Cute wedding video

If you want to see a cute wedding video click on this link: http://vimeo.com/30472504.

With Weddings Come Showers and Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties

I realized after doing the wedding blog, that there were other wedding events that I didn't blog about yet...here is a view...

Danielle had two showers, one in August for friends of the family and then one in September a week before the wedding for friends. We decided that the one I would coordinate would happen in September so that Alexis could be there.

Shower number one was an "Around the Clock" Shower and we all were assigned a time of day and given the mission to give a gift that pertained to that time...

I think that my time was 7pm...I went for dessert stuff.
The shower I coordinated in September had more friends of the bride and groom, than family and family friends.

We had it at Danielle's mom's house in Salem and I made yummy, mini, crustless quiches. A few different kinds.

We also had lots of other yummy foods and mimosas to boot!

We played a few low key games and then came the gift opening.

Danielle and her mom, Vivian. Color coordinated and all, and even unplanned!

Alexis, Danielle and me!After the shower and clean-up, Alexis and I rushed off to go do the grocery shopping for the Mexican dinner we were having at the beach for a combined Bachelor/Bachelorette Party with lots of folks. We then headed to Neskowin, the location of Alexis' family beach house. Gorgeous house it is, too!

After a drink and a little bit of catch-up, we headed to Lincoln City to go to Aunt Mary's, the bar/"adult" shop that I'd been to for Jamie's Bachelorette Party earlier in the summer. It was a hit.

Danielle and Garret with large "shots."

The girls at the second bar we went too.

After that we headed back to the beach house to make and eat dinner. The guys also wanted to watch the Ducks game. Everyone pitched in and helped with dinner and we were eating in no time!

Danielle and me~

Katie and Danielle~

Watching the game around the table. Before long all the guys were at the bar talking and the girls were all sitting at the table watching the game...how'd that happen?!

Henry came to the rescue when neither can opener would work and knifed his way into the cans! Go, Henry!! He also supplied all the margarita goodness to go with the mexican theme!

Jenga~~

Alexis, Valerie and Kyle. Michael, Katie and Danielle

Danielle fell asleep on Henry's lap when he was rocking in the recliner!

There were some courageous souls who braved the wee morning hours and went to bed at 6am. This was the view of the kitchen/dining area at 8am when I got up. Any partying happen here?! I'd say so!

I decided that I'd go walk the beach before everyone got up. This is the view of the amazing beach house! It was glorious!

The beach!

While I was walking on the beach it started pouring. The rock looks foggy, but that is the rain coming down. I was drenched in minutes.

All-in-all it was a glorious, busy weekend full of loading and unloading my car, full of friends and fun adventures!

Danielle and Garret get hitched!

One of my dearest friends, Danielle, married her long time boyfriend and soul-mate, Garret. The wedding was in Salem at the 4H Retreat Center on Saturday, October 1, 2011. It was beautiful.

The plan was to have the ceremony on a dock pond-side. The weather forecast wasn't in agreement to these outdoor plans, but rehearse away we did on Friday evening.

Here comes the bride...

Officiant Fred, Garret, Best Man Henry, Grooms"man" Sierra.
The retreat center was gorgeous, and they had gorgeous neighbors in the form of an orchard.

Decorating with curly willow, mums, and lighted branches. Eric, Garret's sister is working away with Danielle.

Curly willow decorating: DONE! :)

After lots of hours decorating, rehearsing, and more little tasks we went back to Danielle and Garret's to finish things up. Before going to bed I had to take a picture of Dr. Jones, their cat...this is how I felt...

Wedding Day!

Danielle was doing dishes on her wedding day morning. I wonder how many brides can say that? Then she folded laundry. She makes me smile :)

We headed out for manicures and pedicures...

Sierra, Mom-of-the-Bride Vivian, Bridesmaid Alexis

...and then to get our hair done.

At the retreat center we got dressed and makeup on.

I loved my hair!

It took three of us to lace Danielle up in her dress. I stepped back to get this picture of she and her mom.

After not much food, the bride was hungry. And, she didn't spill!

Sierra and Alexis signing the "guest book" (leaves that were signed and then will be placed in the tree in the frame behind Alexis).

Pictures and wedding favors of spring flower bulbs.

Reception hall all set up.

Lanterned walkway.

Canoe full of ice, water, beer!

Family picture time.

The following photos were taken by Megan M Jones.

Head table at the reception.

Bridal Party! One of the docks we stood on was sinking, slowly and we had to stagger ourselves so we wouldn't sink it. This was not that dock...though I'd like to see those pictures.

Alexis, me, Danielle, Garret, Henry and Sierra. We were a good looking group and a fun group. I was so glad I got to meet Alexis and Sierra with all the wedding events. They are all great people!

Yep...the rain had started by this time. You can see the drops in the pond surface.

Back to dry "ground." Alexis and I got to be good friends. She lives in Phoenix, so a large majority of Bridal Shower and Bachelor/Bachelorette Party Planning happened over long phone calls. Then we had lots of in the car travel time to and from the beach for the Bachelor/Bachelorette Party to get to know each other better.

The three girls all in black with our green scarves!

Beautiful Bride and Maid of Honor. And, I was very honored to be in this place.

Danielle was peeking out the window! And the rain kept coming. It was looking like Plan B would become reality.

LOVE her shoes! The ceremony...Fred and the Groom, anxiously awaiting!

Another of Megan's photos...I love this one!

The kiss...

Mr and Mrs!

My bouquet!

Sierra with G's tie on!

The first dance!

Henry dancing with Avery, one of Garret's nieces! They stole the show!

The cake and cupcakes!

Love this picture of Sierra once she had put on her "fancy schmancy saurus" tee shirt on.

dancing and decorations.

Cake cutting. They were nice.

"Get away" car! Henry decided to put "About time" on it...6+ years in the making.

Bye~

Signing of the Marriage Certificate.

After the reception I was taking things down to a cabin that some of us were staying in and almost stepped on this huge slug. Almost as big as my foot!

The reception hall the next morning.

The pond the day after all the rain.

The truck bed filled with empty bottles--it was a party, indeed!

Clean-up time.

It was quite the month leading up to the wedding and it was quite the weekend and when all was said and done I had no concept of time or day, but had seen one of my dearest friends married and made new friends. It was a great celebration!