I went to the most beautiful wedding last weekend. Now, I'm not really one of those girls who has planned her wedding forever. I'm a romantic, but a little less of the Cindarella type. I've never gone to a wedding and come away wanting to get married desperately, or thinking that that is exactly what I want my wedding to look like.

But Lance and Sophie's wedding... It was perfect. It was small, outdoors, casual, personal. Perfect, really, is the only word for it. Just when I'd figured out how to be completely happy with my single state, with no desire to be otherwise in the remotely near future, they had to go and make a sap out of me. Since then, hearing "Butterfly Kisses" on the radio (Frank sang it with Sophie still on her dad's arm) or watching a chick flick makes me want to cry. Sick.

I'd never had anyone this close to me get married. Let alone two in one shot. I don't think I've ever been so happy for someone in all my life. Lance and Sophie are two of my dearest friends; they love Jesus and each other so very much. What could be better than getting together with most all of my friends to see them get married?

I've never gotten to be in the room with the bride as she gets ready for her wedding before. It was super-fun, and I felt so privileged to be a part of that--holding her hand as she got nervous and jittery, laughing when someone suggested she get married with her hair still in the curlers, seeing her giggle and run to the window, trying to catch a glimpse of Lance's car as he drove up. It was one of the coolest things I've ever gotten to see.

We all know that the bride must wear something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. Sophie, like all responsible wives-to-be, complied:

Yes indeed, my friends, Old Spice Arctic Blast men's deodorant is indeed blue. The marriage is safe, thanks to Mel's generous application of the blue stuff.

Check out some hot girls! Sophie's maid of honor was Leah Wiechal, and her bridesmaids were Lauren Bull, Ellen Carlson, and Keri Lundquist. Are they not a beautiful bunch? And I must say, they're also the greatest friends to have.

And the boys didn't look too shabby themselves. Lance's dad was his best man, and Frank Farkash, Enoc Lopez, and Sophie's brother Caleb Allen were his groomsmen. I believe I may have overheard the words "man meat" in reference to the groomsmen, but I'm not sure. Judge for yourself, ladies.

The bride and groom had their first dance to a country song. Entirely appropriate, if you ask me. They did a great job, waltzing away, as if they'd done it all their lives. They could have stepped right out of the closing scene of "Sleeping Beauty." And at the risk of being sappy, the adoring way they looked at each other pretty much melted your heart. Don't you agree?

Aren't they sweet?! Things did get a little racy, though, at the tradtional removing of the garter... Lance grabbed it in his teeth, and I think Sophie's face tells you all you need to know.

The wedding was gorgeous. I hope these pictures show you a little of that, if you weren't there. But that was only half the pleasure of the day. You see, it was also filled with this great big group of my dearest friends, both old and new. Check us all out--a fantabulous melding of childhood friends, high school friends, college friends, and camp friends, all collected in this wonderful little managerie of fun. So many lives entertwined and experiences shared, laughter abounding through it all. My only regret with this picture is that I'm behind the camera. And this isn't even all of "us"!:

Are you enjoying? I hope so. I have one more offering to leave with you before I go to sleep, and that is this really cute picture of my new friend Lauren and I. It's really a swell one. Check us out:

My post-awesome-wedding-conclusion: One of us needs to get married every year, so we can have this kind of get-together more often. Who's next? I wonder who it will be... I think maybe Melanie, but you never can tell.

Tell me what you think of these pictures, I've spent hours posting them now!

Goodnight friends.