Weddings of college friends are the best, aren't they? There is really nothing like these mini-reunions; getting to see old friends and meet new spouses and children, watching your friend marry the woman/man of their dreams, and going crazy on the dance floor together, just like the old days! We had the privilege of being part of the wedding of one of our closest friends this summer. Chris Loose was one of our groomsmen, and then about a month and a half ago Andy got to stand beside him as he married his love, Rachel.
To make it even better, the wedding was only 45 minutes from our dear friends the Weymouths, so we got to spend lots of time with them as well, and Abby got lots of time with her bestest friend Lallie-B.
On the way to Asheville we stopped for the night at a hotel, to break the trip up a bit (8 hours is reallllllly long with a toddler and a newborn!!). The girls did GREAT with their first hotel stay! I have to say, I was not looking forward to this part of trip- too many bad memories from my childhood of road trips to MInnesota and Disney World. Me+Dan+Matt+8 hours stuffed inside a cramped station wagon+two beds in one tiny hotel room DOES NOT EQUAL fun. Especially when it came time to decide who got to sleep on the lone cot. But I digress....
Charlotte's new favorite way to fall asleep
Abby got a double bed all to herself. Lucky girl. Enjoy it while it lasts, kiddo...
Once we got to the Weymouths, it was party time!!! The girls wasted no time breaking it down.
We are saving these up for their dorm room walls. That's right I said it- we have already applied for early admission for them to be roommates at JMU in 2026. Class of 2030!!
(ummm can you even imagine 2030? That seems forever from now. I will be 46. YIKES.)
After bath time, snuggle time before bed
Abby's favorite thing all weekend: going through all of Lallie's accessories. Shoes, hair clips, head bands, oh my!!
The girls: Lallie Beth, Madeleine, Charlotte, and Abby
Alexe set up mini pedicures on the front porch.
Such cute pink toes!
We left Abby with the Weymouth's Friday afternoon so we could go to the Rehearsal Dinner and then the wedding the next day without our crazy preschooler in tow. THANK YOU THANK YOU Weymouths!!! Seriously, you know you have good friends when on top of having house guests in and out of their home for 7 days, they are also willing to watch your kid for you for almost a whole weekend.
At the rehearsal:
They look so happy!!
I wish you could have seen his face all weekend. Chris is normally a happy guy, but I have never seen him smile so much in the 8 years I have known him.
At the wedding:
Chris and Rachel met while serving together on an InterVarsity mission trip to Mongolia a few summers ago, but their relationship didn't technically start then. Chris went back to Mongolia to do full time campus ministry for a few years, and during his time over there Rachel ended up going over for a period of time as well, and their romance began then! They are such a great match for each other, and their story is such a reminder to me (and everyone!) of God's sovereignty, provision and care for His children. Their reception was Mongolian themed, including the cake! How fun!!
In Mongolia it is custom for the bride and groom to sing a song to everyone at the wedding reception. So, Chris and Rachel sang a song to us in Mongolian as well!
What a handsome couple!! Rachel was gorgeous, and glowing.
It was so great to catch up with so many college friends, and some of our best friends in the world
William and Amy Roy, Me, and Mark and Emily Davis. William, Mark, Andy, and Chris lived together for a year after college, the year Andy and I were engaged. I have so many great memories with these guys, and now with their spouses, too. Such great friends!
William you are going to be an amazing Dad! No pressure!! haha
I'm pretty sure we were cracking up at Chris dancing to Freebird. A tradition from his college days.
Yep, and here it is. Rachel joined in and Chris's air guitar solo became a duet. This was probably one of the highlights of the evening.
It was fitting that our good friend Brandon caught the garter, as he and his wife, Amy, got married a few weekends ago!
Sending them off
I know I keep saying this, but what good friends we have! Chris has been such an encouragement to Andy over the years. He has played a big part in some of the major moments in our relationship- when Andy was first deciding whether or not to pursue dating me and then when he was praying about marrying me, during our engagement, at our wedding, and he was even present for our first big fight! So, this wedding was really special for us and really more like having a sibling get married. We love you, Chris and Rachel, and we can't wait to visit you in Boston!!
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