Wedding success!!!

All goals were accomplished this weekend.

1) The bride and groom got married

2) Everyone had enough to eat

3) No one went to jail

4) No one went to the hospital

5) Everyone had a fantastic time!!!!!

Thursday I picked up the bride's mom, sister and sister's boyfriend and headed to Madison, WI. We got there about 11 pm and I visited with the birdies and our hostess and then crashed.

Friday morning we loaded everything up and headed off to the bride and groom's house. We had breakfast, greeted people, especially the 5th bridesmaid, Jess, who had been living in Michigan and recently been living in England for the last 2 months, and loaded up 2 cars to head to the reception site, the Madison Masonic Center. At the reception site we unloaded dresses and other items needed for Saturday into our rooms. The groom arrived and started setting up the lighting equipment and sound equipment for the reception along with the groomsmen, who were going to get fitted in their tuxes that day.

The ladies piled back in the van and headed to the hotel so S, C and E could check in and we could pick up the other bridesmaid Jen. Once everything was checked in we headed out to the spa, Aniu. My goodness was that place nice!!!!! We started in the pool room where we could dip between a hot and a cold plunge pool. There was also a steam room. The steam in the pool room itself was enough that my chest felt instantly clearer, the best it had felt for over a week. Then it was my massage appointment with Nicole. Ahhhhhhhhhh. That was so nice and I didn't cough one, just drooled a little. I'm thinking I need to do a massage and facial for a birthday treat for myself this year. It was worth every cent. After massages we took showers and then headed downstairs for a quick lunch.

After lunch was the manicure and pedicure, something I had never done. I don't take care of my nails at all, and am pretty rough on my feet so Catherine had her hands full with me, especially since I kept trying to "help" by holding my hands for her and it was not helping. I got a light pink on my hands and hot pink on my feet.
A choice no one was expecting. It was a lot of fun, but I felt a bit out of my element, however my nails and feet are gorgeous!!! If I wore more open toed shoes I would deffinately get a pedicure again. I had fun showing off my nails all day Saturday. I even managed to knit a little while waiting for my toes to dry.

After the spa we sped back to the hotel for a quick clothes change before we headed off to the Pres House at the U of Madison campus where the ceremony was going to take place.

I hadn't been to the campus before so I got a few shots of the other buildings including the imposing Science building and the old gym, which is now office space?

We found out that Saturday the campus was going to be hosting "Geek Fest" and all I could think of, "well we know where all the groomsmen will be..." We practiced lining up, walking in, and walking/ dancing out. We had a lot of fun.

After rehearsal we headed off to the Essen Haus for a very nice catered meal. We returned the guests to the hotel and I returned to my crash site and waited for P to arrive, which he did around 11:30. We all stayed up far too late and I finally crashed around 2 am.

Saturday morning it was my job to pick up the bride and take her to Cameo Salon for her hair and makeup. Needless to say I was early. I got to relax in the Serenity room and knit and take a little nap while they got started on Angie and Shiela. My turn came and I got a cute up-do and I really like how they did my makeup. It was really nice having someone else work on my look and all I had to do was get dressed. After our appointments Sheila and I walked the 2 blocks to the reception space to have lunch with the guys and wait around to get dressed. It was beastly hot Saturday, high 80's, but not as humid as Friday.

We had barbecue for lunch and then waited for the photographer, well the bridesmaid's started getting dressed without her. Our gowns were royal blue strapless with a nice beaded detail on the bodice. Our flowers were golden roses, carnelians, grape seed, lemon leaf, and hydrangia. They were just lovely. The photographers took shots like crazy all day long so I did not take my camera out much, just a few pictures.

Bridesmaid dress and wrap

Bride looking stunning.

Groom chatting with guests

Various groomsmen.

We took pictures of the wedding party at the Capital and the Stock Pavilion before heading out to the press house. The girls and flowers were in the large van and the boys were in the "short bus", well that's what we called it.

The ceremony was fabulous and I almost cried when the minister was reading her piece. It was really beautiful. Everyone did a fabulous job. We all showed up when we should, dressed and ready to go and we all looked great.

After the ceremony there was more pictures and then some downtime at a pool hall for the wedding party and friends. We arrived at the Masonic Lodge at 6:30 ish and processed in to a quite lively Pacabell's Cannon done on electric guitar. There was no head table so we were able to sit where we wanted. The dinner was great and very filling.

The cake was really beautiful, and they cut it with a sword, of course.

Towards the end of the night I realized I had not got a picture with Padruig, so we got that sorted out.

And one with Halvdan for good measure.

It was such a fun weekend and I think everyone had a great time. The bride and groom were picked up from the reception in a limo and escorted safely home. We were driven to our crash space in the party shuttle.

Sunday morning we had breakfast, said our goodbyes and headed off to pick up my van at the hotel and our fellow passengers. Sunday was very warm and as we were heading through La Crosse the bank sign read 93 degrees. Oy.

We stopped at the border and got some much needed air and were treated to some lovely views.

We got to Northfield around 3 and home around 5. Great weekend and I was so proud to be there and celebrate this ocassion with my friends. It was such a great time!