Hello my dear friends!!!!
How are you???
I am sitting here Sunday evening listening to Josh Groban (LOVE) and the rain, reflecting on my past week.
I have to tell you that it was a week of ups and downs but certainly ended on a beautiful and happy note.
As you know my brother got married over the weekend and before I show you pictures and tell you what a complete DORK that I am I have to tell you that the week did not start off to good.
I received a phone call last Monday morning while grocery shopping from my mom.
Do you know those rings that just sound bad? That you know that on the other end there is bad news waiting for you to digest? That was the kind of ring it was.
My mom told me that my brother's best friend and best man for the wedding unexpectedly passed away that morning.
My brother was devastated and my heart ached for him.
His friend was only 55 and passed away while running.
The week seemed kind of surreal and nobody was really sure what to do.
After many phones calls to my parents and my future SIL on what we could do and how everything could be done and even if the wedding was going to happen things were sorted out and the wedding would go on as planned and as my brothers friend would have wanted it to.
He was a great guy and a great friend that helped my brother through his divorce as well as the joys that have come his way with his new wife.
My dad was the only one that stood up on my brothers side and they honored my brothers friend during the ceremony ,and I have a good feeling that his friend was standing right beside him.
OK, now to tell you what a horrible blogger that I am..
I FORGOT MY CAMERA!!!!!
I KNOW!!!!! REALLY????
Who goes to a wedding without a camera??
Apparently I do!
So, all the photos are with my iphone and as soon as we figure out how to get some off my daughters camera I will share those as well but for now you will have to look at these.
We ate lots of yummy food with family and friends.
Cherry Republic is the best!
Then we decorated the reception hall.
It turned out so beautiful, even after I broke the lights. :)
She had dried Hydrangeas in blue mason jars as centerpieces.
The chapel was also decorated with dried hydrangeas and mason jars.
Everything was very simple and perfectly placed.
Of course an amazing Glen Lake sunset at the end of the day on Friday.
Saturday morning my daughter and I got up and walked to the coffee shop and picked up my chai and hot chocolate for her and then walked to Lake Michigan to enjoy the early morning sun on the beach.
It was so beautiful that day, a chill in the air but the warmth of the sun on our shoulders.
Of course I had to play around with the apps on the iphone.
Saturday before the wedding the boys went fishing.
There is a beautiful river called Crystal River and the salmon where everywhere!
I also took a few shots of the surroundings and old Mill and home that are on the river.
My nephew caught a huge salmon!
Of course put it back safe and sound.
This is my brother fishing....
Can you say "A River Runs Through It"?
Love that movie.
This is my brother and his son fishing.
After they had their fill of fishing or until they soaked in every last bit before they had to get ready, we headed to the church!
My brother, his other son and my dad.
It was very casual with khaki's and white shirts.
This is my brother, my SIL and his daughter.
The ceremony was beautiful!
We cried and laughed and of course we loved.
Everything went perfectly and the day was gorgeous!!
I hope to show you a few more photos once we get them off my daughters camera but I wanted to show you one of the photos that their photographer took on the dock of where the chapel was at Old Settler's Park on Glen Lake.
I am so very happy for my brother and after all the ups and downs of the week, they made it together and I know that their love will last.
They are perfect for each other and love one another to the core.
Congratulations Tom and Melissa I love you both very much!!
Here are a few more pics from the wedding from their photographer, they are gorgeous!!
Rudy Malmquist is his name and he did a phenomenal job!
I hope you all have a great week and I will see you soon!!
xoxox
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52 comments:
What an incredibly moving story. My heart aches for your brother but I'm sure his friend was certainly standing there by his side. Michelle, you take the most beautiful photos. Makes me long to visit!!!
Beautiful Wedding. The old house is just whimsically magic. Sorry to hear of your sad news.
Carmel
What a gorgeous setting for a wedding! I'm so sorry to hear about the passing of his best man. It's so hard to know what to do when there is an unexpected death, but it looks like they did a lovely job of remembering their friend during the ceremony. I'm sure it was just as he would have wanted it to be.
the wedding looks lovely and simple! so sad about your brother's loss.
x
Oh Michelle! That truly is bittersweet. I'm so sorry for the loss of your brother's friend and know that must have been so hard on many levels. The wedding looks like it was absolutely beautiful and truly a celebration of life, love and family! Thanks so much for sharing it all with us! :-)
Vanessa
Wow what a week. Glad it was a lovely day but very sorry to hear the sad news. Life is so short and wonderful all at the same time. I think your week is a true example of that.
wow- that is tragic. what a young age to pass away at, too- my parents are 55, so it is scary to think it could happen, no matter how healthy you are. the wedding looked like it was beautiful in the end- the bride is stunning, and the couple look very sweet together!
Oh I've been known to not have my camera at eventful times - so I guess we're 'dorks' together. And I've no camera phone! So sorry for the sad part of the wedding...
Michelle,
I am so sorry that your brother lost his dear friend, what a tragic loss, but at least he has someone, now his wife, to help him through - along with an amazing family support as well. Hope you are well and glad you were still able to enjoy your brother's day. Oh, and I have an Em story for you later this week! Hope you are well - Laura
such a beautiful wedding, Michelle. i am so sorry to read that your brother's friend passed away. that was very special of him and his bride to honor him during the ceremony.
PS. i love the river runs through it too. Meryl Streep is so beautiful. i loved her in that movie. enjoy your evening!
what a week Michelle!! This is such a great post and I know that your brother's friend is smiling down on all that commotion at Glen Lake. What a gorgeous bride, it looks like your brother and the kids are really happy, too. Just amazing. I love this post and all the familiar spots!! The fishing photos really add to the reality of what happens before a wedding~so cool!
oh Michelle, so many things to comment on! The beautiful setting for the wedding, the delight of finding love a second time around... your lovely SIL... that fabulous salmon and how kind that it was put back in its home... and all mixed with that sadness... but maybe it made the sweet things seem extra sweet...
Oh Michelle, what a beginning to what was to be a very poignant and memorable event for your family. I am so very sorry about your brothers friend. So happy that he found his love though...
Xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
So sorry to hear about your brothers friend. As Karena said, a very poignant and memorable time. The photo's are gorgeous. They are a lovely looking couple.
x
I'm glad the week had a happy ending. Happy for your brother and keeping his friend's family in my prayers.
I hope yall have a more subdued week.
Oh my, what a week. It must have been so hard for your brother to have one of the happiest weeks of his life also be his sadest. The wedding sounds like and looks like it was beautiful. What a goregous setting.
Hey Michelle,
It was so nice to talk this morning! You are such a sweet soul! Your pics are gorgeous, apparently when you have talent you don't need a fancy camera! The photographer's shots are amazing, I especially like the one of your brother and his wife in the field in front of that unbelievable white barn....Wow! I'm sure his friend was there in spirit, cheering him on to his bright future with his lovely new wife and family. My heart goes out to his family as well as to you and yours.
Love ya Girl!
xx
Sandra
Wow. So many different emotions for one week. I am so sorry to hear about your brothers best friend. That is so very sad. I am sure he was there in spirit and happy to see that the wedding went as planned. Beautiful photos - love that old house!
So sorry to hear about a loss at such a happy time. Your photo of the sunset is one of my favorite photos. Spectacular.
I´m so sorry about your brother´s friend - but glad that it turned out in a good way during the circumstances.
Great time invested in wedding day !!! Fishing was very creative idea to enjoy the day. Boy caught a big fish for dinner :)
Hello my dear, so sorry to hear about your brothers friend. What a week it must have been. I'm glad the wedding went on and they are beautiful pictures and I love blue hydrengas.
My prayers go out to your brother and his friend's family. What a tragic loss.
What a gorgeous weekend it was! I LOVE all your pics! I am so getting an i-phone. Then I can take awesome pics and play with the apps:) AND...love the chai (and that you got some quality time with your daughter) and walk ON THE BEACH! So jealous!!
Have a great week:)
Big hugs:)
Jessie
So sorry to hear of the loss of your brothers best man. That is really tragic.
Your brother and sis in law look really happy and beautiful. Looks like it was a really lovely wedding.
I love simple beautiful hearfelt weddings. So much nicer than over the top tacky weddings.
What a bittersweet day. The photos are really idyllic and so beautifully personal. Thanks for sharing.
Stop by for a visit soon...
ciao
So tragic....I am sorry.I do have to say that I am glad I found your blog,its just lovely.
so much love and inspiration here! so sorry to hear the news and can't imagine how that complicated the feelings of your brother on his special day. that fish!! wow! i wanna eat him.
and that house -- man i'd love to own something like that and fix it up inside.
love to you.
michele
What a week.
This story is sure to be told again and again...Your brother will surely cherish his friends memory.
Congrats to the bride and groom-- this bond can only grow stronger now.
thanks for sharing it.
(good pictures by the way with your phone)
Pat
Oh my Michelle...what a week indeed!
So happy the day went well...I'm sure they felt his presence. Keeping both families in my thoughts and prayers.
Hi Michelle, you need to place a warning on your comment when you visit, adding bring with you a hankie on your return visit :( tear!
Really sad to hear that your brother had to wed with such a loss of a dear friend, and such a shock to him. I am so happy that he was able to have some happiness come of it with a beautiful eventful wedding day, casual or not its the best way to go, casual so your heart is on the day and not all the big bucks one could spend, I think the casual weddings have soul and in most cases a deeper meaning to them!
Thank you for sharing the Iphone photo's they really look great!
looking forward to seeing more of the wedding.
Tell your brother we all in blog land feel for his loss and enjoyed seeing what he has gained in a new life with his bride.
Blessings to your Brother and his family.
see you soon dear friend.
xx
Dore
Oh Michelle how sad that he lost his best friend ...and to have it happen before the wedding~ I'm so sorry. It looks like they made the best of it, which is good and I'm thinking it makes their bond more special. Big hugs,
paula:)
You said it best-Bittersweet! So sorry about your brother's friend, but congrats to him & may he have many years of happieness with his new wife. Thank you so much for always leaving such sweet comments on my blog :)
Such a dramatic story Michelle! Life can be so strange sometimes, laughter and tears are neighbours often! Beautiful photos - love the one with the little boy sitting by the water. Happy start to your week - take care!
Bittersweet yes but everything looks like it turned about beautifully.
Well, I know why I kept thinking about you last week - I guess I could feel that something was going on. I'm so sorry for your brother's loss. Sounds like a real roller coaster of emotions. The photos from your phone are so great - I'm amazed at the quality! Glad everything worked out and I love the simplicity of the decor, dress and everything....my kind of wedding.
Love to you and your family.
Hugs,
Marie
What a beautiful wedding and a lovely couple! I'm so sorry for the death of his friend! How terrible! I'm glad he was surrounded by family and friends. I love to fish...fly fishing was something that brought my hubby and I together! ♥
i am terribly sorry for the loss of your brothers friend...so sad. but it looks like the wedding was beautiful and the fishing fantastic!!
erin
xxoo
My condolences to your brother for his loss. That had to have been a bitter pill to swallow. It looks like it was a beautiful wedding and the surroundings are stunning.
I hope you are having a better week. Here's a hug for you...{{{hug}}}!
Oh Michelle,
What an awful week you had indeed; but things came together, and your family looks great. I am so sorry to hear of your brother's friend....only 55? that is way too young....it was so nice to see your comment tonight my friend and thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Blogland is full of such wonderful people like you....have a peaceful week my dear, Anita
The sweet beautiful simplicity of their wedding day speaks volumes about the love in their hearts, Michelle. ♥ My heart breaks for them in their loss, while at the same rejoices as they step out on a new journey together...
xoxo laurie
The sunset looks amazing!
So sorry to hear about your brother's friend! So sad! Looks like your week of unplugging was well spent with family & friends! Great pictures!
p.s. I'm pretty sure I've never seen "A River Runs Through It"...gonna have to check it out! :)
Love is in the air :) I love the casualness of the wedding! If I got married again :) I would do it that way too!
I can't believe you took those on your iphone! when I take shots with mine....not so great :) Your..can't even tell! Now THAT is talent :)
Thanks for sharing the wedding, so much emotion that day, love & loss. I'll say a little wedding blessing right now for your brother & his BEAUTIFUL bride as well as a prayer for those hurting over the loss of his friend. Hopw you have a good week Michelle!
Lib
Oh Michelle, I am so sorry about your brother's friend. That would have been so hard.
I can tell it was a beautiful wedding, and what a cute couple they are! And I love the place they held the wedding at, too~ so gorgeous!
I hope this week is going well for you, and that you are doing okay after all that happened last week.
Hugs,
Jenni
Oh my word. How heart-breaking but I am sure your brother's friend would've wanted the ceremony to take place. This has happened to two people I know - losing a parent a week before their wedding. Blessings to all.
I love the simplicity of the wedding ...charming and honest ...I am happy for your brother and his lovely wife ! So sorry about the lost of his friend ...a righteous man will be remembered forever !
So sorry for your brother's tragic loss but happy that he has found the love of his life. Gorgeous wedding! Glad to know I'm not the only one who forgets a camera. I'm sure you had a lot on your mind. Looks like everything turned out exactly as it was supposed to. Lovely!
Oh my friend...sorry about the loss...you are right it was bitter-sweet. The wedding looks like it was a charming event anyways. Hugs for a great week. xoxoxo
What a roller coaster of emotions that week. So sorry to hear about the loss of his friend.
The wedding looked wonderful. I love the shot he took of them with the barn! Just beautiful. :)
I'm so sorry to hear about your brother's friends. It sure is bittersweet to hear that sort of thing during a special occasion.
The wedding however looked beautiful and perfect in every aspect. Wow! And love the bride's gown!
-Marie
We don't know what tomorrow holds and must turn to the ONE who holds tomorrow. Sound's like you were able to support your brother and new sister and pray the Lord has shown the new couple to cherish each other.
Sounds like it was a crazy week full of good times and bad times. Congrats to your brother! It must have been a bittersweet week for him.
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