I finally got around to editing the photos from my wedding to my best friend in one of the most beautiful places in the world. I think the final count was something like 200+ photos but I won’t post that many here because that’s just crazy. There are a bunch of photos that are really funny, but wouldn’t be so nice to post because they are considerably unflattering. That means it was a good night and it will be a good story between friends over beers.

The whole week it was raining pretty consistently so my plan for an outside wedding was increasingly improbable. Because I had faith that it was going to be fine so I refused to consider a back-up plan. I am just that reckless and it drove my poor bridesmaids crazy. Luckily enough, it was a lovely sunny day and the temperature was around 65 degrees F.

I spent the morning writing thank you notes to everyone who attended and putting my bridesmaid gifts together. I had the assistance of the lovely people at Creative Outlet Studios who were a tremendous help with everything. They handmade clutch bags to hold everything I gave my bridesmaids, they provided the screens to screen print my invitations, space for me to make both my tassel garland and bunting, and they hand-sewn mustard linen napkins then helped me custom screen print them. My best friend and bridesmaid, Lauren, is a co-owner so I took full advantage of the place! Her mom, Susan (who is also a co-owner), made the clutch bags and wrote all the addresses on the invitations. She also helped mastermind the linen napkins. Lauren is the screen printing queen so she helped with burning all the screens and putting the invites together. Lauren’s sister Whitney (who designed the Beer and Baking logo) custom designed the invitations and the template for the napkins. Whitney also sewed the bulk of the 20 napkins. I pretty much have the best bridesmaids ever…

The bridesmaid gifts were the clutch bag, 2 rifle paper co. journals, 1 pair of Tumbleweeds Handcraft sunglasses, and a card from me. I also surprised my husband with Tumbleweed sunglasses for each of his groomsmen as a bridal party gift. They made for some amazing photos. While I was acting like Santa and running around delivering gifts, my lovely bridesmaids were shoved all the decorations I had in my carry-on luggage and told to “make it look good.” My sister (maid of honor) and Aunt put amazingly beautiful and tasteful flower bouquets while my sister’s husband cooked a huge and delicious meal for the reception. Lucky for me, my sister’s husband Syd is a chef at Where Ya At Matt in Seattle and cooks delightful food. 

My (basically) lifelong friend, Nick Burson, officiated the wedding. He’s an ordained minister and has a certificate to prove it (ordained online). It just makes everything more meaningful when someone that you have known since you were 5 officiates your wedding. He did a great job and made it really classy! My other long-time friend (middle-school) Michael Rooney was willing to be put through the ringer and be the designated photographer. It’s hard to be on the other side of the lens and relinquish that control but he made it fun and the photos were wonderful. Most every photo is from him (he’s in a few so obviously I took some and I believe Lauren took some) and edited by me. It was my camera, after all. 

I walked down the isle to one of my favorite songs: Radiohead’s “Fog.” Once we exchanged rings we walked away to Sean’s favorite song: Oingo Boingo’s “Stay.” We did several rounds of photos then adjourned to the dining room for the reception dinner. We enjoyed mouthwatering shepherds pie, roasted pork, beet salad, fish, roasted potatoes, etc. Everything was so unbelievable and thank goodness for getting to sit and eat because I was starving! My mom purchased a traditional cake from a local bakery but she also made a carrot cake for the occasion. Baking prowess runs in the family so her carrot cake is famous for being exquisite. After everyone had their fill of food and cake we had some impromptu toasting (that wasn’t planned or required…I like no pressure situations) and after some merriment we discovered a painting in the dining room that was hilarious. It appeared that the standing man in the painting was telling the women in the chair “listen here b@#&#” and everyone freaked-out about it. It is just something you have to be there to fully appreciate..I suppose. Oh, and there was a bat. 

The whole evening winded-down in the bar where we took full advantage of the Guinness keg and whiskey. General revelry continued into the wee hours of the night and I went to bed with my heart full of thanks. I am so lucky to be surrounded by such talented, giving, creative, hard-working, generous people. It was the most amazing wedding and I wouldn’t have changed anything. 

Sean’s suit: 3-day suit broker, My dress: Leanne Marshall (she won her season on Project Runway…fan-girl squeak!), Bridesmaid Dresses: Dear Creatures, Venue: The Bert House (Athy, Ireland), Invite design/Napkin Design: Whitney Macaluso, Screen printing and all DIY done at: Creative Outlet Studios, Punch Cocktail and Photography: Michael Rooney, Chef: Syd Suntha, Flowers: Jennifer Rice Suntha. A special thanks to Tumbleweeds Hancraft for their awesome handmade sunglasses making this wedding extra special! Everyone loved their sunglasses 🙂