The Beach Boys got it totally right....

ARUBA!!!!!!

Ok so it's been over 9 months since this actually happened, but we felt like it's a good time to get everyone excited to go there since it's back in season.

After our friends, the Steeles, gave us a few tips about Aruba, we were off for a week to enjoy the papmiento-speaking, iguana covered, WARM, slightly breezy island just off of Venezuela. It was paradise....no really.

The Marriott where we stayed had a small boat that took us out to their private island covered in pink flamingos, beach chairs, and pina coladas. Darien and I even found a sunken cargo ship (Ok they sunk it there on purpose) while snorkeling in the reef.

In fact, we liked snorkeling so much, we decided to sign Darien up to get her Scuba Diver's license. After a few classes, some skills tests in the pool, and an 'A' on her exam, we did our first wreck dive of an old german vessel that was sunk during WWII. Incredible.

Darien skipped a grade in the course....she was kind of intense so I think they might have been a little scared. She loved it.

Proud of my open water class diver....

Big Eyes, Suprised Look, Hair Messy, Swollen Lips.....

I think we had these same faces when Natalie busted us kissing on the love-sac in Phoenix.

The first of many adventures to come.

One of our favorite parts of this trip was exploring the alleys, back streets, local dives, and anywhere else where we understood nothing and enjoyed everything.

Vejo te depois Aruba!

The Morning After

Oh wow. So many fun and wonderful gifts to help us get our new home and life started. We opened gifts Sunday morning after church with the family on the patio. Madison was almost more excited than us.

I promise Eric was excited too. Just a little too much partying and a very early morning for the man of the hour.

The Details

And this is the reason that the event was beautiful. The photos don't even begin to capture the hours upon hours of work from the day Eric and I were engaged to just minutes before guests arrived. I had the best wedding planner ever and the greatest volunteer crew of friends and family. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

The ring ceremony. Although Mom would have loved a plaid carpet, the rose petals and garland balls were such a nice touch.

Dinner table arrangements included the plaid ribbons, flowers, pillows, cupcakes and postcards for each guest.

The cupcakes were each individually boxed and labeled for the guests with their table number. Lindsey Worthen is the queen of cupcakes and created this beautiful display.

The amazing chairs that we featured in a few pictures. These were found by my parents and recovered. Now they are in the Carroll residence kitchen. So beautiful.

Butler passed hors d'oeuvres, a hot chocolate station, dessert bar... We didn't try anything. It looked beautiful. Hopefully it tasted good.

The reception was held in the ballroom. The plaid fabric and ribbon came from Scotland.

The Laird crest embroidered on pillows to top these amazing creations. Fostoria glass cake plates, a pillow of flowers, and then the pillows made by Natalie, plaid and crest.

The painted crest was hung above the fireplace for the ring ceremony and then it traveled to each room. Such a wonderful wedding gift that we still have to hang in our home.

The cake. I had no ideas on what to do for the wedding cake, but the simple white turned out beautiful. And the grooms cake. Easy decision. It turned out amazing.

So much red candy. Mom collected brooches and created this variety of candy dishes for months before the wedding. She even made cute plaid aprons for our helpers who dished up candy for guests.

The idea for the history of family wedding pictures came from the bathroom of Stephanie James' Wedding Dress Boutique in Huntington Beach. She had covered the entire wall in antique wedding photos. She said she didn't know anyone in the photos she had collected. So I thought we could take it to the next step and honor the unions that came before us and make the decorations even more personal.

So spoiled. Christian Louboutin shoes.

The crests were maybe my favorite addition. The tradition began with my dad and his proposal to my mom. Eric is a romantic and knew it would make the proposal and wedding even more special for me and ran with the idea. All of the groomsmen and fathers wore their family crest on their tuxes as well.

The Send Off

Tired feet and so many people still stayed to clean up.

My mom wore this dress when she left from her wedding. The hat was a special addition from an antique store in Huntington where we found the gloves for the wedding dress. That incredible woman put so many little details into making the event lovely. Her dress deserved to be worn again. A tribute to Mom.

It doesn't get any better than this.

What we were all waiting for. Funny how the energy peaks when music starts.

I wish I could post every single entry picture. None of us knew it was coming. The DJ just started the music and said, "You two. Go!"

I think Eric was the only one who knew and had rehearsed.

The best. Friends reunited.

Cake spilt on the dress.

Now serving in Japan and England.

And the reason the Carrolls throw parties. To dance.