I love your dress too! There are quite a few dresses like that now, and I do agree, it looks good to have a little color on the bride's dress, too. This summer when my daughter was married, we also purchased all the flowers from Safeway. Pat, at the Safeway here in Bdn. did an awesome job. My daughter's bouquet was in the same idea as yours but she chose all red roses. The bridesmaids carried a miniature version of hers by carrying 3 white roses. Since Kristin was in white carrying red roses, and her bridesmaids wore red carrying white roses and the flowergirl wore white carrying a basket of red roses (fake) with real rose petals also in the basket, it made for stunning pictures. The guys already all had their own black suits. The groom wore a white shirt with a white tie with a red rose on his lapel. The groomsmen wore white shirts, a red tie and each had a white rose in their lapel. The ringbearer wore black pants, white shirt, a red bow tie and a red rose and, of course, carried a white ringbearer pillow. The flowers were $320 including taxes. Of course that price also includes all the flowers for the mothers, fathers, grandparents, guest book attendants, pastor and music. Shauna, you may have sons now, but...someday you will have daughters-in-law. My husband is one of 4 boys of whom 3 were married. My mother-in-law, when I expressed interest, gave me all her china and the china cabinet. It is a pattern called Kentish Rockery which has a garden scene on it. I love it and she knew I would cherish it. I also expressed interest in preserving her doll that she had when she was a little girl. She gave it to me in a glass case and it is beside my doll on display in our bedroom. Knitting, crocheting, sewing and gardening were all interests that we had in common (besides her son) and I am so glad that I was able to share those interests with her. She's been gone for a few years now. Now...I wish I had also taken time and slowly gone through all the photo albums with her, to really get an idea of her history as displayed in the pictures she had kept over the years. Oh, well...

First of all, thanks again for your guidance and encouragement. The event is over and yes, there were a few moments of tension. Although they did not involve us directly. I have to confess now to something that I didn't admit to earlier in an effort to avoid looking like a complete doormat. Early on I had offered to help with a dessert buffet to serve at the church, so they would have something for those guests they weren't inviting. As it turned out, I purchased, and made everything that was served (with the help of two friends and our children). All of the items were chosen by the bride ahead of time. We decorated the tables with greenery and candles, and made a beautiful and tasty presentation including choc. dipped strawberries, etc. We had fun working together on it which made it worth it. Since I hadn't originally intended on doing it all, I decided to forgo a "traditional" wedding gift. While we were in the middle of baking and dipping etc., I received a phone call asking how they should word something on the program inviting those who were not invited to the "reception" to enjoy the treats at the church. I told them that there was going to be plenty of food for everyone. Then I was told that they wanted to limit it to those who were not going to the reception so they could talk to others faster and keep to their time schedule. I replied that there was no way to word it that would not draw more attention to the fact that some people were not invited to the reception, and told them again that we had already worked very hard to make enough food for everyone. They finally agreed and dropped it. My 8 year old went up to the bride during the "church reception" and told her that he should be invited to the dinner because he was "part of it", she told him to talk to his mother. I questioned him and confirmed that she never said anything like yes, but just wanted me to handle it. So I told him that technically he should be included, but explained that it was going to be very boring and that he was going to have more fun at his friend's house. He seemed to accept that. One guest, a high-school friend of both the bride and groom, asked the bride how to get to the restaurant. She apparently told him that the seating at the restaurant was limited and that they had not been able to invite him to that part. I guess he decided to make a point of how rude he thought they were, because he showed up at the reception anyway. They had the owner of the restaurant ask him to leave. He replied that he was only planning on staying until the bride and groom got there so he could wish them well. So then the bride's mother came up and insisted that he leave, telling him that he already offered his congratulations at the church. (Incidentally, the bride never wanted him invited to the wedding for some reason, but gave in when he called asking if his invitation was lost.) He remained in the parking lot until the couple arrived, and said something like, "Well, apparently I'm not invited to celebrate with you, but I just wanted to wish you well before I leave." The bride's mother said something to me about not wanting to be rude, but that they shouldn't have to deal with something like this on their wedding day. Personally, I feel they created the mess, and she should have let them suffer the fallout. One niece,(the flower-girl) who at fourteen towers over several bridemaids, including another niece who is only thirteen, was somehow the only member of the wedding party (attending the recep.) not included in the limo ride to the reception. She was understandably crushed. They said something about the ring-bearer not going so.... Incredible! Anyway, it took forever to serve everyone. We literally sat at the table for 2 1/2 hours before they brought our table's entre'. The portions were so small that my husband ended up taking our boys to Burger King after to get something else to eat. Our only relatives from out-of-town had assigned seating in the corner opposite from us. And I mean...they were locked in...the only way for them to get out was to ask four other people to get up first. So I only got to visit with them for a few minutes after dinner was served, and while the cake was cut. They were seated next to the parents of the bride and friends of the brides parents that they didn't know. The best thing I can say is It's Over!; the couple is very good-looking; my ds was extremely cute as the ring-bearer and even added some comic relief the bride was hoping for; it was fun working with friends the day before; and It's Over!!!

Damien's face stayed about as red as his shirt most of the night! He only missed a couple of steps when he was dancing in that first pic of the girls dancing. He loves dancing with the stars and dances most of the time it's on. Tami

Penny, Your dress is beautiful with the Bridesmaids colors!! All of your pictures are so great! :) I am so happy that your wedding turned out lovely and that you got to swim with those dolphins!! -DuckyHead :)