Wedding Bells (Not Mine)

Today, I was able to attend the wedding of Lauren’s sister, Jenna, and her new husband, Mike. The festivities (for me) started last night. After spending the afternoon at Paranormal Activity to get Lauren’s mind off of stressful things, we went to the stake center where the reception was to be held, so that we could set up everything.

After setting stuff up for a while, I went home to bed, while Lauren went home to do girly things.

This morning, I was at Lauren’s house about 15 minutes before we planned to go to the temple, and everyone had been so excited that they had gone and left Lauren alone to wait for me. We got to the temple, and had the longest wait I’d ever had in a sealing room.

The ceremony itself was very nice. Jenna and Mike were given some GREAT counsel, and there was such an amazing feeling there. I felt honored to be a part of it.

After the ceremony, I got to meet some of Lauren’s relatives that I hadn’t met yet. The one I got to talk to the most was probably her Aunt Tammy, who was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.

After Mike and Jenna came out, several pictures were taken. While they were standing there being photographed, some old man inside the temple came right up to the window behind them and just stared and smiled. I sure hope we see him in some of the pictures!!! Then, we went and did family pictures.

After the pictures, we went back to Lauren’s house to get stuff ready. Mostly, I played with Nik and Anna. When the family all went to the luncheon, I had to go home and teach some piano lessons.

Piano went by quickly, and then I drove up to Kearns for the reception. I’ve NEVER had a trip that far take that long. The traffic was so sluggish. I was running late for pictures, and I finally texted Lauren and told her not to wait, because I wasn’t going to make it.

I did end up making it in time for one picture with the family. (I think I heard Jenna saying that they needed one with me. That was sweet.)

The reception was pretty casual, which was nice. Lauren had been assigned by Mike’s sister-in-law, Vanessa, to guard the gift table, so I stayed near her. Shortly into the reception, however, we found out that there was a plot by Mike’s brothers to stuff condoms into all of the gifts on the table. Lauren asked Nick to take a couple gifts into the kitchen and check them. Sure enough, they each housed a prophylactic. Nick threw one away, and then I swiped the other one for evidence, if needed.

The rest of the night we didn’t leave the gift table. Mike’s brothers were ticked. They asked Nick to try and lure Lauren and me away from the table. They told us that it wasn’t their joke, and I told them off and said that if it wasn’t their joke, they still deserve to be in trouble for carrying it out. After that, they were scared of me and wouldn’t come near me.

After the line was over, Mike’s family got up and did the dance to Thriller. Yes, really. It was probably the most interesting thing I’ve ever seen at a wedding reception.

When the couple left and the clean-up began, Lauren’s younger sister, Becca, was having a rough time, so I picked her up and carried her around and told her a scary story to scare her and take her mind off things. It worked. (Aren’t I going to be the best parent someday?!)

We loaded everything into the cars, and left. The family all went to Hires to get dinner, and then we went home and unloaded everything.

The wedding turned out much less stressful than I feared it would, but the whole time, all I could really think of was the fact that the next wedding I attend will be OURS.

Oh, and if you’re planning to attend ours, make sure you’re brushing up your dance steps. I think it was Nick’s or Phillip’s idea to one up Thriller and do Single Ladies and end with me putting a ring on Lauren’s finger. Because darnit, I do like it, and I will put a ring on it.