The Big Day: Getting Ready

June 12, 2009 dawned a bright and sunshine-y day. I woke up SO excited, and yet so calm. I headed downstairs where all my friends were together in one place, which was just the most awesome feeling. We grabbed some small food, and got ready to head to the salon.

You know I was happy because a. I have a mimosa in hand b. because I was grinning and c. because these photos of me with no makeup on actually exist.

Actually, I had walked out of the house that morning without my makeup. Ack! So much for being calm. But, a well placed phone call to mom and all was resolved.

Almost done!

My gorgeous friends were all getting beautified

While we were getting ready, everyone got the chance to relax on the couches, drink some mimosas, and hang out...

Shelby contemplated life...or cheese curds. One of the two.

Lindsey got the fun job of running to have my ring cleaned...and everyone else's!

After we were all ready to go, we headed out to Lake Wissota. Cue the pro pictures.

Headed down to the getting ready room, and hiding from the boys. 

Shoes on the Bible... sacrilegious? I certainly didn't stage this one.

The ladies were dressed and then it was time for one last toast, before it was time for the dress.

Not a pro pic, but I love this photo, because I can distinctly remember thinking "Well, here we go!"

Time for presents and a veil and then we would be ready for our first look!

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Girly Sleepover

 So, I said next we would wrap up rehearsal night with a post on the gifts given to the ladies and gents - buuuut, I can't find those dang photos. So, I will have to come back to that, moving on.

Some of us had some fun with the hats that decorated the bathroom...

After wrapping up a lovely evening on the lake, we ladies headed back to my parents house for a good old fashioned girly sleepover. The boys went off to do, well, all sorts of things that I would rather not write about :)

My amazing ladies gifted me with some pretty underthings for my new married life, and then gifted me with the new traditional OSL bridal gift - an initial necklace of my new last name. I was so excited!

We gossiped a bit and laughed a lot and then, well, we hit the hay. The next day was a big one!

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Dining in Style

Edit - I wrote this post a YEAR ago and never posted it. Here we go friends.

Here I am, back from my hiatus! but I have had a good excuse. Seriously, look:

Anywho, onto the Rehearsal Dinner!

After our lovely stop in at the View, we headed to our RD location - High Shores! The food was delicious and the weather was divine. The music played and all of our closest friends and family members surrounded us. At one point we looked at each other and my FH said. "This is it, this is our wedding."

We were so overwhelmed.

Little did we know that open mic night was about to begin.

First, the host and hostess (FH's mom and dad) each spoke. Then my mom. And then, well, everyone.

{these may or may not have been pregnancy tears ;) }

As if we did not know before how lucky we are to be surrounded by such amazing friends, we were assured that night. Some tears were shed, hugs were shared, and then it was time for presents!

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Leinie's Tour and The View

Since we had such an early rehearsal, and a bunch of time in between the actual rehearsal and the dinner, the FH and I decided to make good on our longtime promise to friends who would come to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin...the Leinenkugel's Brewery Tour!

Leinenkugal's has been distributed more widely in the last few years since they signed on to being distributed by a larger national company - but all of the Leinenkugal's beer you have ever enjoyed was made right in Chippewa Falls.

We signed everyone up for the free tour, and everyone that was of age could enjoy some of the free samples ;)

      

   

     

{the hubby and his dad - you wouldn't know it. ha!}
   

After enjoying our freebies, we headed on the tour.
   

After the tour, we headed towards the Rehearsal Dinner location with a small stop over at a local bar on Lake Wissota, The View. And what a view it has.

but in reality...in between the tours and The View, some of the party sneaked away on a secret mission to buy a little gift for my Packers fan of a husband.

and then we had a toast.
    

With the Cheesehead.
  

On to Dinner!

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