Well, the big day came, and then it was gone.
The weeks leading up to Friday, March 20th, were filled with craziness, anxiety, but mostly lots of excitement.
For me, it felt like blowing up a very big balloon. You get so out of breath and dizzy from blowing so much and so hard, that when it pops, you're so surprised that you stand there for a second with the silliest look on your face.
I have no idea where that analogy came from, I don't usually make my own metaphors, but I think that was pretty good. Even though we were preparing for this day for a long time, it still took us by surprise.
Don't get me wrong, it was a great surprise- really perfect and fantastic- just fast and breath-taking.
Prologue:
Wednesday, March 18, 6:00 pm
Eric left with a crew of men (Bob Pettit, Chris Sensenbaugh, James Read, Nathan Nicholes) to set up the lights and tulle.
6:20- Eric calls to inform us that a basketball tournament was being held at the building until 10:00.
9:30- we (Dave & Kathy Nicholes, Ken & Allison, Jeannie, Mom, Dad, and Me) leave to go help set up.
So yes, our plans were messed up and we couldn't start on the ceiling until 10:00 pm. For about 40 minutes, while the men put up the cables, all of us extra helpers tried to get work done without having any good plan. We must have looked pretty funny trying to figure out how to put everything else. And the plan that we did eventually have was not a good one.
With lots of ladders (and having to move those ladders every 2 minutes) we draped all the tulle (stapled end to end) over the cables across most of the room.
But after the tulle was all up, we realized that it needed to be tightened, because it drooped too far, and it needed to be spread out. So we had to go back up the ladders 20 more times to do that.
Then, we got the lights out, and concurred that they looked better over the tulle, so we had to go up all over again!
Finally, at 2:00 am, the ceiling was done, and beautiful. But we also started on tying bows for chairs and decorated the wall behind the party tables. Oh, and we started setting up some tables.We did not leave the building until before 3.
We went to Denny's after, and got home at 4:00 am. Poor Eric had to get up for a final at 6:00.
Thursday, March 19Lots of family arrived on Thursday, and we spent most of the evening making rice crispy treats. There was constant set up going on at the reception building, and we went and helped out when we could.
Thursday night, we had a large get-together to see all the family that was in town. It was a simple meal, but it was really great to relax and chat.
Karen, Kristen, and I watched the beginning of The Holiday while we did pedicures. We didn't get very far once our heads hit our pillows.
FRIDAY:
6:40 Mom woke me up to shower before it was occupied. Dad had just put in a new shower head, and I really wish he hadn't. It was low, and there was no water pressure, and the water went from freezing to warm and back again. But we all got showered and dressed up all pretty with time to spare.
10:00 We leave for the Temple. Those of us who couldn't be there for the sealing stayed out side and tended children. That included most of the bridesmaids. It turned out to be a bad idea for bridesmaids to babysit- not because we aren't great with kids, but because we were wearing our dresses. 
It is not easy to run around after kids, who are never content to sit still (even the ones that can't walk). And for us specifically, the dresses were really fragile because of the sheer over skirt. I had been pretty lucky not to have a little hole in the seem somewhere, but then, when Emily jumped off my lap, her shoes caught on the edge and created a very large, very noticeable hole that would have to be fixed before the pictures. Thanks to Lois Ann for saving the day by having an emergency kit of thread and needle.
12:something- Everyone was outside waiting for the Bride and Groom -well actually, the Bride and Groom had to wait until everyone important was there. 
Sadly, the Maid of Honor, Tiffany, did not know that she was supposed to be there. 
When I discovered this, it was too late for her to make it there for pictures. But the Bride and Groom came out, with the biggest smiles I have ever seen. 
They hugged everyone and we quickly went through the difficult task of taking pictures. 
We didn't do all the pictures at the temple, because we wanted to be fast, and Tiffany wasn't there. 
So we did a few group shots and family pictures, then we went to the luncheon at Panda Country. The Bridal Party got to ride in a large limo. We fit almost 20 people inside. The driver drove us the long way, and I am pretty sure we did a few circles, until we were at the restaurant.
The Luncheon was fantastic. I love Chinese food, so I couldn't have been happier. After we had some time to eat, Dad got out the microphone and he and mom both said a few words to Eric and Lora. Unfortunately, dad made me get up and present my gift to them over the microphone, which I hadn't realized I would have to do. I quickly said, 'this is for you', and sat down. Then Bob and Tiffany both gave their speeches. 
My gift to Eric and Lora was a pair of wine glasses, or sparkling cider glasses, for their toast. I had painted, with much difficulty and frustration, their names, in silver, and the date on the back. I also painted very thin pink lines around the rim and the bottom. It had been extremely tedious, because thin lines are VERY hard to do. When they were done, mom and I put bows on the stem. So Eric and Lora were toasted to, and then they told us how they met. Eric had meant to tell the engagement story, but I was glad they did the other, because we hadn't heard it before, and it was still entertaining.
After the luncheon, Eric and Lora went with the photographer (Lora's cousin) to Balboa to take more pictures. We all went home for some dress repairs, relaxation, and last minute things that we had forgotten. It was really nice to have that time.
5:40 We leave early to take pictures at the church. This was when we finally did the wedding party photos. They were fun and very cute. Our family also took a big group photo because everyone was there except for Nathan, who is on a mission.
6:30 The reception officially started. To describe the reception in its complete glory would take everyone's own perspective, because there is only so much one person can see or do at one time. I, personally, love to dance and party, so that's what I did.
I danced a lot, and was really excited to have so many people to dance with, who actually knew how. Andrew and I did some swing, and Ben Koala joined me for a good Cha-Cha. I did get a chance to enjoy the chocolate fountain, and while I did so, I was able to see and talk to people. But the rest of the time, you would find me on the dance floor.
So I couldn't really describe much to you for myself.
Oh, I did, however, make the slide show that was showing in the far corner of the room. I got a lot of compliments on it, and I am grateful for them. I have a lot of fun (when there aren't computer problems) doing slide shows. Thanks to Chris for the TV and taking care of setting it up.
My mom spent the whole time talking to people, so she would be able to tell you who was, or wasn't, there.
Eric and Lora did all the traditional wedding events. They shoved cake in each others' mouths, they danced, and they tossed the bouquet/garter. Lora's cousin caught the bouquet, and James caught the garter.It was a beautiful night, and after Eric and Lora left, we had lots of people stay to help clean up.
The ceiling, which took hours to put up, came down in 15 minutes. The 400 bows that were tied around the chairs, were untied, and the flowers were divvied up.We were tired, so our beds were really welcoming when we got home. In fact, I don't even remember getting home/going to bed.
So, that was the Wedding. It was wonderful, and exciting, and I am so glad it is over. JK- I loved it, but it was a lot of work.
I know that pictures are a big deal, we love to see them, so I will post the great ones that I didn't use in my description here. A big thank you to Heidi Robbins for taking so many beautiful pictures for us.
Congratulations you guys. I know you couldn't be happier. You're perfect for each other, and I wish you a wonderful marriage.
