The Irwin-Weagraff Wedding
It was months of planning and anticipation, but it was totally worth it! Kaity and Abe were both super happy all night, as were all the guests - most of which had traveled from far and wide to join in the festivities.
A large part of the out-of-towners arrived by Thursday, and Friday the arrivals were culminated in a big party in the lobby (with the staff's permission of course) of the Spring Hill Suites in Longmont. Everyone brought down their rooms' garbage cans and ice buckets and filled 'em with ice and beer. We used the outdoor grill at the hotel next door and Dad & Jim made skewers for the crowd. It was a blast to see so many wonderful, familiar faces in Colorado!
The bachelor and bachelorette were being taken to Ft Collins that night for some fun. The guys made it to three or four bars after dinner. The girls made it to one, but we had a great Thai dinner!
Saturday night the Weagraff family hosted a yummy rehearsal dinner (although there was no rehearsal until the day of the wedding) at Oskar Blues in Longmont. Mmmm!! We had the whole back patio to ourselves and got a great view of a lovely sunset. Did I mention the food was great! Brisket, ribs, smoked turkey and lots of fixin's! Kaity looked so cute in a white sun dress, not bridal per se, but summery, fresh and bright!
Sunday was the big day! I had underestimated how long it would take me to finish up the little projects I had and called Mom to help gather up some worker bees and come help. Gather she did! Within just a little bit the house was buzzing with happy ladies at crafting or stuffing stations. Cindy even showed up in her curlers under her hat! With their awesome help we got the projects done in no time - S'more bags stuffed and closed with ribbon, programs printed and punched, escort cards punched and assembled and favors boxed, ribboned and labeled with their W stickers - whew! In the mean time Dad and some of the guys had arrived at Planet Bluegrass and were figuring how to hang the lights in the pavilion and some of the other touches that would need to be suspended - thank goodness for Lane, the theater set designer pro, and Greg, the man with the ladder!
By 2:00 p.m. the photographer and the make-up and hair people had arrived and it was time to get on with the show! From here my memory is a little fuzzy. It all went by so fast! Not that I think we felt rushed, but all the things that we'd been talking about happening for so long.... were happening! Hair was done, make-up looked great, dresses and shoes on, jewelry clasped and flowers in hand... here we go!
Kurtis had been playing guitar before the processional, and did a fantastic job! I hear there was even a rendition of Rock Lobster in there somewhere ;-) Then the girls lined up out of sight, the groom and his attendants stood at the ceremony sight by the river and the music started. First went Tammy and Katrina, two of Kaity's oldest and dearest friends. Then I went down, followed by Josh, the officiant, and Van, the "ring bearer." When it came time for Josh and Van to part, the latter party wasn't havin' it! While everyone was watching Kaity and Dad come down the aisle (and she was so freakin' gorgeous, who wouldn't watch her?!) I was watching Gigi try to wrangle Van away from Josh who had but seconds to get back to the center and perform the ceremony!! Luckily Lindsay (Kurt's girlfriend) jumped in a helped and Josh sprung to the ceremony site just in the nick of time - it was very dramatic for me as all I could do was stand there.
Josh did a superb job reading the ceremony Kaity and Abe had written, and got some good laughs when he pronounced them "by the power vested in me... by absolutely no one, I now pronounce you husband and wife." He'd talked about that line, but I didn't think he'd actually do it. Everyone got a big kick out of it, too! Some of the older aunts and uncles were concerned as to whether it was a legal marriage with Josh as the offiicant. We assured them it was. The best part was that a large number of guests kept referring to Josh as "Reverend." ha!
From here we could all relax and enjoy the dinner, drinks and dancing. There were lots of different places to enjoy the evening - umbrella tables under the trees, bistro tables by the bar, the pavillion where there was dinner and dancing, and a bon fire by the river with s'mores.
The whole evening was absolutely wonderful. Kaity and Abe were dancing and smiling all evening (and not just because the photographer was telling them to). Before we knew it, it was time to depart. It all went by so fast!
Pictures can say more than I can (although it looks like I tried, eh?). Check out some of the scene HERE, and be sure to check back as there's more to come!
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