Kate got hitched!

I spent Fourth of July weekend as a bridesmaid for my friend Kate.  It was fantastic!  She looked beautiful, everything went flawlessly, and the weather was unseasonably perfect. It was by far the largest wedding I had ever attended - a whopping 500 guests.  They literally filled one of the biggest cathedrals in Springfield, which made walking down that long aisle as a bridesmaid slightly nervewracking.

Kate is one of my best friends, and has been since we discovered three weeks into our freshman year at Mizzou that we were in fact from the same hometown, lived in the same dorm, and were in the same sorority.  Slow on the uptake but fast friends.

She and I were roommates after school, but she started dating Jeff seriously after I had already moved to St Louis.  I've gotten to know him since, and I think they are perfect for each other.  Kate was one of the first people I thought of to be a bridesmaid when I got engaged, and I was incredibly honored when she asked the same of me.  Two months before my own walk down the aisle, I walked down just before my gorgeous friend.  It was so surreal. 

It was an amazing day, which started bright and early with hair, makeup, and nails at Kate's family's house.  Super girly fun day!

Beautiful bridal bouquet.

Just beautiful!  I cried, not gonna lie.

Matt took one of the coolest bridal portraits ever in this pre-ceremony session.  Yes, that's right ... we have the same wedding photographer!

Mizzou/Graham Hall/Kappa alums.

And then the church doors opened.

I want to look this happy right after I tie the knot too!

How cool is this!  Kate's dad bought and restored a 1928 Plymouth to take them to the reception and for a getaway.  And guess what!  They've decided to rent it out to people going forward.  If you're interested (and in the Central IL area) let me know!

The first leg of the Summer 2010 Kappa Wedding Triathalon is complete! One down, two to go, and we're headed to DC next!

Kate and Jeff's wedding was beautiful, classy, and tons of fun.  We also had the unique pleasure of seeing it as a dress rehearsal for ours, which will be at the same hotel in just a few weeks.  It was awesome to see the venue in action, and we were more than impressed. 

Congratulations, Kate!  I am beyond happy for you and Jeff.  Have an amazing time on your honeymoon! Make sure you come home in one piece ... I need you in September!