Monday, October 20, 2008

Pennsylvania Weekend

We're exhausted but we made it! After 10 hours of driving, our 5th wedding of the year, a 3 day weekend and meeting up with 4 friends and a baby, we are home! It was such a great time in Lancaster, Pennsylvania this past weekend. The wedding of Lorikins and Curt were so wonderful! We had a fantastic time. It was so nice to see Lori as it has been a while and even though I didn't get to see much of the bride it was better than nothing! It started off with a later than anticipated departure on Friday morning. But the sun was shining, I was singing in the car and we were on our merry way. When we got through NYC without any traffic I was thrilled. But getting into PA and hitting traffic everywhere, I started to panic! We made it to our hotel at 4:50 and I needed to be at the rehearsal at 5:30 so I had just enough time to shower and change.


We got to Casa di Fiori and it was gorgeous! Then I found out I was being escorted by the tallest dude. It was funny. He was 6'4" and I was under 5'. That night I had on flats and could barely reach his arm. We probably looked like circus freaks. I promised him I was wearing heels for the wedding and he promised me he'd wear his flats.

The next day Jared dropped me off with the other bridesmaids to do the girly thing. We got our hair done and drank mimosas. Yum!



The bride looked ravishing in her hot rollers. You can see how Curt can love her.
I also looked so regal in my hot rollers. The queen would have been proud.
Lori and her mother had this ingenious idea of using her grandmother's crystal necklace and earrings in her hair and it looked stunning. The salon at the Casa di Fiori did and amazing job.
My hair looked awesome as well if I do say so myself. I really wanted something loose and flowy and that is exactly what I got.
The happy bride with her beautiful mom, Mrs. Bru.
It's Lori's turn to get dressed and get buttoned into her beautiful gown. She had dozens of little crystal buttons. It was simply gorgeous.


Piggybacking the professional photos.



Lori and Curt saying I dos.
After the ceremony, I caught a glimpse of the daddy of the year, Bola with his beautiful baby, Bisi. Yes, that is wine the DOTY is drinking while feeding his daughter...


Bisi is just fascinated with my hair.

Then she realizes I'm a freak and starts to cry. Sorry, Bisi, but I am weird, I can't help it!



Me and the new Mrs.

Okay, so DOTY took this photo, obviously after one too many since we're seeing in his blurry vision. You can also notice that Bisi still is looking at me the freak and basically it's me and Danyel making a Lori sandwich.


The two guys toasting their amaretto after dinner drinks.


Mr. and Mrs. Graybill cutting their pretty cake.

The wedding was amazing. It was perfect in every way. I'm so glad I got to be a part of it. Not only as a bridesmaid but I also got to say a few words at the wedding. Lori needed a reading and I offered to write something for her. It was my pleasure to write and read this at their wedding. I hope you enjoy!

In the book of your life, there is the story of your love. The first few chapters are short ones, detailing your devoted love for parents and family. Fun tales of writing Mother’s Day cards and doing arts and crafts; they are always gifts from the heart to show your family how much you love them. Love is so easy at this age. It is innocent and unconditional. We spend this time just being kids and loving with our whole beings.

Once you get a little older, the chapters get a little longer, and more characters are introduced. That cute boy at recess who you play tag with, the next door neighbor you sit on the bus with, and your sibling’s friends who hang out at your house, are impossible to not blush over. The opposite sex is so alive in your mind but you’re still too young to really understand and wholly love.

Adolescence is a wonderful time in our lives. So many stories, so many love tales and tragedies take over our existence. Though exciting and ever-changing, our mystical romances and casual flings help us practice for the real thing and spectacular act of, love. These chapters in our book are sometimes forgotten or neglected due to the heartache and pain we suffered through.

All the experience gained during our teenage years is tossed aside as we grow into adults. We don’t want to remember our proms and our bad breakups. We want to move on with our lives. The next few chapters in our love story weave tales of happiness, sadness, fun and regret. We find ourselves enjoying the company of friends, finding out who we really are and who we want to be. We are devastated by break-ups, and too weak to approach the one our hearts call out to. This period in our life is for introspection, growth, and most of all for self-love.

The most beautiful chapter in this story is the final one. One in which you have grown to be independent, to love yourself; you are finally ready to give yourself to, and love, someone else. Then you meet that special being. Time stops. In your world, the only people on earth are you and your soul mate standing in front of you. All of a sudden it does not matter what day it is, how much money is in your bank account, or what’s happening tomorrow. All you know is that right then, you found that someone to love. You’ll be happy to be with this person for the rest of your life and making them happy will bring you no greater joy. Nothing else matters to you. You realize that the love you’ve been growing your whole life has blossomed for this one, special person. That love is the love that will keep you writing the rest of your love story.

Copyright by JDF.

On another happy note, this past weekend I got to meet a friend of Jared's from when he lived in PA. Cyndy and Jared when to community college together and I had the pleasure of making her acquaintance on Sunday. She is such a doll and I really liked her immediately. We did some shopping, had lunch at my favorite PA spot, Isaac's, and went to Hershey's Chocolate World. We had a great time together and enjoyed letting Cyndy snap a ton of photos of us. I'm looking forward to seeing her again soon.

Jared and I at the 3D show.


Jared and Cyndy.

We finally made it home after midnight last night. It was a long weekend and Jared was a trooper. He's at work and I'm working from home still in my PJs. I'm exhausted still but he's still good to go. It was great to get home and see the kitties and of course hear the Tampa Bay would be heading to the World Series and not the Sox. :)

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