Weddingbee Blog

With the venue decorated, I headed home just before 12PM with two bridesmaids in tow. We’d spent a lot longer at the venue than I had expected and were already behind schedule. And so, with a final deadline for all girls to be ready by 3:30PM, the Lightning family home became a madhouse of curlers, makeup brushes, nail polish, undergarments and half drank glasses of champagne.

After getting my hair blow dried, my makeup artist arrived to make me picture perfect. (I opted out of soft curls for my hair because the day before, during a last minute trial, my right ear sustained a 3rd degree burn from a curling tong and was still swollen and blistering. I decided not to take the risk again, particularly with the curls only lasting an hour before dropping out of my poker straight hair. I had considered a loose updo but my ear was in no shape to be on display, so I went with smooth and straight in the end.)

(I love this picture because it captures the very moment Mama Lightning came in and said “My baby’s getting married today!”)

(Papa Lightning keeping the ladies well hydrated)

(Bridesmaid N reading over her speech while her nails dry. The food was graciously prepared by my nervous father.)

(bridesmaids CB and R getting their hair done)

I really wanted to spend more time with the girls while we got ready, but with so many of us all around the house there just wasn’t time (and the sound of so many women speaking at once made it hard to get a word in). Poor papa Lightning was so overwhelmed by the 5 bridesmaids, 3 makeup artists, and of course, little old me, that he disappeared for quite some time in the safety of his room. However, this process, despite all its craziness, really did make me start to realize that all was well for me, and for the first time, I didn’t feel alone in my preparation to walk down the aisle.

(All photos by Lauren Kriedemann Photography)