Wedding on the Farm

All summer we have been waiting and counting down the days until the 'Wedding on the Farm', where our dear friends Sara and Peyton were going to get married.  And at last they are wed!  What a wedding celebration it was!  Thanks to Nana and Grampa (and Aunti Emi, Auntie Tess, and Uncle James), Luke and I were able to go down on Friday after picking up some Southern Belles (bridesmaids from Louisiana) from the airport and start the celebration.  Since they were doing e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g on there own, there was a lot to be done, and since all the bridesmaids were there and eager to help, a lot got done.  And let me tell ya, if you need a wedding planner, decorator, florist, chef, or even VENUE, call up the Nowak gals and they will hook you up!  Since their hands are in everything, they sure do know how to throw a party. 
Here is what the tent looked like when it was all said and done.


They made all the tissue paper pom poms

 

They designed all the center pieces

 

They surged all the runners



And the bride printed and did the layout of wedding pictures of the guests. 

Anyway, so Friday after setting up and cleaning up, we had the rehearsal.  Everyone looked great and were so excited to get the ball rolling.  Then it was off to a gorgeous groom's dinner with great food and touching speeches.  Thank you Marye Sr's for putting on a killer dinner.

 Their last dinner not married. (not sure what is up with the gray slab)

 Back at the farm the gals had some nice girl time with the bride-to-be, and she gave us our gifts.  Since she had 3 colors for the bridemaids' dresses, she color coded all the gifts.  It was lovely.  We all got a different pair of earrings, hand picked by the bride herself, nail polish matching the color of our dress, as well as a little oo-la-la the same color as our dress.  Awesome.
Then it was SATURDAY!!!
An hair gal came from the cities to make us all look amazing, we had a lovely lady brunch, and I felt like I was Miss Waterworks all day long, not able to hold back tears for anything.


There's the bride.



There's me.



There's me, the bride, and....Sister Maris Stella???

 Sister Maris Stella was not able to be at the wedding in person, but boy was she there in spirit!  She told Sara she would be praying for her on the 27th, and we could feel it.  This 'Nun on a Stick' was presented to the bride so that Sister would be able to be there in spirit and picture.  Sister sure did have a good time, and rumor has it, she was the last one at the party!  It was great to celebrate with 'her'.
Right before we got lined up for the ceremony, the bridesmaids had a chance to be still and pray over Sara and offer her and Peyton and their life together up to the Lord.  One of the most beautiful moments of the day.


Loverly sisters



Wait, where does Michaud end and the chair begin?





The bride and her Daddy





Hmmm....



The groom and I-a little blurry

 

These ladies are beautiful inside and out



This was supposed to be a picture of Luke and I (we got to walk down the aisle together!) but I got called away to do a sound check, so we ended up with this gorgeous picture instead.  And then we forgot to get one of the both of us when the sun was out.  Oops.

The ceremony was at 5, and the weather could not have been any better.  I had the privilage to sing 2 songs for the ceremony with Sara's older sister, who wrote one of the songs we sang, and who wore the same color as me.  Go team Purple!  Many tears were shed as they promised their vows to each other, and her brother did a beautiful job performing the ceremony.
Then it was party time!  With an open bar, a champagne flute for everyone, and 5 food stations (salad, cajun, grill, taco, and dessert ALL made by the bride, the sister, and the groom) it was a party of all parties.  And we did get some family shots--after the sun went down...oops again!



Our lens was still getting repaired at this point in our summer, so we got to work with the mega-zoom lens, so  EVERY thing is quite close.

 



W.O.W.! (Women of the Word) Sister forgot to put up her fingers.



Bust a move with the Nun on a stick!



Apparently it was the cool thing to hike up your pants on the dance floor.



Thanks to these 3 folks, there was ALWAYS someone on the dance floor.

We were able to see the newly-weds off in their get-away car, and continued to dance the night away.  This celebration was indeed worth waiting for.  Congratulations and we love you, Sara and Peyton, Just Marye'd!  : )

Love ya, mean it
Be here now