Well, our wedding season 2012 has officially come to an
end! I can’t believe it! The past 3
years have been non-stop wedding craziness…and I’m not joking when I say
we attended about 20 weddings and planned and had our own in that time! We’re
so incredibly blessed to have been a part of so many special days for our
friends and family!
With that said, I need to share the play by play of my
bestie’s wedding weekend! My little Lindsay married her main man, Greg, on June
30, 2012. The day was perfect, the bride was beautiful, and the groom was
adorable with her.
Before I get ahead of myself I must start at the beginning…
Jason and I dropped our bug off with Grandma and Grandpa
Kingma. We kissed her 100 times, thanked them a 100 times, and got in the car
to head to Ohio. Oh Ohio, how you are not my husband’s favorite state, but we’ll
leave that for another post come football seasonJ
It was 103+ degrees the entire way down…the heat was just icky, sticky, and
just plain nast. On a better note we made great time and were able to spend
some time with friends before the weekend would be shoved into wedding mode.
The next day the girls headed downtown C-bus to get our
nails done, and have a cozy lunch at this great Italian place Linds had picked
out. We had a wonderful time together, and had so much fun just hanging out! It’s
not every day we’re all in the same place! After lunch we headed back to the hotel
and hung out in Lindsay’s huge VIP suite! After some trouble she’d experienced
with the hotel, I must say, they totally redeemed themselves with this
fantastic upgrade for her! Way to go Sheraton!
So we’re all sitting in her room, chatting, laughing, and
catching up when we notice that the sky is turning a very scary shade of gray, and
within minutes a huge storm rips through Columbus. It
went from quiet to crazy in a matter of seconds. I called Jason, and he was on
the highway nervous b/c the car was being moved by the 80 mph winds he was
hearing about on the radio. Street sings were flying around, and then the
downpour hit. I told him I’d meet him
down in the lobby once he made it to the hotel, so I (like an idiot) headed
towards the elevator. I got on the elevator (I know, I know) and hit the lobby
button. Did I mention the suite was on the 20th floor……the elevator makes it
to floor 18 and then boom….the lights flicker and we drop to floor 16! A voice
comes over the speakers “We are experiencing technical difficulties!” Umm yeah (as
swear words are searing in my mind) I figured that one out, but thank you
elevator fairy. Seconds later the doors
open and I jump out instantly. I find a
stairwell, and descend 15 floors with the lights flickering on and off.
Then I notice that I’m alone and
wonder where everyone else is…I end up in the basement. I see huge laundry
machines, but no people. Here I am, just walking around, no idea where I am or
who I’ll see. No cell service, and I admit, I was just a titch scared. Then I
hear a coffee grinder. I open a door to find myself in the Starbucks kitchen!
Hooray! I pop out a side door and head for the lobby. Ok, so I am exaggerating just a little, but basements are scary. Period.
Jason made it safe, and we headed to our room to get ready
for the rehearsal! I’m terrible with directions, so of course with my poor
navigating skills we got lost on the way to the venue, and actually passed the
pub where we were going to be having our rehearsal dinner….the bad thing was…no
lights. Completely black. Uh oh. We finally make it to the venue. No lights. No air....oh boy. This could get interesting.
Apparently this storm had knocked out the power of more than
150,000 people in and around Columbus. The pub, venue, and the hotel where my
parents were staying were just a few of
the casualties at this point. So we made
the best of the situation and practiced in the dark. Poor Linds, we all felt so
bad that things weren’t going to plan, but things happen, and we just had to
roll with it. The lights came on just as we were leaving for dinner (Praise the Lord), and you
could hear just about everyone sigh with relief. Her uncle worked some magic and
we were able to find a place that would seat our large group last minute, and
we ended up having a wonderful dinner!
Then, wedding morning arrived! So excited was I for
everything that was to come that day. Watching Linds get ready, seeing her in
her dress, watching her walk down the aisle, and just having fun with everyone
while celebrating one of the people I love most in the world, and the man she’s
chosen to love forever. It was going to be a best day.
And it was.
She looked breathtaking. I cried before I could even see her walking down
the aisle, and cried again when she made her promises to Greg, and he made his
to her.
The rest of the night looked like this….sandals for comfort, bridal party
introduction with a dip and a kiss from the bride and groom to start things off, incredibly appropriate, and very
heartfelt speeches given by the MOH and best man, the tears were flowing when Lindsay's uncle spoke of her mother, Jill, and his prayer was perfect, good food, yummy champagne, I hope you dance, more cryingJ, Heaven, Yuengling,
Thriller, pictures, some silly O-H-I-O whatever, cake, more pictures, soulja
boy, little bit of after party, and finally saying goodnight to the newlyweds before heading back to the hotel for some much needed R&R and the removal of the 800 bobby pins that were holding my hair in place! haha
We said our goodbyes in the morning, which are always so
bittersweet. We hit the road, and headed back to good ol’Pure Michigan to get out bug! We sure missed her!!! Like I
said, it really was perfect, and I am so so happy that God has given my best
friend, her best man. I know Greg will love her in the most perfect way he can. I know her mom would be so proud, and so in
awe of them just as we all are.
We love you both! Congrats Kneelands!!!!
