Once back in the bridal suite, I snuck a peek out the window at the guests drifting out to their seats.
Sister GP did one more quick warm up and tuning on her ukulele,
as I passed out bouquets to all the ladies in the wedding party. This included our moms, and Mr. Guinea Pig’s twin sisters. For our moms, we gave them a small bouquet of the same flowers they carried on each of their wedding days, both of which were 35 years earlier – white roses for Mr. GP’s mom, and gardenias for my mom!
My mom, sister and I had a quick moment of tears as we realized things were actually getting started. In this photo Mom GP is telling sister GP to grab that whole box of tissues on the counter, quick!
Once everyone had inspected their lovely flowers, we were ready to get this party started. I really liked the way the bouquets turned out – especially that my sister (MOH) had blue flowers with her yellow dress, while the BMs had yellow flowers with blue dresses. And I got to have both blue and yellow!
Cheers 
Meanwhile, our guests were taking advantage of several baskets of stuff we’d laid out at the entrance to the ceremony lawn, and settling in to their seats.
In the upper left photo, you can see the basket of programs, and my friend R sorting through the basket of sunglasses. There were also spray bottles of sunscreen, and a basket of ponchos – we were prepared for everything, ha! In the upper right, friend B is taking advantage of the John Lennon-like sunglasses we’d thrown into the mix; in the bottom row, my aunt and uncle take a look through the program, and our friends J & K (J later catches my veil as it flies down the aisle) document the moment. 
After I made a comment that seats were filling up, BM D wanted to see too, but since she was ’too short’ (she was my shortest bridesmaid, at 5’8″! All my friends are tall, apparently) BM N lifted her up so she could see out the window! This photo cracks me up every time I see it.
Finally, everyone was ushered out to line up, and this last photo of Mr. GP was snapped right before the ceremony got started. I love how he looks a little nervous yet is still smiling.
Let’s do this!
Next up: A veil takes flight
*** All photos in this post copyright Amy Deputy Photography ***
Miss something in the Guinea Pig recaps? Far Beyond Forever:
I love the idea that you gave flowers to his sisters. I am having this problem too, because my Fiance’s half sister will not be a bridesmaid but may do a reading and I would still like to include her. How did you have your Mother in law and sisters in law enter the ceremony? Did they get escorted in? Thanks for the ideas!
Aw, that is so sweet to give the moms flowers from their own wedding bouquets! I love that.
Beautiful, all around!! I also love the combo of your MOH in a yellow dress with blue flowers and vice versa for the rest of the bridesmaids!
I love the mom bouquets! What a nice and meaningful touch.
You have the best ideas, GP! The flowers for the moms! And the sunglasses! How did I miss that before!?!
Giving each of your mothers the flowers that they had in their bridal bouquets is a very sweet gesture. And, the picture of you peeking out is adorable! 
What a wonderful idea to give the mothers flowers from their bouquets! So incredibly sweet!
@MissMusic: We actually had Mr. GP’s mom & dad walk in together, and then Mr. GP’s sisters escorted my mom down the aisle! We liked that it gave his sisters a special role and helped us solve who would walk my mom down the aisle. It worked out very well, and I think it sweetly combined our two families from the beginning of the ceremony!
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As for the mom’s bouquets – that was actually something I’d always known I wanted to do because for years growing up we frequently got my mom gardenia-scented gifts. She would always smell gardenias and smile, then tell us how they reminded her of her wedding day. I knew I wanted to have her carry gardenias, so it logically followed to have Mr. GP’s mom carry the same flowers from her wedding!
that’s a lovely idea! I will definitely have to come up with something like that
hehe, i love the sunglass basket. such an awesome idea. and all the flowers are so pretty! love that you gave the mom’s some from their own bouquets!
I love this recap! Not a lot of recaps are done with the tense moments leading up to the big show. So sweet!
ooh, the bouquets are so pretty and go wonderfully with the dresses!
I love the peeking out the window shots! You can see the excitement and it’s so adorable
I love the peeking out the window photos! So cute.
Such beautiful photos! I love the ‘cheers’ shot with the gorgeous bouquets, and man, did you have tall bridesmaids! 
[...] Countdown to the Ceremony (ready, set, go!) [...]
Awww I LOVE the photo of you peeking out the window. For some reason it reminds me of the scene in Runaway Bride when Julia Roberts is standing by the fan and looking out the church window…except that you actually went through with the wedding of course
Also – love love love that your mom’s and MIL’s flowers were recreations/the same flowers that they carried on their wedding days! That is too sweet.
[...] Countdown to the Ceremony (ready, set, go!) [...]
[...] Countdown to the Ceremony (ready, set, go!) [...]
Mrs. Guinea Pig, Baltimore, MD Age and Occupation: 26, PhD student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Operations Director at a non-profit Engagement Date: December 25, 2008 Wedding Date: May 2010 Venue: The Chesapeake Bay Beach Club About Me: I'm a tomboy science nerd whose girly side has made a startling appearance thanks to wedding planning! I love to bake, knit and sew but I also ride a motorcycle (that Mr. Guinea Pig wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole). We live with our three crazy cats and love to read, travel, watch movies, and do home improvement projects together! My parents/family are Canadian but I'm definitely American, although I've lived in 5 different countries, 6 different states, and speak Russian fluently. Mr. GP and I met online (did I mention I'm a scientist?) and had a whirlwind romance - now we can't wait to get married & celebrate with all our friends and family in a blue and yellow waterfront affair!
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