The Game-Themed Wedding

This past weekend I traveled to Marquette, MI to watch Karen and Cody get married. I, like many others, truly believe Karen would make an excellent wedding planner and that was evident in this wedding.

I arrived late on Friday night and missed the surprise bachelorette party, but was able to hang out with the girls for a little while (sadly, no pictures, though, as everyone was vegging by the time I got there and people were tired - didn't think they'd appreciate having their pics taken).

On Saturday we woke up, my mom and I got Starbucks, and then we headed to watch my mom get her hair done (sadly, no pics of this either as Aunt Mary and I were sent on an ASAP breakfast run to a local cafe).

You see a shower ... they saw a dress rack :)

The bride and the mother of the bride

Bridesmaid Jenn Hanfelt getting her hair straightened

Katie's beautiful curls!!

The original cafe place didn't have Karen's chai tea latte so after getting her make up done, Karen and my mom made a run to Starbucks (we offered earlier but she wouldn't let me get it for her).

Bridesmaid Jen McCrady getting her hair done

The beautiful gown

There were a few wrinkles so Jen went to work and did an excellent job getting the wrinkles out

The flower girl getting her hair done

Part of the yummy lunch spread! The brie (pictured here) was absolutely delicious!!!

Karen did my mom's make up

Just hanging out, eating, and relaxing on the big day

The bride getting her hair done

The beautiful Jen watching

While Karen was finishing getting her hair done, Aunt Mary, Cousin Tara and I were sent to the reception sight to set up everything.

Cody put together the picture collages and a friend of theirs painted this picture for them a few years ago

One of the floral centerpieces

The other floral centerpiece

Each table was given a "game" (instead of a table number) and a stack of original Trivial Pursuit cards - it was fun reading through them to see what we knew about Karen, Cody, and the bridal party

The "guest book" bats and the card box

Tara and Mary

Tara and I

The table with the name cards - each name card had a game piece from the game of the table

The programs

After setting up, we headed back to the hotel to get dressed and ready for the wedding.

Tara and my mom before the wedding

I left my purse under the seats in the front of the church (even though I sat in the back after passing out the programs) so I don't have any pictures from the ceremony.

Groom, Bride, and Flower Girl

Tara, Bud, and Layne waiting to get their picture taken with the happy couple

Leigh could spot me taking the picture - so much for a candid shot

The awesome cake topper!

The beautiful cake!!

The appetizers

Mom and Layne

Mom and one of Karen's friends (sorry, don't remember her name!)

Tara, Bud and Layne (Leigh was participating in the bridal portraits outside)

Dad signing the bat

Dad and his sister, Mary

Dad and Wendy's table

The bridal party getting their pictures taken outside

Scenes of Marquette from the balcony at the reception

More wedding party pictures

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Fleming!

The maid of honor speech from Katie

The best man's speech from Marco

The groom's speech

The dinner options were chicken...

... white fish ...

... kids meal ...

... or pasta (or vegan).

The beautiful hair of the beautiful bridesmaids

Karen coming to say hi to the Fishback table

First dance

Followed by the choreographed dance (this is "Bye Bye Bye")

Father Daughter dance

Cutting the cake

Cody gave Karen a bite of cake (it was a big bite)

Karen then hit Cody with his piece of the cake

Good shot!

Cody and one set of his grandparents

Tara and Leigh - my beautiful cousins!!

Dancing

The Fishback family (including my mom) enjoying the view

Mom and Bud (siblings)

The moms

Karen and Sarah - Sarah caught the bouquet

Getting the garter

Garter toss

Beautiful bridesmaid!

Saying good bye

The bouquet charm from Katie

Gift table

Cody dancing with the flower girl

Karen's beautiful hair

Karen and her photographers

Karen and dad

Mom and Mary

Jenn, Jen, Karen, and Katie

Marco showing off his dance skills

Mom saying good bye

Karen and Jenn saying good bye

Katie, Jenn, Jen, and Sarah

Katie, Jenn, Jen, Karen, and Sarah - these were not the shoes worn down the aisle, but they were the shoes worn at the reception

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Fleming!!!

Smile: Yay for getting to see my family this weekend! It was nice catching up with Mary, Leigh, Tara, Layne, Bud, my mom, and everyone else!!!

Smile: Yay for watching Harry Potter 4 last night after returning to Princeton (and after an afternoon post-flight nap)! I love those movies!!!

Frown: Boo for my left knee hurting! Hopefully it's just hurting from overdoing it in DC last weekend (and NYC before that) and it will feel better soon!! (Yay for my mom's idea to buy frozen peas to use as ice bags! They're wonderful!!!)