SAN DIEGO for Lauren's wedding October 15 2009

Lauren, Newbie, and I at their wedding reception.
WOOOOOO LAUREN GOT MARRIED! Holy moly one of my closest friends got married and I was honored to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. I jumped on a plane and got to San Diego the Thursday before the Saturday wedding. The plan, show up, settle in, bachelorette party, help prepare for wedding, wedding! It was nice to fly somewhere for once instead of drive.


When I landed in San Diego I had to make my way to Encinetas. This means a bus, a train, and a bit of a walk. Good thing I only packed a backpack. The public transportation system was super easy to manuver and the train, the Coaster, was just lovely. You could compare it to Salt Lake City's "Front Runner". I sat on the top deck and was blessed by a lovely view of the coast along the way. Thus the name "Coaster".




After seeing a surfer moon the entire train and walking a little around downtown Encinetas I made my way the half mile to the hotel and checked in. There was going to be 4 of us staying in our room so I was happy to see two queen sized beds. Lauren, her sister Lillis, Briana (lauren's cousin) and me. Yes that's right ladies I was the last person to share a bed with the bride before her wedding! haha. That thursday night we batchlorette partied it up. Sorry, I cant say what we did...


The next day was a serious prep day with Lo's family. Her mom and dad came from the Congo and her sister Lillis came from Kenya so it was amazing to spend time with them and a rush to get everything done.

They don't look like they're from Africa at all ;) I love them.

We had the rehearsal dinner and I got to know some of the other people involved in the wedding. Good times. Good peeps. The rehearsal dinner was beautiful. It was a warm warm day and the evening was still 70 degrees or so. Our main light was candlelight and I loved hearing what everyone had to say about Lauren and her (then)fiancee Newbie.






So Newbie was like the total bomb. He was personable, good looking, and he seemed patient and honest. What he said at the rehearsal dinner was lovely and very insightful. I got to know him a little better Friday night after the rehearsal dinner. They opened up their new apartment to us all and we played guitar and sang and chilled. It was so refreshing! I am so proud of them and so happy that Lauren has such an amazing (now) husband!!! AHH! It's just crazy. Anyway..

The wedding was beautiful. It was on the lawn of their church that overlooks the city and the weather was hot and perfect! Lauren had us dance down the isles with our groomsmen and mine dipped me! We were for SURE the best dancers ;) well maybe. lol
I almost cried a million times during the ceremony. It was perfect. We decorated the whole place with wild flowers and there were butterflies everywhere. One even almost landed on Newbie during the ceremony. My fav part was that they wanted to do communion before they had their first kiss as husband and wife. That meant a lot to all of us. It was perfect!!!!!! Good job you guys and thank God! Lauren's brother who was stuck in Texas due to flight problems even made it JUST in time to see the ceremony. Praise God!





After the wedding we cleaned up and headed to a park for a potluck reception. It was perfect... except for the BEERLYMPICS going on right next to us. lol it turned out to be a good thing. They even provided the music for the first dance. I can't wait to get all of the pictures (not sure how to get them). We decorated Newbie's truck and sent them on their way. Ok, so, no joke, the second they left FOG rolled in- SO BAD that you could bearly see 10 feet in front of you. Good weather for the whole thing and the second it was over FOGGY- so much fog that when I finally made it to the ocean it was bearly visible! haha. So much fog that all of our flights were delayed HOURS. The night before, though, I meandered into a free concert at a downtown coffee house and there were peopel from the wedding there! I chilled with them then went out to pizza with some more of the wedding party. Lauren, your friends are the bomb.
Next day I made it home on time even though flights were delayed. What a wonderful long weekend.

Lets do it again!
We could be closer than you know,