Wedding bells

Our dear friends Steve and Andrea got married on Saturday April 30th, 2011 (the day after our seven-year anniversary). The girls were both in the wedding party as flower girls and ring bearers. It was a magical day and a beautiful wedding. The bride and groom looked spectacular. The girls truly amazed us with how wonderfully they embraced each aspect of this ceremony... including staying up until 9:30pm (not common with these two, who are both usually fast asleep by 7pm)!!!

Isabel posing with some flowers.

Anaïs is ready to embrace whatever comes with a smile and a hug!!!
Thanks for the beautiful shoes Jen (from Chicago)!!!

Wanna dance?!?!

my dear friend Cristina made these matching capes for the girls!!
can you tell that Isabel is VERY excited!!!

What a face... 

Papa in a tux, the girls in their dresses... we are ready to go!!!

At Andrea & Steves, we got to do a little dancing as we waited for the bride.

Isabel checking out the scene at the church

Anaïs practicing carrying the flowers down the aisle.

Isabel stood up front holding the wedding bands

Isabel commented on how much she loved how pretty everything was... and that she got to wear a fancy dress and pretty shoes. While she managed to stay still throughout most of the ceremony, she did tell me afterwards that it was a long time, but that she LOVED being up front holding the rings (though her legs got a little tired). Anaïs just wanted to do everything like her sister and was most disappointed not to be standing at the front with her sister. No one seemed to notice that we were just going with the moment (that is, there had been no practice... which did not seem to bother the girls at all, but had me nervous that we might miss a beat). But in the end, going with the flow worked out perfectly... the girls intrinsically seemed to know exactly what to do and just did it... no stress, no fuss, just inspired in the moment, and by the moment of two people in love getting married amongst family and friends.
Of course, some of my favourite moments are the ones that did not get captured on film... Isabel walking up to Andrea at one point during the ceremony (while she was sitting) to give her a hug and kiss; Anaïs walking beside her sister and both girls gathered the wedding gown train as the bride and groom left the church; Anaïs up in Steve's arms and Isabel holding Andrea's hand as the sun set and the four of them were just outside the church going towards the bridal car. It was a beautiful day, and we were so happy to get to be a special part of it.