The Rehearsal and Dinner

When our airplane landed in Baltimore last Friday, we had very little time to kill. We caught a shuttle to the car rental place, got a car, and drove to Dover. We made it in time for Brian to pick up his tux and for the kids to get dressed up for the wedding rehearsal and dinner. Both Brian and Olivia were in the wedding, and since this was Olivia's first go as a flower girl, she really needed the practice. Before leaving the house, I was able to get a picture of all of the Sanders brothers and their dad. This opportunity doesn't present itself often, so I took several pictures of them throughout the weekend.




Gary and Katie got married at a church in downtown Dover. It was a really old Methodist church, and it was beautiful. Olivia took her flower girl duty seriously and walked down the aisle without any prompting. Once the rehearsal ceremony was underway, though, she sat down. I had a talk with her about this, but I guess that it didn't do the trick because she ended up doing the same thing during the wedding. Oh well. At least she wasn't loud.

After the rehearsal, we drove to the Pizzadili Winery for the rehearsal dinner. It was a very nice dinner, and we all enjoyed socializing with the rest of the wedding party. Olivia has always adored Katie, and she also took a shine to Katie's sister Ashlee. She clung to those two all night. I actually started to feel bad- like Olivia was ruining their night by clinging to them too much. I tried to pry Olivia away from the Miller sisters several times, but she'd go right back to them. I asked, and they said that she wasn't bothering them.

Since Olivia's birthday was on the day of the wedding, Barb (Nana) had gotten a huge tinkerbell cake for Olivia, and had arranged for everyone to sing Happy Birthday to her at the rehearsal dinner. It was such a wonderful gesture. Aunt Katie also had surprises for Olivia and Owen. According to Katie, she had had "too much fun in the Disney Store". Owen got figures from the movie "Cars", and Olivia received a princess movie, crown, and wand. That Aunt Katie really knows her stuff!

Toward the end of the evening, the bride and groom (and others) made speeches about their families and members of the wedding party. I believe that everyone in attendance was truly touched by the love that these two have for each other and for their friends and family. It was the most wonderful evening, and it certainly set the right tone for the next day's events.