I'll start with August 9, 2013 which was the night of our rehearsal and dinner. I woke up around 730 AM at my best friend Greta's house. We had decided to have our last sleepover. Growing up, we obviously always had sleepovers and we felt like it was necessary before I married. It was a nice leisurely sleep over that included lots of laughing.
I decided that I should probably get home to go to my last boot camp before I was married! It was an hour long class and it helped set my day on the right foot. After bootcamp, I had arranged for my sisters-in-law and me to get our nails done at my house. We watched "She's All That" and I tried to get Andrews sisters to drink green juice but they werent into it! It was a nice relaxing morning.
I had told my six bridesmaids to come over at any point and many of them started arriving between the hours of noon and 2. It was so fun and it finally started feeling real. I popped out of the house to go to Acapello to get my hair blown out and styled. I would highly recomend doing this if you suck at doing hair! It was a fun way to relax before the rehearsal.
When I got back to my house, many of Andrews groomsmens had arrived. It was a full house of our friends. It was amazing to have people that came from different walks of our lives to be at our house all at once.
After we did a check to make sure everyone was there, we all got in our cars to drive over to my parents house. Since it was raining out, we quickly made the decision to have our rehearsal inside.
Anyway, the rehearsal went really well. I got a little choked up a few times but for the most part there were no tears. My parents were extremely generous and put out appetizers like cheese and crackers and some champagne to have to make it a little more fun.
My cousin Tracy was there with her adorable son, Xavier and my cousin Craigs son, Keenan. Both Keenan and Xavier were our four year old ring bearers at the wedding. They could not have done a better job at the rehearsal. I heard someone bribed them with a new toy!
About half way thru, our good friends David (one of the groomsmen) and his beautiful wife Alexi showed up with their 4 month old daughter Eleanor. It was so funny how once little Eleanor showed up the attention was off Andrew and I for a while and on their daughter who we love so much! It was a nice little break ;)
After about an hour a few times through, it was time to drive to Portland for dinner at East Ender. For the first hour or so, we mingled and enjoyed appetizers and drinks. It was so nice to be with the people we love so much in one place together. Everyone loved the appetizers: lobster nachos, homemade tortilla chips with guacomole, brocolli fritters, vegetable platter with the best hummus, and to many to name.
After cocktail hour, a delicious dinner was served. There was brisket, chicken wings, sweet potatoes, salad... again too much to name. Everything was delicious - and I have to thank the Harners for hosting the rehearsal dinner.
While everyone was finishing up, Andrew and I presented our parents with their gifts. We had a good friend, Ryan Lessard, from Building Awareness create two picture frames made out of reclaimed barn wood. We love the frames and felt it kinda went with the theme of our wedding since we got married at Broadturn Farm in Scarborough.
After we gave our gift, Andrews dad Scott suggested our friends and family tell their memories of us. It was hilarious and most of our wedding party and family played along.
After we left the East Enders, the bridesmaids had their night of beauty sleep at my parents together while the groomsmen headed back to our place for tequila shots and cigars..
The story is to be continued..
