{Wedding Events}
July 2012
It was a gorgeous week! We had been looking forward to this wedding for quite sometime. My younger brother Brandon had attended middle/high school with Richelle, but they didn't start dating until after graduation. Four dating years later, they had finished college, were employed, & had an apartment "in the works" waiting for them to move in...all they needed to do was
GET MARRIED!
GET MARRIED!
Richelle had celebrated holidays, birthdays, vacations, a baby shower, parties...you name it...she was there right along with us & we could NOT be happier with the girl Brandon chose to join us. I am proud of my brother Brandon & what he & Richelle have accomplished. They are perfect for each other! I was so happy to be a part of this special day.
{Rehearsal & Rehearsal Dinner}
7.13.2012
Before heading to the rehearsal, the bride & her bridesmaids spent some time together getting our nails done. They treated us to lemonade, biscotti & other snacks while we were there. My sister-in-law Mindy & myself got pedicures & color, while the other girls waited their turn & picked out colors.
The rehearsal dinner & wedding were both held in Pittsburgh, PA. The location of the rehearsal was at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association.
A very neat place to have a "Penn State" themed dinner.
A very neat place to have a "Penn State" themed dinner.
This was the room where the dinner was held & was decorated with white flowers in blue vases.
The Penn State cake was made by Helen Rose. She made most of our birthday cakes growing up & even my wedding cake! We couldn't go through another event without "Helen" cake =)
Brandon got Penn State cuff links as a gift from mom & dad that he wore on the day of the wedding.
Me with my beautiful sisters =)
{GROUP SHOTS}
Older brother Matt, Mindy, Brandon the groom, "my" Matt, Greyson, & me.
Greyson with his new aunt & uncle! The bridesmaids & my little family.
The rehearsal took place at the wedding site - Phipps Conservatory.
Greyson with Aunt Mimi...he was suffering a "cold" from teething & didn't feel well part of the time.
Nana got lots of loving time with Greyson...wearing his "blue & white", he ended up taking a nap half way through the dinner. The little cousins that were in the wedding broke out their Penn State jerseys =)
It was a fun time celebrating & getting ready for the big day!
Our first cousin, Rhett, Matt, Brandon & dad...BIG Penn State fans =)
{Wedding Day}
7.14.2012
It was an evening wedding that started at 6:30 pm. We had all day to get ready then made our way down to the hotel in Pittsburg where Richelle was getting ready.
The bride wore these beautiful aqua colored heels. This accent color popped up here & there...like in some of the bows on the programs. The white Bible & the garter that she wore were beautiful. The Bridesmaids wore nude stilettos that looked perfect with the very pale pink bridesmaid dresses.
Richelle's cousin & maid of honor helped her get ready. My precious baby Greyson was dressed in his "Sunday best" {a cute little smocked button outfit =)}
The bride gave each of us a pink pearl necklace as the gift for being in her wedding, so Mindy & I took one final picture together just before heading to the conservatory.
The bride gave each of us a pink pearl necklace as the gift for being in her wedding, so Mindy & I took one final picture together just before heading to the conservatory.
We were SO excited Richelle was joining our family & adding the 3rd & final sister to the mix!
In order to get more pictures, Brandon & Richelle opted for the first look before the ceremony. Once we all arrived at the conservatory, we witnessed this sweet moment.
After their pictures, we spent time in the Bridal Room.
The guests were arriving & it was almost time!
Little miss Makayla made the cutest little flower girl. The bouquets were gorgeous full of pink & white roses & hydrangea's. Matt delivered the all white bridal bouquet to Richelle as we were getting ready to head down to the ceremony site. She pinned one of my mom's broaches onto the bouquet for some added "bling" & could be her something "borrowed" =)
The guests had arrived & were waiting patiently in the beautiful outdoor setting where the ceremony took place.
The final moments passed & we were all ready go! Richelle was STUNNING! Her dress was absolutely gorgeous & she was beaming since I'm sure she had waited long enough for this day to come. =)
Cole, Quinn, Conner (hidden behind Cole) & Makayla, were excellent in the wedding. They looked so cute with their little pink bow ties & Makayla's dress was beautiful!
My brother Matt walked the Grandmothers to their seats & Brandon walked the mothers down the isle just before standing in his place at the front.
Then it was our turn. Two other bridesmaids are not pictured & this was the only one of the bride coming down the isle because they were too blurry.
Finally made it! "Father of the Bride" comes to mind =)
My dad was the minister who married them. It was a touching ceremony & at special moments even dad got a little choked up. It was the perfect day...they were married in front of a fountain in a gorgeous garden...in the middle of Pittsburgh. Like I said, there were times when you couldn't help but tear up, but then something would happen & we would all laugh & smile again...for instance...a helicopter flew over us at that exact time & dad made a remark about it being the paparazzi!
My brother Matt & I were honored to have a part in the wedding & also sing during the sand ceremony. We sang "A Thousand Years" as the sand (meant to be timeless) was poured into a vase. There were 3 different colors of sand being poured...2 colors represent Brandon & Richelle & the white represents God. They both held the vase with the white sand & poured it together signifying that God was the center of their marriage. Layer after layer went in until the end where they mixed all 3 colors by swirling them together at the top. It was very meaningful.
After the sand ceremony they read private vows to each other & exchanged the rings.
We finished singing, enjoyed the rest of the ceremony & finally had an official
Mr. & Mrs. Brandon Ritchey!
We all walked out to a rock version of "Canon in D" which was a surprise to the groom from the bride. He thought the song was cool but didn't think he would be walking out to it.
The look on his face was priceless!
{You can check out the version they used here on youtube}
The reception was under an enormous tent that stretched the length of the garden & ceremony site. Everything was done in pastel pink & white. I loved the chandelier in the center of the tent!
The cake was ABSOLUTELY gorgeous...it was a white cake with mango filling!
The mason jar centerpieces & "twig R" for the cake brought a rustic feel to the reception since it was outdoors. Everything was beautiful & elegant.
We got pictures taken while everyone was enjoying the reception. I just had to get one with my little brother...we are 4 years apart & had so many fun memories growing up. I just can't believe we are all old enough to be married with kids already...time just flies.
Brandon was probably over the picture taking at this point...had to get that out of his system. haha
Richelle got a group shot with some of her friends from high school =) & of course a fun picture of the bridal party. I love Cole...he is such a ham! haha
The reception was dessert only (with the exception of some fruit that was meant to be drizzled in chocolate...still dessert). I didn't have time to sit down & taste everything but I did get some sort of cookies-n-cream cake popper thing that was TO.DIE.FOR. I heard raving reports that all the other little cake poppers & treats were just as good. They had little drink bars (non-alcoholic mind you) with servers that mixed up little fruit concoctions. I ended up with a strawberry lemonade mixed in sprite. It was so refreshing!
I didn't exactly get a piece of cake but my "second mom" was keeping Greyson for me so when I went to check on him I noticed that her son in law didn't eat his...snooze you lose...HAHA actually he didn't really want it so luckily I made out with the last piece & shared it with Mindy & the mother of the bride! LOL we all wanted to get a little taste of it because we missed the serving & it was already boxed up for the bride & groom. It was delicious!
Matt (the best man) & Erin (maid of honor) each gave really good toasts about the bride & groom. Our family & close friends mean so much & it was nice hearing about & reflecting on memories during that moment. After that they had the bouquet & garter toss!
It was so funny because one of Richelle's high school friends caught the bouquet & 8 yr old Cole (the ring bearer) caught the garter....afterwards he told Richelle's friend that he wished one of the "little" girls had caught the bouquet! haha
It was wonderful seeing so many friends & family. I only get "home" a couple times a year & even then it is hard to visit everyone. Here they were all at the same place at the same time & I ran around like crazy talking & visiting with everyone.
{Bride/Groom first dance...Father/Daughter dance}
I missed Brandon & Richelle's first dance because I was talking, but I'm sure it was just as sweet as the father daughter dance!
{The Guest Book}
At the end of the day, Brandon & Richelle were left with this fun piece of art. Thumb prints & signatures representing those that had made an impression on their lives. Not everyone got to "sign" it, but what a fun & neat idea! Greyson even got his tiny thumb print in between Matt & I's. It was so cute!
AND...
Just like that...it was over! We had looked forward to this day for so long & enjoyed every moment of it. Just being together, working on programs, getting last minute things done...all those things that go with weddings. It was so much fun...I love my family & this was the last wedding for us.
All 3 kids are now married...moved...& on our own.
Matt & I celebrated 6 years of marriage last month & we live in Alabama.
Brandon & Richelle now reside in Ohio.
I did not get a picture of them together at this wedding so I am sharing THEIR wedding picture take 30 years ago! Their next anniversary is this October.
Needless to say we are "a little" spread out! So it makes these times extra special when we are all together. Now that Greyson is here, we have gotten to see my parents a little more frequently (every other month) so they don't miss out on his milestones. He is growing SO fast!
But back to the meaning of this wedding....
I'm so glad that each of us brought not just another son or another daughter into the family, but that we are all friends. My brother Matt & my husband were best friends in college so getting together with everyone always means a good time. Mindy & Richelle have become some of my closest friends--I love these girls & am proud of the sisters my brothers added to our lives. Most importantly, I'm glad that I have wonderful parents who have given us a prime example of what marriage means. Godly parents, instilling Christian values into our homes & families is what is truly important. I know they are proud of all of us & happy that Richelle has completed the family....well almost...now it's time for more grandchildren!! =)
Congratulations to
{Mr. & Mrs. Brandon (& Richelle) Ritchey}
The very happy couple....finally married!
Cue: THIS song=)
