Pasta & Practice Makes Perfect

At 4:30 our wedding party, parents, and a few close relatives had arrived at a Combine Brother's, a restuarant from our high school dating days. Chris and I had decided a month before that we would need to limit the menu to a few appetizer and main course choices to keep within the estimated cost we had given his family. Before the dinner we printed the limited menus on regular paper and gave them to the wait staff to pass out.

It was a nice casual meal without the toasts and speaches I imagine rehearsal dinners having. Though we had intended on Chris giving a thank-you toast, he decided to save it for the wedding day. To my knowledge everyone enjoyed themselves and didn't mind, or maybe didn't even notice, the limited menu one bit.

Num!

Chris and his folks

My Grandparents

After dinner we all drove back into town and met our pastor and the wedding coordinator affiliated with the college at the Chapel. I had hired a Day of Coordinator who offered to be present, but I didn't see the need since the Chapel's coordinator would be the one sending us down the isle.

One of our bridesmaids couldn't make it, so we had our best man, James' wife, in purple, bring a red dress and stand in for the rehearsal.. just incase!

I only got more excitable.

We went thru the ceremony once and the pastor was nice enough to save us from hearing the 'good stuff' until our actual wedding day. Then we practiced coming up and down the isle twice so everyone could get used to finding thier place. The music started, and the bridesmaids found thier rythm. My father was incredibly nervous! I couldn't believe it! Then we rounded the corner and started down the isle. Wouldn't you know it - Chris got emotional! The face I wanted the photographer's to capture was making an early appearance and I didn't even think to look for it! Ahhk. If I could do it over, I would NOT have practiced coming down the isle.. at least not infront of Chris.

After about 45 minutes of rehearsing we were feeling good and I was definitely getting giddy. It was time to head on down the hill for Dessert at my family's house and ignore the to-do's just a little longer!

Up next: Dessert and a photo shoot!