September 8th

When the actual day of the wedding rolled around...we were in luck!

 It was going to be a perfect day weather wise. Not too hot, not cold at all...partly cloudy but plenty of sun.

Several of the  plans for the day involved people being outside....so this was great news! The wedding wasn't until 5pm...but when you're getting ready and getting organized...that's not as late as it sounds. 😉 We went downstairs for breakfast. (I know I mentioned this before, but the breakfast provided was really good. There were several choices and while certainly not gourmet...it was better than average. ) After breakfast it was time to head up to Brenna and Josh's suite for hair and makeup, and last minute details.

We fired up the steamer and got the dresses wrinkle free. We had some music, some stickers and coloring sheets for the two little girls to keep them happy and busy if needed. I was just happy to have someone else in charge of doing my make-up. It was more than I'd normally wear, but it needed to last all day...and it made me feel good. as for the hair...no one really needed to do anything to my hair...I just fluffed it up a little more than usual and then used some good hairspray to keep it in place. I also enjoyed watching the girls work on the bridal party and Brenna. It was nice to see everything coming together.
The flowers were delivered and they were beautiful.

They incorporated all the colors that the bridal party would be wearing and they had a kind of vintage, natural look. Very nice. we met the photographers who both went right to work. They were snapping away and both very pleasant. If you're going to have people following around all day it's nice when they are people you actually like.
My day was pretty relaxing. As for the father of the bride...he wasn't so lucky. He was in charge of delivering the tent for the patio area and all the ice and alcohol. He rounded up a few volunteers and they got everything where it needed to be...and got a workout in the process. Fortunately the tent was very easy to put up. (The tables and chairs were a bit of a pain to unload...but also great to have on hand. Too bad we didn't have a troop of boy scouts needing a fundraiser! hahaha )For the price and the size the tent  was remarkably easy to "pop-up" without looking cheap. It was nice to have at least some shade out on the patio for the cocktail hour. I know the bartender appreciated it! The tent had been a debated item back when I first suggested it. We all went back and forth on whether or not we "needed" it...but Brenna decided she was going to take a chance and order the "deal" I had found...and once again...it turned out to be a good decision. (and much less of a chore then we feared)
I'm not sure what the rest of the family was up to all day. I know my brother enjoyed checking out a few local shops,etc. So did some of the other family members. A few people went down to the pool or the poolside.
Meanwhile up in Brenna's room -Josh had been banished the night before. He was down in his dad's room. We had some Publix sandwiches and snacks. I wanted to make sure everyone...especially Brenna ate during the day. It's easy to get distracted and caught up in all the goings on and "forget" to stop and eat. Nobody wanted to end up with a headache before the wedding even started!
Finally it was close to time. There were some photos before the ceremony...but most of the bridal party were going to be right after the ceremony.
We all piled up into the car and John drove us down to the museum. The room was set up and it looked perfect. It had been transformed.

before

after

 All the key players were in place...Photo booth was getting set up, bartender, caterers, DJ, and officiant all following coordinators directions. So far...so good!
Guests started arriving . I chatted with a few of them while they checked out the dog display and then headed back to the storage area aka the  "bridal party headquarters".
The guys were safely out of sight...Josh had not seen Brenna in her dress...so we wanted to make sure he didn't!

Pretty much right on schedule...the guys and girls were all assembled and ready to go.
The music was just right and the officiant did a good job and I hope everyone could hear. There was a poem read and  Brenna and Josh read their "sweet vows" (as my nephew described them). I hope everyone was able to hear; I was in the front of course and I heard just fine...but I know sometimes if you're in the back, it's a little harder.

 Once the Ceremony was over  Brenna and Josh made their  way down the aisle and then everyone else made their way out to the patio for some appetizers and some beverages and pictures...of course

 

We got in line to have a bubble "send-off"

and the bridal party and other key people were transported down the street to the park for some pictures. The photographer and coordinator made sure we were all in place and doing what we were supposed to be doing...which was good because I was concerned that doing the picture after the ceremony might make it hard to get the party started...if you know what I mean. The "girls" were first, then the guys...then both.

One of the bridesmaids took this picture and I'm so glad she did! It has Brenna and Megan and also the "Welcome to Huntsville" sign in the background

 We took a few family pictures and then we went back up to join the fun. From the look of things, the group was having no problem enjoying themselves. Once the room was rearranged we all went back in to get the party officially started. Everyone found their tables. The bar was open and the photo booth was ready to go.

 DJ was playing some good tunes and after the first dance(s). It was time to eat. Brenna and Josh did a great job of picking out a variety of things to eat. I believe everyone was able to find a few things to eat...there was plenty! Hardest thing was being patient...waiting for your table number to be called. We ate, had a toast or two and they cut the cake. The Sword of Zelda (that had made the wedding coordinator very nervous) was a BIG hit.

ready for the reception

Anyone who was a video game aficionado appreciated that!😀
More and more people were checking out the photo booth and others (like me) were waiting to dance.........John too. However I must say once the dancing "started"...people were ready to go. **Brenna and Josh had given the DJ their list of songs they liked/wanted and he stuck to it. He also had said "I love this music".....that's when Brenna knew she had found the right guy! --Unlike the other highly recommended DJ that had told her ...9 months in advance mind you..."I might be able to get those songs" Okay...you're out!

Dancing started and it never really stopped. If you were on the dance floor I probably talked to you...if not I might not have. I did go in the photo booth a few times, and I did talk to a few people here and there...but not as much as I could have. We had fun and I think everyone else did. It seemed like mostly everyone got out on the floor at one time or another...all ages. Brenna and Josh have a wide variety of friends.

Sorority friends

We had to tease Brenna's Uncle with a special request for "Walk Like An Egyptian" (an inside joke :) )

not sure what song was playing here - but it  looks like we all knew it :)

Many made it...lots from Florida, some from Alabama or elsewhere and all the family members from Josh's and our family...everyone got to hear something they liked I think. The DJ kept the party going. We were having such a good time we almost forgot to put the snacks out! We had bought a variety of cookies,crackers, chips, granola bars, etc for people to snack on as the night wore on. We figured once the dinner  food is put away...sometimes later on  you just want a small snack.....and they snacks turned out to be a BIG hit! People liked the variety and the idea. (kudos to Brenna for the suggestion. If you liked what you ate...that was thanks to me hahahahah I bought a little bit of everything!"
When the night wrapped up....we weren't quite done. we had to clear the tables and load any leftover food and drinks into the truck and back to the hotel. Uncle Tony said he saw Brenna with a broom and thought she looked like Cinderella...so he had to help hahaha. We (especially John) were certainly glad he did!  We had some much appreciated help from some family members cleaning up the tables  and then Martha, Tony, Megan and Marcus all helped us load up the truck. We got a workout...but we got it done.  I think John was thinking" next time I'm getting a clean-up crew." We knew we were going to have to do it...but it's always more than you think .
But all in all, the whole thing was a huge success! Brenna and Josh did a great job planning everything.
Sunday we all met up down at breakfast and laughed and talked about the reception.

 Some family members were heading out that day...so we enjoyed visiting with them until it was time for them to depart. I got to catch up with some of the cousins, nieces and nephews that had arrived during the day Saturday, so we hadn't seen them Friday night. We definitely livened up the lobby on that Sunday morning!  We got to do a little more sight seeing and visiting  that afternoon. Sunday night we got together up in Brenna and Josh's room for some leftovers

 and cake and more visiting. Each get together I got to get to know a little more about  different friends and family members, it was great. I was glad we had planned on the extra day in town...it was nice to relax for another day or two before heading home.
Everyone was relieved and happy and pretty content...at least I think so.
I am.   
We haven't gotten all the photos back yet...and when we do watch out hahahaha it's fun to see them and share them and reminisce about that wonderful time with family and friends.