Wedding Rehearsal

Jeremy's parents are truly empty-nesters, now that their fourth child has married and flown!

We spent several days in Flagstaff for wedding festivities at the beginning of June. I'll probably take a few posts to cover my photos and the ones we pilfered from Naomi Fierro (Jeremy's cousin). So here we go with our pictures from the rehearsal . . .

Daniel and Lauren chose a beautiful spot in Oak Creek Canyon (just a little north of Sedona) for their outdoor ceremony. It was part trout farm/fishery and part summer camp, with a lovely little walled stream and lots of green trees. The winding drive down into the canyon from Flagstaff took us about 45 minutes or so.

We got to the rehearsal before most of the others, so the kids enjoyed feeding the hordes of fish in the ponds:

Lydia

Clara was happy in the ergo with Daddy

Abby

After feeding the fish and wandering around a little, we rounded everyone up and headed to the meadow area where Scott and the Fierro boys had set up chairs, Daniel's hand-made arbor, and the rest of the wedding necessities.

Lydia and Grandma

Silly girls--Lydia on left, Abby on right

Abby

Once everyone arrived and gathered in some semblance of order, the rehearsing began. The girls were excited to get their baskets and some practice flower petals! Lydia very carefully doled out her petals one at a time as they walked up the aisle. She made sure there were enough to drop all the way to her seat (the kids sat down with me during the ceremony). Josiah was happy enough to carry his pillow (apparently the same one Lauren's parents used in their wedding), but was disappointed he wasn't entrusted with any rings.

They were all happy to see Aunt Lauren, who looked beautiful, of course!

Lined up and ready to go for another run-through

 

The view behind us

 

Groomsmen: Jeremy, Basilio standing in for Lauren's brother Garrett, Adam, Zach

 

James and Justin did the music

 

Anna with a cute little bump--a girl!!

By the third run-through, the kids were getting cranky and hungry. We made a stop at the bathrooms before loading up and driving up the mountain for the rehearsal dinner in Flagstaff. And we met this unexpected guest on the stairs up to the bathroom . . .

The kids were fascinated with the tarantula. I was happy we weren't staying the night in one of the camp cabins--yikes! Josiah threw a stick at it and it reared up as if to attack.

So after that little side adventure and a very cranky trip up the mountain, we arrived at Grandma and Pa's church, where they held the rehearsal dinner. We had built up the ice cream bar to the kids, and it lived up to expectations! They were over the moon when they saw all the toppings--sprinkles, M&M's, chocolates, coconut, caramel sauce . . . oh my, sugar high:

So there you have the rehearsal. Next up: wedding!