St. Patrick's Day 2017

Top o' the mornin' to ya, Friends,

So you probably already know we love all things Ireland. 💚 It all started a few years back when Hannah became fascinated with St. Patrick's life story, which then led her to discover all the beautiful things about Ireland.  Irish music (Celtic Thunder and Keith Harkin, mostly) were played frequently in our home.  It also inspired her to make a traditional Irish feast for us all for a St. Patrick's Day celebration.  

You can read about past St. Patrick's Day celebrations at our home here, here, here, here, and here.

Our celebration this year was a little different.  The extent of our Irish feast was this clover shaped aged cheddar and some festive napkins.  (That wasn't all we ate, but that was all that was Irish...and I think Ford Farms is actually in England, but shhhh.) 

There were two reasons - 1) Hannah's health.  She didn't really have the energy or inspiration.  You can read about a recent health update from her blog. 

Even though she wasn't planning on making a feast, even if she wanted to, we couldn't have because... we spent all day at the church, helping to decorate and finalize all the details for the big event the next day - the wedding that I was coordinating.

The bride planned a beach themed wedding.  Shells, aqua blue and white tulle, twinkle lights were all used to decorate.  All the bridesmaids were going to wear a shade of blue or green for an ombre effect.

These fun white light balls were hung with billowy tulle scalloped all long both headers.

Little white lights and tulle just make things look magical!  Don't you think?

Matt, Hannah and Dan were brainstorming ideas for setting up a "photo booth" to look festive.

My part didn't really happen until the end of the day when the actual rehearsal was taking place.  All the details of the ceremony to be gone over, plus the details of how the sanctuary was to be transformed into the reception area.

Olivia wanted both her parents to walk her down the isle.  They are a close family with seven beautiful daughters.  Olivia is their first to be married.

And then the moment things feel "real" or maybe a little surreal.  😢😀

It was a different kind of St. Patrick's Day, but so very memorable.

. . . . .

Honestly,  I felt so honored that they asked me to coordinate.  The two families did all the planning (menu choices, decorations, etc.), and I just made sure the details came together on their special day.

The responsibilities were divided between another gal, who was completely in charge of the food side of the day, (overseeing, three cooks for four appetizers for 400 people! cake cutters for eight sheet cakes from Costco, and twenty-five servers for the appetizers, cake, and sparkling cider), and me in charge of the wedding/reception details.

What a blessing it was to work with someone so relaxed, but so on top of all the details!  She was amazing!

Several times I felt just like Franck Egglehoffer, from the 1991 version of Father of the Bride.  I was just missing the headset. 😉
BUT seriously, I had an a-mazing "chair crew" of eight men who completely transformed the church with 400 chairs to a cleared room in about 10 minutes!  I'm not kidding. They hustled and worked so well together!  I keep using !!, but it's because it went so smoothly.  It sort of gave me goose bumps watching them work through all the details that we planned, practiced, and timed - and it went perfectly! Again with the (!) But seriously.

All the special moments like the cutting of the cake, the toasts (her father's made everyone cry!), special songs (sung by the bride to the groom, also her six sisters, who were the bridesmaids to the newly married couple), and the bouquet toss all took place center stage so everyone could see.

All this to say, it was a beautiful day - raindrops and all.
And now, I gladly hang up my clipboard for good.  😀



- Carol