So last weekend, this happened. I don't remember a day where I felt so proud and so happy and so emotional all at once, in a really long time!
First, a little back story.
I'm 12 years older than my brother. I'm the oldest and he is number 4 in the line of 5 siblings. When he was a year old, he slept with me every night for like a year. Why my parents allowed this, I have no idea! lol. Perhaps it was because he was the fourth child!! None of the same rules apply for the fourth child, that do for the first. Everyone knows this, right? Anyway, I had a double bed and he slept with me every night. He'd burrow up under my side, pushing me ever closer to the edge of the bed until I was about to fall off. That's when I'd ever-so-carefully climb over the top of him (you know, because...never wake a sleeping baby and all that), to get on other side of him in that huuuuge open space on the other side of the bed. And then here he'd come, sound asleep but inching closer and closer until he could burrow up under the other side of me and we'd start the whole routine all over again. Haha.
Because I'm the oldest, I helped a lot with my younger siblings, and particularly since there are so many years between me and the youngest two. I suppose this is to blame for the fact that I started bawling at 7:30am, the day of David's wedding, because it felt like my own kid was getting married!! I guess that may sound weird. It may sound especially weird to my brother....and maybe my mom.....but it's totally how I felt.
And when we got to the church early while everyone was getting ready and I saw my brother in his GROOM'S suit for the first time, I nearly lost it again. He was so handsome and goodness, I faught tears -- and was soooo happy all at the same time -- all day long! So many sweet moments throughout the day, and each one of them had me simultaneously smiling and welling up with tears! Ridiculous! Haha.
I had the honor of doing my new sister-in-law's hair (the bride's hair!! no pressure or anything! NOTE: I am not a hair stylist! lol!). We also had 3 nieces/nephew to get ready for the wedding and in and around all that, I was snapping photos behind the scenes. Here are a few of the photos I took. Again, let me apologize for the lighting in these photos....so many of the rooms we were in had flourescent lighting or very low light. Something else I am not, is a professional photographer! :) But again (just like Caleb's birth day hospital photos), I really wanted you to get a glimpse into our day....
Heather has gorgeous hair....which made my job a whole lot easier, but I'm not gonna lie. My hands were sweating like crazy while I was doing her hair! I kept wiping my hands off on my dress -- hahaha! -- so that her poor hair wouldn't stick to my hands, while Gracie (my sister and hair assistant) was laughing at me! Easy for her to do -- she's the one who volunteered me for the job! LOL.
I LOOOOVE this picture of Benjamin and his daddy getting ready for the big day. Benji's daddy was a groomsman and while Benji wasn't in the wedding, he still looked so darn cute in his little matching outfit!
Can we also talk about his little haircut??? Gah. Cute, cute, cute. Clearly I have issues...
Here is the mother of the groom (my mom) pinning a corsage on the mother of the bride. Mom's about to cry! Haha.
And here's mom again, pinning the boutonniere on my brother, the groom. I almost lost it.
And here they are together, and once again, she's fighting back the tears. So you can just imagine what I was doing! It should be very clear now, where I get it......! Hahaha!
I love this little candid photo I snapped in the bride's dressing room, with her mama looking on and smiling. So sweet.
And here is Heather with her mom and sister.
The ceremony was also filled with emotional moments, particulary since my Dad is the one up there performing the ceremony!!! GAH. And of course, there are little Ally and Malachi standing up with them too. (Zoey decided she wanted no part in walking down that aisle with everyone looking at her! Heehee!)
Malachi stood just like this, perfectly still and staring at those rings like he was afraid they were gonna jump out of his hands or something, until they finally took them from him! It was the cutest....he took his ring bearer job very seriously! (Side note: the rings were tied to the ribbon on the books -- they weren't going anywhere! Haha.)
Ally....how grown up she looks! Gosh.
The kiss! And just like that, my little brother was married!!!
One of the things from their wedding day that didn't make me cry (hahaha!), was their "Guest Globe"! They asked their guests to sign their globe, instead of a traditional guest book. I just love details like this.
Here we are with my brother and new sister! Poor girl...she gained a lot of new sisters that day! Heehee. 4, to be exact. Don't worry though, we'll take good care of her!
This picture pretty much says it all, I think. Haha.
And of course, we had to get a picture of the newest member of the family (Baby Caleb, 8 days old!) and his new AUNT! She also gained lots of nieces and nephews that day! ;)
Ahh....so much emotion. Such a great day. I was exhausted when it was all over but was sooooo happy to have been a part of such a wonderful day. Thanks for letting me share a bit of it with you!
xo,
P.S. CLICK THIS LINK to see their surprise ending to their official First Dance! I dare you to not smile! (Or if you're like me, to not cry while you're smiling!) lol.
Follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest for all the latest updates.