Since Nathan and Rebekah needed to go to Delaware shortly after their wedding, they opted to have their wedding receptions while they were here for Christmas. We started with a reception at our church on Saturday, January 3. It was fun to see the family and friends who were able to make it, which included my uncle Brent, two of my brothers and their families (Tyson and Jon), Rachel and Justin, grandparents and Great-Grandma Hendricks, a missionary or two from Nauvoo, and several members and former ward members. Nathan's parents came from Utah, and his aunt and her family came from Pocatello.
Grandpa Scott kindly accepted my request to shoot some candids at this reception.
The centerpieces and table runners. We borrowed the candles from Terri Guymon (in exchange for shooting their family photos), Rebekah made the jars with ribbon/music, and I punched out the hearts from old sheet music we inherited from a neighbor.
The quilt I made for the couple with fabric from their Nauvoo band costumes. After Nathan and Rebekah announced their engagement, I knew I wanted to make them a quilt, and I wondered how I could incorporate Nauvoo into it. Ana thought about reaching out to the performing mission to see if they could ship us an old dress that was being retired. I talked to our bishop whose parents are serving in Nauvoo. They put me in touch with the sister who sewed the costumes. She sent me 1/2 yard of the blue used in the girls' dresses and 1 yard of the red used in the boys' vests. Most of the rest of the fabric for the quilt came from Grandma Scott's stores. We thought it would be fun to display the quilt at the reception (many people in the ward knew I had been working on it and the quilt helps to tell the story of how Nathan and Rebekah met), so we made a little display that explained all of this.
Winnie and Easton at the reception.
Grandma Scott and me.
The refreshments. When I asked Rebekah what she wanted for refreshments, she said, "some chocolate chip cookies or something." We elaborated on that and made a milk and cookies bar with (admittedly) way too many cookies. We had pistachio pudding, chocolate chip, eggnog, chocolate crinkle, peanut butter, white chocolate chip cranberry, gingersnaps, snickerdoodles, oatmeal raisin and some gluten-free (store bought) cookies. We still have bags of them in the freezer because I went way overboard.
The refreshments from the other side. We had two different double dispensers for the milks and water, but our dispenser didn't want to keep the liquid contained. Poor Miriam learned that when she went to pour in a bunch of chocolate milk. We had to replace the tablecloth, use the smaller dispenser for the milks and get pitchers from the kitchen for the water.
Seth, Andrea, Annie and Jon talking. The Scotts came from Meridian to celebrate with us.
Nathan and Rebekah talking to the Birds.
Canyon talking to Nathan.
Libby and Ellie talking with Grandma Scott.
The gift table.
The sign-in table. Rebekah created a blank symphonic score as a guest book. Our neighbor with a printing company print and bound it for us as a gift.
Seth and Andrea at the reception.
Nathan and Rebekah getting ready to cut the cake Ana made and decorated.
Cutting the cake.
The couple with the quilt.
Nathan and Rebekah traveled back to Utah on Tuesday, January 6, then we joined them on Saturday, January 10 for the Utah reception. Besides the five of us, I had two uncles and aunts show up (Paul and Janice; John and Marta), and my parents came from Idaho to attend the reception and go to church with us and the Jackmans at their ward in Cedar Hills the next day. A few more Nauvoo missionaries came to this reception, including Elder and Sister Ferrin, the band director and his wife, so that was especially meaningful.
Seth had enough Marriott points that we were able to stay free at a Springhill Suites in Provo. We hit one D.I. on the way down Saturday (we could have done another one if I hadn't picked one that was so far off I-15 ... oops), checked into the hotel, got ready for the reception, enjoyed that together, then came back to the hotel so Winnie could enjoy an hour or so in the hotel pool with her parents. The next day we checked out, met Nathan, Rebekah and his family at church, watched the couple perform a musical number (Rebekah on Nathan's brother's baritone and Nathan on the piano), went to Relief Society/Elders Quorum, then stopped by Nathan's mom's house to change clothes and say goodbye. Rebekah and Nathan went back to Delaware the following week.
I brought my camera and shot candids at this reception.
Their refreshment table. We brought an entire cooler bag full of leftover cookies from our reception. They also included crackers and cheese, fruit and brownies. Rebekah and Nathan brought the décor and tableware with them when they came to Utah so they could use it at this reception as well.
Rebekah had to travel light from Delaware, so she ended up wearing her sneakers for the Utah reception. In Idaho she was able to borrow a pair of my shoes. We should/could have brought her shoes for the reception in Utah, but we didn't think to.
Nathan and Rebekah talking to guests.
Hugging the Ferrins.
Seth and Winnie checking out something on his phone.
Grandma Scott hugging her brother, Paul.
Grandma and Grandpa hugging the couple.
Sign-in table.
Their cool symphonic score guest book.
The sisters laughing at the person who wrote "the lick" on the page.
Ana fixing a bubble in the cake. She made/decorated this cake in Idaho, then boxed it up and brought it to Utah for the second reception.
The cake on the gift table.
Seth and Miriam talking to the couple.
Rebekah's crocheted bouquet next to Ana's cake.
Wide shot of the Utah reception. When the line dissipated, the couple was able to enjoy some of the refreshments.
Taking a picture of the Ferrins and the couple.
Grovers in the corner.
Jennifer (Nathan's mom) had kindly invited us to enjoy some Costco sandwiches prior to the reception. During the reception, Ana sneaked into the kitchen to get some of the leftover pickles from dinner. She stashed them in her cup and came back into the gym to enjoy them.
One lonely orange in the water. Rebekah insisted that the water not have any fruit in it because she HATES mildly fruit-flavored water. Her sisters wanted to prank her by putting one orange in the jug toward the end of the reception. I wouldn't grant them permission, but Nathan did.
Rebekah talking to Nathan's cousin.
I don't know what they're looking at on Ana's phone. Also Rebekah is wearing Miriam's tie?
The couple at their reception.
After the orange was added to the water dispenser, things got a little unhinged. The girls ended up adding a strawberry, an orange, some grapes and one Wheat Thin to Rebekah's water bottle.
Nathan wearing Rebekah's crocheted headband.
