Friend-filled bridal shower? Check.
Girly bachelorette party? Done.
Wedding of a lifetime? HAD! I’m so glad I’m already married because it would be nearly impossible to top my friend’s big bash last night. It. was. spectacular! 
Lets start from the beginning!
The ladies started the day early with a light breakfast in the presidential suite of the Crowne Plaza hotel, in downtown St. Paul.
The suite was HUGE, with plenty of room for all 9 (9!) bridesmaids to spread out and get ready.
Our breakfast spread was perfect. Nothing too heavy or greasy here!
Ultra-moist bran muffins, bagels,
and snappy red grapes for me. 
Hair and makeup started promptly at 9am – the guys didn’t have to show up until 1pm. Will they ever know how much work it is to get wedding-ready? 
A personal glam-squad took the already beautiful bride,
and made her totally wedding ready! Gorgeous!!!
Pictures were next and we all slipped into our dresses. Couldn’t you just die over this gown? It fit the bride’s personality to a T. Elegant, yet sassy.
An assortment of sparkly shoes for each stage of the day peeked out the bottom,
and finishing touches like crystal earrings and a custom necklace completed the look.
This is my favorite thing ever. My friend’s boss made her this necklace for the reception out of vintage brooches, earrings and silk flowers. It was absolutely incredible!
She looked like she stepped out of the pages of a magazine!
After pictures along the Mississippi River, it was off to the church.
Everyone was there – including my Mom and Dad. Hiiiiii!
We strolled down the aisle (well more like, hauled down the aisle – I get SO nervous when people are watching me,)
and were trailed by a few runaway dogs. BAHAHAHA!
The couple’s beloved pups were supposed to be walked down the aisle by the most precious flower girls you have ever seen, but they somehow got away. Classic!
The bride and groom exchanged vows in a private ceremony with their parents, us girls and the groomsmen earlier in the day, so the actual ceremony was very quick.
A sweet smooch sealed the deal!
Whee!
We celebrated with a champagne cocktail party at the reception site, where I found hubby sippin’ bubbly, (doesn’t he look handsome? )
and reunited with a bunch of friends too!
Soon the doors to the ballroom were opened, and everyone’s jaws literally dropped. Check…
this…
OUT!
They thought of EVERYTHING to trick the space out!
Candy at every table, a lounge area with throw pillows, slap bracelets at every seat,
cute drinking straws,
and a CUPCAKE BAR!
There were so many flavors to choose from that they needed a menu!
Each moist and delicious cupcake was topped with a swirl of sweet icing, then dotted with a candy in the shape of their dog’s faces. HA!
(ps the bride and groom obviously love their dogs a lot – check out the groom’s cake at the rehearsal dinner!)
Personal touches like this were all over the reception.
It was one surprise after another, all night long!
Dinner was next, and the wedding party was seated at a long harvest table in the middle of the room.
A Pear Salad,
and Vegetable Pasta made up the meal.
Speeches,
first dances,
and the cutting of the cake followed.
Then the party really got started – muwahahaha!
Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better – it did. Shades around the entire room rose, revealing the glittery lights of downtown St. Paul and…
an 80′S COVER BAND!
Journey, A-Ha, Rick Springfield, oh my!
It was SOOO much fun – we felt like we were at a concert!
Then they really did the damn thing. They brought out the shades.
People went wild for these things!
Photoshoot!
Ooooh my gosh – SO much fun!
This was seriously the most fun wedding EVER. So personal, with fun and unique touches everywhere. I’ve known the bride since Jr. High, and I am so happy that I could be there to celebrate such a special day with her. AND that I could see her marry her soul mate. She and her new husband were made to marry each other. It’s a really special relationship and I can’t imagine they could have picked a better way to start their new life together than with a wedding day like that. I am so happy for them!
The celebrating didn’t stop there. This morning Ben and I met up with my parents for a Mother’s Day breakfast at the Uptown Diner in nearby Minneapolis.
I can’t come to the Twin Cities and NOT eat at the Uptown Diner. It’s one of my favorite spots for THE perfect breakfast.
Great coffee,
local eggs, bakery-fresh bread,
and the best hashbrowns on earth. Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside.
We stuffed ourselves silly.
Ben was down for the count!
Happy Mother’s Day to all you Mama’s! I know I sure love mine and Ben’s!
With that – I’m off to spend some more time with my Mom. Have a great start to your week everyone!
~~~~~
What’s your favorite thing about your Mom?
I love that my Mom would give anything to anyone. She is incredibly giving, caring and the NICEST person in the world. There’s not a mean bone in her body!
omgshhh the bride looks gorgeoussss!! it does seem like a sweet wedding
Oh my God, how does anyone have a fun wedding without an 80s cover band?! What a brilliant idea!
I stayed at that hotel last summer for a conference, and yes, that suite is amazing!
Love that blue for the bridesmaid’s dresses.
That looks like a really AMAZING wedding!
Holy freaking wedding. this looks like a blast! I don’t even want to imagine how much it cost….;)
PS you look gorg! why the sweatshirt?! was it cold in there?!
Yep – the AC was blasting!
Love your recap, looks like a great weekend and you were gorgeous in it too! That vintage necklace…gasp, so pretty
What I love most about my mom is the support and love she provides me with on a daily basis! I simply cannot function without her in my life
What an awesome wedding! It looks like so much fun! Kuddos to your friend for planning such an awesome event!!
I love that my mom is my biggest supporter!!
Wow that wedding looks amazing, I’m hoping my upcoming wedding can be as much fun!
SO incredible!!
My mom is super creative. Love that.
Love your dress, Kristin! You looked fab at the wedding. And I love, love, love the bride’s dress. It is so gorgeous! Looks like it was an awesome weekend.
oh goodness! that wedding looks awesome. i love that my mom is super caring & loving towards everyone.
Okay, this really is the BEST wedding I’ve ever seen! First, I am in complete love with her dress. AH, don’t you hate when you see the best ideas for weddings and realize you already got married. LoL.
So glad you had a great weekend.
That is one beautiful wedding and party! amazing! i love my mom, but we do not get along! i just don’t think like she does, so she is sure there is something wrong with me! so the best thing about her is that she decided to move 3 hours away from me to live near my sister! ha! i did call her today, and we managed to have a nice conversation without her insulting me….so that was good! miracles do happen! ha!
What a reception!! Slap bracelets? Shades? Candy? Coverband!? Wow!!
Best friends weddings are the best!
The best thing about my mom? She’s a giver… she gives all of herself to her family — she would drop everything for my dad, my sister or me… In other words, she’s selfless and she’s just amazing!
The Crowne Plaza is my favorite hotel ever in my favorite city ever. Jealous of your awesome weekend!
Wow, that was one HECK of a wedding!
OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!! that wedding is spectacular! i love everything about it! especially all the doggie touches!!!!
Oh ma, that is one serious partay!!! I love when others throw them and you get to enjoy the ride. So many fun touches. The best thing about my mom is that she always supports me no matter what.
So funny. I’m from the Twin Cities and I’ve NEVER been to the Uptown Diner.
Why did you wear your jacket over that gorgeous dress all evening? Guess it was cold?
AWESOME dress. You look stunning!!! Don’t know what you were talking about it being too small – looks like it fit perfectly!
The wedding looks like the most fun ever – I would have loved to have been there!! Glad you had a great weekend!!
Oh, and cute favors/bridal party gifts!
Fav thing about my mom: She is always smiling and can put a positive spin on just about anything. Plus, she “gets” me. I’m turning into her sooner than I ever thought!
Man, I wish I’d had an 80′s cover band at my wedding. We had a pretty awesome DJ, though, who played a lot of 80′s stuff, so it worked.
My favorite thing about my mom is her strength. She’s been through hell & back in her lifetime, and she still manages to get up and face each new day.
My Mom would do anything for us – she worked 2 jobs for the last 10 plus year so that me and my brothers could have anything (and everything) we want
I love that my mother is in her 90s and still the most positive, loving, nonjudgemental person I have ever known. She has been my rock and best friend my whole life and I am so proud to have her as my mom! I don’t deserve her!
You look amazing and I just love those wedding pictures! So happy!
What an incredible wedding! I love all of the details and the brides dress is goregous! I really like the blue bridesmaid dresses too! What a fun night!
I love that my mom is such a strong person and has always been there for me throughout everything in my life.
Wow that looks like a lot of fun!
Looks like everyone had such a fun weekend! I went to school in St. Paul for a year and loved it. I’m excited to go back and visit old friends in a few weeks!
I love the fact that my mom never gives up on me!
That wedding looks ah.maze.ing!
My favorite thing about my mom is that we can talk for hours about anything. She always knows just what to say, and she’s always up for a good gab session!
Wow that wedding looks awesome! And the brides dress I am totally in love with. Fun and Elegant. Bridesmaid dress were cute too.
what an amazing wedding! seriously I need to step up some of my dreams because they don’t rival this at all
You weren’t kidding! That wedding was gorgeous, detailed, and even from just the pics looked like an absolute blast! The bride’s looked gorgeous and her dress, OMG! Her dress was amazing! I celebrated my 7 year wedding anniversary yesterday (and Mother’s Day
and I still want her dress to play dress-up in, Ha! You looked so pretty in your bridesmaid dress (too small, pssht! Coudn’t tell at all!) Glad you had a wonderful trip!
Best thing about my mom? Her selflessness and giving personality. She is accepting of my brother and I, no matter what (although she will not hesitate to give you her true opinion on something, she will still always love ya) and she would do anything for you. She is always there when we need her and my kids absolutely adore her!
I absolutely love the color of those bridesmaid dresses. You looked gorgeous!
Wow – what wedding! That dress is stunning. She looked like a princess. I agree with you- it’s the personal touches that really make a wedding special. You looked beautiful too!
Best thing about my mom? She’s the sweetest woman in the world and she makes anyone feel like they can share their whole life story.
That wedding looks fit for rock stars!
I am thankful that my mom raised my brother and I all on her own to be the good people we are today. I love that my mom is so close with my three boys. I appreciate that she does not try to tell me how to run my household. I am glad that she lives near by but is not intruding.
AMAZING wedding!!! and Kristin, you looked pretty in your dress! I totally would be wearing a jacket too – haha, I am ALWAYS cold!
Beautiful wedding! Random question…Why did they exchange vows privately before the wedding. Just sounds interesting so it would be neat to know the reason!
Those bridesmaids dresses were excellent! You rocked the look and it looked like a really fun time.
What an awesoem wedding. I loving the cake. Adorable.
Oh girl. I have been craving cajun benedict from Uptown Grille (or Grandview. Or Longfellow) for weeks and weeks and seeing your hashbrowns is seriously impairing my self control. They’re so freaking delicious!
PS where was the venue for the wedding reception?
You are so right about your Mom!
Sorry to be stalking, but was the hairstylist’s name Peg Johnston? She’s done my hair since I was 2!
I know her name is Peg, but I’m not sure about her last name. She used to work in a little salon at the 7 Flags in Urbandale!