Last week we packed up the kids and headed to Maryland for my sister’s wedding. We spent four days in a hotel celebrating. It was exciting and exhausting all at once. I’m pretty sure the kids now think that people can only get married in “Marryland.”
The venue was Kentlands Mansion in Gaithersburg, MD. It was a breathtaking backdrop.
But not more breathtaking than the bride! My sister is beautiful inside and out, and she managed to look both sweet and sexy on her wedding day.
Originally, my sister didn’t know if she wanted to wear a veil or not. In the end, she opted for a birdcage design that my mom made on a whim the day before the wedding. It was the perfect detail and complemented her dress so well.
The wedding was a family affair. I was one of two matrons of honor. Layne and Everett were ring bearers. Mabrey was the flower girl. I never thought I would get the chance to agonize over what a flower girl should wear! The kids did great. Promises of gum and soda after the ceremony did the trick.
The ceremony and reception were fun and laid back – just like my sister and her fiance, er, husband. One of my sister’s friends had a hand in matchmaking the happy couple years ago and they asked her to officiate the ceremony. She became ordained just for this wedding and wrote the ceremony from scratch. It was personal, funny and heartfelt. So, so good. HH and I read anonymous marriage advice that guests were asked to send in with their RSVP. A lot of it was humorous. I have never heard so much laughter during a wedding ceremony!
After the ceremony, guests hung around the mansion for dinner, drinks and lawn games. My dad made two cornhole games for the after party. They were impeccable. But, then, everything my dad does is.
HH DIY’d a life-sized Jenga game. He even made his first trip to Hobby Lobby to purchase stencils to write “jenga” on the sides of each piece and was out in the hotel parking lot the day before the wedding sanding the pieces smooth so they would slide easily. It was a hit!
Mabrey and I ventured away from the lawn games and walked the adorable neighborhood in which the mansion is nestled. There were so many charming houses that caught my eye and almost made me want to move. Almost.
At 8 o’clock, the party moved to the hotel with desserts, more drinks {!} and dancing. Layne and Everett got their groove on. One of my sister’s friends taught them the fish n’ hook dance and that was their standby for most of the night.
All in all, it was the best wedding I’ve been to in terms of it mirroring the couple’s personality. Rihana and Jack are easygoing, funny and sincere and that’s exactly how their wedding felt. Congrats you two!
This is the only picture of my family I was able to capture amidst all the festivities. I think the photographer got a few. Word is photos of the wedding will be featured in a premier local wedding glossy. I can’t wait to see them and share them with you!
images: Dana Miller for House*Tweaking
DIY, family life, fashion