wedding!

Well, it's been quite some time since my last post, and I have been busy, busy, busy since then. The highlight of my summer, my sister's wedding, is now over. Laura, my older sister who just graduated from Mount Marty in May, married her high school sweetheart, Skyler, on Saturday in Elgin, NE, my hometown. They have dated without a single breakup for 6 years and they're the perfect couple! :)

I took off Wednesday afternoon last week to head home to help with all of the planning and preparation for the big day, but my personal planning started at the beginning of summer. I had been working on a surprise slide show presentation for the bride and groom, and let's just say that to say it took a lot of time would be an understatement. It was my gift to them (one of those from the heart :)), and I'm a perfectionist, so it got pretty complicated. The theme was "A History of Love." I included pictures of grandparents and parents, pictures of both Laura and Skyler growing up, and pictures of the two of them together. I also included video clips from interviews with Laura and Skyler in a section entitled, "Secrets Revealed" that drew a roaring laugh from the guests. To top it off, I recorded all of the grandparents giving advice to Laura and Skyler as a married couple and wrote a poem that I flashed in pieces throughout the show. It turned out beautiful, and the happy couple and the guests all loved it.

But of course hectic lives forced the project completion to Friday afternoon (pushing it, I know!). I stopped at Skyler's house Wednesday on my way home where I acquired the final video clip. Things were looking amazing until Skyler walked in and spoiled the surprise element and my computer froze after a LONG 63 min of slow preparation for the burning of the DVD. Out of frustration, I boycotted the project for the night, didn't arrive home until 10:30 p.m., and stayed up chatting late into the night while I started the burning process from the beginning.

Thursday consisted of a trip to Norfolk, NE to pick up my dress and my brothers' tuxes, a practice session with my hair stylist, an evening of frustration while trying to fit 400 chairs onto enough tables for 280 people, a mini get together with some of the wedding party, and a manicure.

I didn't think a day could get any busier, but Friday proved otherwise. I woke up and went straight to the reception hall to decorate. Six hours later, it looked gorgeous! However, because time was cramped, I left early to decorate the trolley for the post marriage drive. I got creative and used Christmas decorations to make it festive. Once that was complete, I booked it home to get dressed up for the rehearsal and then met my family in town to decorate the church and work out the kinks at the reception. The night ended with a delicious rehearsal dinner and a combined bride and groom family get together in the parking lot of the little hotel in my town of 700 people.

Saturday morning I woke up bright and early and got my hair fixed at 7:30 a.m. Pictures were at 11:30, and my sister became a Schindler at 2:00. The ceremony was perfect! We trolly-ed around afterwards. It was quite the experience...groomsmen climbing the water tower, attempting to go cow tipping in broad daylight, ringing an old lady's antique collection of bells, and nearly starting the town on fire were only a few of our interesting experiences. :)

The dance was the most fun I've had all summer. I saw family and friends who I haven't seen in a LONG time, and we danced the night away. I was completely exhausted by the end of the night, but it was so much fun that I wish my sister could get married every weekend! Love is a beautiful thing!

Needless to say, I took 3 naps yesterday in between jobs and on my lunch break. I'll have to look for new adventures for the next month to keep me busy! :) Until next time, I'll do my best to (as should you) keep enjoying the sun!