Mollie's Wedding Weekend

Ok, ok... it was Michael's weekend too, but I'm posting about all of the bridal festivities because that was what I was involved with. Anyway, I had been so looking forward to last weekend and told Mollie that other than my own wedding, her's was the most exciting as she had let me follow her and Michael all along the path of preparing and growing anticipation!! When Mollie graduated from Lander and moved back home last summer, she asked me if we could be accountability partners. I said yes, not knowing exactly what that entailed. Looking back over this year, I now thank the Lord for bringing Mollie and I together as cousins-in-law because now we are as close as sisters! God gave each of us a brother to grow up with, but now we each have a sister too. (To my sisters-in-law Lori and Andrea, I wish so much it were possible for us to have lunch once a week also. Know that since we don't see each other as often, I do cherish our time together that much more!!)

The bridal week events began on Thursday night... Mollie's lingerie shower. Mollie's high school friend and bridesmaid Erin's mom Connie hosted the shower at her home. As Connie was also the wedding director, it allowed her time to get to know Mollie's half of the wedding party. I forgot my camera, but as it was a lingerie shower and this is a family-friendly blog, just know Mollie received many lovely things and a few that I can't go into. We had a great time giving Mollie a hard time, but all done in good fun. Only two days to go!

Friday would be another fun-filled day. Philip joined me today in going back to Connie's house for Mollie's bridal brunch / swim party. He was overwhelmed by all the girls, and was oh so glad to see that Grandma (Ruth Ann) was at the party too. Philip was in the water a good bit last summer, but all those times had left his little memory so he was pretty hesistant about this enormous "bath tub" he saw before him.


It was a beautiful day to get a little sun and relaxation before the rehearsal that night and wedding the following afternoon.

Leave it to Mollie and Michael to request everyone wear overalls to their rehearsal dinner. It was a delicious meal followed up with a John Deere cake (hence the overalls, but wait, there's more tractors to come!). They chose to do something so special and so inspiring. As we've all seen at rehearsal dinners, people come to the mic and say what they love about the bride and groom and give them advice (sometimes unwanted!). Michael and Mollie wanted this entire weekend to be glorifying to the Lord Jesus. Travis, the minister and the couple's good friend, said, "Michael and Mollie would like for everyone to just shout out ways in which you have seen Jesus displayed in their lives." Yes, it did show us how awesome Michael and Mollie are each, but most importantly, it made me want to be more like them so in turn I could be more like Jesus -- one of the key purposes as Christians. The night also included singing praise songs.

Philip found a "Philip-sized" tractor at the rehearsal dinner. The ring bearer was going to ride it down the aisle, but his mom thought that might not be the best idea!

Saturday came early. I headed to the church at 9:00am to decorated my VBS room for a few hours until the time came for family pictures with Mollie at 11:30am. Luckily both events were at the same place so I could leave my classroom, run to the bathroom to change and meet everyone in the atrium for photos. Hectic!

When I came around the corner and saw Mollie, I just thought, "Michael is going to fall on the floor!" She was gorgeous. I love weddings for the fact that it really is a day for a girl to live the life of a princess. It's what we all pretended when we were little, and finally that day comes and everyone around you is treating you like a princess too!!

The bride and her family. Brother Paul (his wedding date is not far off... July 15!), lovely Mom Elise, and proud Dad Arden (he held it together well but was on the verge of tears all day. Very sweet!)



The blushing bride and her TEN bridesmaids!

Here's Mollie with Michael's TEN groomsmen and ushers! Didn't know he had so many friends! :)




Philip made a run for it during the picture-taking. Too many girls!! He'll change his mind one day.





The wedding was picture-perfect (just another blessing from the Lord to a couple who each committed their lives to Him and He is again glorified in the joining of those two lives). Philip and I watched from the balcony as the wedding would fall right at his nap time. Matthew was videotaping from the balcony so I figured we could all be up there. The service began with two girls playing bagpipes from the balcony. Nothing like hearing bagpipes live. Little-music lover that he is, Philip was singing at the top of his lungs through the song. Bagpipes are definitely loud enough to drown out a little voice, but I was worried he'd still be full volume when they stopped. He let out a little blip but nothing too distracting. We continued through the service pacing around the balcony, up and down the stairs and walking around the vestibule. Anyhow, I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Philip made a new friend, Cole, the ring bearer. My mom had Cole in her 1-year-old class at the nursery last year. Small world!


Just before the wedding sound guy Mark let Philip take a turn on the sound board. Before I knew where he was, Matthew said, "Did you hear the music just get really loud? Philip's on sound." Funny boy! He won't pass on a chance to get his hands on anything with a bunch of buttons and knobs!


Unfortunately for the blog, once we headed to the reception, I began videotaping friends' and family's comments, entrance of Michael and Mollie, cutting the cake, flower and garder toss, and the couple riding off into the sunset (actually just around the back of the church) in a cart pulled behind Michael's dad's vintage John Deere tractor!! Maybe I can pull some still photos from the video or find someone else photos to post here.

Now I am counting the days until they return from the honeymoon. Michael and Mollie went to Williamsburg, VA for the week. As Mollie said, "We're going to Williamsburg. Virginia is for lovers!" There is such excitement in knowing a man and woman have each remained pure in hopes of the day God will bring them a suitable partner. There was definite excitement in this couple as they approached the time of experiencing God's wedding present in the physical aspect of marriage. The world has degraded and destroyed the holiness with which sex should actually be seen. I know God smiles when couples such as Mollie and Michael do things His way!