Ashlea and Ben Anderson's Wedding

My roommate, my playmate, and my best friend for the past 23 years married her best friend, Ben Anderson, on June 1, 2012.  My family had the pleasure and the stress of preparing for the second wedding in two consecutive summers.  My mom is exhausted to say the least!  Whatever the tension that had been built up in the wedding planning did not matter on June 1st though.  The day was filled with celebration, laughter, and love.

Weddings are a special time in the bride and groom's life.  It is also a special time for the family and friends that come to celebrate.  Last summer, Jon and I experienced the special time of a bride a groom. This summer we were able to experience the other side.  We were able to spend time with family and friends, some that we don't see as often, but who are still very dear to us.  We spent time with people who may have attended our own wedding a year ago but this time we were able to talk and socialize with them.  We feel so blessed that we have many family members and friends who were able to come all the way to Montana to celebrate the marriage of Ashlea and Ben.

For those of you who may not know, or remember, Ashlea is the second oldest daughter in our family.  She is closest in age to me and we have always been very close.  She and I have shared a room basically since birth.  Lindsea, is a year younger than Ashlea.  In our lifetime, we have always been there for each other, we have never been lonely because we always had each other to play with and entertain.  We played the same sports and went to the same college.  We are all education majors in some way, and we are the best of friends.

Here is a recap of the wedding week for those of you who are interested :)  Like everything the Vaudt family does, it was crazy and somewhat chaotic!
  Monday (Memorial Day):  I flew from Houston, TX to Kalispell, MT (we had been in Texas for our nephew Ryan's baptismal remembrance).  Jon began his drive from Houston to Lincoln, NE.
  Tuesday: Jon continued his drive from Lincoln, NE to Billings, MT where he stayed with his brother Jason and sister-in-law Amy.  Jon had an especially time consuming trip to Kalispell.  He did not fly with me because he was kind enough to offer a ride to some friends of Ashlea's who were interested in coming to the wedding.  However, the week before the wedding, they decided they were unable to come.  So, unfortunately, Jon had to drive the entire way by himself, all 2,200 miles.  :)
  Wednesday:  The Vaudt house was a buzz of activity.  On average, there were at least 20 people present for meal times.  The drive way consisted of an RV and a camper where the Vaudt extended family stayed.  Jon traveled from Billings, MT to Kalispell.  He made it!!!!
  Thursday:  In the morning, Jon and I brought the big tents out to the church and then helped decorate the inside.  (Ashlea and Ben had their wedding at The Church at Creston and had their reception outside on the church lawn.  It was a beautiful setting because the Mission Mountain range sits directly behind the church.)  Then, the rehearsal started at 5 p.m. sharp.  After running through the ceremony, everyone headed to Trinity Lutheran Camp (where I cooked in the summers, where Ashlea was a counselor, and where Ben proposed to Ashlea) for the BBQ prepared by Ben's generous family.

Part of the Vaudt Family.  From left to right: Uncle Brian, Dan, Aunt Brenda (they are now engaged!), and Grandma

More family!  From left to right: in the blue hood is cousin Nathan, red hair is cousin Rose, Aunt Dena, Uncle Jay, cousin JJ, Grandma Jan, Heidea

The bride and her bridesmaids: left to right: Heidea, Meghan O'Connell (high school friend), Kailea, Lindsea, Ashlea, Me,  Kaylyn Lybeck (high school friend), and Kelsey Walford (college friend)

Jon and I

The bridesmaids again.  It was a little chilly outside that evening:)

Heidea and cousin Rose.  Rose lives in Omaha, NE.  They had such a great time together.

Opening our bridesmaid's gifts which were earrings and HIGH heeled shoes

Kailea is very excited about her gifts

Grandpa Reiner and Ashlea.  Grandpa Reiner married Ashlea and Ben.  

  Friday:  Wedding Day!  Preparations began at 9 a.m.  The 5 sisters and Aunt Brenda left our house and met the other bridesmaids and Aunt Melanie at camp to begin getting ready for the wedding. Kailea (the 4th sister in age order), Aunt Melanie, and Aunt Brenda worked on girls hair and nails.  (Kailea did my hair and it looked great!)

Meghan O'Connell and I.  Meghan was also a bridesmaid in our wedding.

Even Heidea got to wear some make-up

The four of us became very close in high school and when we are home,  Meghan is at our house as much as possible!  We have made many memories together and much love!

 At noon, the photographer came to begin taking pictures of Ashlea getting the finishing touches and stepping into her dress.  The day was chilly and the sky looked as if it may let rain leak at any moment.  But God is good and although we were quite chilly taking our pictures, it never did rain on us.  The ceremony was beautiful.  Instead of a unity candle, Ben and Ashlea put together a unity cross.  It was beautiful!  It was composed of a base and two crosses.  One cross, Ashlea's, was delicate and intricate and fit inside the second cross, (Ben's) that was larger and strong.  The crosses were held together by three screws that represented the Trinity.

Waiting for the ceremony to start

We stood in almost this exact same spot a year ago.  Except instead of wearing green I was wearing white :)

After they had been named  Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, and as they walked out of the church together, everyone had a balloon that they let go into the sky.  As we left the church the sun peaked out of the clouds and warmed the earth.  It became a beautiful evening of happy faces, fellowship, and some dancing.

The very happy Bride and Groom!

The balloon crew!

Chelsea's wonderful parents

Chelsea walking up to give her speech.

This was one of the few moments during my speech that I looked up.  I had written my speech down and as I began to talk I knew I wouldn't make it through if I was looking at people.  So I basically stared at my paper the entire time.

  Saturday:  We cleaned things up a bit, but we also relaxed.  Heidea's birthday is in July, so since we won't be there to celebrate, Jon and I gave her her birthday gift.  She was excited to receive the card game, Wizard.

Although it wasn't quite our anniversary, we also de-thawed our top tier of our wedding cake and finally got to enjoy a piece.

  Sunday:  Jon leaves Kailspell with Lindsea.  Unfortunately, Jon was unable to stay for too long after the wedding because he had a meeting in St. Louis on Wednesday.  It worked out though, for Lindsea to ride back with him.  One of Lindsea's friends and roommates from college was getting married the following weekend so Lindsea traveled back to Nebraska for that wedding.

 I was blessed to be able to stay in Kalispell that whole next week.  I was able to spend some much needed time with my parents, Kailea, and Heidea.  I was also able to spend time with my grandparents, aunt, uncle, cousins, and some close friends.  It was a relaxing week spent with some very special people.