tangible love.

i can't say enough about how amazing it was to have all my favorite girls staying in one place for the weekend of the wedding.

{booking a rental house for all of us was one of the best wedding planning decisions i could have made.}

our rental may have been a little interesting

{complete with a labyrinth in the back yard and buddhist inspired pictures on the walls}

but everyone fit and it didn't break the bank, so we were happy.

so many times, i turned to them and said, "i just love you guys. let's stay here forever, ok?" 

so maybe i was just a tad bit sentimental.

i make no apologies for that.

the morning of the wedding felt...

::relaxed

::comfortable

::and fun

even when i wasn't hungry, they made me eat.

when anxiety or stress tried to creep in, there was more than enough laugher to go around.

when i needed a good 5 point inspection...

or my legs lotioned up, 

or my hair done beyond my wildest expectations, 

{chrissy did an incredible job}

or my makeup did, they were there in a second.

when i read mr. lesley's card, they watched me cry like a baby and even shed some tears of their own.

and when it was actually time to put on my wedding dress...

{including these beautiful earrings from my stepmom that she wore, my sister wore, and i wore on our wedding days.}

they made me feel like a million bucks.

{so did this smile on my dad's face when he stopped by with our flowers.}

and like all girls should, they made sure i didn't stink on my wedding day.

{you can't really put a price tag on that.}

along with all these incredible woman surrounding me that morning, there was someone else i know was there with me.

my mother.

to honor her memory, i decided to attach lace from her wedding dress along with one of the most thoughtful gifts i have ever received: a pendant to attach to my bouquet including my parents' wedding photo on one side and lamentations 3:22-23 on the other.

the night of the rehearsal dinner, mr. lesley's aunt carol gave one to me and one to my sister.

it was a moment i will never forget.

a moment that was met with a lot of tears, a lot of hugs, and more thankfulness in our hearts than we could accurately express in words.

my mother was truly "holding my hand" throughout my wedding day.

what an amazing gift i was given.

the morning continued with bridal portraits in absolutely perfect space.

the backyard of the rental was a gem, complete with a little forest, tall grass, and one lovely shed.

{and i can't lie. it was pretty fun acting like a model.}

then photographs with all of my very best friends.

days when love and support are so tangible are rare and incredibly special.

i am thankful for the memories of that morning and the love that would only continue throughout the day.

{p.s. all of these photos and all of the ones to come were taken by our incredible photographer, steve willis. check him out at underpinphotography.com}