On Saturday, August 14th, 2010 at 6 pm my best friend Lisa said her vow’s to her new husband Hassan. It was two years ago that we created vision boards together, her’s was to find a husband and mine to be a mother. In some strange way, both of these vision boards have culminated on her wedding day, since I have been a temporary mother of my two nieces.
Her husband is from Morocco and she had to wait more than a year after getting engaged to complete all the paperwork to get him into the U.S. I recall her initial impatience last summer of the immigration process and promised her the day would come faster than she realized. I have kept my promise to her, as this last year has flew by. She is now married and on her honeymoon as I type.
It was just this past July 4th that we first began planning this event, as we had been waiting for Hassan’s Visa to be approved before moving forward. So, the last five weeks we have been running around, planing and executing all the precious details of her very sweet and playful wedding day. I had the privilege of hosting the event at my home in Fresno Cohousing. It was a colorful backdrop to an even more colorful wedding. Every last attention to detail was carefully thought out and handmade either by the bride herself, or her group of supporting friends and family, as well as a few things purchased off of ETSY.
Parasols were provided for the guests to shade themselves from the evening sun during the ceremony.
Star performed a sweet song honoring Lisa and Hassan.
We made the most playful photo booth, compete with pinwheels, mustaches, hats, glasses, and lips on a stick for the guests to have fun with. The resulting instant pictures were affixed to paper and accompanied by a note of well wishes to the couple, then hung up for everyone to enjoy. The pages are Lisa and Hassan’s guest book. I already had an opportunity to look through the completed book and could not help but burst into laughter while looking through the pages.
The tables were decked out in the same sweet vintage fabric as the flags, with matching napkins and fresh organic herbs that the guests took home as their gift.
After the yummy dinner the “sweet treats” bar came out for all to enjoy. Two tables filled with cupcakes, candy and ice cream galore. We made our own banana splits, sundaes, root beer floats and took home bags of candy. Even the music fit the vintage candy shop theme with songs like ‘sugar shack’, ‘sweet pea’, ‘how sweet it is to be loved by you’ and ‘lollipop’. My two nieces were on a sugar rush all night. I figured it was a special day, so why not.
Rather than cutting the cake, they served themselves an ice cream sundae.
I have been playing the role of bride’s best friend, as well as wedding planner and hostess of the wedding, keeping me too busy to think. I passed on being the photographer too, these images I captured are just for fun. At the end of the month we will be able to see what Daniel, the hired photographer, came up with.
Lisa, I am so happy for you I tear up just looking at these images. I have watched a dream of yours become reality, and cannot wait for your new family to blossom and grow. I love you from the bottom of my heart.
by Jamie
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