A lot of the hustle and bustle of getting ready happened before Lisa arrived with a camera. And I sort of like that. It made the time with my girls all the more intimate. From about 11:30 on, the seven of us were together and for the most part, piled into Kristen's hotel room at the Citizen. Everyone did their own makeup except Kristen did my eye makeup. Erin curled almost everyone's hair.
We were a well-oiled, getting-ready-machine.
Around one o'clock when Lisa was set to arrive, I started panicking about my own hair. We had never really done a trial run and this was sort of make or break time. veronica was in charge and I get nervous just thinking about how much pressure I put on her. I sat on a desk chair in the bathroom and in two minutes and three bobby-pins, she had my hair up in an elegant, simple style. It was exactly what I wanted. I cried. I actually cried. I looked like a bride and a felt like a bride and if everyone wasn't already expecting an E & P wedding I would have married vern right then and there. That's the only photo I wish we had : me crying and her spraying me with hairspray.
Once the hair was up and we'd all had a sip or two of champagne, Lisa arrived and started to take detail photos. The girls changed into their gray dresses (from j.crew) and it was time to put on my dress.
I loved my wedding dress. I love my wedding dress.
I would never change it for a bigger more "traditional" gown. I never thought I would be a traditional gown girl but it still surprises me I went the J.Crew route. But I am thrilled that I did. It was perfect for me and for that day.
The girls had never seen it on and as I stepped into it and zipped it up, they "oohed" and "ahhed". I remember feeling so overwhelmed and so very much like a bride.
I had to change my underwear three times until something finally didn't show through the dress fabric. That's probably an over-share, but also a piece of advice : be prepared. Bring backups. I had a whole suitcase full of back up undergarments.
So then we were dressed. We had flowers. We reapplied lipstick and were off and running.
When we were ready to roll, Lisa and (her husband) Geoff choreographed the girls and the boys to get us out of the hotel and to Capitol Park where we were going to take our bridal party photos.
We walked a long, long way and randomly, seriously so randomly, we walked past this poppy wall art. It was pretty perfect.
to be continued…
all photography by Lisa Welge
enJOY it 
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