Goin' to the Chapel

I think this should be my new profile pic. (Please don't stop following my blog.)

Okay, so that's what my hair looked like before the stylist finished with it for my sister's wedding last weekend. But I'll be honest and say that I still looked like Dolly Parton's poodle stuck her paw in a light socket when the stylist was finished.

If you could take a picture of my emotions on Alison and Sam's wedding day, that would be the photo. A wild, bizarre fright with a plastic smile coated on top.

Weddings should be joyful, happy occasions, but I spent the day praying that God would keep my children from causing me great embarrassment. I think He was super busy on account of it being a Sunday and all, because my request was a "no go."


We started the day with hair and make-up in a hotel suite in "Olde Towne." Alison had it open for all the bridesmaids to come and primp before the Burg's trolley (yes, trolley!) came to pick us up.
Alison wanted blue shoes as her "something blue."

The trolley is kind of the "in" thing around here for weddings. I dislike riding with the windows down, and my hair was a huge, kinky, mess. Think Monica Geller in the Bahamas on Friends. But Alison sure looked pretty here, so I had to take a picture.

Natalie gives her auntie a quick kiss before we went upstairs for the ceremony.

Natalie and Michaela Byrd were the flower girls, which is why I spent about 48 hours hyperventilating, wondering if they'd even walk down the aisle. Hinging your big moment on a 3 1/2 year old who is determined to sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" at the altar and 1 1/2 year old who likes to yell "Toot!" is sort of risky, if you ask me.

This is what the church looks like. Alison and Sam rented a church in Olde Towne because they wanted a center aisle, and the church our family attends doesn't have one.

Of course, things would get dicey right before I was supposed to walk through the double doors and down the aisle with Michaela Byrd holding my hand. First, she got mad because I wouldn't give her one of my flowers from my bouquet. Then she decided she didn't want to walk, shrieked at the top of her lungs, yelled "No!" and fell to the floor. The entire congregation could hear, I'm sure.

I completely lost it, and glanced wildly around for help. The wedding coordinator gestured towards the door and said, "Just go ahead and go!"

Refusing to leave her behind, I hauled her by one arm to the door and just started walking. I think the shock of having so many people staring at her caused her to forget her tantrum because she walked sedately down the aisle, holding my hand. At the end, I shoved her at T, who ran out the side door with her, but not until after she spotted my mom and happily shouted, "Mimiiiiiiii!"

Natalie walked down the aisle like a pro, but didn't crack a smile. I think she was too focused. It was during the ceremony that we had issues. Imagine this pose:

In this dress:

Yep, she lounged all over the altar stairs during the ceremony. I tried to nudge her with my foot, but she wouldn't budge.

Party time!

This is the reception site's dining room. Lovely decor, delicious food, great bar, horrible service. The owners have absolutely no people skills. I would not recommend the site just because of them.

Fireplace by the dance floor.

Open bar. This was a popular spot. I spent some time here after the world's most humiliating wedding toast.

Interesting...

Family in town. My aunt Linda (in black) and my mom are on the right.

Here's my cousin Blair and his fianceé, Lauren, who I like to call "Texas Barbie" because she is so pretty. It's really not fair. I'd hate her guts if she wasn't such a sweetheart. I convinced Blair to take me out on the dance floor. We were pretty amazing. I think we'll be trying out for So You Think You Can Dance on the next round.

Don't you love the chairs?

Captain and Mrs. Sam D. Aren't they cute?

Dinner was fab! (sorry for the bad pics) Twice baked potato, chicken wrapped in bacon, rice, mixed vegetables. Delish!

Cake table! They served carrot cake, pecan pie, and chocolate pie.

Pretty toasting glasses. Too bad my toast wasn't as pretty.

Here's my mom and her mom, who is my Nannie.

T and Natalie

Natalie and Michaela Byrd cut a rug on that dance floor! They were not pleased when T tore them away to go home to bed.

Final shot of the night. Me and my Nannie. She can party for a 98 year old!


Hope you enjoyed the wedding. That's what's making me smile (and cringe) this week. Visit Julia at Hooked on Houses to see what everyone else is smiling about this week.

{What are you Hooked on?}

*Check back in tomorrow to see who won the Decorating Dilemmas giveaway!*