pre-elopement party?

so...my best friend, emma (the one in the footie pajamas one post back), got engaged in march of this year. she and her fiance, jay (aka jaybird), planned and prayed and decided to throw a pre-elopement party for all their family and friends, and to then fly off to some remote location (aka san diego) for their own wedding (just the two of them).

i thought this was a wonderful idea - my emma is so very creative, independent, and original, and this sounded like just the kind of plan she would come up with and love! others felt the need to tell her that she eloping was a bad idea, and 'didn't she want to get married in front of God?' I'm fairly certain that God would be at their wedding and in their marriage regardless of their physical location, but nevertheless, it was said.

i was ready to fight for my bff - i'd tell people that eloping was a brilliant idea and defned her anytime anyone made a little comment here or there. i rejoiced with her at the 'fiesta' she and jay threw in the park the night before the party (last friday), loved every minute of the 'girls-only' luncheon on saturday, and got to watch she and jay take their pictures in the park that afternoon (and rode the carousel with them, i might add:)!!!). i got to that party saturday night ready to celebrate and excited for my very first pre-elopement party!!

drew and i got to the party at church, which was all set up with beautiful tables and flowers, and we claimed a table at the very front, next to em & jay's table, and got to sit with nina, josh, sarah, jason, jeff, and my bro. what fun! we all sang worship songs together, em & jay told their story, and grandma al got up to speak about emma and about her & grandpa earl's relationship (they also eloped). then, grandpa earl got up to give his speech - what a treat:). after the grandparents had finished, pastor mike and jay got up on the stage. i can't even remember the exact words he said, but the last word i heard was "wedding." at that moment, the doors opened and em walked in with rock and lyn on either side of her (wearing her beautiful silver wedding dress!).

i'll admit it. i lost it - i was just not emotionally prepared to watch my best friend get married. i looked around the room (through my tears) and saw that sarah and ginna were in similar states. we probably looked like we were 6 and someone had shot our beloved pet dog - but we were happy, don't get me wrong:)!! it was a beautiful ceremony, and i am SO glad that i got to be there to see it - and so happy for my emma and jaybird!! - even if they did plan for their pre-elopement party to be a wedding all along and had to tell us 'stories' to make sure we'd be sufficiently surprised (and completely convinced that they really planned to elope!). best secret keepers i've ever seen. wow. and i love them:).

so here are some pictures from the soiree - em looked absolutely stunning:).

em getting her pictures taken before the 'party...'

em and jay - so cute!

surprise!

laura and mr. a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e!

my man:)

me, emma, and sarah

my bff!

my brother:)!

crazy laura wanted to join our family;)...hahaha!

that's right - he's mine:)! and that's jason on the left...

46 days to go til our big day:) - yay!