A Letter to My Girls: Natalie

Dear Natalie,

How is it possible to know someone for such a short time and to feel as though you’ve known them for lifetimes? If I hadn’t believed in kindred spirits before I met you, I definitely would have come around to the notion quickly. Someday when we’ve both gone silver and have a passel of grandkids between us, we’ll run away together to a cottage on Prince Edward Island. We’ll drink tea and read all the books we never got a chance to get around to. And we’ll remind ourselves time and time again of the fun we had when we were younger (and then go out and have more).

You are the kindest, most loving person I have ever met. Your optimism and ecstatic joy for the world and everything beautiful is a constant inspiration to me to be a better person. You make me want to write clockwork fairytales and brew large pots of tea, just so that you can come over and I can entertain you. (Seriously, lets find a way to make that happen).

There was no other option for my maid of honor. You’re my right hand gal, and I can’t imagine walking through this crazy world without you.

 - Amy

A Letter to My Girls: Allison

Dear Allison,

I practically lived at your house throughout our senior year of high school. Your mom probably never wants to see me again. But in all the time I’ve known you, I’ve come to think of you as a sister. Even though we graduated and traveled in different directions (me a little farther), we’ve always been able to star a conversation as through we’ve never spent any time apart. It’s one of the things I love most about our friendship.

You are one of the most creative people I have ever met, and I love the way you make beautiful things a part of your life. My admiration of that has lead to trying to better myself and I will be forever thankful for that. Someday, I’m sure we’ll figure out which of us is the magpie and which is the fox, but for now, I’m pretty sure we’re both happy bouncing back and forth.

I wake up every day to the picture from our final choir concert together. We’re a mess but we’re together. That’s what counts.

There was no way I was going to get married without you there. When I asked you to be my bridesmaid, I was prepared to come up and kidnap you if necessary (okay, not really.)

My life is a song where you are the delightful harmony.

 - Amy

A Letter to My Girls: Katie

Dear Katie, 

We met in middle school, that time of turmoil, tie-dye and tribulation. Let’s face it, lots of that was not pretty, but we made it through! And we’re still friends. WE survived MHS Choir and general shenanigans, and over the years, we’ve managed to stick together. I’m willing to guess it’s because of our mutual weirdness that the distance hasn’t been a burden that’s pulled us apart.

You’re the first to make me laugh, the one who makes me smile even when the situation might make otherwise have me in tears, and always the best bet for an amazing story. I’ve had hard times in the past and I can’t imagine getting through them without you. You are so amazing, and I’m lucky to have had you as my friend for so long.

Some days I smile just because your name is there in my chat window – even if we don’t have the time to talk. It’s that presence you have that is why everyone I’ve ever met who knows you loves you.

Asking you to be a bridesmaid was a no-brainer. I couldn’t imagine the wedding without you, and I’m so happy you were here for everything we had in store.

A world where you are not my friend, is a world in which the skies would be forever gray.

- Amy

A Letter to My Girls: Allie

Dear Allie,

In the past few years we haven't had the opportunity to spend as much time together as I'd like. First we moved apart. It was really strange going from 5-ish years of living within the same apartment complex - even in the same apartment for a year - to living what feels like half a state away. 

Then there was school and books. When you started working toward your degree, it was almost like you'd moved again, even though the campus was closer to me than your house was. About the same time, I started working on my novels in earnest and it was like time had decided to join distance on the list of things that were working against us.

You were my first friend in Arizona - a fact I still find ironic since we're both from Oregon to begin with. And you'll always be at the top of my list for tea parties and nights out. Hopefully we'll get to do more of both very soon.

When it came to picking the women who would stand up with me at the wedding, your name was a must on that list.

Thank you for being my friend, Allie. My life is richer for knowing you.

 - Amy

Amy Wedding: Thank You!

Earl and I wanted to put out an informal thank you to everyone who came to the wedding, those who couldn't, everyone who's been so lovely about it afterwards, and those who've followed along in this nearing two week long post series.

It's been an amazing journey that started over five years ago, and we could not be happier.

Amy's Wedding: Us in our Finery

So, one thing I knew right off the bat was that I wasn't going to be wearing white. I've always hated that convention, personally. I think it stems from my irritation with people telling me what to do when they have no business doing it.
I knew I was going to wear something I was comfortable in, and something, that with alterations, I could conceivably wear again. And I am most comfortable in black. So I went in search of a black wedding dress that didn't make me feel like I was chasing the rabbit down the goth hole.

I feel like I accomplished that.
I'm not going to tell you where it came from though, because the dress pictured is not actually the dress I purchased, and while I'm happy with how it worked out, I am not going to send business their way because of the fact they handled sending me said wrong dress rather poorly.

Earl wavered between what he and the guy's ended up with and the Reservoir Dogs look.  In the end, I think he really just didn't want to have to keep track of a suit jacket.

And he really loves any opportunity to pick me up.

(This is one of my favorite shots from the night!)

Images by Galaxie Andrews

Crown: Xappaland  (It also comes in gold)
Earrings: Bodyartforms
Necklace: The Jovilynne collection
Bracelet: From my lovely sister
Dress: Etsy
Shoes: Modcloth

Hat, Shirt, & Trousers: Khols
Vest & Bow tie: Men's Warehouse
Shoes: Converse

Amy's Wedding: The Reception

The best thing about weddings is the party.

 

 It was so wonderful to spend the day with our closest friends and family. It was a great time and we couldn't be happier to have shared it with them all.

 (I swear, I love these people, I'm not hiding out of fear!)

 And when the dancing got started it was a whole bunch of fun.

 And then Journey happened.

 The fun part, was when my crown fell off... and everyone else got a chance to try it on.

 And it was all made possible by this man: DJ Hartbreaks

Images by Galaxie Andrews
DJ Hartbreaks

Amy's Wedding: The Guy's and Girls

So if you thought these posts were done last week... think again! 

When it came down to the people we wanted to stand up with us at our wedding, it wasn't difficult to decide. 

Earl and his guys looked pretty dashing.

And my girls were just the picture of perfection!

 We have such great friends, and we feel so blessed to have them in our lives.

 Oh hey look, here's one of all of us.

And, as a final  image to leave you with... one of my favorite pictures of me and the girls...

Amy's Wedding: The Food!

 When Earl and I sat down and started talking about the food for the wedding, we decided we had to continue on with our non-traditional theme, and one of our very first thoughts was Short Leash Hotdogs. And we really couldn't have been happier.

 I had my favorite, the Lady (it has fried pickles!) and Earl had a Moki :)

 And of course, what else could we do for a cake substitute? Donuts!

 (The gorgeous table backdrop was set up by Earl and Robert - it's hard to tell, but there are more lights in all that silver.)

Images by Galaxie Andrews
Catering by Short Leash Hotdogs
Donuts from BoSa Donuts
(This particular BoSa doesn't have a website, but they're located at 3722 E. Indian School Road in
Phoenix)