Emily's wedding

Emily’s wedding was so beautiful. It was a whole weekend event that started from as soon as we arrived until we left Sanibel Island.

We got in on Thursday night. We had to drive over three hours from the Orlando airport to Sanibel Island. John and I were tired (jet lag) and starving when we finally got to the hotel, and it was too late for the hotel to serve food. So we went to the first restaurant we came across and quickly ordered food. After a few minutes one of my best friends from high school, Jennifer, walked in with her boyfriend! It was completely unexpected as she does not know Emily so wasn’t there for the wedding, and we had emailed a couple of weeks ago and it hadn’t come up that either of us were going to be in Sanibel.

We had a great time catching up, and the next morning she brought her son around to our hotel so I could see him again. He’s so cute and is getting so big so fast! He’s already 4, I don’t know where the time goes.

Friday night was the rehearsal dinner. It was so fun. They had lots of pictures posted around of the both of them growing up, and I was pleased to have made a few of the pics. ;-) Always the ham. There were a couple of hours of cocktails and mingling before dinner, then a three course meal with a couple of hours of open-mike speeches, followed by more cocktails and mingling. There was lots of alcohol flowing for a long time, so I’m surprised that people didn’t seem too hungover the next day for the wedding. The drinking did lead to some tomatoes being thrown at us by Emily’s cousins at the next table over. I know what you’re thinking – she must have some young cousins! But alas, they are adults who were older than us and one of them is a mother of three. They were also bridesmaids so Reena and I nearly had to counter-attack which could have resulted in a salad war, but I think the speeches started and ground the battle to a halt.

Saturday (wedding day) started with a bridal brunch for the special women in Emily’s life. There were about 40 people there for a lovely brunch with more touching speeches. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house for a lot of the speeches, in particular Emily’s mom’s.

After brunch there was time to lay out for a while, and as the sun was shining and hot Reena and I joined John at the pool for a couple of hours. The wedding started in the early evening with the ceremony on the beach. It was absolutely gorgeous. The ceremony was short and sweet, which was good because it was kind of hot standing in the sun and we bridesmaids were facing the sun so were a bit blinded. But even though it was a short ceremony, there was still time for a fat, hairy guy in a speedo to walk along the beach and slow down and stare at the wedding as he was passing by behind the officiant. He was right in the eye line of all 150 or so guests as he passed, which provided everyone with a little giggle (on the inside). Emily and Carter didn’t even notice and didn’t believe us when we told them afterwards.

After the ceremony there was an open bar and appetizers on the beach for an hour or 2 before the reception started. The reception was a lot of fun with loads of dancing. We IU grads even sang the IU fight song at one point.

Sunday morning her parents hosted a Mother’s Day brunch. All the mothers got a little gift. I’m not sure what it was but man is this not the nicest wedding weekend you’ve even heard of??! After brunch it was time for John and I to head up to the Orlando area to visit my aunt and uncle.

CLICK THE PICTURE OF THE BRIDAL PARTY TO SEE ALL THE PICTURES OF THE WEDDING AND REHEARSAL DINNER