malory and shawn

We got to spend last week in Arizona with family to celebrate 'aunt Mal's' (R's sister) wedding! It was beautiful weather and an awesome time with family. I was super honored to get to stand up next to my sister-in-law as she married her best friend. Being a bridesmaid also meant I was able to relax and focus on the bride without worrying about taking too many pictures. Awesome for having a great time but a bummer for the pictures I have to share with you cause it's pretty choppy. These pictures don't tell the full story of the day but Nia (the awesome photographer and a great friend of a friend whom I adore) got some awesome shots and we'll get to see those later. In the meantime, here's a few shots I was able to get in between hanging out with the bride and worrying about a certain ring bearer making it down the aisle. Thanks for an awesome time, Mr. & Mrs. Smith. We are so happy for you guys and love you so much!!

P.S. Ring Bearer #2 did surprisingly well strutting down the aisle and even sat quiet and (mostly) still in the front for the entire wedding. Whew! (We wont discuss how he did for pics though.....) ;)

Wedding Reception

This week, Kelly's "Show Us" is Wedding Receptions and Honeymoons.
I'll post honeymoon pics next week, as we went to Hawaii and it is one of my "favorite vacations" (next weeks post!).

We had our reception 30 miles away from our church because in our small town, there aren't a lot of options. We had it in the ballroom of Lakeside Casino.

We opted to not do a "head table" and instead sat at our own table with our wedding party and their guests at the tables around us.

Grandma Kathryn made us a beautiful quilt that we used as our guest "book."


Neither of us are huge cake people so we had cheese cake. We had about 15 different kinds of cheesecake.

Along with the cheesecake, we had a groom's cookie cake, a "mother's cake," a birthday cake for my uncle, a candy buffet, homemade ice cream, and of course a chocolate fountain. Oh... and we had "real food" too. Sort of. We did an appetizers buffet of some of our favorite foods. YUM.

I'm not sure the DJ liked the caricature (because he gathered the bigger crowd) but everyone else seemed to love it. We love going to visit family/friends and seeing their caricature from our wedding hanging up.
Some of the kidlins that were there.

Off to the casino. We didn't want the day to ever end. I wanted to wear my wedding dress as long as I could! ;)


Just in case you aren't sick of our wedding photos yet, you can check out a book I made on shutterfly here.

Wedding Party & Flowers

Kelly's "Show Us" this week: Wedding Party and Flowers

Rusty & I are blessed to have great friends and family. I always thought I'd have a tiny wedding party, but it was so hard to keep the numbers small. (So we didn't). We included as much family as we could. We made up jobs/titles because we had so much family and friends we wanted to include. Here is a picture of us with our bridesmaids and groomsmen. (And also, our nephew Colson, as Rusty's sister (next to him) was pregnant with Colson at the time)

I LOVED my flowers. I wanted to do hydrangeas but had been advised not to because they do not hold up well and it was the end of July when we got married. I opted to get fake ones and made my own bouquets. Mine was cream and the bridesmaids were green. Most of the girls gave theirs back to me and I use them to decorate (one of) our Christmas tree(s) at Christmas.

Tied to my bouquet, I had a photo of my grandma on her wedding day and her and grandpa's rings. Grandma was an amazing woman and it was so great to have those things close to me on my wedding day.

Wedding Dress

Kelly's "Show Us" today is wedding dresses.

This week marks our 2nd wedding anniversary. What perfect timing for the wedding dress post.

I loved my wedding dress. I bought (okay, my mom bought) the actual dress at Schaffers. I liked it. But didn't love it as is.

So then I went to Dornink and had my jacket made. I had sketched what I wanted my dress to look like and went everywhere to find something similiar. No luck. Now, you see the cap sleeve lace look everywhere.... That's about par for me!

I ordered some double face satin Midori ribbon online to make into a sash. And made my veil out of some simple tulle. The sash cost about $10 (vs. $89 and the bridal shoppe) and the veil cost $3 (versus $250). (Sorry, Schaffers and Dornink aren't that cheap.... but at least you can save money in other ways!)

Anyway, here's the dress that I loved!

Long Time Coming

Two of my favorite people, Mark & Laci, got married this weekend!





Mark and I went to school together from kindergarten to college graduation! He is the roommate I had the longest while at Iowa State. He and Laci (who is also from our hometown) started dating when we were in college. Needless to say, some of my best college memories are with these two! Seven years later, they are now married and Rusty and I went to Leon to celebrate with them on Saturday. (After Border Days, of course!)

Congrats!! Love you guys!


(Side note: Zach was taking money for
the dollar dance. Before I went up,
Rusty asked if I had a dollar. I said no, but I have a $5. He said, "You better get change!" He has got to stop listening to Zach's dad!!)

Mussi like Mucinex

I recently got home from spending Memorial Day weekend in Arizona to watch one of my close friends get married.
My friend and I first met in 2002 while working at a camp together in New York. We were roommates and had a great time together. Camp was amazing and we spent that life changing experience together. When I got married, (another life changing experience) Christa came to Iowa to be with me. And on her most recent life changing experience, I was honored to stand by her side as she said, "I do."
It was a beautiful outdoors ceremony with an amazing mountain backdrop and a gorgeous bride. I can't wait for professional photos to get posted but until then, here are a couple I was able to take.
rehearsal dinner


Okay... and I know her eyes are closed... but she has a beautiful dress. and beautiful bridesmaid dresses. and it's the ONLY picture I got of the two of us together on her wedding day. and it was her brother that took the picture and guys never think to check to see if it's acceptable or if another one is needed. okay. you're right. i suppose i should have checked it.....
Like I said, can't wait to see the professional pics!!

Oh... and in case you are wondering. She is now Mrs. Mussi. Pronounced like Mucinex.