Oh Weddings...weddings

Such a joyous, romantic time.  Watching a sweet, young, innocent couple join as one before God & their family.  Being married for 15 years, weddings always bring a little tear to my eye.

My youngest brother was married up in Washington a few weeks ago.  He has lived in Washington for many years now.  No matter how much we'd like him to eventually come "home", the Emerald Coast is where his heart is and where he will stay.  So when we got the joyous news that he was getting married, we were all very excited for him & his fiance.  And we knew, he wouldn't be coming home.

The wedding planning was soon underway.  And no matter how much the bride & groom tried to please all of the families' wishes, we know that is impossible to do.  The hardest part for our family, living in Texas, was not being there for the planning.  But we forged ahead with our plans to get there and make it a special weekend.

Oh, of course there are the stressful moments of the weekend (you try taking a 17m old to the rehearsal dinner when it is wwwwaaaaaaaayyyyyyy past his bedtime- nightmare!!).  There are the moments when you are just shaking your head (so how did my son get his dress pants on backwards?  And how did we NOT notice this until we got to the church?).  And there are moments of exhaustion (why did we choose the bedroom right beneath the community bathroom?). But all of those "moments" are soon forgotten and overshadowed by seeing your baby brother all dressed up to get married.......

 or seeing the bride & groom so in love....

 or seeing your father read an inspiring passage......

or seeing your family all dressed up...and together.

Or maybe it's the goofy kids enjoying themselves......

nah.  It's the exhausted momma & daddy who have been chasing an upset, out-of-routine toddler around all weekend.  See how nicely we can fake the smiles???

Yes, family weddings can be stressful, they can make you never want to host one (seriously, a destination wedding sounds fantastic!), they can even exhaust you.  But, they are special.  And you know all the hard work and effort and stress......it means a lot to the bride & groom.  And that in itself is worth it.