November 27, 2012
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27 dresses.
(Disclaimer: The below is just a bunch of wedding recap.)
I'm well on my way. jk. Just dress number 5. People think I've been in a lot more due to photographing and video taping them as well as all my other involvement. I like to joke the only role in a wedding I haven't played is being the bride. Ha. Anyway, maybe 5 isn't a lot but it amazes me that so many of my friends are married, some with kids or are pregnant now and I have yet to actually date. That wasn't a pity statement, just a fact. Anyway, bridesmaid 5 times over and MOH round 2. I know I've said it before and will say it again, for me, it's such an honor to be in a wedding. Such an honor for someone to ask you to stand with them on a day most look forward to since a young age and one that will be remembered and celebrated for the rest of their life. Maybe I put such high standards on it because I know when it comes to choosing the ones standing by me; it won't be a light decision. It's because you were a real, genuine friend and I want to honor them in such a way. Consider me a sap, I don't care. It’s a meaningful decision.
Despite being asked multiple times to be in friend's wedding, I never feel worthy enough to be there. Out of all the people in these people’s lives, they’ve chosen me to stand next to them.
Emily and I have had a unique friendship, which I just realized I’ve already written about here, so I won’t reiterate it.
The morning started out like this. I literally cracked up. Who does that on their wedding day?
I rarely to never get nervous. That’s just not my personality. Except for, and it really hit me during this wedding, when I have attention on me. You see, I love doing all the behind the scenes work which is why I absolutely loved behind the backstage manager in highschool plays, filming and photographing things, soundboard etc. I like to be part of things that don’t directly point back to me. The position that needs to be there but unless someone actually thinks about it doesn’t get much recognition. That’s perfection to me. Center stage is not my thing. Don’t get me wrong, I still appreciate the ever-so-often thank you – recognition (as I think most do).
Then there are weddings. A pretty public display of thank you, which is a great honor which is definitely appreciated from my end but it’s still attention. This wedding in particular, I felt I had a little more than normal. They really separated the maid of honor/best man from the rest of the pack at the wedding and the reception.
At the wedding, we were standing alone on the stage with them as the rest of the bridal party was on the ground. This seriously made me nervous. At one point, they discussed having the bridesmaids walk down alone and have the groomsmen walk in with the groom from a side door. I don’t normally speak up about things. I did for that. Please don’t make me walk down by myself.
(From the angle you can see how set apart the best man is from the rest of them. If you can see it...looks kind of small.)
At the reception, the stage wasn’t big enough for everyone to be on it. So Emily had the just the maid of honor and best man up there. Thankfully during the dances and such, the best man came over and sat by me, so it wasn’t weird with us both sitting alone on opposite sides.
(You can see the table on the ground where the bridesmaids were and there was another one on the other side for the groomsmen.)
And the speech. Oh just 260 people listening to you talk. I don’t do group talking (especially like that) about 100% of the time. I just hate it except for this kind of speech giving. I was still a little nervous but there’s something about being given the opportunity to talk highly about someone else that I’ll jump on board. Unlike the last wedding I was the MOH, I really didn’t know anyone but her family and some of the bridal party. I wasn’t nervous at all. This one got me a little because I knew quite a bit of the people and they knew me. I like to think I'm a naturally funny person but writing a speech and planning to be funny is not my thing. Especially when you're expected to be funny because you're naturally funny. I didn’t want to be that speech where people say, "oh that's too bad, she's normally funny. She tried too hard." So how do I try to be funny by planning ahead while making it look like I didn't try too hard? STRESS. haha, yeah, I tried to make that sound as dramatic as possible.
I know that was one thing Emily reiterated over and over again from the moment she asked me to be her MOH that she was looking forward to. In other words, don’t screw it up. Jk. I know she would’ve been pleased with anything I said and giving a speech isn’t something I take lightly.
I’m kind of sad over the wedding – happy to have “extra” time again. Not sad in the jealous that she got married before I did kind of sad – not at all – I truly couldn’t be happier for her. I’ve just really enjoyed spending time with her (even though it has been wedding involved) and now she’s off to Detroit. I know it isn’t the end to a friendship but it’s definitely a change. I will tell you, almost nothing does my heart more good then seeing a beloved friend become one with a man after God’s own heart. Truly and honestly, I pray this for my single friends (male and female) and myself to find a spouse that loves the Lord above all else. Emily has found that, not that he’s perfect by any means (nor is Emily) but he’s a man that will lead them in their relationship to honor and serve the Lord.
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To end this rambling post – the professional pictures that have made it on facebook plus a link to more pictures. Yeah, that’s right – I found this sweet app that people can upload photos to that they take from their phones. I also set them up with a shutterfly for people to upload photos for them to get as well. Here are links to 2 of 4 videos I did for said wedding, which were huge hits. It's always fun to watch other people watch the videos you make to see how they come off. This one was shown before the ceremony began and this one was shown after the ceremony ended.
I wasn't able to sneek in very many faces but when I did, they were successful. Holla.
