Just The TWO of Us: "To Love, Laughter & Happily Ever After"

The date was May 12, 2012. The setting was lots of women, lots of make up, lots of hair, lots of laughs, and lots of stress. The plan was a beautiful wedding for a beautiful couple.

Nikki's wedding day was eventful to say the least. All the bridesmaids had to be at the church at ten thirty on Saturday morning. Well there are not many who are punctual in this group of women. We all dragged in and the fun began. After about two hours of people getting their hair and make up done, mother nature steps in and causes a slight problem. There was a really bad thunderstorm and we lost power at the church. Pitch black. Not even half of the girls were done as far as hair and make up goes. Nikki starts to panic! Well we roll to the front foyer of the church and opened the doors for light. Everyone got their make up done by the light coming from those doors. We waited and waited for the power to come back on and it never did. Around three o'clock we head up to Extreme Hair salon to finish every ones hair and when I say everyone.. I mean everyone minus two of us. Let me remind you the wedding was set to start at five that evening. Well we get to the salon and things were still not moving as fast as everyone thought they should. The panic and rush was really setting in. This kind of thing would only happen to Nikki on her wedding day. We are a fun group of girls and we found ways to keep Nikki calm and get the "wedding spirit" up. With only one hour before the ceremony was to start, finally Nikki is getting her hair done. We all improvised and managed to get every ones hair up and everyone looking pretty. We did not get back to the church until a quarter to five. We all crammed in that little bitty bridal area and started getting dressed. I think we were in our dresses right at five. Emotions were high. We all got dressed and got in line to make our entry into the church. As Nikki stepped out for the first time in her gown, I had never seen her look more beautiful. She was glowing. She was radiant. She was graceful. She was romantic. She was everything a bride should be. We were all standing in the back of the church waiting to go in and of course tears of joy were flowing. All of us bridesmaids made it down the isle and were waiting to see Nikki make her grand entry! The doors opened and she was escorted by her dad down the isle to see her handsome groom. Chris's face said it all. It showed how much he loved her. The ceremony was beautiful! They were finally hitched and it was time to celebrate!

Now the day may have been trying and hard on Nikki and the rest of us but let me tell you something, that reception was a true celebration. It was stunning! It was packed out with people who came to celebrate Nikki and Chris and their new life together. There was food. There were drinks. Most importantly there was a spirit of love, family and friends! We danced all night and had the BEST time. Watching Nikki and being there to celebrate such a great time with her and Chris is a memory I will forever hold close to my heart. I have been to many many weddings and there are only about three that I count as a true celebration of love. Nikki's wedding was not a performance it was a party!! It was a celebration of love! Oh and by the way... I caught the bouquet!

Nikki & Chris, I love you both very much. I have watched your relationship grow and become a true testament of what love really is. I have seen you fight, I have seen you cry, I have seen you laugh, I have seen you in hard times, I have seen you in good times, I have seen you stand the test time of time and over come all of those things together. We have shared a lot of good times. I am so very happy for both of you. I wish you a life of nothing but continued success as a couple. You guys make me believe in love. Just like Steph said at the rehearsal dinner "Here's to love, laughter and happily ever after"