10.08.2007

Kate & Pat...

This is my beautiful cousin Kate and her new husband Pat! This last weekend I spent 3 days celebrating their wedding. Jen, Laura, Paige (5 weeks old), and I headed down to Vista on Friday morning early. We arrived at the nail salon for manicures and pedicures and all the bridesmaids were there. Kate got two large suites at a hotel near the wedding site so we went there after to check in and get ready for the rehearsal and dinner. There are pics from the wedding site, which was AMAZING. It was a private residence in Escondido...
They were married in front of this gazebo on the island in the pond. It was really different and cool.
Cole and Caroline had a GOOD time playing during the rehearsal. Caroline was a little dancer. So precious!!

Jen and I got to spend lots of time together, it was really great to be with her. We enjoyed being with Laura and Aaron and Paige also. Paige was certainly a highlight for all the family. She was sooo good, resting quietly most of the time! She is so sweet.
THE GIRLS!! These were the bridesmaids: Loretta, me, Jen, Angie, Heidi, Laura, Annjanette, and of course, the bride - KATIE!
Cousins!
Pat and Kate practicing their exit!


Cole and Caroline were another highlight. They are so much fun and such good kids. Ben and Annjanette are really great parents and these two are so happy!! Just look at these photos of Caroline. Ooooo... she is so sweet!




These are the kids that got to be a part of the wedding: Cole, Caroline, and 3 neices of Pats

Here is little Paige all bundled up on the morning of the wedding while her mommy was getting her hair and makeup done!





Kate's eyes were amazing! And her hair, stunning! We woke up at 5am on the morning of the wedding to get ready. 8 girls had to get their hair and makeup done. It was a mad dash, but in the end everyone was gorgeous!!






After hair and makeup at the hotel for 5 1/2 hours we headed to the wedding site to finish getting ready. We all waited to get our dresses on until we were there.

Aunt Chris, Heidi and Annjanette helped Kate into her dress. She looked amazing in it. What a beautiful dress and so perfect for her.

Cole got to wear the exact same tux at "Big Pat!" And he took his job as the "Ring Boy" very seriously. He did everything just right and kept all the girls in line!

Caroline said she was a princess in her dress. Nana had to help her get her shoes on... they had little heels!

Finally dressed!!


Uncle Nick came in to the bridal room before the ceremony started and gave Kate a beautiful pearl bracelet to match all her pearl jewlery. She also got pearl earrings from Pat that morning, sent through messenger Cole!

Caroline was SOO excited about seeing Titi in her dress... she couldn't stand it!

Garter time!


Beautiful Kate!

Right before the ceremony we got a pic with just the cousins... how pretty is Kate?

All lined up and ready for the bride!

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are married! They kissed and then walked across the bridge into their new life!!


Caroline was a flower girl and did such a god job coming down the aisle (even though she lost her headband on the way down)!!

Her mommy was very proud!

Little Paige was an angel, sitting with her daddy while her mommy was being a bridesmaid. She was adorable in her little green dress and pink bow!



Kim and Mom

I loved that Todd came in for the big event... it was great to see him and Brent got to spend LOTS of time with him, which they loved.

My husband was really hot in his outfit!

I couldn't stop with the pics of little Caroline, she is too cute!

Bridal Party!


Cousins! (From left) Todd, Brady, Drew, Jen, Leeann (behind Pat), Brent, me, Aaron, Laura, Cory, (in front) Katie, Pat, AJ, Ben, Cole and Caroline

The Schopeck clan!! WOW... we are SO big!

The reception...

More flowers and the beautiful cake! Kate loves the Fleur de Lis!



I love this one... look at those dramatic eyes on Laura. Ow!!

Ben and Annjannette

Grandma Rosalyn, Aunt Marilyn and Mom... just a mother and her twins!

It was really fun to spend some time with Drew and his girlfriend, Ellen. They seem really happy together. And Drew looked awesome in his dapper outfit (that's the only work I can use to describe).

It was also really great to talk with Brady. He is a neat guy. He also looked quite nice in the clothes he borrowed from his most fashionable brother, Taylor. Sadly, Taylor was not able to come. He just started college at Oregon State and needed to be there. I hope we get to see him before next October at the family reunion... next year PORTLAND (my dad will love that).

Kim and Dad... my dad is looking great these days!

Cory brought his girlfriend, Jillian out for the wedding. It was really fun to get to know her some more. They too seem really happy. It was great to see them together. Cory has told me so many wonderful things about her, it was great to see in person why he loves this girl.

Center pieces were ingenius. I loved it... so creative!


After the wedding the fam went to the Elephant Bar near the hotel to hang out and relax. Kate and Pat left the wedding in a rented Bently and headed for the beach for romantic photos. They showed up later at ther restaurant... Kate still in her beautiful dress.
Some really nice twinning was taking place at the Elephant Bar and Brent captured it on film. Matching glasses again. They busted those out because they were both trying to figure out something wrong with the camera. It was awesome.

Wonderful day and weekend. I loved seeing my whole family and getting to spend time chatting. It was great to see little Paige again, I got lots of holding time in. I always love time with my family and I am so proud to be part of such and big and loving family. Thanks be to God!!

10.02.2007

Tom and Sarah Megale get married!!

This is my beautiful friend Sarah... she got married this last weekend! The wedding was in Los Olivos, CA, near Santa Barbara and Solvang. It was at a beautiful winery (which you can see below), the Firestone Winery. I cannot explain how happy I am that Sarah found Tom. He is a wonderful man and I am so excited about their marriage. This wedding was a WONDERFUL beginning. Sarah was absolutely beautiful and the day could not have been more perfect... really.
Sarah and Tom asked us to read a passage as part of their ceremony. We read 1 Corinthians 13, the passage about love. It was beautful and we were so honored to be asked to be a part of their ceremony.
Brent forgot to bring the appropriate socks so he had to wear sport socks with his dress shoes.
It was really special!

This wedding spot was amazing! After the ceremony we all walked a few feet over to this area with a bar and couches and appetizers. The sun was setting and it was a perfect moment. Sarah and Tom took their photos during this time... I can't wait to see them!
Each table card was set between two Firestone corks with a specific color of ribbon indicating what food we ordered for dinner.
My parents came up for the big event also... it was really fun that they could be there.
We had THE BEST time with Jill and Zack. We haven't seen them since last October at our high school reunion. I loved the time with Jill and Brent and Zack had a good time getting to know each other.
The Lyding Family
This gives just a small glimpse of how beautiful this setting was...
This is the main house on the property where Sarah and the girls got ready.
The ceiling inside the barn where the reception was...
Sarah's friend Jean and her husband also read a passage during the ceremony.
It was so much fun for the three of us to be together at this momentous occasion. Its been a long time since we've really spent time together. I hope we can soon. I just love these girls.

Sarah's dress was incredible. I loved it and it looked so beautiful on her. I was there several months with her when she picked it out. I felt so honored to be there for that also. It looked stunning on her.
Cutting the cake!
And then there was the dancing... need I say more?
At the end of the night Brent was all tuckered out from his big performance. He and Zack had a little down time before we climbed back onto the buses to head to Solvang for the night. My parents left on the first bus, we took the last! What a wonderful celebration of marriage!