Destination Wedding: San Diego

A very dear friend got married nearly six weeks ago and this post has been sitting in my drafts since then. I mean she's already got some of her wedding photos back (see above photo) - that's how long it's been. Oops.

Anyhow, we were blessed with another weekend getaway without our little person in tow. And as sad as it was to leave him, we were so thankful he was able to spend this time with his grandparents! It was such a blessing for all of us. I would really encourage all of you married folks out there with small children to do getaways, as soon as you feel you can get away. It's such a beautiful time to reconnect with your partner and to rest and to remember what it's like to not fill every moment of your day/life with the role of mother/father.

It was so strange to pack a bag for just myself without any toddler paraphernalia. I only had to pack clothes for myself and the baby pump and items to entertain just myself on the plane. Let's just say my bag was significantly lighter.

We departed for sunny San Diego FAR too early in the morning for my liking - way before the sun was even up, but it was all worth it. 

And to be honest, the vacation started as soon as we arrived at the airport. Flying without a child was a dream, I couldn't even remember what that was like! I was able to read for over two hours straight.

We had rented a house with three other couples off VRBO (love that website) and two of them had their babes with them, and again, both of us were very thankful that our little man was at home enjoying himself without us!

The time was busy, but so blessed. My dear friend Bekah moved to San Diego over three years ago, and little did we know she would have to go to San Diego to find the man God had for her, but that is exactly what happened. They are seriously the cutest. And being in Bekah's presence for 3 days made me miss her even more. It was such a joy to celebrate them! Jason, the husband, is the man we have been praying for ...for YEARS, and to see the way they complement each other and love each other is just simply beautiful. God is so good and so very faithful. And it was such a blessing to spend this time together.



I can't believe my dear friend is a WIFE! She has a husband and a roommate that is a boy! May this first year of marriage be a year of discovery and refinement.



I love weddings, especially weddings of such dear friends. This wedding was so uniquely them, but my absolute favorite part was at the end of the night when the videographers premiered Bekah and Jason's wedding video! Oh my goodness it was just too much. It was so beautiful, and I had never seen anything like that done before! I mean we were simply reliving everything that had happened just hours before. Every time I see something like this I literally KICK myself that we didn't have a videographer. I mean pictures are fantastic, but the videos capture the emotions in such a deep and magical way, and it's like you get to relive it all over again.

I dare you not to watch it!



I didn't get nearly as many photos as I would have liked, but here are a few of my favorites from our time.

Went to the beach soon after arriving. Wish we had more beach time, but such is life.



Went to breakfast at this delicious place to celebrate Jen's birthday! It was delicious! Thanks husbands for watching the babes so the mamas could be present and eat without being distracted.





At the rehearsal dinner. My beautiful friends. I can still taste that Mexican food - yummy! It was so good.

At the groom's parent's house - what a beautiful evening it was. Such a cute setup and a beautiful sunset.

Here they are! The lovely couple. Aren't they just gorgeous?

And that's all folks!

Weddings.

Peter and I have been to our fair share of weddings over the years, but we haven't been to that many this past year!  I must say I absolutely love weddings.  I love seeing all the time and energy and the planning come into fruition for that one special day.  I love seeing all the details, the center pieces, the invites, the programs, the guest book, the flowers, the dresses, the jewelry, the guys outfits, etc.  I love it all - I think you get the point right?

I love the feeling of love - the joy that is in the air at weddings is so contagious and palpable.  And I love it!  And my husband loves me enough to accompany me to them all.  However, quite a few of our friends have planned their weddings and already celebrated the big event.  So nowadays when we receive wedding invites in the mail, I am simply delighted!  

And this wedding was especially special.  First off, it was truly gorgeous, and the bride was truly radiant!  And second, I have been waiting for this day ever since I met Summer.  She is so full of love and so much joy and I knew from the start that the man that married this woman was going to be one lucky guy!!  Summer met the husband at a mutual friend's birthday party - and the rest was history.  I remember talking to her after she met him and as she described him, I couldn't help but think - she's describing her dream man.  And describe him she did - the best part was that he was not just a dream, he was REAL!! And now he's her husband.  Don't you just love that??

The details - the ceremony and reception were at the Arctic Club Hotel downtown, and I must say it was nice to stay in one place for all of it.  And they even had a cocktail hour!  However, I celebrated that cocktail hour by drinking diet coke and shirley temples just like a non 21 year old.  And they had the yummiest appetizers!  And we even had a sit down dinner - no buffet for these folks.  And the food was delicious!

Isn't the room just gorgeous??  Peter took these photos - must mean he thought the same thing.

Some of my absolute favorite people!!  The four of us worked at the Salon together AND I have been a witness at all of their weddings - I love being able to say that.  And Amy, the second one (in the top photo) from the left is pregnant - 2 weeks further along than me with a sweet baby girl!!  I just love that.  And isn't my husband handsome even with the mustache and all??

Here's to the next wedding - sometime next year!

Xoxo, 

Malia

Wedding videos.

I don't know what it is about wedding videos, but I just love them!  Peter teases me ALL the time for watching them.  I mean half the time I don't even know the couples in the video, but that doesn't keep me from watching them.  And just because I don't know the couple doesn't mean I don't know the joy and the love that radiates through them!  

When I watch them, it simply takes me back to our wedding day 2.5 years ago.  The pure joy, the laughter, the love that was felt throughout the entire day simply overwhelms me even after all these years.  Oh I can remember the nerves, the energy, the excitement, the kiss, the weather, the food, the speeches.  So many beautiful moments inter wined to make an exceptionally beautiful and unforgettable day.

And when I watch these videos...I am once again reminded of the fact that we don't have a wedding video - makes me a little sad to be honest.  We do have some video footage, but nothing as cool as these!  I would definitely recommend it.  If you are currently planning your own wedding or dreaming of one that has yet to come...CONSIDER HIRING a videographer and for those who are in the Seattle area, CONSIDER HIRING Alec Cattarin.  His videos are truly amazing, but let's be honest, they completely speak for themselves!

Will + Whitney from Alec Cattarin on Vimeo.



Rob + Meg from Alec Cattarin on Vimeo.



Jon + Ariel from Alec Cattarin on Vimeo.



Tim + Alicia from Alec Cattarin on Vimeo.

Chelan.

So a few weeks ago we ventured to the other side of the state...to lake chelan for alicias bachelorette weekend! It was such a wonderful time..and loved that the journey began as soon as we got in the car! FIVE of us piled into Sarah's Volvo and our time together was filled with soo much laughter and love. And then upon arrival I was blown away by the beautiful bright pink decor ...from the candy once again, to the gorgeous flowers, to the pink balloons, to the house itself and the pool! It was a blessed time and such a wonderful chance to spend time with Alicia and the other 18 important women in her life! I just love my friends soo much and feel soo blessed for the wonderful community we have. So here are some pictures from that weekend. Dawn, Alicias mom, made these beautiful strawberries to share with the rest of us! They were decked out in little tuxedoes and what not. AND the cake below is a cake I made with SOO much help from Bekah.

Working Backwards.

So I just posted some pictures from Meg and Robs wedding... And while I was thumbing through the photos, I realized that I hadn't posted any photos from Megs weekend away in Leavenworth or any from her bridal shower that was obviously MONTHS ago! So I figured I should work backwards and post some photos from Meg's fabulous celebrations! So enjoy the beautiful photos even though the events have passed.

The Rumbles get Hitched!

Well we attended another beautiful wedding on August 22nd!! Some more of our dear, dear friends wed! It was such a joyous day and soo much fun! Peter and Jenny were married at Bethany Community Church near Greenlake...the same spot that Peter and I were married nearly a year before. So it brought back some beautiful memories! The ceremony was everything you would want it to be...and then the reception was just right next door. So we didn't have to travel too far! There were soo many good friends ...and such great food! So much seafood that her dad had flown in from all over the state...crab legs, oyster shooters, crab cakes...AND they even had a candy table for favors...which was a HUGE hit with everyone, especially ME! Love these two together...and soo happy that Peter Rumbles found such an AMAZING woman to call his wife.

Bridal Shower.

So my dearest friend Alicia is getting married in just a few weeks...but her bridal shower was MONTHS ago and because it was SUCH a beautiful affair I figured I would give the shower it's very own blog post. Her sister, Brooke, and another bridesmaid hosted it and I have truly never experienced something so beautiful! Blue is one of Alicia's wedding colors and blue items were everywhere...from the drinks, to the napkins, to the candy, to the cake, to Alicia's dress, to the wine labels. It was a beautiful event for a beautiful person. Enjoy the beautiful photos and all the lovely touches!

Rob + Meg

So our dear friends Meg and Rob were married August 15, 2010...one whole year after my darling Peter and I were married! Peter and I feel so very honored to share an anniversary date with such an amazing couple! All the festivities took place at Sodo Park, which is an amazing venue...and the food was extra special and extremely delicious! The photos to follow are simply fabulous...and it helps that Meg and Rob are truly such beautiful people inside and out! Also check out the beautiful video below that was put together by one of the groomsmen, Alec Cattarin.

Rob + Meg from Alec Cattarin on Vimeo.