bridesmaids

Valerie and Eston 2015

9:30 PM



I adore this girl. From the first time I met her, we clicked. We were assigned to be companions while serving LDS missions in Argentina. I hadn't spoken English for nearly 9 months (other than emails home to my family, which were awkwardly half Spanish, half English anyway) and Valerie was still working on her Spanish. It was an awkward and hilarious time. So many experiences that bonded us like no other 5 weeks in anyone's life could have. Without going into Too Much Information, she took care of me when I was crazy sick, we survived several days without electricity to heat our apartment or water in dead of winter, weird food and broken toilets. Extreme bonding time.
So when she not-so-slyly told me that she was getting married in March, I HAD to be there!

President and Sister Gulbrandsen are some of my most favourite people on the planet. Steff flew in for the day and it was lovely to see her. We were all companions at some point. Love these people.

I mean, we're really cute. haha

Some of the friends that just hung around the temple for a while. Mostly because of our insane love for Val Pal. (Jess, Katherine, the beautiful bride, me and Steffannie)


Oh yeah! Eston was there, too.... haha

All photo credit goes to Mikki Platt, wedding photographer extraordinaire, who also did our wedding pictures. I will forever be obsessed with our photos and Valerie's are just as amazing! Mikki has photographed cousins and friends since our wedding and she's not only a talent behind the camera but the sweetest person ever!

bride

Whirlwind weekend

6:05 AM

We were in and out in Utah. Got in Friday night around 11 and left Sunday afternoon at 5.


But in between? In between those two flights, some of the most precious moments of my life occurred.

What a glorious weekend!

I only have one biological sister. And I always joke that she's my favorite one. Most of the time, it's not a joke. 

Look at this girl. She is someone who knows who she is, has an idea of who she wants to be and doesn't bend to make people feel comfortable about what she likes and dislikes. Makes her headstrong at times but she has the kindest, most tender heart you may ever know. 

She married her best friend on August 2, 2014 in the Manti Utah LDS Temple. When a worthy member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints enters the temple, he/she makes a covenant to God, (a temple covenant is a sacred promise that when kept, meaning, when obedient, extends beyond this life on earth)  and promises to keep the commandments to receive the blessing of eternal marriage. It's a marriage for which we do not see an end, not even death. I can't think of a more hopeful, peace-bringing promise than to have eternity with my love so I wish it for everyone. 
Congratulation, Ruth and Kameron!


Bridesmaids. Remember my post about trying to find the dress? :)

This guy is my all-time favorite wedding date. We've been to quite a few of people we absolutely love! I picked his tie. The pic makes it look pink but it's really a very cool orange tie. Looked perfect. 
I got lots of compliments on the green. I'll have to buy more green things. This is the only green article of clothing I own. I also am in love with the flower crowns we wore instead of holding bouquets. Good call! 

The beautiful bride with my darling parents. 

Cutting the cake! Beautiful decorated by Courtnie, a former roommate of Ruth's and fellow bridesmaid. Courtnie's mom made the cake, which was fabulous. They were a dream team!

I didn't get as many pictures as I probably would have taken had my dress had pockets for my phone. That's why there was a real photographer there and we shall see more pictures in the near future. 

But I love these people. My people were there with us Saturday night. So many people helped pull the reception together and then clean up afterward! Haha we forget about that part but it was so much easier with loving hands. 
I have to give a shoutout to my sister's amazing friends that helped pull it all together in the last few months. They were crazy busy the week before the big day and the day of was a little insane. 
I am so grateful for the blessing of safety for Kameron's sisters. On the way back to Utah County from the Manti Temple, the bumper of Nicole's car fell off, the car ran over it and popped one of their tires. In the middle of nowhere. I'm so glad they didn't get hurt and that they still made it in time for the reception. It was hot and I'm sure it was incredibly stressful for all of them. I'm glad it wasn't worse although I wish there was some way we could have helped them better. We love you, Muhlstein's!

 * * *

Sunday we spent in Salt Lake City with the Larson's. We met sweet little Ari, our nephew, when he was being de-swaddled. It was THE cutest thing in the world to watch him stretch his tiny arm and legs after being wrapped up tight. 

I can't imagine a better way to spend an afternoon than with a newborn sleeping in your arms. 

Uncle Taylor must have helped Ari feel comfortable enough to relieve some of the gas that must have been bothering him because the 5 minutes they were chillin on the couch like this, Ari was ripping and rolling.

It breaks my heart to think about how different our darling little nephew will be whenever we get to see him next. We don't know when that will be! But that Sunday was just a tough day for me all around. 
We said goodbye to everyone and we headed to the airport. 
My parents and two of my brothers came up to see us off. (Sister and brand new brother-in-law were on their honeymoon :) )
I only got pictures with my dear parents although now I'm really kicking myself for not getting pictures with my brothers. Especially since Sammy (no one calls him that anymore, just me) will be entering the Provo MTC in just a couple of weeks to prepare to serve in the Honduras Comayagüela mission for two years. 

Not happy enough for real smiles


TTFN Utah 
Back to New York for two more weeks and then off to London and our new life!

Camille and Chad

Camille got hitched!

5:34 AM

Ever since I met Taylor, I heard about his cousin Camille. He was actually texting her during our first date! It makes sense when you know how big a University of Utah fan Camille is and how close she is with the whole Larson clan. They would discuss every football game even if they weren't watching together. 


So from the first date, I knew Camille was special. She has passion, an amazing sense of humor and all-around fantastic personality. Camille's just the greatest. 

When she met someone and got engaged in record time, there was some shock but we were all so happy for her! She knows what she wants and they went for it. 

March 22, 2014, we made our way to the beautiful Salt Lake City temple. I loved everything the sealer told them about marriage and what it means to have started their new life together in the House of The Lord. 


This girl didn't even want a wedding dress but she rocks it! What a babe!

Meet the Fishbine's. Camille and Chad fell head over heels for each other and doesn't it show? Look at the love shining from those faces. 

Anyone who knows Camille should not be surprised that the Ute colors draped the whole dinner in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Loved the red, black and white! 

Here comes the happy couple! 

First dance. Of course, it came AFTER she slipped in the Utah fight song and the Utes in the room stood to clap and sing with her. Classic Camille. 

Natalie (about 6 months pregnant) and her husband David flew in for the weekend. I also had to post this picture because of Nick's face. The whole family performed the cheesiest song in history to fulfill a promise made 13 years ago when Camille visited the Larson's in Connecticut and heard the song playing. 

You have to hear it for yourself. It was hard to get through the whole song without busting up. It's too much. 
Love Moves in Mysterious Ways by Julia Fordham. 

The Larson's can cut a rug. We had a great time on the dance floor. 

Can't beat the view from the Manchester room in the Memorial Building! 

And I had the best wedding date! Love that guy. 

eternal marriage

Last wedding post, I promise...

10:47 PM

Actually, that's not true. 


I have wedding day pictures and I while I can't truly promise to never ever post about our wedding day ever again, I just wanted to share a little bit of my most blessed day yet. I got to marry my greatest friend, biggest fan, and unconditional supporter. I can't imagine life getting better than this. I don't know what I'd do without that guy. He's just my favorite. 

It was an incredibly perfect day. Even though the cold wind started getting a little out of hand, everything else was a dream. 

Photography by: Mikki Platt Photography

Mr. and Mrs. Larson

My face says it all...  

Hooray for spectacular family and friends!

Two things: I love his face and also, my sista friend did my hair. Her talented little hands were tingling to do something cool and she produced a stellar do! Do a close up on those braids. They're so great!

Shout out to Jerry at Hillside Floral who pulled off an amazing win in the floral department!

If you couldn't tell by pictures yet, I am obsessed with purple...

I love the Manti Utah temple. It will always be my most special place. I will be eternally grateful for the choice we made to be sealed for time and all eternity. We believe that as we obey the commandments of God, keep the sacred covenant we have made to care for and honor each other through life, our joy will be full with our family for eternity. 

East doors. 

This is the Place-Garden building. Nephi and his team from Moon Lighting did an exceptional job!

All the center pieces were lovely. The touch of orange was perfect :)

Amazing lantern-y guys that matched wonderfully. My mother-in-law now owns 12 of them so if you want to rent/buy them from her, just let me know :) They're quickly becoming a hot commodity. 

So much cake. But really delicious! Cake testing was one of the things Taylor participated in as an extremely willing victim...I mean, fiancé. 

We ate the cake. 

That's all for now folks. Don't worry, someday the newlywed thing will wear off and I'll stop being obsessed. 





















bouquet

One month and a little bit

4:50 AM

I am so anxious to re-live our wonderful celebration and creation of our little family through pictures and video of our most precious day yet. Looking back on that windy day in November, everything went as well as it possibly could have. Of course we had no way to plan for unkind, temperature-dropping wind but other than that the day couldn't have gone better!

Of course I didn't have the time nor the state of mind to snap pictures on my phone or anything. Luckily friends shared on social media so I can have those for now.

My lovely bridesmaids took bunches of pictures. Thanks heaven for them and their treasured friendship. These women are so special to me.


(Dominique Stay...soon to be Tecklenberg, Jo Wulffenstein, my sis, Steffannie Peña, Valerie Whitehead, and Kiley Kapp...soon to be Stewart!) not pictured, for some unknown reason, is my sister-in-law Natalie. 


My darling Jo-nana (ps she won't like it if you call her that. It's reserved for yours truly)
We have been friends since 2009 when we road tripped to a magical place: Disneyland. It was an epic trip that triggered all the years that followed. We were inseparable for a year. I tell this story because even my family had no idea of the extent of our friendship. Hence, bridesmaid status. Love her. 


This gal. What a doll. We went on missions to meet each other. I love her sense of humor. And she's just really, really pretty. It's inspiring. 


Steffannie Peña. This is the girl that brought Taylor and I together. Otherwise, he wouldn't have stood a chance. Steffannie's visit to Utah fall of 2012 is the reason we had a wedding fall of 2013. 

Kelli. What can I say? She's irresistible and I love her. A roommate that enriched my life in so many ways! Best pillow talk of my life. 

The high school friends who made it! Love these guys. Friends for eternity. The Brown's, Jolley's, Klemetson's and my cousins, Brigham and Jessica :)

Yummy, beautiful cake from One Sweet Slice. Chocolate raspberry cake was 
A-MAZ-ING. 

Groom's cake :) So appropriate for my husband.

Marvelous Catering a.k.a Molly's in Provo. I don't think you could go wrong with this catering service. I've loved everything I've had from them from our wedding to my parent's work parties, never a disappointment. 

There's Natalie! Complete bridesmaids. Freezing a little in the 50 mph wind. Sorry ladies. 

Our very unique send off. Flashing lights in those white and purple balloons. The extremely strong winds of the day whisked those puppies away. 
If you didn't catch on, purple is my most favorite color. I know tons of brides have used purple but I am most definitely partial to my shades and usage of iris, lilac and eggplant. 

More pictures of my beautiful bouquet to come. So amazing and spectacular, especially considering my florist debacle which gave dear Jerry Rose of Hillside Floral about 2 weeks to pull this off. I feel really badly about that but I will be eternally grateful for his fantastic work! 
I've already told the story of my ring in another post :) Also, don't judge how weird my hand looks. Can't explain that away. 

Life together is GREAT! Being with your best friend for time here on this earth and for all eternity is the best thing I could ever wish! 



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