how about some wedding pics, finally?

If you have never been in the bride's changing room before a wedding, it is a unique experience. There's a station for hair touch-ups, and one for makeup touch-ups, and everyone is in some state of flux between regular clothes and girlie outfits. There was some music rehearsal going on, (Francie actually sang at her own service, with her friend Carmen and her dad, accompanied by the flute; it was lovely) while everyone also tried to eat some lunch and force-feed the bride. She was able to eat part of her veggie sub, leading to one of my favorite pictures of the pre-wedding activities of her trying to brush her teeth without getting anything on her handmade, Belgian lace veil. As the keeper of the dress (you'll recall that it lived in my closet for over 2 years and i went to all of the fittings last winter) it was my job to get Francie dressed. I will admit that i was a bit teary-eyed as i worked the corset back for the last time knowing that this wasn't another rehearsal, but the actual show. We took a few obligatory shots of the ladies, Muneever, Francie, Amy and Elizabeth pictured here with lunch remnants - i am a classy photographer including ones intended to break the nervousness. Give me pouty, now sexy, now stern, now cheetah, now like you are having fun, hey don't laugh! We spent a few moments of serious centering, talking about why we were gathered together and praying, which resulted in Francie crying with her mom and then it was time. There was no photography allowed during the service, but Francie asked me to quick catch her with her dad where i promise they were happy, just concentrating. Also, you can finally get a look at her bouquet of white and peach roses that i finished at like 2am. (yes, i did get called out for taking those two pictures, but it was worth it) The service was very moving. We sang and prayed, Carmen and Jake's sister-in-law, Julie, did readings and there was an almost magical timber to the pastor's words about marriage since he is Jake's dad. There was also a special moment for me when we sang the Methodist doxology that i had faxed a copy of to Francie less than a week before, since she and i sat next to each other in children's choir playing tic-tac-toe and giggling 30 years ago. Right afterwards i went back to the dressing room to finish cleaning up (when will i get a personal assistant to do these things for me?) so i missed them exiting amid the bubbles, but i did get one shot of Francie wrapped in the white pashmina she had for warmth between the church and reception. I think she might be giving directions to the photographer. The reception started a few hours later in a beautiful Colonial Revival house from 1923 that was riverfront about 20 minutes away, called the McLean House All the rentals had been setup by the time i arrived and the bride's attendants were already heating up the food they made the day before. Those mitts look great with the dress, Amy. The appetizer table was ready to go with Muneveer's bouquet as decoration, and I was in charge of staging the cakes with faux grapes and real silver servers. There were toasts - best man and brother of the groom, Joe maid of honor, Elizabeth before we all tucked in to enjoy dinner. [no pictures, too busy eating, yum] One of the most trying things about getting married for Francie was probably that she hates having her picture taken, though she was gracious for those of us who can't help ourselves, [upon seeing this picture, TM Amy commented, For someone who doesn't like having her picture taken she certainly is photogenic. Yep.] and even enjoyed it sometimes, like this fabulous cleavage moment in the kitchen. By this point I had taken off her veil and put a nice comb of silk cherry blossoms in her hair and everybody was starting to really loosen up. By cake time i had also bustled her dress: There is nothing funnier than watching 2 very educated, multi-degreed people try in vain to figure out how to hold the knife to cut the cake but they finally got it. Aren't they adorable? I mean, really people, they are adorable together: Having just met Jake i can say that he seems really nice and down-to-Earth, but my favorite thing about him is how obviously relaxed and happy he makes my dear, dear friend oh, and his laugh which busts me up! Good Luck to you both, with much love -three weeks later- from Niki.