Cari & Jordan: The Wedding (Part 2) & the Not-So-Insta-Flight-Home

You want more wedding?

I hope you said yes. 

Because there wasn't really a choice.

But this post will wrap it up!

We dropped of the beautiful, blushing bride.

To her nervous, excited, and ecstatic groom.

They had their official "first look" photoshoot.

With the super-fab photographers.

I tried really hard not to be the super annoying girl with a camera standing behind the professionals.

So I stood behind a tree.

And a car. 

Way less annoying, right?

We rode around LA, stopping at the Biltmore, Union Station, and Elysian Park.

The bride and groom made us pose in front of Dodger stadium.

I believe 50% of the wedding party wanted to boycott.

But the groom has groom-power.

And he used it.

Even though I smiled.

I was really grimacing on the inside.

(Roll Giants).

Jenny the wife-tographer rode around with us.

She was fun!

A stop back at the Biltmore for formal family photos.

A quick freshening up.

Prayer with their Pastor, Tim Chaddick,

and it was time to get these two fools married.

You know how everyone says their favorite part of the ceremony 

is watching the groom's face as his bride first appears?

That's my second favorite.

My first favorite?

The moment the pastor introduces for the first time Mr & Mrs, 

and the couple turns to their friends and family,

with gigantic, huge, brilliant smiles,

and the bride fist pumps her bouquet into the air.

THAT is my favorite wedding moment.

Props to my sister for knowing this, and being sure to get that shot.

 One of the perks of being in the bridal party?

Access to the bride and groom.

The San Mateo crew got a few minutes with the lovely couple before the reception began!

Look at these beautiful people.

Welcome to our San Mateo family Jordan.

Cari & Jordan are both teachers.

The wedding venue was the Los Angeles Library.

Invitations were old timey check out cards.

The envelopes were lined with pages from old books. 

The program included another library check out card,

and personalized pencil favor, 

to leave as "guest book" wishes for the Mr & Mrs

inside card catalog drawers.

And, what is a wedding without a photobooth.

Bridal Party Perk: Hijacking it.

I love me a good photobooth.

And I love me some photobooth props.

Old lady wig.

Statue of Liberty Crown & Torch.

English Bobby Hat.

Fake Cigarettes.

Hipster Glasses.

I love it all.

My friends are good sports.

I love weddings.  

As much as I joke that I'm going into wedding retirement in 2012, 

I really love being a part of the most important day of someone's life.

After all, one of my spiritual gifts is being bossy.

I love telling people what to do, where to be, and what to remember -

all on behalf of the bride & groom of course.

When I say that it was an honor to stand up there next to Cari and Jordan that is no joke.

During the ceremony I was just in awe of how far the 14 year old girl in a fuzzy purple hat has come.

The girl who was crushing on Jordan from hundreds of miles away.

Will now be by his side, serving the Lord they love, for the rest of their lives.

It has been an honor to have a front row seat for that.

And for the exchanging of their vows.

Their commitment and covenant.

After a fantastic and delicious brunch the following morning, hosted by the mother of the bride,

it was time to return to the 650.

I think LA liked us a bit too much.

And didn't want to let us leave.

Pouring rain meant, delayed flights and hanging out at a very leaky LAX.

Going through their super weird security set up.

Eating soft serve McDonalds cones.

And trying to catch the 49er game in a city with a very confused football identity. 

But like most things in LA, VIP treatment is plentiful.

And we got to take a sweet ride on Southwest's Lone Star One.

Pulled by a California trailer.

When LoneStar One landed in San Francisco,

the flight attendant neighed.

Um, yeah.

"Whoaaaaaaa......big boy!!!"

I think we brought a little Texas home with us.

Linky link with Jeannett: