my brother's wedding

my big brother got married last weekend. november 6, 2010. i was wildly excited for this day but as it got closer and closer the hype might've gotten to me a little. a lot. i banned my mother from talking about the wedding - which she didn't do. i told her that the wedding could only be referred to as "the coconut" because i was so sick of hearing the word wedding - which she actually did. and it made me laugh every time.

what will i remember about this wedding?

i will remember how i couldn't fall asleep for two nights before the wedding because i was soo excited. i will remember waking up the morning of the wedding before my alarm and running downstairs yelling "WHERE ARE THE PRESENTS!?!?!" because it felt like a day bigger than christmas, and my mom just rolled her eyes and said, "only you chelsea." i will remember cindy's sister showing up late to the b&b saying that she had a crazy morning and yet she whipped out a tshirt she made that morning which read: "francis-shank wolfpack." i will remember the bridesmaids traipsing around that morning practicing our high high heels while cindy just seemed to be laughing at us. i will remember how calm cindy seemed and being impressed at how she pulled together such an incredible event.

i will remember how i could've cried at how beautiful cindy looked in her wedding gown and that i was positive colby would cry when he saw her - or at the very least shed a few stoic tears. i couldn't see his face when she walked down the aisle (my favorite part of weddings!), but i don't think that he did. i will remember jon reading from job. i will remember the bee that landed on cindy during the wedding and how i almost jumped out of stance to take the sting, but she remained shockingly calm considering her hatred of bugs. i will remember trying not to laugh while her sisters lost it on either side of me and trying not to fall over in my shoes. i will remember randy mentioning something about difficult times in his message and thinking, 'i hope not, but colby can handle anything.' i will remember how glad i was to walk with dan because he was so much fun. being so happy for colby and thinking if smiles could burst mine probably would. feeling so proud of him and marveling at how good he was at being a groom. i will remember getting a few much needed bear hugs from my dad. i will remember how smoking hott my mom looked and wondering how she had so much energy. (i am contending for her ageless genes - please God?) i will remember gushing about how beautiful cindy looked and colby saying - "she always looks good."

i will remember resenting the groomsmen during outside pictures when they complained about sweating in their suits while my teeth were chattering and my heels kept sinking into the mud. i will remember jess climbing up a hill on all fours. and the photographer saying to joel, "hey uh buddy, don't look up at the sky." (can't wait to see that picture.) i will remember feeling so exhausted at that point that i made a mental note to elope. but then with some wild applause at our reception entrance and a delicious dinner (a hungry chelsea isn't usually a happy chelsea) i got my second wind. i will remember trying to mentally will the day to slow down so that i could make the most of it before it ended too quickly. and thinking '100 people is a lot more than i realize, i don't think i can give a speech after all ...' but doing it afraid anyway and watching my brother and his brand new wife while i spoke and just feeling indescribably happy for them. and thankful for such a wonderful older brother and sister-in-law.

and just in case i don't remember these things, now they're written down ...