Unless you have been intimately involved you can’t really appreciate the intricacies and effort, topped up with a heavy dose of sleepless nights, and the thought that goes behind organising a wedding.

Having been there, done that recently I get it.

The first thing needed is a theme, its sole purpose to encapsulate and represent the bride and groom.

Who they are.

Not always an easy task.

Guests don’t really get that. And why should they?

They are there to enjoy the day. To wrap the bride, groom, wedding party and family up in love and celebrate this fabulous occasion.

The day before the wedding we were lucky enough to be privy to some of the preparations.

Mitch and Lori had been helping Kaia and Cam with some of the creations which were all sitting in their second living room.

As luck would have it, not for the squirrels living there of course, a tree had recently happened to fall beside their house.

One must take up every opportunity.

Mitch was out there quicksmart complete with appropriate gear (think sexy handsome lumberjack) and a trusty chainsaw.

That ‘ole tree was soon chopped up into perfect wooden rounds for the centre pieces.

Mitch did a fair bit of work on them to get them perfect.

Of course.

The theme, (well my take on it) was winter and their love of nature; white, snow, foliage, glitter, sparkling stars, calm.

They nailed it.

Turns out just after Kaia and Cam met, Kaia took off on a 6 month trek from Mexico to Canada with her dad David.

2600 miles, 4184 km’s.

Approximately.

Right there, that’s dedication, perseverance, calm under pressure, resilience, so many words to use for something of that magnitude.

Cam was waiting at the end with a special romantic birthday planned.

We loved our Friday and that glimpse into all the bits and pieces which ever so slightly represented the complex and amazing people they both are.

Love you guys.

Friday evening it was time to frock up and head off to the Rehearsal Dinner.

Something we felt so grateful to be included in. Mind you, we were just sort of there, like those bad relatives that just won’t leave……..

Dinner was held at the Water Street Inn, Stillwater, overlooking the very frozen St. Croix river.

Stillwater is such a pretty little town, not aptly represented by these first three pictures. The remaining six are the frozen river. It’s a mighty river between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Seeing it frozen is quite mind boggling.

The venue was right next door to the 2024 World Snow Sculpting Competition.

Good timing……..

T’was a fabulous night, full of love, amazing food, tear jerker (and funny) speeches and later, guest appearances by the rest of Lori’s family whom we adore (and there are a lot of them to adore, she is so lucky).

A fun part of the night was one of Lori’s rellies suggesting I talk to his sister in law (Lori’s niece) who is a cosmetic surgeon.

Botulinum Toxin.

I shall take that under consideration.

Not a bad idea.

Not sure where that fits with me finally acknowledging my age and transitioning to my real hair colour.

And no, it’s no longer auburn peeps.

Well to be fair, my attire for the wedding is absolutely not acknowledging my age. Although one might say (that would be moi), that now I’m over 60 I can wear what I bloody like.

And I will.

Anyway after that little statement by the rellie, there may have been a slight chill in the air and a vodka or two required to warm me up.

Just joking. I don’t care what people say to me.

As long as they aren’t serious 😜

The best part of the night was meeting everyone.

Mitch and Lori should be so proud of their boys.

Hell we are proud of them.

They are surrounded by beautiful, genuine and really interesting people. Because that’s who they – and their girls, are.

We got to sit next to Mac, part of the wedding party.

One might say a way out there young man who is doing his Doctorate in something or other (blame my memory on the vodka).

Mac had been told he wasn’t allowed to wear his hat in the wedding party but he did mention some sneaky personality representing socks may make an appearance.

This is Mac. Drives a big Cadillac, one of 3 or 4 he owns.

Only one works.

A vegan, a psychologist and everything in between, he is working with people from all works of life, including veterans, to try and make a difference in their lives.

Having talked to him I have no doubt he achieves all of that.

Part of the wedding party also; Grisha, who seems very young to have his own restaurant and a staff of ten.

But that he does, a little restaurant in the Twin Cities called Tenant.

Tenant seats two sittings of about twenty people, five nights a week…I think…that bloody vodka again…..

They don’t have a menu. Grisha rings up every party before the booking and chats with them about food.

Then he serves them a six course tasting menu, a truly ‘Trust the Chef’ experience.

I’m told the food is amazing. No, not by Grisha but by everyone who has had the pleasure of partaking.

Grisha was really keen to get us in but our timing didn’t work.

Dammit.

Good excuse to come back I say.

Tomorrow is of course the wedding, but also the chance to see MoD’s youngest brother Blake and sister-in-law Joy.

The three brothers together in the same room, first time in about ten years.

So after a night of fun and frivolity, we headed out about 11ish.

The Sheriff was waiting in the carpark, complete with an assault rifle.

Just in case.

My very favourite thing right now is to stomp in the snow.

With the sheriff’s eyes on me I decided restraint was the order of the night.

Just the same, it’s not easy to keep your balance in heels on ice and snow.

MoD held me up.

Mitch had left 1/4 cup of coffee in the car.

Frozen solid.

Fascinating is all I say.