Hannah's Wedding!

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- Email: shane87@csufresno.edu
- Password: overton


My sister became a married woman this past weekend. It was beautiful and wonderful and I am SO happy for them both. I worked my butt off for their wedding and it turn out great! I was so happy, especially because they were so happy.

I was nervous at first about my parents seeing each other for really the first time since the beginning of the divorce process. It was extremely awkward that first moment when they had to say hello. I had been rushing to get to the church on time. I got off work Friday at 3pm. I ran to my mom's house with all the decorations for the Bachelorette Party, luckily Carrie (my sister's other bridesmaid) was there to help me decorate! We blew up probably 40 balloons, hung streamers, and put out food and prizes. Then I ran home at 4:15 to change my clothes and rush back to the church at 5pm for the rehearsal! We did our run through and it was quick! I don't think I actually retained anything from it other than "I'm supposed to stand in front of my mom once I get on the stage". LOL. I felt like a little midget, I swear I'm the smallest person in the entire bridal party... even Sheldon the best man (Shane's brother) who is 15 is taller than me.

I could tell Hannah and Shane were a bit nervous, I think mostly because they were afraid they were going to forget what to do on the actual day of the wedding :o) My mom was being a trooper, even sat with my Dad through the rehearsal and spoke with my grandparents. She was sticking it out but I could tell it was difficult. During the rehearsal I had everyone sign a matted picture frame. After they had signed it I put it together with the poem/prayer I had written for Shane and Hannah in a frame.

We drove to Salsa's in Old Town Clovis and had our dinner. Hannah gave out her gifts to the Flower Girls and bridesmaids. We got our incredibly cute and oversized Betsy Johnson rings. We each had a different styled heart to wear. Mine was perfect because of course it was zebra print :) Carrie got a completely covered rhinestone one and Ashley O. (Shane's sister) got a polka dotted one. We also opened our bridesmaids shirts that Hannah made for us. Mine was definitely the BEST. On the back it said Bennett - Big Sis and on the front it said Maid of Honor. Way cute! Then I had Hannah open my present, the framed poem which I ended up reading for the entire restaurant out loud. LOL. And yes, I cried... couldn't hold it in. I guess what I wrote meant a lot more to me then I had thought. It was as if at that moment, as I was blessing their marriage, I realized it was reality. My baby sis is gonna be married and having a baby! Anyway, it was very special and I hope they liked it. Hannah also opened her Bride shirt that I had made. All white, on the front it said The Beautiful Bride and on the back it said Future Mrs. Overton.

After the dinner we all went back to my mom's house for the Bachelorette Party, and we all wore our designated handmade shirts. The party turned out really well, I orchestrated most of it. Just letting everyone know what games we were playing. We did the Advice Pot first which was pretty funny and a little naughty LOL. Then we played "How Well Do You Know The Groom"... and Hannah got to answer questions that I had asked Shane the day before. When she got one wrong she had to put a piece of bubble gum in her mouth. We had a the toilet paper wedding dress game, the crossing legs game, and others. The last game we played was with the bananas, they were frozen and covered in chocolate. We dipped them in whipped cream and we all had to try to lick the cool whip off the fasted. Shane's mom ended up winning, LOL. I was surprised, hehe. Hannah seemed to have a blast and that's all I could ask for. My friend Ashley helped me clean up the place and finally it was home for bed!

I ended up going to bed at almost 2am and then was up at 6am on Saturday, Wedding Day. Brandon had to go to the Academy all day and I had to be ready to leave the house to be at the Reception Hall at 8am. On my way there my mom called and decided that she now wanted to sit with my dad at the Reception. Since I was in charge of the seating and place cards she wanted me to change the plan we had before in which my mom and dad sat at their own separate tables. So... I had to rearrange everything last minute. I got to the hall and no one was there so I waited and finally got in. I had to hurry and figure out who was seating where, etc. Then I had to decorate the tables with M&M's and glitter and finally set up their picture frame table. Ahhh!!!

After, I rushed to the Salon. I'm lucky my car didn't break down because I had absolutely NO gas and NO time to stop to get some. I went all the way across town to get my hair done on time, I got there at 9:30am. They started my hair which came out way cool and then I had my makeup done! I would have rather had my hair down and my makeup a bit differently but oh well. Then everyone else got there and started getting put together. We didn't leave there till right before 2pm. We rushed back to the church so we could get dressed and Travis (the photographer) could start taking pictures of us getting ready. From there the time seemed to just slip right by me.

I don't think I've ever had a night that went so fast! One minute we were pretending to get ready for the photographers, helping Hannah get in and out of her dress to go pee, or fixing our hair. The next minute we are waiting to walk down the aisle, suddenly I am standing next to Hannah and Shane as they say their vows trying not to cry. The wedding ceremony turned out beautifully, especially when the place was jam packed with people. I couldn't tell you what music was playing, I didn't even have time to think. Everything seemed so fast and emotional. Time seemed to stop a little when the little crazy children decided they were gonna make the front of the church their playground. After that was resolved Hannah and Shane exchanged rings, lit the Unity Candle, and were Man and Wife! More pictures were taken and then we were off to the Reception, again I thought my gas tank wasn't gonna make it. We were supposed to ride in the limo but we didn't think it would have enough time to come back to get Hannah and Shane so we all rode separately.

The reception turned out perfectly. The tables looked amazing, the entrance was wonderful with the signing table, gift table, guestbook table (which barely made it to the reception). The place was packed and it was a blast. My speech went better than I could have imagined. I had planned to read off my typed version seeing as I tend to get rather emotional. But I decided last minute to turn and face Hannah and just speak directly to her. I was surprised at how well I did and how much I remembered. I hadn't even practiced the speech it just came out! The entire bridal party said a few words and so did my Dad. The food was good, the cake was gorgeous and sitting right in the middle of the dance floor which was in the middle of the reception hall. Hannah danced with Shane, and basically everyone. I was in charge of the money dance in which Hannah and Shane collected some serious dough! Lol.

Then the bouquet toss which I am happy to state... I caught! Yay! Brandon tried to also catch the garter but failed :( Owell, hehe. It was fun, we danced like crazy people like we always do. Then it was time to wrap up! A few of us were going to go just down the road to The Cellar to dance even more but figured it would be better judgement not to. We went home and it was finished... the one day that seemed like an hour! LOL.

There's no doubt in my mind that Hannah and Shane are meant for each other. I miss seeing Hannah as much as I used to when we lived together but things have definitely been better since she's grown into adulthood. Great things are in their future and I was so happy to have been a part of their marriage :o)

luv Nat