Ashleigh's Wedding Re-visited

In case you have forgotten (although I can't see how you could have...) my big sister got married last fall and it was definitely the event of 2012! From the day Ashleigh and Nick announced their engagement I was excited for them and looked forward to what I knew would turn out to be a very special day. They asked Reagan to be the flower girl and Jonathan to be the ring bearer and the anticipation grew from that moment on. Ashleigh was a wedding planner to envy and everything was amazing. I still don't know how she managed to have such a fairytale wedding. Everything was planned down to the last detail and it showed. When Ashleigh first told me her colors I was a little skeptical because I just couldn't see it in my mind, but now I love the yellow and gray combo and even find myself drawn to it still.
One day I sat down with Ashleigh and my mom so that we could discuss what everyone would be wearing and several other details of the wedding. I left that day with a sketch of a flower girl dress I worked out and the plan for what Jonathan would wear. I ordered his clothes online that night and crossed my fingers that it would fit him correctly!
My mom found some gray and white chevron fabric online and we went to the fabric store for the touille and other accessories. I did get the headband from my fabulous friend who happens to be a paparazzi consultant and it was perfect. My mom is an amazing seamstress and was able to piece together this dress with a couple different patterns and the vision in her mind. (I lamely made a slip for underneath...you should be glad you will never see it! Ugly is all I can say.)
In the process of getting the dress made we would send Ashleigh pictures for approval and input. Everything was 2 thumbs up!

My mom made the pillow without a pattern too. Such skill!

Ashleigh used pinterest like a pro and found several things for me to do as well. I made a sign for outside of the entrance to the wedding ceremony...

and some cute "Mr." and "Mrs." signs to hang from the backs of their chairs. I love the classic look of black and white together.

One hot summer day some packages arrived in the mail as I made blackberry jam. I decided to take a break from the hot stove and see what came. Jonathan was happy as can be that his "ring man" clothes had finally arrived and I was relieved that they fit him so well. Reagan was just excited that her puddle jumper had also arrived and wanted to live in it for the afternoon:)

Once the clothes were in order it was time to anxiously wait for the day to arrive and to practice getting Reagan's hair all curly like Shirley Temple. The wedding was on a Friday evening so we arrived at the venue in Portland after lunch to start getting ready and to do pictures. I was the girl with the clipboard and the schedule so that I could keep everyone on track. I can't imagine why Ashleigh would have asked me to be the bossy one?!
Ashleigh had amazing photographers and I am so excited that I finally have some of their work to share. We left Hotel Vintage Plaza and headed over to a parking garage to take the pictures. Everyone we passed couldn't help but comment on the little cuties I towed along with me;)

After the walk Reagan and Jonathan were a little tired and needed a break.

Ashleigh got right in their with Reagan and I think these have to be some of my absolute favorite pictures ever!

 

I love that Jonathan wanted nothing to do with getting his picture taken, yet wouldn't move out of the shot;)

 

After they captured these awesome pictures it was time to get the whole wedding party together. Wouldn't you know it? My kids wanted nothing to do with the whole thing anymore. Stinkers. Reagan finally decided it was okay to go over to Aunt Chelsea and stand by her, but I could not get Jonathan to go over and stop pouting. I tried every form of bribery that I could think of and it just wasn't working. He finally fessed up that what he wanted was to have his very own picture taken. 

The photographer was more than happy to oblige since she had already tried without success to get him to cooperate for one earlier.

They did end up getting some really good shots and I love the cityscape in the background. Amazing.

After this I headed back with the rugrats and tried to entertain them for a little while before the ceremony. They held up pretty well, but Reagan lost it right as they were getting ready to go downstairs. She threw her flower ball on the ground and yelled "I wanna go home now!" as she stomped on it and started crying. Thankfully that ball was well constructed and withstood her stomp! She pouted the whole way downstairs and I was so glad that Ashleigh had the foresight to assign my sister, Taylor, with walking them down the aisle. In the end she had to carry Reagan and the whole length of the aisle Reagan had the biggest turned down lip ever. Stinker!

The ceremony was beautiful and beyond perfect for them. They exchanged rings and vows as Nick's dad officiated. When they lit the unity candle my brother Noah played a song he wrote on the guitar for them. Hayden and Autumn did a reading from "Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Suess and everyone cried tears of joy as two became one on this journey of life.

Once the fun was over we headed outside and across the street to take some family pictures. I'm surprised they got us all in one shot! Jonny was done and no longer interested in the camera at this point.

I love each and every one of my 10 brothers and sisters and I can't wait to be there for each of their weddings. Although Ashleigh's wedding will be pretty hard for anyone else to beat!

Once we headed back in for the reception my kids were back to their old selves for a little bit as they ate food and posed for everyone who wanted a picture.

Thank you Ashleigh and Nick for finding so many ways to include everyone in your crazy family! Adrian and Luke felt so important getting to hand out the programs before the ceremony (printed on paper fans--awesome!) and we all loved being there as you started your journey together as husband and wife.

Their wedding video is incredible if you want to take a few minutes to watch it--you won't be disappointed, I promise!