My Sister, Wedded!

Little sister is married! Do all older siblings feel this incredulous at the thought that their younger kin are married off? Kelli Nicole, the main photographer for the day, was nice enough to let me shoot around her whenever I had the chance. Those chances didn’t come very often though because as both sister and MOHI was running around like crazy all day. I enjoyed playing “wedding coordinator” for the day, and remembered how much I love to plan things. I picked up my camera when I could, but otherwise I posed and yelled (yelled at people to get together for the photos) and re-applied my red lipstick.

They were married in the Columbia River temple in Kennewick e at 2:00 pm and then had a reception at Anthony’s in Richland. Consider this to be a little preview of the wedding day because I know that Kelli Nicole has much, much more to share! I recommend checking her blog daily until you see her teasers because I know they are going to be amazing.

The bride had an awful trial a few days before so she decided to do her own hair. She did it herself first, but it didn’t turn out the way she had hoped so a bridesmaid did it instead. It looked so classy.

I gifted her a green cloth-covered hanger for the “dress photos” because I’ve seen way too many beautiful dress shots ruined by an ugly plastic hanger.

Are you dying to know where she ordered this bouquet? Call 1-800-Jenna Cole’s Mom.

Quite possibly my favorite pair of bridal shoes ever!

Sister had Grandma crochet her a garter with a blue ribbon through it to act as her something blue. They didn’t do the garter removal during the reception but she still wore it as a surprise for the groom once they got to the hotel.

Haha, this is such a Shay face.

I adore this shot! Definitely a lucky grab. My mom worked so hard to give Shaylene the wedding of her dreams and I love the bond this photo shows.

Bridesmaid Tawnee (the one who did her hair!) holding the mirror just right so Mom can place Sister’s veil just so. Oh yeah, Mom made the veil as well!

I really recocmend bringing a full length mirror to the hotel on your wedding day! It allows the bride to sit out in the open in the light instead of cramming in the bathroom the whole time.

Shay posed for a few portraits before heading out for the first look.

Adding lipstick, powder (my powder which she accidentally took with her at the end of the night, might I add), advil and other necessities to her sparkly clutch.

LDS couples who choose to do so are married in a small room of the temple with about 40 guests, a building that does not allow photos or video of any kind, so the moment when the bride and groom emerge from the doors is full of emotion and excitement. Many of those waiting outside are getting the first glimpse of the couple as man and wife!

Their first public kiss. I was able to attend the ceremony in the temple where they kissed as well and it was incredibly sweet and touching.

The bridesmaids had birdcage veils and the flower girls had little mini ones. Are there any words for how cute this is?

Shay with the niece that considered her to be family long before the wedding ever hapened. This little girl loves Shay! When I walked up to her she toddled over to me saying “Shay? Shay?”

I hope that cake buffets take the wedding industry by storm soon. They blow sculpted fondant cakes with bows and flowers out of the water!

I just happened to be sitting in the perfect seat at the head table to grab a few of the cake cutting.

He fed her a little morsel and then kissed her. How sweet!

Then she turned around and shoved an enormous piece (as well as two of her fingers) all the way inside his mouth. It was quite funny.

As the MOH I gave myself the assignment of decorating the getaway car. We stuffed the inside with white ballons and covered the outside with oreos to give it a polka-dot look. I wanted something funny yet classy.

I did not write that, in case you were wondering. My handwriting is awful. Thanks to bridesmaid Ashley who did!

Some naughty groomsmen took things a little farther than I wanted to and sprayed shaving cream under the door handles. When my husband pulled the car around for their getaway we warned him and he ended up cleaning them out with paper towels before the couple had the chance to reach their fingers in and make a mess.

Thanks to my husband for this lovely portraits of my friend Kelli Nicole and I at the end of the night. It had been a very long day, but the couple were beaming as they left, and our bellies were full of cake, so we were happy. Beautiful wedding, happy couple, and even better, it’s all over!

Gorgeous photos from the (actual) photographer to come soon!