Congratulations Cami and Dave

I finally brought my computer home and can now blog about my sister’s wedding. Sandy and I were so honored to have been a part of it. We drove up last Wednesday for Cami’s bridal shower. A good size chunk of Dave’s family was there as well as a group from Walla Walla. We had a wonderful, funny time. It was so great to get to celebrate Cami J The next few days were full of small projects, decorating and generally preparing. My mom was amazing and did a TON of work. Friday night was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. The church was decorated with Christmas trees and birch tree branches. It looked like they were getting married on a mountain and the Christmas trees made the whole church smell wonderfully. Dave’s family provided us with a tremendous rehearsal dinner. We felt very fancy.
The wedding day dawned early (as it does with an 11:00 wedding). Cami had done a wonderful job of planning and there was plenty of time for everything. She was absolutely stunning! Her dress was beautiful and then mom made a lace overlay for the top. So far I don’t have any pictures of the whole dress (sheesh, I know). But it’s really really pretty. We took pictures (which will hopefully follow soon) and got to enjoying each other before the ceremony. Both Dave and Cami have been and are actively involved in choirs (Cami is the Director of Music at a few elementary schools). They included several selections of music throughout their ceremony making it beautiful and very unique.
At the end of the wedding, they organized everyone for a picture which was taken from the balcony. I’m so excited to see how it turned out. Then it was off to the reception. They had a wonderful brunch buffet including an omlette bar (which Sandy was partial to). Each table was named after a mountain or other outdoor place they had been. Dave is a pretty major mountain climber. They also had clipboards (a nod to Cami’s teacher job) with games and recipes. The recipes were family cookie recipes from each of their families. Next to the cake table, they had ten cookie jars with those same family recipes. They even had cookie bags for people to take some home. We took some more family pictures and generally enjoyed each other.
The upside to a morning wedding is that you have the whole rest of the day. Much of the Snavely side (Nicole’s mom) was in town, so we had a mini-family reunion that afternoon. My (Nicole) cousin Jill is expecting her third child in May. We haven’t been around each other when we’ve been pregnant, so that was fun. Plus, they generously brought us boxes of the girl’s hand-me-downs. I’m excited to sort through them and get them settled in Peanut’s dresser. It’s always so great having extended family together. I think I particularly enjoy it now that we don’t live in the same town as any of them. We stayed up waaaay too late that night talking, but it was worth it.
The next morning we had a brunch at my parent’s house. Cami and Dave came over as did Dave’s immediate family. We ate, enjoyed some more good conversation and watched as Cami and Dave opened presents. It was a peaceful ending to the long weekend. Sandy and I drove home Sunday afternoon/evening and I basically fell into bed that nights.
Dave and Cami have quite the summer planned and I’ll keep you posted on other fun family things. Here are the best of the pictures I have. Dave’s sister Jenny is going to be sending around a thumb drive so we can all add our pictures – that way Dave and Cami end up with everybody’s shots. I’m planning on stealing the pictures as they come to me J

Whoo-hoo. My hair in curlers

Trees in the church

Oooh!

Isle decorations - baby's breath stinks :-)

The work crew

Back of Cami's dress (the part mom made)

Cami and Dave

Cutting the cake

Me with the sibs (Tim is getting married in August-hurray)

Mom and Cami