The Wedding

I knew I would need to take a step back and try to remember every little detail of this weekends wedding celebrations and that's exactly what I'm doing now... 

This weekend my little brother married his dream girl... We couldn't be happier for him and we are thrilled to welcome Kellie into our family.  I knew the first time I met her and just watching my brother with her this girl would eventually become his wife.  After lots of planning and pre wedding fun the big day arrived and we had the most fun celebrating the new Mr. & Mrs. Clark Srum.  

During the day friday we had a girls lunch with Kellie, her mom, her friend Kayla, and my sister Courtney, Mom, and Gia and I.  Then we went for pedicures and a little pampering before the official wedding festivities began.  

Friday night was the rehearsal dinner.  

We all met at the church and practiced the ceremony.  Gia was really excited to have her special role as the flower girl, and Dan and I were thrilled to be included in the wedding party as well.  

After we were finished at the church we headed to Tony's in Alton for the dinner my mom was hosting.  The food was delicious and she gave the sweetest speech ever.  She is such a special lady, and I'm so blessed to have her as my mama.  

Clark spent the night at our house and we all fell asleep pretty shortly after getting home from dinner.  I woke up early Saturday morning and Clark and I went for a walk.  It was so special for me to get to spend some alone time with him just talking and getting so excited about the day ahead of him.  Words cannot even come close to describing how much I love him and am so incredibly proud of him.  

After our walk I got him set up with some breakfast and he was going to spend some time relaxing before it was time for him to head to the church.  Dan took Gia and I to the salon for hair and makeup,  I was so excited that we got to include Treo in this special day.  The hair and makeup were so perfect and it was a blast bieng a client for the day.  

Next it was to the church to quickly change into our dresses and take pictures before the ceremony.  This is the part of the wedding that just goes by so quickly.  Getting dressed, pictures, and beofre you know it we are waiting in the bridal room ready to line up for the ceremony to being.  I loved being in there with Kellie and seeing how relaxed and happy she was.  She was just so excited to marry my brother, and seeing that was the sweetest thing ever.  

The ceremony was beautiful and so perfect.  Gia did great walking down the aisle with some help from Aunt Lyndsey :).  She got the end and kind of paused so Clark scooped her up and carried her over to me.  Such a sweet moment I'll never forget.  After the cermony we went to the basement of the church to wait for guests to leave then went back up for some final pictures.  Then it was party bus time! My mom took Gia and went to check into our hotel rooms for us, that helped us out so much! 

The party bus was a blast!  We stopped in Tower Grove park and Keiner Plaza for pictures and just enjoyed listening to music and dancing as we drove to the reception.  

We arrived at the reception for a cocktail hour before dinner started.  It was so fun to mingle with everyone! 

We headed up the elevators to the reception floor.  Dinner was incredible and the view was amazing.  The city looked goregoues from the 42nd floor.  After dinner Clark & Kellie had their first dance, her dance with her dad then my mom and clark's dance.  My mom and Clark had been taking secret dance lessons and their dance was the sweetest.  They did a rhumba to Stand by Me.  Everyone went crazy over it.  Then the band kept platying and I don't think we stopped dancing the rest of the night.  Clark's friends he met when he studid abroad in Australia even came!  It was so fun to see them all again! 

Around 9:45 my surprise to Clark was ready to be revealed.  I had contacted the mascot from the Blues, Louie, and he was coming to surprise Clark!  It couldn't have been more perfect! 

We came around the corner from the elevators as the band played "When the Blues go Marching in" and the look on my brothers face was priceless.  He couldn't believe Louie was really at his reception.  

He stayed and danced and took pictures with us for a half hour then we took him back to the lobby.  It seriously was the greatest surprise!  

We danced until the band was finished.  I swear it was such a quick night.  I think that just shows how much fun it was.  We walked over to our hotel and had a drink in the bar there before they turned the lights on too.  :)  

Off to bed for us!  It was a night we didn't want to end.  We slept great then went to pick up Gia from Dan's parents.  We went to Kellie's parents for pizza while they opened their wedding gifts.  It was a great relaxing way to get to visit with everyone and talk about the weekend.  The newlyweds safely arrived in Aruba for their honeymoon this afternoon, and I know they were really looking forward to a week of relaxing on the beach.

I knew it would be over in a blink, and I can safely say I think we all really enjoyed every moment.  Now it's on to enjoying life as husband and wife.. and I couldn't be happier for my brother & brand new sister-in-law!   9-19-2015