YoW #5

My second-cousin-in-law Michelle was married the next weekend on August 8th. Michelle is from Wake Forest so our family drove to the beautiful Sutherland plantation in Wake Forest for her nuptials. The wedding site truly embodied what any Southern bride could want. It had a big old Southern home that had been remodeled, but with the South in mind, a giant front lawn, back buildings that looked like barns for great pictures (and a place where the groom and his men could hang out) and a enormous tent in the back yard in front of a bricked back patio, perfect for a dance floor and bar.
Michelle & Eric's wedding was another hot one, especially with a giant knee brace on (surgery was scheduled for the next week), but the fans she provided the guests and the big umbrellas that were set up for shade over folding white chairs provided some relief from the sun.
Michelle's husband is a marine so he looked quite spiffy in his blues and she looked beautiful in her elegant white dress.
One of the most memorable moments from the wedding actually happened the night before at the rehearsal dinner. Her crazy maid-of-honor, Michelle Aument, had everyone laughing so hard we had tears rolling down our faces. She told the entire group, including family, friends and wedding party members about the crazy antics she and the bride got themselves into over the past several years and while they lived together. I've heard that her speech she gave at her grandmother's funeral was even more amazing though.
The wedding was beautiful and I'm glad that my last big outing before my knee surgery was somewhere that involved both a happy wedding and Josh's family.


Michelle & Eric on the steps of the Sutherland


My favorite of their wedding pictures


Michelle & her crazy M-O-H Aument.


I told you, she's a crazy one.

YoW #4

On August 1, my cousin Carla got married when my knee was feeling its worst.
Carla and Bryan were married at our church and their reception was at the country club. I was on crutches throughout the weeks between our weddings, but being her matron of honor meant I HAD to make a trip down that aisle SANS crutches and hold her flowers, fix her train and what-not. No matter what.
And she had PLENTY of train to fix. Even though Carla is not super-girly, her dress was SO fancy. It was satin and had beautiful detailing and pleating around the waist. However, all that satin was incredibly heavy.
So I did the ugliest bridesmaid walk known to man (a mix between a pimp-walk & a hunchback) and was thankful that the groom is a policeman so all his groomsmen were strong men in blue. I've heard the wedding video brings lots of laughs when I begin my journey down the aisle.
Carla looked beautiful and her reception was great, or what I saw of it from my seat. The sight of her dancing with her daddy (my uncle, who is usually very un-emotional and stern) brought tears to my eyes.

Trying to get Carla situated in her giant slip

Me, Mema Dean and my sister Dee

The bridal party.

Wordless Wednesday - Wedding #3

My wedding was the third of the year of the weddings on June 13th at "half past two". Enjoy a few photos by the incredibly talented Melanie Mansfield











And here are 2 taken by friends:





And then the best one of the day, me & my knee brace :)



Here are the engagement pics (also by Melanie) and the rest of the wedding shots.