Southern Sweethearts: Becoming a Blushing Bride

The day had finally arrived!

I awoke sleep-deprived and very confused because there were some weird noises coming from the bathroom. The other girls woke up to the same noise and we realized my MOH was taking a bath in the enormous tub. We had a good laugh and joked about her sounding like a trapped dolphin splashing around.

Soon after that, my FSIL called to tell us she was on the way to take me to my hair appointment. She had opted to stay at her house the night before and was bringing my dress and shoes when she came to pick me up. But she couldn't find the shoes (which were supposed to be with the dress) and so began the Great Missing Louboutins Saga! And just to start the day off with a little more drama, the only place FSIL could find to do my hair was across town, costing us precious hours off my wedding day timeline. But at least the salon did a fabulous job on my hair!


When we got back to the hotel, I opened the door to chaos.


The room was FULL of people bustling around. The photographers and videographers were there, all the maids, my mom, FMIL, and makeup artist. Thirteen people crammed into the room, eight of whom were trying to get ready for a wedding. It was a bit overwhelming, but so exciting at the same time.


Because the hair salon was so far away, we got a bit of a late start with makeup and photos. I had hoped to be able to use the getting ready time as a chance to relax and take in the day, but all I could do was think about all the things that still needed to be done and the stuff I knew wasn't going to get done. I also wanted to eat lunch and drink my Sofia Mini Blanc de Blancs wine I purchased for the gals while getting ready. No such luck. :(

I didn't get to eat (other than two glazed donuts on the ride to the hair salon) and didn't want to drink on an empty tummy before the wedding. Ladies, no matter what, find time to eat!


We had a hard time with one of the false lashes. It took what seemed like forever to make it stick!


Finally! Makeup was done! And Jules did a fabulous good job as well! I was officially a "blushing bride". :D

I also got a chance to take a few quick sips from my Sofia mini (because I didn't spend $4 a pop on them NOT to get at least a sip!). AND because I'm the Bride, that's WHY! :P


As soon as I was done in the bathroom, the other gals took over and sped to get ready.

One of the few times MOH Amanda sat down during the day. But notice, she has phone in hand, probably getting ready to touch base with the DOC again. She was my lifesaver!

I can't remember much from the getting ready, but the one thing I DO remember is being on the phone with the boys A LOT. I called from all the girls' phones trying to catch the boys off guard and get in contact with my soon-to-be-hubby. But they had a similar "no-phone" policy for Mr. Lab, and I kept getting groomsmen. I tried my best to see how far along they were in getting ready so we could start photos, but I kept getting the run-around.

Turns out, they didn't realize I was being serious about the formal photos because they thought one of our photographers was going to be showing up to take photos of them getting ready first. But that never happened, so they kept putting off getting ready not realizing no one was coming. They didn't finally get dressed until they found out we were on our way to take photos in a nearby park. Ah, drama drama drama. :)


I helped the other girls into their dresses while eying my own. I put on my accessories while the girls made finishing touches to their outfits.


And then it was time to add the ultimate finishing touch to my wedding day attire. The dress:


But you'll have to wait until next time to see me in it. ;)

Okay okay! I won't leaving you hanging completely:


*All photos by Lindsi Jones Photography. Some images have been slightly altered by moi.

Previously on Southern Sweethearts:
Southern Belles Do Tea
A Rude Vendor Interrupts Our Rehearsal
We Have Dinner on the Savannah River
A Spooky Ghost Tour and My Last Fling
Our Wedding Trailer
Next Up: I Shimmy Into My eBay Dress!

Southern Sweethearts: Our Wedding Trailer!

Ever wish your life had a soundtrack? Well, our wedding does!

Here's just a little preview of what's to come. :)

Time Of The Season from Dustin Blake on Vimeo.

Oh, and the barefoot thing? That's because my precious Loubies were missing until about 5 minutes before the ceremony began! But at least it made for a cool storyline!

Previously on Southern Sweethearts:
Southern Belles Do Tea
A Rude Vendor Interrupts Our Rehearsal
We Have Dinner on the Savannah River
A Spooky Ghost Tour and My Last Fling
Next Up: The Gals Get Ready!

Southern Sweethearts: Spooky Guests and One Last Fling

The riverboat docked and we said goodbye to some of our rehearsal dinner guests who wanted to call it a night. But a few brave souls stuck around for the next event on our jam-packed wedding eve: the ghost tour!

Just before we hopped on the Old Town Trolley Tours to go on their “Ghosts and Gravestones Frightseeing Tour”, I heard a loud popping noise in the distance.

I turned around and saw this:

Fireworks!

I felt like the Savannah was congratulating us! It was so random to see fireworks on a Friday in November. We stopped to enjoy the show before boarding the trolley.

Mr. Lab and I get ready to be spooked!

That ghost tour didn't know what hit it. Our group took up more than half the seats and we were quite the giggling, tequila-liquored bunch.

See what I mean?

I've been on a ghost tour before in Savannah and it was pretty creepy. But with all of us cracking inappropriate jokes about the poor souls the tour was about, it was actually just plain funny most of the time.

BUT...there was some convincing creepiness. Like photo evidence of a "Confederate ghost":


Oh, you don't see it? Lemme highlight that for ya. Don't forget to click the photo to make it bigger and scare the mess out of you.


And then the was the famous EVP recording in the basement of the Sorrel-Weed house. The show "Ghost Hunters" visited the home and did all their "testings" to prove paranormal existence.

The last photo we took before screaming like little girls.

As the tour guide was telling us the story about the recording Ghost Hunters did, she exited the room, closed the doors, and turned off the lights. Then we heard the famous recording. Clicky below to hear it.

The recording ended and I had goosebumps at this point. We were in complete darkness and out of nowhere the doors to our right started rattling!

Everyone screamed bloody murder!!!

Come to find out, groomsman Trey (a Savannah native who'd been on the tour before), had locked our tour guide out of the room and she was just trying to get back in! He swears up and down that he thought he was unlocking the door, not locking it! Whatever Trey. Thanks for the tinkle in my pants.

We made our way outside to finish up the tour and compose ourselves.

Ahhh, we're soooo scared!

Um, is that orb a ghost trying to follow us home so it can crash our wedding?

The ghost tour was over and it was time to make our way to the hotel to end the night. But my girls weren't having it. It was my last night as a single lady and we couldn't just go to bed!

So the first thing we did was "get back" at Mr. Lab for having an over the top bachelor party at a strip club in Atlanta. We spotted some hot firefighters and decided to get a picture with them to make Mr. Lab jealous.

But the really hot ones didn't want to pose for photos. :( They probably had an inkling it would end up on a website somewhere... ;)

When we finally arrived at the hotel, we made our way to the bar and had a free round of cocktails thanks to a coupon we got at check in.

And after my girls told the bartenders it was the night before my wedding, they offered me a "blow job".



And you know me, when I haz the drinks, I haz to dance:


Since the firefighters let me down, we got the bartenders to make up for it!



Don't worry, Mr. Lab has seen these photos and thinks we're even now! ;)

Finally, it was time to start calling it a night. Brittany and I made a quick stop to the ladies' room on the way back and naturally, we had to take a photo while in there. (Don't hate. You'd take photos in every nook of the gorgeous Mansion too if you were there!)


When we got back into the room, we all decided to order a pizza. Good thing we were starving:




I took my pizza over to the corner and got to work on the final last-minute items and emails. I probably stayed up until about 4 am that night. I don't know how in the world I was functioning on the wedding day...


How late did you stay up the night before your wedding? Brides-to-be, are you setting a curfew for yourself?

Previously on Southern Sweethearts:
Southern Belles Do Tea
A Rude Vendor Interrupts Our Rehearsal
We Have Dinner on the Savannah River
Next Up: Our Wedding Day!

Southern Sweethearts: Dinner on the River

As soon as the rehearsal wrapped up, we hopped in cars and raced through Savannah's historic squares to River Street. We had a boat to catch and it was scheduled to leave the dock any minute!

Quick photo op before boarding!

Some of the guys must have gotten lost on the way to River Street because we had to hold the riverboat to wait on them. (Like, I literally kept standing on the ramp to the boat to make sure they didn't depart without my entire party!). They all made it and we were able to leave just a couple minutes late.

But we were still missing four very important people.

My oldest brother and his family didn't make it in town in time for the dinner. Not only did we not get to catch up (he was on a rare leave from Iraq), but MIL Lab paid for 4 unused and very expensive dinner tickets. :(

Once on the boat, I found my ladies who had saved a spot AND a cocktail for me!

The classic Cosmopolitan. My girls KNOW me. :)
PS. Who's ready for SATC2?!? THIS girl is!!!

My right hand gals.

Before I knew it, we were off and sailing away into the night!

Look! We're moving!!!

I wish I had thought to take photos of all the yummy food! It was served buffet style and I scarfed all of mine down since I had hardly eaten the entire day.

After dinner, it was photo time. Our always conscientious groomsman Jimmy took most of the photos in this post. Thanks Jimmy!

Mama Lab and I pose with our pastor and his wife. He just retired this Easter and I'm so sad I won't hear his great sermons anymore. :(

Of course Mr. Lab and I have to take photos together!

Best man Don and his wife Meredith.

Bridesmaids Ashley and Brooke!

Family time!

Mr. Lab with his mom and sister.

Me with my siblings and mom. Just missing my oldest brother... :(

I'm a sucker for photo-in-a-photo photos! :P

Mr. Lab's family is very small. It's practically just him, his mom, and his sister. But my family's size definitely makes up for it! He had fun taking photos with his soon to be nieces! (And this isn't even ALL of them! There's two more plus a nephew!)

Haleigh, one of our flower girls and probably Mr. Lab's biggest fan. I'll have to watch this one when she gets older because I'm convinced she's in love with him!

Abbi, one of our Junior Bridesmaids.

Autumn, the other Junior Bridesmaid.

The riverboat had a live band that broke out some sombreros and maracas and encouraged Mr. Lab and his brother-in-law to make fools of themselves on the dance floor.

Forced awkward booty shaking in front of mothers and small children. Mission Accomplished.

And then Best Man Don bought a round of tequila shots. PATRON tequila shots. That kid is a balla.

This...


...led to this:


We ended our cruise by going upstairs to the deck and watching the other boats on the river pass us by as we docked. We might have also pulled up I'm On A Boat on someone's iPhone and had a sing-a-long...maybe.


We had a blast on the Savannah River Queen and no one even got seasick!

Previously on Southern Sweethearts:
Southern Belles Do Tea in Labrador in Wonderland
A Rude Vendor Interrupts Our Rehearsal
Next up: The Ghost Tour