Meet the Malones, Part 3 (AKA: The Final Installment)!

Emily and Casey have been happily married for 4 weeks and one day, and I'm just now getting to recapping their actual ceremony and reception. Since it's been a while, it'll be lacking some of the details I was trying so desperately to remember, but it's finally here, and that's a pretty big accomplishment (along with the fact that I am still rocking a polish perfect pre-wedding pedi).

We last left off at the pre-ceremony preparations. After Em and the entire bridal party managed to get the tears out of our systems without destroying our makeup, we gathered our bouquets and waited to walk down the aisle.

I wasn't that nervous, but I was so overwhelmed with love and happiness for Em and Casey, along with love and happiness for several of their friends and family members that I was delighted to see, I was basically a big jittery mess. My ankles felt too weak to hold up my wobbly legs, and I was wishing I had ordered my Madden gems 3 sizes smaller, if only to guarantee that my legs would stay in place. I managed to "lock it up" (thanks Linds) and make it to the front of the church in what I can only hope was somewhat slower than a sprint.

When it was Emily's turn to meet us all up at the altar, I must have looked like I was watching a tennis match. She was stunningly gorgeous (obv), and I wanted to watch her every step, but I was so touched with emotion by Casey's expression as he waited for her. They were so perfect, and so in love, and so happy, and I couldn't decide who or what I loved the most, and I was just grinning like a moron and looking all over the place. The ceremony was beautiful and personal, and I lost it during Casey's aunt's reading ("Love is Like Owning a Dog"), and then when we prayed, I had stupid sniffle nose (which Em and Case totally called me out on at the reception). But, I made it through without falling over, dropping my flowers, or laughing at any inappropriate moments (kind of a big deal for me).

We exited the church, and I was super thankful to have my groomsman to support me (read: death grip on his arm which I later apologized for), as my tootsies were feeling... well, they weren't feeling anything, as I had lost all nervous system functions from the calves down. We all lined the steps out front, where we scooped up rose petals and waited for MR. AND MRS. MALONE to come out.

(Blogger sidenote: I'm really sad that I don't have any pictures from the most important part of the weekend, but Emily's photographer was so incredibly awesome, I am sure she captured all the prettiest and best moments. Just trust me when I say that the rose petal showers and the laughter and happiness (how many times have I said happiness in this one blog post?) on the steps of the church was one of the most joyful experiences I have ever witnessed.)

Next, it was a mad dash to the Taft Museum, where I was so excited to see the outcome of the carloads of supplies and decorations we had dropped off the day before. I was not disappointed -- the venue looked absolutely amazing:

Casey rigged up a system to hang the tissue poofs without breaking the "No Ladders" policy.

The tables were beautiful, not least in part to Lindsey's beaded table numbers.

We squeezed in a quick photo session and managed to get Em's dress bustled before the guests arrived (or rather, as they were staring at us from where they were waiting inside). The reception was so clearly a result of Em and Casey and months of their detailed planning. Everything about it had their stamp -- the table setup, the cake table, the food selection. They even had their guests sign fabric squares (to later be fashioned into a quilt) and hang them on a clothesline so everyone could admire them. I had a mini-fit (I wanted to get my square weeks earlier, so I could fabric pen a Huey/Indy portrait), but got over it quickly and wrote a fun square ("Run Fast, Live Slow", my favorite 4 words ever written on Em's blog).

The reception was so much fun. The food was delicious (although I was so busy being ridiculously happy and chatty with everyone, I barely ate, and I forgot to get cake altogether!) and the traditions Em and Casey decided to keep were fitting and fun. There was no huge tiered single cake (which was awesome because there were a bunch of cakes in a ton of flavors), so they sampled cameo cookies instead...

The bride and groom bite each other's heads off!

We did everything that I knew we would do at a DLO wedding. We danced (normally I would say we danced inappropriately, but I may have been the only one doing that), we screamed the lyrics to "Murder on the Dance Floor", we gushed with obsession about each other, and we laughed all night.

Ladies love Bo Malone.

It's important to candidly point out details about guests to the bride.

All our last names start with "M"!

I never, ever, ever wanted it to end, but I knew the newlyweds needed to get home and grab some sleep before their early Sunday departure on their dream honeymoon. Never one to call it a night, I insisted we take the after party to the Cadillac Ranch, where... I'll spare you the details. Here I can definitely say there was inappropriate dancing, followed closely by NC-17 bull riding attempts by both myself and Haley (independently and as a couple). The night culminated in binge eating (Blake and Luke, how much pizza had you actually ordered earlier in the day?) and a hotel hallway photo shoot -- the ultimate seal of approval on an excellent night.

Phewwwww! The Malone wedding recaps are complete -- appropriately enough, on the night of the season premiere of "Bridezillas" (love you, Em! Mean it!). Now, there is no excuse to get to work on my own wedding. I've definitely made some checkmarks on the list, but I'm having trouble keeping momentum. Thus far, I have officially secured a groom, a dress, and a Maid and Matron of Honor. With that, I'd say the most important decisions have been made -- the rest is just icing on the wedding cake :)