Yesterday was one of those days that provide you with tons of opportunities to either exercise your patience or start chucking random objects out your car window. Fortunately, I chose the former, but I’m still giving myself an “F” for failure to:

1. Closely examine the corresponding map before jotting down directions to the wedding onto the back of the wedding invitation.
2. Find the correct road to turn onto to get to the wedding.
3. Realize I was not going the right way before there was enough time to correct my course.

As you can probably guess, I did not make it to the wedding on time. I had left in time and I would have been there 15 minutes before it started if I hadn’t gotten lost.  Instead, I was 15 minutes late, just in time to see them pour the sand, kiss, and be pronounced husband and wife. I caught the last 4 minutes. Fortunately 4 minutes was all I needed to capture my favorite picture from any wedding….

I was able to run to Walmart between the ceremony and the reception to quickly print out this pic and frame it for their wedding gift. When Eric and I got married, a friend of my mom’s did this for us and it was one of my favorite gifts. Ever since then it has been one of my signature gifts to give as well, if I have the opportunity anyway. Sometimes I get a terrible seat for taking pictures and I have to go with Plan B. Plan B is a gift card. Hehe.

The wedding took place at one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been, the Rotary Gardens. I can’t believe I have never been there before. I would love to go back and take more photos because it’s just incredible how scenic this park is. What a perfect place for a wedding…

After the ceremony, Andy, Arisa and the rest of the bridal party stayed for a while to take plenty of photos. I took the opportunity to stand to the side (out of the photographer’s way, of course) and snap away. I also got the chance to talk with some friends that I haven’t seen in a long time. Eric has such a wonderful group of friends. They are so funny and loyal to one another, as well.  We love them and wish we could see them more often!

I didn’t stay at the reception for terribly long because I started to miss my little man too much, but I did stay long enough to enjoy some of the scrumptious cheesecake and brownies that they had laid out for dessert. I would have taken a picture, but I was too busy eating it. Mmm….

I’m so glad I did not miss the wedding altogether, even though it was a close call. Next time I am going to really study the map, so even if I do miss my turn, I’ll have an idea of how to get there anyway.