The entire wedding had a timeless look but a modern feel brought out by Laura and Kevin’s fun personalities.  Congratulations to the newlyweds!  We hope you enjoyed your trip to Antigua!

Kathryn looked so pretty as a bride!  Fabulous Faces of course did a great job with her makeup.  Mom liked the classic look of her gown, pearl earrings, and traditional bouquet.  Flowers were done by Lorilarson Flowers and they matched the bright purple color that the bridesmaids wore as well.  Dad always enjoys working with the talented Rob Sword of Sword Sounds so it was great to see him again as well.  The cake was made by Chantilly Cakes.

The sunset was amazing on Kathryn and Brandon’s wedding day.  As it fell below the clouds but over the horizon, it turned the sky red, orange, and purple.  It was a great backdrop for bride and groom pictures.  Congratulations Kathryn and Brandon!  It was an honor for dad to be there to share in the celebration with your family and friends.  Thanks for having him capture your memories!

Kelly had Kristine of Fabulous Faces there for makeup.  This was the first time dad had worked with her since our little sister was born.  Kristine was really sweet and brought a gift for our baby sister!  It was a super adorable sweater dress with matching hat.  We love it!  Thanks Kristine!!

Kelly and Danny also had Jayne Giroux of Designs by Yours Truly as their florist and Island Boys Band to play steel drums during the ceremony.  Instead of the traditional bridesmaid bouquets, Kelly’s bridesmaids carried fans with flowers at the base.  It was a fun and unique touch.  The bridesmaid dresses were bright and fun, and Kelly wore an amazing gown with lots of lace overlay and a lace hem.  She was a beautiful bride.

Kelly and Danny were smiling all day long!  They had a wonderful Florida beach wedding and are now headed to the beaches of St. Thomas for their honeymoon!  Have fun, and we wish you lots of happiness in your lives together.

Dad tried to convince the bridesmaids to hold the fans in a more mysterious way for the processional.  Luckily they ignored his suggestion:

LOVE the detailing on Kelly’s veil!

-Elizabeth Stone

“You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around – and why his parents will always wave back.”

-William D. Tammeus

“I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”

-Abraham Lincoln

“Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.”

-Unknown

And for the grandmothers:

When You’re the Mom of a Mother
By Beverly Beckham and Grandparents.com

When my older daughter became a mother nearly six years ago, I became a grandmother with a brand-new baby to love. But I also became a different kind of mother to my baby. I was useful again. I knew things. I understood. And the most important thing I understood was how much my daughter loved her child.

Ten months later, my younger daughter gave birth to her firstborn. “Did you feel this way, Mom? Isn’t it amazing? I never knew. Was I as cute?”

Motherhood, part two. That’s what grandparenting really is. Your kids grow up, go off to school, move away. And they don’t need you anymore. They don’t call for advice. And you think, you’re done. That’s it. The job is finished.

And then your kids become parents and you’re suddenly back in the game. “Mom, can you?” “Dad, will you?”

When a child is placed in a woman’s arms — in a hospital, at an airport, in a lawyer’s office, and whether the child is a newborn or a 10-year-old — a woman’s life changes forever.

And so does the life of her mother.

I watch my daughters wipe noses and hands, buckle car seats, peel grapes, insist upon “please” and “thank you,” wipe up spills, dry tears, read books, blow bubbles, monitor the TV, play games, and work outside their homes. And I am struck by the rigors of mothering — how hard it is and tiring and endless, and how amazing it is that anyone signs up for this job.

And then I think, this was once my job. I did all this. “How did you do it, Mom?” my daughters ask. And they listen to my answer because I’ve been down the road they’re on now and they realize that maybe I know a few things they have yet to learn.

The mother-child connection. It changes. It evolves. It grows.

In the space between us now there is still no space. It is filled with children — theirs, but part mine. And on it goes. Mother to mother to child, this eternal bond that is recognized and honored on Mother’s Day.

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms!  Sending special mother’s day wishes to Andrea, Bronwyn, Allison, Erin, Weslie, Rachel, Elizabeth, Alison, Kendra, Lori, Kate, Jen, Jaclyn, Krystal, Meredith, Teresa, Amber, Stephanie, LaToya, Heather, Lara, Michelle, Tiffany, Carrie, Rochelle, Selena, Katie, Susan, Kerin, Jessica, Alicia, and to all the other moms and moms-to-be who have invited us into your experience of motherhood by having us capture you and your gorgeous children in photos.  Thanks to all of you!

On Monday dad took mom to the Lange Farm for her maternity session.  Though dad is there often for weddings, mom had never been there and said dad was right on when he says not only is it beautiful but everyone there is so nice!  Mom has been really busy lately and said it was great to spend the afternoon with dad doing something for the new baby.  The time until her due date is going to go by so quickly!  Mom had Kristine of Fabulous Faces do her makeup for the session.

Melissa had her hair styled by Jen Carr and her makeup done by Kristine Aronson of Fabulous Faces.  She looked so pretty!  The bridesmaids wore brown dresses from JCrew to match the wedding colors of brown and pink.  Mom wishes JCrew would start making maternity clothes!  Flowers by Don created the bouquets and floral arrangements in pink and white.

Before the ceremony, Melissa and Brian had a first sight where they alone shared that special moment of seeing each other for the first time.  They were then able to have most of their family groups and wedding party pictures done before the ceremony so that they could spend more time with their guests afterward.

Three members of the couple’s wedding party were notaries so Melissa and Brian’s ceremony was made even more meaningful by having their close friends officiate.  Dad said it was emotional to watch the parents get teary during the vows.  For the reception, the couple had Fitz Otis from Jay Goodley Entertainment as the DJ and Beautiful Cakes by Ron make their brown and white decorated wedding cake.  It was a beautiful wedding and we wish Melissa and Brian all the best in their life as husband and wife.  Congratulations!

Mom thinks this marriage bet written on a napkin was so funny to display at the wedding!

Dad met up with Melanie that morning as Michelle Herman did her hair and Kristine of Fabulous Faces did her makeup.  Melanie and her wedding party had tank tops with their roles in the wedding in rhinestones and mom thought it was great that Melanie’s mom had her own Mother of the Bride tank top too!

The bouquet, done by Weddings by Love ‘n Blooms, had crystals standing out of the flowers and each stephanotis with a pearl center.  The dark red roses and green leaves fit well with the wedding theme.  The Christmas tree at the Kapok was perfect for the wedding decor as well!

During the reception guests were treated to a performance of the song “Be Our Guest” as dinner was served.  Doug Decker from Grant Hemond was the DJ at the reception and he really had the dance floor packed!  It was a wonderful day just as Melanie and Jake deserved.  They are so in love and looking at them you can see a long and happy future.  Congratulations newlyweds!