Molly and Mark's Wedding Part 1: Getting Ready and Ceremony

The first weekend in July we attended our third wedding of the year (5 more to go!) and I really wish I could go back and do it all over again. This wedding will always hold a special place in my heart for many reasons.For one, Molly was my "link student" my sophomore year of college. I was assigned to her as an incoming freshman to help ease her way into college and we became fast friends.

The day after her wedding last week, Chris turned to me and said "your little girl is married now!" It was so cute, and true. Molly's always been a friend, and though she's really only one year younger than me, there is this part of me that has always felt very protective over her, like a sister, and there was a great sense of pride as I watched my friend/"little link student" walk down the aisle. I was also there at the very beginning of her and Mark's relationship and remember very clearly the nights she spent talking about him, and the parties we tried to go to knowing he would be there...ah memories.

Moving on, here are the facts of her and Mark's wedding day:  It was the hottest weekend of the entire year. Temperatures reached over 100 and her reception was outdoors. As we were being served dinner a terrible thunderstorm rolled through and the party had to be temporarily shut down (lights/music) while it passed through. But in the end, these were the things that made it extremely memorable and just so...perfect. Once the storm passed, it was a LOT cooler and everyone was much more relaxed and ready to literally dance the night away. The rain made for some GREAT pictures, too!

We arrived at the salon bright and early Saturday morning to get our hair done. We all opted for up-do's since it was going to be so hot that day. The salon even had mimosas and pastries set out for us!

The salon owners have 8 rescue dogs that hang out at the salon, they were so cute!

For the most part...they were very well behaved and only asked for treats a few times :).

Working on the girl's hair

After the salon, we went back to Molly's house to do our makeup and have some lunch before we headed over to the church, where we would get dressed for the ceremony.
Molly, with bridesmaids Sara and Amanda just before getting into their dresses!

Molly had already given us some pretty fabulous gifts: She gave us homemade granola, and a flower button with a book called How to Sew a Button: And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew, which gives great advice on just about anything. She also covered the cost of our hairstyles! But when we arrived at the church to change into our dresses, Molly had one more thing to add: These vintage typewriter initial charms to add to each of our bouquets! (This now lives on my keychain.)

 Adding the charms to the bouquets:

Adding fresh flowers to Molly's hair

Molly's dress required her to wear a Hoop skirt! It was the neatest thing!

Molly's dress is the same wedding dress her mom wore 30 years ago! They had it altered from a poofy-sleeved dress fit for the 80's, to this equally gorgeous dress for Molly.

I had to get at least one picture with the bride before she became a married lady!

Molly pins the corsage to her mom's dress:

Then it was time to walk down the aisle!

Mark waits patiently at the end of the aisle for his bride

And we wait anxiously to see her, too!

Here comes the bride!

First Kiss!

Introducing husband and wife!

Maid of Honor and Best Man

And just like that the ceremony was done! Next up: We Party at Burnside Plantation!