to the old country!

You never know how a wedding will go. Sure, you're honored and excited when one of your best friends asks you to stand beside her when she says "I Do" but you honestly never know how it will all pan out. Will you like your dress? Will she lose her S hours before the ceremony and have you putting together additional flower arrangements? Will you get along with all the bridesmaids, sans power struggle? Will you feel okay about latching arms with the chosen groomsman? So many variables to consider.

This past weekend I was in my lovely friend Beth's wedding. She and I have been at bff status since college, we immediately bonded from preacher's kid syndrome and general sarcascm, so I was very excited to stand on that top step beside her as she made it official with Mr. Chandler. Unlike most weddings, where the bridesmaids are more like hired hands to finish up all last minute details while wearing David's Bridal, this was all about spending time with each other, see also: laughing and generally having fun. Shocking, right?! We did all the typical pre-wedding bridesmaid activites; i.e. getting the nails did, bridal brunch hosted by her mom, painting pottery for the newleyweds while eating cake in the shape of a corset, and semi-embarrassing the bride with plenty of questionable lingerie. Past that, there was a lot of story telling and laughing until it literally hurt - a sign of good friends having the best time together.

Now I know what you're thinking - sure, you had an excellent time with errybody else but where was the Bride? She was right there with us. Drinking the OJ and dancing to low-quality rap videoes minutes before walking down the aisle. So when the time came and that instrumental medly played, I walked down the aisle with the Ginger and smiled as I stood on my blue dot waiting for Bethany to walk down, too. She was beautiful. Chase cried, she cried, we all cried. Weddings get me every time. After the ceremony and all the pictures and all the little southern ladies saying "you're next" (mmmm excuse me what?!) and 2, ok 3 pieces of cake, they were off! Riding into the sunset. It's a bittersweet feeling, watching one of your best girl friends leave with her HUSBAND. Happy that she's happy, a little teary-eyed that she's all grown up and someone's wife.

Great weekend, great friends, lots of laughing, and lots and lots of love.

Now...I need a nap.