9. the reception.
we had our reception at Noah's in Lindon. I had looked at a few places, and ultimately, I really wanted it at Wadley Farms in Lindon, but in the end, they just charged too much. Bummer, dude. I remember when my cousin, Lyndsey got married, she had her reception there. I was much younger, but completely obsessed with the place! I took a business card and probably still have it around here somewhere. They've raised their prices a lot as they've gotten more popular, so it was quickly crossed off the list.
The Berkshires are in Devin's home ward, which is a gated neighborhood of GIANT houses that are absolutely beautiful. I would have easily agreed, but it was only May, and in Utah... that's too risky.
So we looked at Noah's. We initially looked at the Main Hall which has these templates on the ceiling that lower so you can decorate, but it was too intimidating to try to decorate such a big space.
So we looked at the roof terrace. And were immediately won over. There is a big oval elevator shaft in the middle of the terrace that splits it up into 2 different sides, sort of. The ends are practically open, and the floor is brick. It was perfect! We got a great deal, because it was a weekday, and a free bride's room (which was huge, and awesome).
Noah's also provided tables, chairs and linens which a lot of places don't. So we booked it. After we had made the first payment, Noah's called us and said that due to recent price changes, the price for the 6 hour block we booked for had... LOWERED! We paid $572 for the entire reception hall. SWEEEEET.
We thought we were being smart by getting married on a Thursday, right before memorial weekend. We were sure the temple would be slow... we were wrong! It was so crazy busy, there were brides everywhere! But it never bothered us. It was a perfect wedding day.
10. the cake/food. we kept it simple. Devin's friend, Ryan's mom, Kitty makes cakes and cupcakes, so we enlisted her expertise and she definitely didn't let us down! Our cake was chocolate with buttercream frosting, and chocolate fondant, with a lace piping pattern and fresh flowers (arranged by Linda) on top. It was absolutely beautiful! that was the best tasting cake I'd ever had!
we also had kitty make us 350 cupcakes. we did 4 different flavors, and each with a different garnish.
smore's cupcakes (roasted marshmallows on top)
red velvet cupcakes (with orange buttercream flowers on top)
white chocolate cupcakes with raspberry filling (with a fresh raspberry on top)
and magleby's chocolate recipe (with chocolate shavings on top)
and we did fruit kabobs. my mom put all of that together. she was such a huge help, and so were her sisters, and her best friend Sheryl. they made my wedding day a breeze! i love them all so much. it wouldn't have been so amazing without them.
11. our song/song we danced to.
we danced to our song. so that makes it easy. our song has always been "Brighter Than Sunshine" by Aqualung. I don't know how that came to be, but it is word-for-word our story.
we started out just how the song was. hopeless. giving up on finding someone. and then all of the sudden, there he was. and there i was. and now... let the rain fall, i don't care. i'm yours and suddenly, you're mine, and it's brighter than sunshine.
i remember asking Devin if he wanted to dance at our wedding. he didn't hesitate to say "no" and i left it alone. but then one night, in the middle of our wedding planning... i think we had just gone to finalize details about the cake. we were driving home, and devin turned on our song and said he decided he wants to dance now. i didn't understand what changed his mind, but i didn't ask questions, because i didn't want him to change his mind again. we got out of the car, like always (he never failed to walk me to the door), and I noticed he left his door open. a little weird...
I was walking a little big ahead of him, but we were holding hands, and he pulled me back and we danced in my driveway. it was one of the cheesiest most romantic things ever :)
i don't know if the lyrics in this video are right, so I'll post them again:
I never understood before
I never knew what love was for
My heart was broke, my head was sore
what a feeling
tied up in ancient history
i didn't believe in destiny
i look up, you're standing next to me
what a feeling
what a feeling in my soul
love burns brighter than sunshine
brighter than sunshine
let the rain fall, i don't care
i'm yours and suddenly you're mine
suddenly you're mine
and it's brighter than sunshine
i never saw it happening
i'd given up and given in
i just couldn't take the hurt again
what a feeling
i didn't have the strength to fight
but suddenly you seemed so right
me and you, what a feeling
what a feeling in my soul
love burns brighter than sunshine
brighter than sunshine
let the rain fall i don't care
i'm yours and suddenly you're mine
suddenly you're mine
and it's brighter than the sun
it's brighter than the sun
it's brighter than the sun, sunshine
love will remain a mystery
but give me your hand and you will see
your heart is keeping time with me
what a feeling in my soul
love burns brighter than sunshine
brighter than sunshine
let the rain fall i don't care
i'm yours and suddenly you're mine
suddenly you're mine
got a feeling in my soul
love burns brighter than sunshine
brighter than sunshine
let the rain fall
i don't care
i'm yours and suddenly you're mine
suddenly you're mine
i've got a feeling in my soul
love burns brighter than sunshine
it's brighter than sunshine
let the rain fall i don't care
i'm yours and suddenly your mine
suddenly your mine
and it's brighter than sunshine
I also danced with my Dad at our reception. I told him to choose the song, because I know my dad. I knew he would love that, and it would be really special to him.
He chose a country song, which didn't surprise me at all. He chose "Then They Do" by Trace Adkins. and it was SO my dad. it's just so much like him. he likes to reminisce, and that's what the song is. it was perfect, and i know that will always be important to both of us. i'm such a daddy's girl.
after that, I danced with Devin again (everyone else danced too) to "And Then You" by Greg Laswell, which was another perfect song for us.
12. favorite and least favorite part of the day: my favorite part of the entire day was the time devin and i had in the celestial room while we waited for the sealer. there weren't many people in the room, (mostly other brides and grooms, haha), and we whispered and I gave Devin his wedding ring. It was the most calm I've ever felt. holding his hand, being in the temple, knowing we were about to start the rest of our lives as a family.
i also loved our sealing. the advice given by the sealer will never be forgotten and the smile on devin's face every time i looked at him across the altar was unforgettable. he loves me so much, and i can tell just by the way he looks at me.
my other favorite part of the day was dancing with devin, and that's because my least favorite part was the receiving line. it was so good to see my family and friends, and to meet devin's family and friends, but i hated that we were standing next to each other the whole time but we weren't really together. we were hardly ever even in the same conversation. i missed him!
when the line was over we cut the cake, threw the bouquet and then danced. and i had him all to myself again. even though everyone was watching, it was the perfect fix for me.
Here are all the pictures from the reception (including cake, food, and dancing) with a small amount of commentary below some pictures:
dev's family, minus kids
dev's family with the babies
devin and i with our nieces and nephew
my family plus grandparents
my parents and grandparents
my wonderful, beautiful bridesmaids
mother and mother-in-law
father, husband, father-in-law
both of our parents and grandparents
miriam murphy. the woman who taught me all my life to marry for money, haha
my mom's side of the family, plus my dad's dad
centerpieces. they were perfect!
pictures hung like this all over the walls
best cake ever
fruit kabobs
white chocolate cupcakes with raspberry filling
red velvet
chocolate
it's dark, but look at sophie's face! she's so cute.
these are my little cousins, sophie, 7 and khloee, 9. they both have admitted to "loving" devin. and refused our marriage. they're hilarious
i made this bunting banner. i was at pebbles in my pocket making the di-cuts when i got called into work the night devin proposed
i love how creative this picture is. i didn't want to hold my bouquet the whole time in line, so i set it on the chair behind us.
christian taking a picture of us for sarah, who was home with brand new baby molly
hugging devin's grandpa verel
guest book
"friend" table. note kylee's face... haha
devin hugging skyler's mom. i love this picture so much and i don't know why!
nana holding addi. quinn in the background
cutting the cake! we were nice
throwing the bouquet! not so nice. i fake it on the first try.
waiting while kylee and val rounded up the other girls
jared said "who's going to get it?" and krystal pointed to me? haha
love this action shot
look at my terrified little cousin heather in the pink dress!
the little girls are mortified, and i love this picture of kylee
she told me she'd catch my bouquet shortly after we got engaged. i purposefully tried not to aim at her, and she caught it anyway. yes, ky, you told me so.
first dance
it's brighter than sunshine :)
love this
LOVE this
daddy/daughter dance
so cute
oh, addi!
my parents-in-law are adorable
the guy in the blue is my uncle tommy with his little girl, emma. so cute!
LOVE this!
that man talking to devin gives the world's best handshakes
saying goodbye!
hugging ky. love this.
so... for my bachelorette party. kylee bought tons of black thongs and fabric paint and all the girls decorated them. little did i know it was my mistake leaving them all with kylee to dry. Max was littered with them when we left the reception! at least they kept the confetti outside of the car...
the one on the wheel rack flew off. it was an accident! haha
