Wednesday, October 28, 2009

The Wedding: Off To Town

<<<Friends, I thought it would be nice to do some wedding recap blog entries. Scroll down to see the first few entries. Enjoy!>>>

Geoff and I were in complete bliss! We were lookin' and feelin' good and so excited for the day ahead of us. Dru drove us to downtown Langley to meet up with our bridal party for some photos. The weather was perfect (okay, maybe a little hot but when you get married in Seattle you don't complain about the heat, no matter how hot it may be!) and our photographer did a great job making the pictures fun!

Check out my red heals... LOVE them!





Geoff and I had a little photo shoot (one of many!) down by the water. Langley provided awesome back drops for photos! We are so lucky that we were able to get married there and that the weather was so great!


The whole group in front of the Star Store (love that place!).


Geoff's gang!


My gang!



Sweet sibling picture... just missing Paul!


We even convinced the scooter rental place to let us take some pics with their rides! So fun!

Taking our pictures in Langley was great because it allowed us to get some pictures with different exciting and artistic backgrounds. It definitely spiced things up from the usual wedding pictures! Check out these cool backgrounds:


Taking pictures with our peeps was really fun - I was just filled with emotion knowing that these people are here to support us in this journey - what a true blessing!

Up Next: The I Do's!.... back to the house for family photos and the ceremony!

(All photos taken by my awesome photographer, Ben Becker)

Thursday, October 22, 2009

The Wedding: Show me my groom!

<<<Friends, I thought it would be nice to do some wedding recap blog entries. Scroll down to see the first two entries. Enjoy!>>>

I had my bouquet and my eyes were dry so it was time to do a little photo shoot. My ladies went to get ready and it was nice to have some down time... well, of course with the camera in my face, but none the less it was giving me a moment to reflect on what was about to happen.


(Look closely at my tissue in hand... I was still drying my eyes!)




It was time to get movin'! My groom was outside waiting and I could literally FEEL the excitement in the air - not just my own, but everyone around me who had worked tirelessly to pull this day off (ma and pa Abo, to name the two biggest players). The day was here and everything was flowing perfectly. I left my parents room and headed down the stairs to see my husband-to-be. I had butterflies of excitement in my stomach. It was time to see my GROOM.

Once I was downstairs I was greeted be a different man in my life... my dad! Oh, what a moment! Look at these pictures: Aren't I the luckiest?!


Dad approved and I could tell from his tears how proud he was, and he sent me off to see Geoff.

Again, I ask you, aren't I the luckiest?!!?

I'm comin' babe!


It's funny to hear it from Geoff's perspective. All he could hear was the swishing of my dress and with each step that I took it kept getting louder and louder, and he kept wondering when the swishing would end and he'd feel the tap on his shoulder!

The moment I saw my groom on our wedding day!

I think he liked what he saw! ;-)

We spent the next 15 or 20 minutes just enjoying each other. With all we knew it was just the two of us... we were completely locked in and at that point, nothing could have gone wrong.

Up Next: Off to town... our peeps meet us there for a fun photo shoot!

(All photos taken by my awesome photographer, Ben Becker)

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

The Wedding: Make me pretty

<<<Friends, I thought it would be nice to do some wedding recap blog entries. Scroll down to see the first entry. Enjoy!>>>

My belly was growling bright and early that morning, which is what woke me up. I wasn't nervous, worried or even all that anxious... I was just hungry, happy that the day was here and excited to see Geoff! My sis made me some eggs for breakfast, had a little play time with my nephew and then it was time to GET PRETTY!


My hair and make-up was done and I had my girls by my side. I didn't feel like a bride quite yet and I was still cool as a cucumber. I had about 15 minutes before Geoff arrived so it was time to slip on the dress.

It's amazing how many people it takes to get a bride in a dress!

And once you're in a dress... you need help with the shoes...

and the jewels!

"WOW, I'm wearing a wedding dress!"

My mom was the first with the tears, of course. I love my mamma. I'm so blessed.


That is when things changed a little. Remember how calm I was?! Well, I had a moment. It was time to put the veil on.

Careful, careful.

Mom straightened the veil and put her "mom touch" on it. I still hadn't looked in the mirror, but once I did it was WATER WORKS.


See those looks of concerns?! I think they thought I was going to call off the wedding ;-)

There was something about the veil that sent me over the edge a little and I'm still not sure what it was exactly. It was just a bit much for me and I felt like an "80's bride" as I said at the moment. Hmmm.... not so much. I think it was just overwhelming emotion that my wedding day was here and that this was REAL.

Okay.... so I had my moment and once my eyes were dry I was given my beautiful bouquet, which was wrapped in my mom's wedding dress sleeve - so special to me.


I was happy again. :-)


Up Next: Show me my groom.... let's get this party started!

(All photos taken by my awesome photographer, Ben Becker)

Friday, October 16, 2009

The Wedding: It's... wow.... time!!

<<<Friends, I thought it would be nice to do some wedding recap blog entries. Enjoy!>>>

On Friday morning I woke up and it kinda hit me... I'm getting married and the party is beginning NOW! I got an early morning text from Stacey telling me that her, Cameron and Alison (3 of my bridesmaids) were on the ferry and running on schedule. It was GAME TIME.... so exciting! I met my ladies at the local nail salon for a few hours of foot and hand pampering which was just what my mom and I needed after a week of weed pulling and cleaning.

(Insert picture later... can't seem to find one right now!)

After mom treated all of us to lunch I started getting a little ne
rvous and knew that I needed to spend some time with my peeps, so we headed down to Langley to walk around and enjoy the beautiful weather. It was just what I needed.


After some girl time I headed back to my parents house to pretty up for the rehearsal and dinner. It was REALLY go time now!

Bride and Wedding Planner


Wow! It's happening!

Yeay! We're ready for this journey!

After the rehearsal (which I MAY have become a little bridezilla-ish at, but I'm proud to say it was the one and only moment during this whole process that I did so!) we headed over to Fireseed Catering for our dinner. The weather was great, the tables were gorgeous (thanks Barbara!), the dinner was delicious and the toasts were heartwarming. Geoff's dad, step-mom, mom and step-dad were very kind to also host all of our friends and family for post-dinner drinks. It was such a treat to be able to celebrate with our people Friday AND Saturday night!



Dinner with our wedding party. Beautiful people and place!

Stacey's toast was perfect.


.....And JJ's. Of course, he had to mention my ex boyfriends!



We LOVE our friends!

Good food, awesome company and fine wine made for a great evening and it was time to say goodnight to my fiance for the last time!

After a family toast, a few sleep aid pills and butterflies in my stomach, I was headed to bed to wake up a bride on my wedding day!

Up next: Make me pretty... I have to go see my GROOM!

(Thanks to Monica and Stacey for the pictures.)

Monday, October 12, 2009

My girl

Kaira came over to play today!









Disclaimer: Close family will be the only one's interested in this video!