Once Upon A Time...

I went to a wedding.

But not just any wedding... Melanie Rees is one of my favorites persons of all time, so it's only fitting, her wedding would be ranked among my favorites of all time. The reception was peaceful, happy and charming. I felt like I had been transported out of the city and into the south. Not South Beach south, but elegant southern belle Georgia south.

Melanie was stunning. The dress was Ah-maze-ing! So often, Utah wedding dresses have the misfortune of looking like a Hanes tee shirt attached to a ball gown. That was not the case with this antique looking piece of loveliness. I might have to renew my vows, just so I can borrow it.

One of my biggest pet peeves with Utah weddings is people pay a fortune for a gigantic cake and then wait till almost everyone leaves to do the traditional first slice. It offends my wallet (serious waste of money people) and my cake loving stomach (I brought a present, can't I get one tiny piece?). I was happy to see that while Melanie had to stand in the wedding line almost the whole time, they served many a fabulous dessert, including ice cream cones and that her cake was super tiny, so it wasn't a waste. It was also a bonus that the cake was about the cutest thing I've ever seen and I had to stop myself from trying it on.

Melanie and Kevin looking radiant under a gorgeous gazebo. I told my husband I need a gazebo and he asked why and I said so I can practice I am 16 going on 17. Needless to say, the reference went straight over his head.

Please focus on the beautiful bride and not the six inches of roots on the top of my head. That problem has been rectified.

My cute family, enjoying the love, the perfect music, the wrap around porch, the vast green lawn, the croquet and ice cream cones... heck... we even enjoyed the pink house and that says a lot coming from me.

The theme was celebrating the future and honoring the past. She had pictures of relatives and loved ones weddings on the table as centerpieces. I was a fan of this, as I did the same thing at my wedding. Great minds think alike.

The cutest croquet player to ever walk the Earth.

We finished the night by riding a train around the grounds of This Is The Place. You can see River using the sign for more in this picture.

But alas... all good things must come to an end... well except for eternal marriages and families. Thank goodness for that.

The End and The Beginning.