Emily and Matt

For those who haven’t heard, last month was wedding month. I’m declaring July 2008 as the officially month of “I do.” As you likely know, Matt and I were married July 6. We chose this date because it allowed us to take our Hawaiian honeymoon while also celebrating the wedding of Matt’s cousin Alisha to her then-fiance Tim. The blessed event took place July 19 at the Wailea Golf Course.

Even though I am still getting to know the couple, I was really excited for this wedding. Like our readers likely did, we read about their story online. Having seen Alisha at some family events and parties, it was fun to gab about wedding planning and revel in the excitement together.

So July 19 was the big day and we had an awesome time. They really know how to throw a party. It was equal parts fun and classic, with loved ones at the heart of it all. Anyone planning (or helping or planning on planning) a beach wedding should take notes!

Tim waiting for his bride to come. (Note the stunna shades!)

 

The adorable flower girl did a great job of dropping petals, but saved a bunch and dumped them right in front of her. She spent the rest of the time putting them back in and repeating. The ring bearer is hidden behind Tim, and was a little nervous about coming down the aisle, so dad, the best man, came down and helped.

Maid of honor and the bride’s sister, Chelsea, right, was one of several ladies to stand beside Alisha. They looked beautiful and I loved the color combo of the dresses and the flowers.

Tiffany, a friend and neighbor of Tim’s since early childhood, read touching words about what love is and means.

Announcing, Mr. & Mrs. Tim Ball! Yay!

Basking in the lovey-doveyness of it all.

The old married couple…

These were great favors! Not only are they in my favorite color, but I forgot a luggage tag to put on my bag. When we flew into Kauai, I realized this because my luggage did not show up when we did.

Matt preferred to make a fashion statement with his favor. Did he wear it for the rest of the reception? Very yes.

I loved these centerpieces! Makes me want to create something similar in our new home.

 

Alisha and her dad chose a sweet song for the father-daughter dance. Somehow my cold heart has melted and turned me into a sap. It’s not all surprising that I cried watching them, but I also now cry at Visa’s Olympics commercials. This was the reason my dad and I chose a fun, upbeat song. When it came to the money dance, however, it was a slow song and we couldn’t help it.

Noni, Matt’s grandmother, is quite the dancer. In fact, I can’t remember a time when she wasn’t getting down. Perhaps it was all the older fellas asking her for a dance.

The two (of three, technically) July brides!

Arguably the best dancers of the evening. And don’t let the man in white fool you. When the hip hop songs were telling people to get low, he was showing Matt how it was done!

The flowers were stunning (and smelled great too)!

There were Hawaiian touches everywhere. You could definitely feel the aloha!

It was really impossible to get this family off the dance floor!

 

I couldn’t help but take a picture of this. Sure it’s massive piles of uneaten cake, but it represents so much more. As a bride doing so much of the work yourself over many months, it wears you out. Will people have fun at our wedding? What if something goes horribly wrong? What if everything isn’t perfect?! Yes, things will go wrong and yes you may have paid a lot of money for an uneaten cake*, but what you have is an awesome start to a shiny new future and you’re surrounded by those who love and support you. That, my friends, is the key to a wedding.

*I would like to mention that I finished all my tasty cake and had I known there were extra pieces, I would have found them and gobbled them up. In a heartbeat.