On December 18th, 2010, Claire Ashby married Gordon Rees in the Fresno, CA temple. It seems like such a momentous occasion warrants a blog mention. Here are some of our favorite moments from the big event:
1. The look on Claire's face when she entered the sealing room and saw everyone gathered. She and Gordon had been getting ready and hadn't seen all of the people who had come yet- she looked delighted, like all was right with the world.
2. Gordon's tie.
3. Gordon himself. You just gotta like that guy.
4. The juice mixing bar at the rehearsal dinner. Strawberry pear with sprite, anyone?
5. The Moms. Our Mom is so cute, and then Gordon's Mom?! I just want to hug her every time I see her.
6. Rachel and Carrie were lost (only a little bit lost, but we'd turned around a few times), trying to find the Salem Community Center. The world was all white with new snow, and we were looking, looking...when suddenly we could see Claire standing in a big picture window of a building, looking out for us. She was in her wedding dress and she looked like a portrait of a gorgeous winter bride, posed in a snowy wonderland. She was beautiful. We both made involuntary happy noises out loud when we saw her.
7. Asking Gordon which of his brothers was his favorite..."Well, I would say Evan, but then everyone would know I was lying."
8. Watching Jackson, Levi and Theo up on the stage at the stake center during the pizza lunch with their arms around each other, performing Jingle Bells.
9. When we were poised for a fight to get all of us into the bride's room at the temple (in theory she's only to have one attendant) and the nice temple lady just ushered us in happily.
10. Seeing Grandpa perform the ceremony, looking so distinguished. Beth said that was the way she will always remember him.
11. Rees brother William not fessing up to his team that he really did know the answer to several of their trivial pursuit questions.
12. Looking around the reception and realizing what a quality bunch of friends Claire has amassed over the years, and how many of them would go to great lengths to come for her big day.
13. Putting the kids out back in the RV and slowly cloooosing the door.
14. And of course, the dance. Thinking about the dance. Wondering if the dance was a good idea. Deciding to go ahead with the dance. Watching Beth's perfect dance video and realizing it just might work. Hearing back from friends and random strangers that they were on board. Worrying about the dance every time Claire and Gordon bemoaned an "awkward, choreographed" musical scene at a wedding they had been to recently. The sheer joy of dancing the dance with an entire roomful of people. And then watching the dance, repeatedly, to see Claire and Gordon's expressions, and all of the awesome people who played along. "I love you, I love you, I love you..."
nice, carrie! i hadn't heard about #6, it made me smile. great selection. i would say that my favorite was #3, cuz i AM super fond of that guy, but everyone would know i was lying (yeah #14!!).
ReplyDeleteand i love the idea of us "poised for a fight". i got a power ranger photo shoot idea.
ReplyDeleteI remember the enchiladas, the pizza, and the egg rolls. Hmmm, maybe I was hungry. I was also a big fan of the rain stopping when it was time to take some pictures.
ReplyDeleteAlso the fiery orange flowers against the grey backdrop of the day.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the flowers- it was crazy to open that box that arrived on our doorstep from somewhere in South America and find 150 stalks of flower buds crammed in there. And then checking in on them periodically throughout the day, watching hopefully as they gradually unfolded.
ReplyDeleteBeing the Chief Attendant.
Taking pictures at Fresno City in the drizzling rain.
The impromptu road-trip to the corner fruit stand to deliver Claire's computer cord before they took off on their honeymoon. At first I thought it was just going to be me, then Vivian said she'd come to keep me company, then Carrie got jealous, and then Sarah didn't want to be left behind, and Lucy knew a party when she saw it, and we all took off down the hill.
shopping, and trying on lots of outfits to find the right one, with carrie. and pulling the little girls dresses out of the box for the first time, in all their sparkly splendor, and seeing the girls faces.
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought this list was in descending order of favorite-ness, starting with the most favorite. Which put me just behind my tie. But then I saw that the dance was at the end, so obviously you were building up to the most favorite. Which puts me just behind the juice mixing bar. Either way, I'm flattered.
ReplyDelete