Ailey's wedding day arrived! Tyler, Ailey, and I were up early so as not to be rushed. We had to be at the Payson Temple by 9:30 am. Ailey got ready in our big bathroom with us. She was nervous. I tried to catch a few pictures of her getting ready.
Luke came over early that morning and got ready at our Airbnb too. I got a picture of him coming down the stairs and heading to the temple. He left much earlier than we did so that he could met up with his dad.
Pookie looking snazzy!
(I took a picture very similar to this of Kameron on his wedding day.)
A bit later Tyler, Ailey, and I drove to the temple and met up with Luke. We introduced ourselves to his father, Joe, who was Luke's escort and I was Ailey's. It was a gorgeous sunny day! Tyler, the kids, and I were so excited. It was really happening!
Tyler headed directly into the temple and was so excited to see so many of his cousins and aunts and uncles that were already there. We haven't seen some of them in such a long time. I often forget that we actually do have quite a few LDS family members. LOL. It was fun that so many could be there to support Ailey and Luke and our family. Joe and I waited while Ailey and Luke did their living endowment interview and met with a member of the temple presidency.
Then I left with Ailey to go to the bride's room. That bride's room was so pretty and she was the only bride in there. The temple worker helping us was absolutely delightful and so sweet! Ailey changed into her temple clothes and was escorted to Luke. I went into the waiting room and about lost my mind with joy at seeing so many people that I love. Heaven must feel like this!! Two of my best friends were there...Jayni and Caroline. The happy tears were already flowing as I hugged and quietly squealed with joy at seeing everyone!! Kameron and Erin were there too and talking with family members and friends. Ailey and Luke's friends were also there along with a lot of Luke's family. It was so exciting, fun, and joy-filled. This was also when I met Luke's mom, Andrea, for the first time.
Then we went into the most stunning sealing room in the Payson Temple. It had giant windows, tall ceilings, a huge crystal chandelier, and the alter and the chairs were the palest shade of blue. It was absolutely gorgeous inside! It was the prettiest sealing room that I have ever been in and by far the largest! It was fun that we actually had a good amount of people on the bride's side!! By this time Reilly, Hunter, Karson, Bryn, Kirk, Meki, Kaiya, and Kirin were there too and waiting outside with the rest of the wedding group. Ailey and Luke's sealing was done by the temple president who was Luke's grandpa's good friend. Luke's grandpa was going to be their sealer but then passed away unexpectedly. The sealing was beautiful and incredibly spiritual. Heaven felt close. Afterward we got to meet more of Luke's family and the kids' friends that were there and we got to hug all of our people. It was a really neat experience for us. Luke's mom Andrea and I were the witnesses. It was such a special day. Even Kameron had tears in his eyes as he watched his little sister get married and sealed to the man she loves. So sweet.
After the sealing I went back to the bride's room with Ailey to get her dressed in her wedding gown and ready for pictures. The sweet ladies were oohhing and ahhing over Ailey and her dress. They were so helpful getting her dressed especially with her 1,000 buttons up the back. I would still be there buttoning her up without their help! LOL! Ailey looked so beautiful! Absolutely gorgeous! We met up with Luke and then they waited while I went out the big doors to let everyone know to get ready and to make sure that the photographer was in position. Then when everyone was ready to go, I knocked on the door, and Ailey and Luke walked out. They were so cute!!
Then it was picture time and trying to talk to all of the people that were there. It was a big happy blur!
Luke's family
It was incredibly sweet to have Tyler's aunt and uncle there. Tyler's Uncle Rick is his dad's last remaining sibling. Tyler's dad died when we were dating so our kids never knew their grandpa. But they have heard so many stories about him and seen so many pictures of him that they feel like they know him. Rick and Tyler's dad always looked so much alike. Almost like twins although Tyler's dad was older. We told the kids that when they saw Uncle Rick they would know what their Grandpa Johnson would've looked like if he were still alive. It literally gave me so much joy to see Rick with our kids. He said the kindest things to them and to us and I know that he was truly speaking on behalf of his brother. He told them all how much their Grandpa would have loved them and how proud he would have been of all of them and how he would have LOVED being their grandpa. He told me and Tyler some of same things and about how much Tyler's dad would have adored his grandchildren and what fun he would've been having on that day with all of us. He told Tyler how proud his dad would have been of him and his amazing family. This was one of the true highlights of the wedding. Our feelings were so tender missing so many beloved grandparents but Rick and Midge stepped right in and filled that role so beautifully on their behalf and left all of us feeling so loved.
This picture gets me every time. I see Tyler's dad hugging Ailey. Every.single.time. Chills.
Ailey and her best friend Olivia. These girls had *quite* the time in Rexburg! LOL.
I love these sister pics!
Bestie Cousins!
I LOVED Ailey's shoes!
Once the family pictures were done and Ailey and Luke were busy taking their pictures on the temple grounds; we took some of our own pictures while we were waiting.
It was so fun to have some of my dearest friends there with me too.
I love Jayni and Caroline so much! Another absolute highlight of the day!!
Kirk, Meki, Kaiya, and Kirin
The wedding was not without a few snafus... the groomsmen boutonnieres were put in the wrong box and left behind and a couple of Luke's sisters missed the walkout because they were late but it all worked out. If those were the only things that went awry then I count that as a real success.
Tyler and I congratulating ourselves that part one of the day was done.
After all the family pictures were taken Reilly, Hunter, and Karson went back to the Airbnb so that Karson could have a nap and Reilly could rest. The rest of us went out for a celebratory lunch at an Italian restaurant. It turned out that this weekend was also BYU graduation so the place was packed. How did we miss this little detail?
Then we had a couple of hours to relax before the reception. I spent most of them decompressing on the patio swing looking up at my beautiful mountains. I took a power nap and then it was go time for the reception. This was the event that was stressing me out the most. The temple...no. The reception...yes. This was when it wasn't that fun to be the parents of the bride as we all got dressed up again, loaded up the cars, while trying to make sure that we had absolutely everything we needed. But it was time to get this party started!! Onto the reception!
Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Jorgensen!!
