{Re-CAP} Rehearsal Dinner

Rehearsal Dinner

{go here to see rehearsal practice}

Hosts: P & K Drew {my in-laws}

Where: The Mill House, Statesboro Georgia

What: Mrs. K worked very hard to make this perfect.

This restaurant has a huge variety of entrees therefore Mrs. K chose

two of every category of dishes and had The Mill House personalize

a menu for each person {62} who was taken part.

Pasta, Steak, Chicken, or Pork - everyone was served a salad & then each couple

or single had one choice of appetizer. Crazy! It was so nice. So nice that I peppered my salad and ate for shrimp out of my Shrimp Alfredo and then spent the rest of the night

talking to everyone. So nice that Aaron wore his meal down his pants leg. {you'll see in the pictures} On top of that, they had an private bar set up.

Everything was perfect!

{Pictures were taken by a wonderful friend, Shanna}

The Gals + some

1} Maid of Honor, Danielle & boyfriend, Nic

2} My sister, Kim also Matron of Honor & BIL Tommy

3} Brother Brian, also Groomsman & SIL Kerri, Bridesmaid

4}Bridesmaid, Rachel & husband, Bj

5}Bridesmaid, Holly & husband, Matt

6}Bridesmaid, Kristie & husband, Michael  also a Groomsman

7} Bridesmaid, Heather & boyfirend Brett

The Guys + some

1} Aaron's close friend Chad {hunting buddy} from Macon & his wife Pamela

2} Groomsman, Paul & wife Amanda

3} Groomsman, Daniel & wife Candice, also Bridesmaid

4}Aaron's sister, Bridget also a Bridesmaid & BIL Patrick, also a Groomsman

5}Groomsman, Joe & girlfriend Raisa

6}Groomsman, Jon & wife {& rehearsal photographer} Shanna

7} Groomsman, Nathan & wife Ashley and little girl, Lelia

The Parents Table

{& out table}

{My Aunt would kill me for this picture but it's the only one that was taken.

Garrett, another USHER also Aaron's cousin is missing from the picture.}

Opening Presents

{It was crazy busy when the bridal party was opening, so no photographs were

taken as well. Only the parents.}

... last but not least

 after everything was over

we packed up and I kissed my groom husband good night!

For some reason I found this bittersweet. I don't know why.

He went home to our house along with a few guys

&

WE.. Me & a few of my maids went to my parents house.

I knew I wanted to spend my last night single with my mom so...

some of the ladies weren't able to tag along due to family left behind but some stayed...

 At 1:30AM my mother came out and worked her magic on us...

really me.

She demanded I get some sleep!!! :)

I actually sleep like a baby... up at 7:00am to round everyone up for

HAIR APPOINTMENTS! :)

The FUN has just begun!

Gifts to our Family & Friends

Picking out {33} gifts was something I took my precious time with. I thought hard and put lots of love into them. Many hours searching for the perfect gifts. 

So, here they are....

Our Dads-

we bought all three of them cuff links based on their love or hobby. Also in the vintage addition to fit the feel of our wedding day.

Elvis = My Dad, Aaron!

He is an HUGE Elvis fan!

Acoustic Guitars = Aaron's Dad.

He sings & plays religiously!

Yankees = Daddy

HUGE fan and always has been.

 Mama's Gift-I searched forever for this. I wanted meaning and thought... found myself struggling until... Ever since I was in grade school, I wore the same spoon ring on my left {ring} finger. Very rare did I take it off. {1} is a 1958 spoon made into a bracelet. 1958 is the year Mama was born. In addition I had a "Mother's Pearl" attached to the bracelet. {2} A simple coffee cup... being I have morning coffee with her at her house on the weekdays. Looking for the perfect cup, finally I ran into this one at HobbyLobby. I thought the scripture fit perfectly for her. {3} A Mothers Handkerchief to carry with her the day of the wedding, with a few words from a bride. The heart was something I attached to the hanky that said "Mother, You Inspire me" Aaron's Mom-She was hard. Countless hours of searching we ended up going with something simple. Aaron isn't really a "deep thought" person and I didn't want to make it just from me. I wanted him to have input, so... In town one day, We ran into this necklace and he so happened to think she would like it. We also had her a handkerchief however this one had special words from him to her.  Other Gifts-{1}Grame' {Aaron's Grandmother} a black shaw that is monogrammed. {2}Joe {Pianist}- A wine bottle holder with his family initial eventually filled with a bottle of Merlot.{3} My step-Mom, Diane- She too received a black shaw that had her name monogrammed. {4} Ashley {Soloist} - This isn't a  very goo picture. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of her gift, but it was the fall collection of candles and sprays from Bath and Body works! ----------------------------------  Each groomsman, usher & then our videographer received a Tervis Tumbler with their favorite sports team on it. I used the Cricut machine to print their names on the backside & were filled with golf balls & tees that were imprinted with our wedding date. The guys were spending the morning of playing golf. Maids -Of course I did not take pictures of all the different style necklaces {you can see them in photos that will be shared SOON} I chose but I handmade their earrings to match their necklaces & each wore a pearl bracelet. {4} is a forever keepsake, a Christmas ornament to hang every year. Handmade by ME, I chose our wedding colors and used vinyl to write their initials & filled the inside with pearls. I chose a robin egg satin ribbon instead of a hook. {1}From the beginning I had all intentions of making a "survival kit" but really.. I never got around to it with everything else. So they all received a Maid of some sort Koozie {I added the black feathers}, Pocket Tissues with their initial on it, a small bottle of lotion, a back massager, Lip Gloss, a nail filer, & hand sanitizer.  {2} These were their gifts wrapped and ready to open {not really}. I wrote each of thema small note thanking them for everything & how special they were to me & attached it to the outside of the bag. {3} ANYTHING I made {These bags, Out of town bags, My Thank You cards, Favors, +} had this stamped to the back.  

  Out of Town Guests-We had SO many out of towners. I knew I had family from everywhere, but didn't realize he had a lot of out of towners also. I wanted the bags to symbolize the SOUTH, so I chose two bottle of Cracker Barrel Maple Syrup along with a Cracker Barrel map showing all the locations & a little history. Two goodies powder for the next morning.Two personalized bottled waters, hand wipes, homemade chocolate covered oreo pops, packs of combos to set the tummies, winterfresh and last a small bottle of Southern Comfort & a small bottle of Pink Lemonade Vodka to start their nights off. Every guest who traveled received one and also all the ones who stayed in the hotel!
 Thats all folks!
{Be sure to come back soon...Part TWO of Rehearsal is coming up}

Rehearsal {Re-Cap}

September 2, 2011

Originally this was a day I was super excited about. Things were changed around for some of my maids {why things changed} but It didn't stop Aaron and myself from living happiness!
It ended up really being an awesome day!
9:00am - Our Couples Massage!
{True Story - Aaron was frightened to death. Seriously. He was.
But together we went to Serenity Day Spa located in the town we were married in, where my mother had it set up for us to enjoy peace and quite together. It was so.much.fun! Yes, he ended up enjoying it. So much that I could hear him snoring. It took everything I had to not die laughing, but I knew he was okay once sound effects started. ha!}

{camera phone picture}
We later had lunch together & then he dropped me off to meet with a few of my bridesmaids for more spa treatment: Mani's & Pedi's!

Rehearsal - 6:00pm. 
This wasn't as "graceful" as I thought it would be.
As you can tell I used parasols instead of bouquets. Why stay inside of the box?
I never do.  All along I pictured this look... well come rehearsal practice I was panicking because the parasols weren't blending. I had to tell myself "everyone isn't in their attire..."

Rehearsal Practice

Arranging the bridal party was tough. I had no order in which I wanted everyone to stand.

In the beginning of planning, I knew I wanted both guys and gals on each side which worked best with the parasols. From our very first trip to see our venue, I knew I wanted to use the slight hill to stagger my bridal party. This helped the rather tall people not look to monstrous on us shorter people {me & my groom}.  

I

"This side is struggling... It needs more" -me

My groom husband looking so handsome!

The ushers waiting patiently

Being I forgot to the equipment to play the music, I had to use our truck.

Which sucked, but it worked.

This is me discussing how things will play out with my {uncle} our pianist!

Listening to the music play out and the bridal party walk out...

was a huge moment for me. It gave me a feeling I will never forget!

Waiting to walk down.

Our preacher wasn't able to be there the night of rehearsal, therefore we had a small rehearsal with him the night before. Buddah {Brandon} was our Usher but also our fill in

Preacher!  Isn't my arch beautiful? This was exactly how I wanted it & drew it out.

It's completely hand made.

Aaron's daddy made the posts & with help of my Aunt & cousins they worked extremely hard starting days before the wedding, putting the final touch together!

It couldn't have been any prettier!

My Dad & our fill in bride, Julie {a cousin}.

  

Justin & my step mom, Diane!

Mama & Buddha getting instructions.

Buddha really had no clue how to play the preacher part.

So, I just briefly went over it. Of course, we did not read it out or say our vows.

Aaron looks thrilled, doesn't he?

Rounding things up to leave for dinner!

At the end of the practice, I felt good. I was just ready for everything to start and come together. I will say, it was the perfect look I wanted. Everyone looked right on the money.

And I had NO fear of the parasol whatsoever when I saw my ladies in their gowns.

Rehearsal Dinner...

Part 2

{to be continued}

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