakes (yes, that was plural) were incredible.


Yum.


Groom's cake.


Sara and Craig smiled ...


... and laughed.  It was beautiful to watch.


And for the record, Craig was nice and gentle when he fed Sara her cake ...


Sara, on the other hand, was not.


And now they're in Hawaii!

Sara & Craig,
Thank you so much for letting me be part of your special day.  It was beautiful, elegant and perfect.  I love you both and wish and pray for a lifetime of happiness.  You deserve it.
Love,
Sarah

After the cake cutting, we got in the car and headed back to Atlanta.  I will admit - it was bittersweet to leave, because I do not know when I will see Sara next - and I know my time with Sarah is limited.  We all knew the days of saying our goodbyes were coming - but it doesn't make them any easier!  I will always remember this weekend - the laughter, the tears, the excitement and the joy.  It was, as Mary Poppins would say, "Practically perfect in every way."

6 comments:

  1. That looks like such a beautiful wedding! That cake looks soo supper delicious, too! I'm so glad you had fun!

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  2. Great post! Almost felt like I was there...

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  3. Those are really great pictures and I felt like I was there. The 80's sure did produce a lot of Sara(h)s, haha!

    I hope you're excited about tomorrow :) I'll be eagerly awaiting a recap of your day. Good luck, I'm sure you will rock it!!

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  4. Love love love you! And for the record, I don't say "goodbye" - it's always "see ya later!"

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  5. OMG!!!! WHY AM I JUST NOW SEEING THIS!?!?!?!??!?!!!!

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  6. Why Tate? I'll tell you why...BCBC!!!!!

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Hello and thanks for commenting! Unless I have your email address, I respond to all questions directly in the comment form. Check back if you've asked one! xo, Sarah

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