Saturday started with my little brother waking me up saying, “Tonia! Come on! We’re going to jump in the lake!”  Apparently we had all decided the night before {after a healthy amount of beer} that we were going to do a “polar bear plunge” in the morning.  I am positive that this sounded like a great idea at the time, but let me tell you that it was the last thing I wanted to do on the morning of my wedding!! 

Nevertheless, I dragged myself out of bed and met the other “plungers” {Mike, my brother, my godfather, my godsister and godbrother, and Mike’s bro and sis-inlaw} outside.  We all looked extremely regretful.  It was a very chilly fall morning, but we comforted each other with confident conversation about how the water temperature would surely be much warmer than the air.

Not so!  Alas, the water was friged.  I think it caused my heart to stop for a second!  We ran back to our cabins, feeling much more awake…and grateful to be alive.

After a quick breakfast, it was time to finish decorating the tent.  By the time I got over there, pumpkins were already being arranged with flowers {some were from an organic grower in WI and some were cut from my mom and dad’s garden as well as several friends’ gardens!}, and tables were already being set.  Everything was looking beautiful!!

With the tent well on its way to being finished, most of our guests spent the rest of the morning kayaking on the lake, walking in the woods, and playing bocce and other lawn games.

Now, most of the photos you’re about to see were taken by the totally rad Joe Dickie and his assistant Tony, of Generation Photography in the Twin Cities.  They exceeded our expectations from start to finish: answering our questions and emails promptly, showing up exactly on time, being professional and friendly, taking amazing images, staying longer than we had contracted them to, and then providing us with three entire DVD’s of EVERY image they took. 

Plus…just look at the pictures.  They’re candid, they’re vivid and well composed {without any of that trendy photoshopping that will probably be out of style in a few years}, and most importantly they tell the story of the whole day.  I’m not even kidding- I never saw Joe or Tony once during the entire ceremony.  I have no idea how they got the photos they did.  They were completely out of the way and discrete!  No loud clicking noises, distracting flashes, or dorky scurrying around.  Thank you, guys.  Thank you so much.

Remember when we painted these signs?

Poppy ordered custom bocce trophies with “Mike & Tonia’s Bocce Tournament” printed on them.  Our good friend Jared organized the game and kept track of the score for everyone.  The proud winners wore their medals the entire day.

Inside the cabin, the girls and I were already getting ready…

Helloooo!  Cutest Flower Girl of the Year Award!!  Emma is Mike’s second-cousin.  I think she looks like she could be his daughter.  Those big brown eyes.  Her tutu and crown were both from Etsy and she was pretty excited about them.

The girls looked so beautiful in their aubergine dresses.  My mom and her two close friends Barb and Nancy made all the hair accessories for the Bridesmaids, as well as all the corsages.

My Grandma June ties the best bows.  She’s a little famous for them in our family.  It was so special for me to have her there to tie my sash.  I loved my dress…it was comfortable all day long and made me feel beautiful.  The sash was made by hand by the ladies at Che Bella in St. Paul, which is also where I found my dress.

Meanwhile, the guys started getting ready as well…

The groom is:

A) Nervous

B) Excited

C) Very silly

D) All of the above

…And they were done getting ready in about 15 minutes, so they went outside to play shuffleboard.

Looking sharp!!  Left to right: John {Mike’s brother & Best Man}, Danny {my brother}, Dave {our roommate when we lived in Duluth & best friend}, Will {my youngest cousin & Ring-Bearer}, Mike {groom}, Nick {long-time friend}, and Chris {brother-in-law, married to Mike’s sister}

Those snazzy vests were handmade by a woman in our town.  My mom and I found the charcoal herringbone wool at Hancock Fabric.  They were an itty-bit too big on all the guys, so on Saturday morning my tireless aunt Cathy altered them so they fit each of the guys perfectly.  The guys got their gray wool pants at JC Penny…on sale for $25.

Mike’s suit was a major splurge.  It’s a designer piece, and it took us forever to find, but it was worth it.  The entire week before the wedding, I heard him say “Gosh, I didn’t think I could love a suit,” at least 30 times.  I didn’t think so either, sweetie!…But I’m so glad he looked and felt like a champ on our big day!!  So handsome.

And anyone who cares to argue that ring-bearers are “so last year”, obviously has never met my cousin.  Cutest. Dude. Ever.  Bow-tie found on Etsy, boutonniere made by our friend Maggie.

OMG, Dave! Don’t rip your pants!!  Oh, look…the groom is equally as athletic…

Finally the women are ready, too…here comes the bride!

We’re ready to do this thing!! Bring on the wedding!!