Tornado in October? Our wedding rehearsal

Although my sweet mother has graciously posted quite a few pictures from our wedding (5 months ago), I'm finally getting around to sharing a few pictures along with my "point of view."

October 4, 2013, dawned bright, crisp, and clear. I remember it felt so surreal to wake up and think, "Tomorrow I'm getting married!" However, I didn't linger in bed to ponder this. Eric and I were going on a breakfast date!


Look at that smile!

A few months before, a friend had advised us to take a short time the day before our wedding to just be together-to lay aside the many details and remember what our wedding day was really about. We were thankful our parents supported us in this, and so we escaped to Panera for a blissful interlude. We enjoyed sitting in a quiet corner, praying, talking and laughing together.

Our dads had some plan up their sleeves...the front of the tshirts said "father of thing 1" and "father of thing 2."

When we returned, my family and a few friends gathered for family devotions. The normalcy and intentional focus on Christ was so refreshing and sweet to me. Then, my mom and sister treated me...to a manicure and pedicure! I felt so pampered and spoiled and loved the time with them, and I was so amazed by all the sweet people bustling around to make the next day possible.

 

The rest of the day passed in a speedy blur, and before we knew it, we were arriving at the church for the rehearsal. Our wedding rehearsal! The reality was really hitting me, and Eric and I were thrilled...and perhaps a bit distracted? Anyway, everyone was very patient with us and the rehearsal went well.

A bit of excitement came at the end, however, when a tornado warning sent all of us (about 60 people) into the cramped basement of the old church. It seemed a bit strange and unexpected, considering the time of year, but thankfully the warning was soon over and we were able to head to the rehearsal dinner!

Eric's parents pulled together an absolutely lovely dinner in a turn of the century mansion a few minutes from the church. The beamed ceilings and spacious rooms set an elegant atmosphere, and the food was both fun and delicious.