On the day of the wedding one of Lynn’s friends came over early and did our hair (and my sister’s) as a gift to us. We decided to have something that honored our families in our hair–Lynn wore a hairpin from her great-great-grandmother and I pinned in some orchids from my grandmother’s garden. While we were getting our hair done (and the phone calls started pouring in asking when and where to go, announcing arrivals, and asking for advice) my friend Katie set up a secondary hair station for everyone else, and Minna began doing all of the makeup.
images by Karl Knize and Connie Kalsch
Initially we had planned to go to a salon to have everyone’s hair and makeup done, but I’m really glad we skipped it. Everyone looked much more like they do normally, and not pulled back into elaborate updos. It was more casual, and more comfortable to get ready this way.
Out on the porch everyone who wasn’t getting beautified started making the flowers, and my family headed over to the site to put together the decorations. I was so touched by the number of people who showed up to help!
Everyone was really excited about the powder-puff tree in front of the house (we used them in the boutonnières) and for a while everyone was walking around with bright red powder puffs in their hair or behind their ears.
My mom and sister brought the dresses and we put them on and stood still for some last-second adjustments. They were totally worth the wait. They fit perfectly and felt absolutely comfortable. I had originally wanted a longer skirt, but there wasn’t time to make it, so I ended up with a shorter wedding dress (by the way, it was fabulous! I didn’t step on my hem all night, or worry about walking around on the lawn or fuss with a bustle–better pictures coming in future posts!). Then, after we got dressed, right at the last minute before we headed over to the site the rain dried up and the sun broke through the clouds.
Getting ready together was really great—Lynn and I got to see each other getting our most beautiful, and also could step in to calm each other down when we started getting nervous. I feel like our relationship is more about the romance that comes with everyday life—being together, seeing each other change—rather than being about a series of heart-stopping romantic moments. So there was no instant when we first saw each other in our wedding finery, just a series of little moments noticing each other getting more and more beautiful until everything was finished and we were ready to go together into the world.
What I love about this post and the photos is that they really capture how weddings are about building family. It really looks as though your families and friends came together to help build you’re wedding, which of course is symbolic of how they are supporting you as you build your marriage and fily… That and you both look hot! :)
[...] Part 1: Wedding Morning [...]