a winter wedding

yesterday one of my very best friends married the love of her life.  he is honestly one of the best guys that i know.  it was an absolutely beautiful day that started out with all of the bridesmaids getting ready with the bride at gigi and bryson's apartment at 7:30.   i was able to actually go to the sealing (how blessed right?!!?!) so i had to be to the temple by 10:30.  everyone was waiting at the temple by 11:30 and from there we went and took pictures, had a luncheon, and took some more pictures...... in a blizzard!

waiting for the beautiful couple outside the temple

don't worry though we managed to stay warm by cramming 4 bridesmaids and 3 groomsmen into 1 car meant for 5 people.  we roll classy.... is that even a saying?!

even though there was a blizzard outside we still managed to make it to the most beautiful home in mapleton for the reception. once we got all the candles lit and linens out it had to be the most magical romantic reception i had ever been too.  i serve all sorts of wedding receptions working at the joseph smith memorial building and i have to say that this was the best reception i had ever seen. ever.

i don't know if i have ever seen a bride and groom look more in love.  i was in tears half the day just from looking at them.  my two dear friends make each other so happy! their first dance was divine, their cutting of the cake was classy, and i don't know of two people more lost in each other's eyes.

me and kim caught the bouquet.... not really sure what that means since i'm going on a mission and all..... and mike shaw caught the garter.  we had so much fun dancing the night away and even though the heater went out, after a while we just went numb and the cold didn't bother us any more.  besides we had the mistletoe to keep us warm if you know what i mean ;)

i didn't want the night to end! it seemed like all of us had slipped into a magical fairytale land where we all were going to be best friends forever and play all the time, it was a reality it wasn't just dream people really do get married and they really can be this happy. kim and i kept saying days like this don't seem real.  none of us were leaving in the morning.  it wasn't the last time all of us would be together for 2 years. nothing could get us down... not even the cold.  unfortunately the night did end and i did wake up this morning and i do have to go to work.  gabby is headed back to texas, kim and sabrina to california, gigi and bryson to north carolina, and the next time all of us will be back together will be after my mission.

bridesmaid loves

look me and clayton are friends again! 

the last time we will all be together in 2 years

i guess that's why we have beautiful memories.  forever i'll be able to look back and remember my last day with my best friends in this stage of life as a day full of love.  magic. it was a sending off of gigi and bryson's old life and embarking into their new life. it was a close of a chapter and the beginning of a new one. we all are going to look back on the time before with fondness and maybe even longing sometimes, but time moves forward.  it's a beautiful thing marked by beautiful days.  it is happiness.