The 'M' Word

As in married. There was a big wedding this weekend and it was fabulous!

Bestie's daughter got married on Saturday and our entire family was home to attend. That's right! All four of the lovelies came home to attend this very special wedding.

We've known this family since Bestie's daughter and my  Deanie were 2 years old. That means we've been friends for 24 years. Twenty. Four. Years. Wow.

I'm sure there are words in existence for what Bestie means to me but I simply do not possess them. She is my rock. My sounding board. My confidant. She is always there. She never judges--trust me on this one, she NEVER judges me. She is honest with me. She is the ONE person who can calm me down during a rant- usually with humor. She listens. She hears. She only offers advice if she knows I need/want it. She is the epitome of Best Friend. And then some.

We have been through much, she and I. Ups and downs. Goods and bads. Happys and sads. And, yes. I'm aware some of those words are made up. Regardless of what- we're still together, Bestie and I. We bring each other through the storms. We clear the obstacles for one another and, when that's just not possible, we help each other over them. We lend our shoulders for tears... 

Nothing could have kept us from this wedding. Nothing.

The ceremony was so lovely. It was held at the Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church and I didn't take a single picture there. I was so focused on what was going on, I just didn't do it. So, I borrowed two from the website right HERE.

Here's the outside---

This church holds sentimentality for our family. The lovelies attended Mother's Morning Out and preschool here. So did Bestie's daughter. It's where we all first met.

Here's the inside looking from the pulpit to the front doors---the church was built in 1696 and I love the simplicity. You just have to take care NOT to sit behind one of those annoying columns.

I watched the groom's face to see if I could tell when the bride was first visible to him. I could. His expression let me know that, for him, she's THE one. And only.

The reception was held at the Historic Rice Mill downtown Charleston. Right on the water. Gorgeous!

From the inside looking out---

A little of the inside---

The cake---I absolutely LOVE the brick walls in the Rice Mill--- was sitting just after the entrance.

We spent most of our time outside. The weather was perfect, around 75 while the sun was up- the low 60s after the sun went down, and the gnats were only out for about an hour. PLUS, there was seating, a bar AND the photo booth out there! And the view.

Here are my two oldest lovelies- Breezy and Deanie--

The short one in this picture is Bestie. She's with three of the lovelies and their boys.

Most of you know that our family is about as far from serious as anyone can possibly be. So most of our pictures are sort of silly. Here's BestSonInLawEver pretending to punch MrPerfectforDeanie (Deanie's boy who just happens to be a writer and has just started a blog right HERE) who is being kissed by Breezy.

BestSonInLawEVER and Breezy--

I love the history and the scenery in Charleston. Both were big influences on my decision to move here thirty years ago.

A little bit of the sunset---

I mentioned that the photo booth was outside. Here are Deanie, my dad, and Breezy. You might get the idea that the humor is hereditary. Everyone in attendance had fun with the photo booth. One older woman walked over and yelled for her husband to come. "I want to take a picture with you in here!" He walked slowly, hunched over and muttered, "What the hell for? You're just going to break the photo booth."

We were DYING!

I had to take 5 pictures similar to the one below before they finally gave me one with everyone looking at the camera, smiling and not cracking up. The lovelies- Deanie, Breezy, Birdie and DoodleBug.

BestSonInLawEVER and MrPerfectforBirdie doing their best Men In Black impersonation.

My thought- HEY! Let's get a picture for the Christmas card since we're all together. This is what I got---

I love that our family is so crazy. That we laugh so very often. It's nice to know that they know how to look for the humor in as many situations as possible. Laughter is fun. Laughter is healthy. Laughter is contagious.

Enough of the crazies!

It's bride and groom time. After all, they were the reason we were down there having all this wild and crazy fun!

The only thing that prevents this lovely young woman from technically being one of my lovelies is that we are not her parents. That's it. I've known her since she and Deanie were two years old. She IS a lovely.

Can you tell why her shoes are off? Check out those heels-  

Being as close as we are with this wonderful family, I got to take pride in the entire weekend. I felt the joy and the sentimentality. I felt the love and the hope for their future. I shed the tears as I watched her recite vows all the while remembering her as a little cutie with the biggest brown eyes you've ever seen and straight blonde hair with bangs.

She married a boy who went to the same high school and college (Clemson University). They've been together for 7 years.

Now, they are beginning their married life together. 

How stinkin' cute are they?!

As they left the Rice Mill, everyone held up sparklers--

This last picture is really bad, but I still like it-

The honeymoon will begin NEXT Sunday as they take a cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, St Maarten and St Kitts for one week!

I'm linking this post to the thirteenth post of the April, A-Z Challenge! We're halfway there!

Just click the badge below to visit other participants. 

Ok, let's see what y'all came up with for the letter 'M'!