Monique & Daren's Wedding

Well, the wedding was absolutely beautiful!! The weather was wonderful (low 90's) and the ceremony & reception were just as wonderful. I started crying as soon as the wedding party came around the corner (I'd been feeling it build up since I got up that morning) and I pretty much did not STOP crying until we were on our way to the reception. :( But, as I told others, it was a happy-sad cry. I'm VERY happy for Monique & Daren and I'm thrilled that I could be there with them, but I will sure miss Mo. Don't worry, though...I've already added it to my "places to travel" list! Wahoo!! ;o)

Now...the pictures. Before I start, please take note...for EVERY picture, if you click on it once, it will open up to a bigger screen and you will be able to get a better look at it. ENJOY!!!

I arrived an hour and a half after they started taking pictures, so I got one of D & M with all of the nieces and nephews and another one of everyone visiting BEFORE the wedding ceremony.

Now, this next picture is hard for me to talk about. It was a "bridezilla" moment of Mo's. She decided that she did NOT like where the ceremony was set up (because of the sun), so she kind of forced everyone to help her move things.
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Oh, yeah right...like MO would do that!!!! :o) After some discussion by MANY people involved, it was decided that it would be better to move the ceremony setting BACK about 15 feet so that everyone (bridal party included) could be in the shade for most of the ceremony. So, everyone that had a free hand started moving chairs back...including the bride and groom!!! :o)

But what did Grandpa Ray do to help? Why, he held Mo's flowers!! What a gentleman!!! ;)

Monique & Daren with Dean and Scott. Dean & Scott had a part in the wedding ceremony...Dean spoke, Scott prayed.

Monique & Daren with John & Esther. I *love* this picture!! :o)

Then, it was TIME FOR THE WEDDING TO START!!! I included the following picture because it's the only one I captured of Daren's mom & dad, Loren & Lil.

Monique & her Dad after he just walked her up the aisle.

Dean is sharing his message.

The group of singers. I believe that the title of the song they were singing was "Homes of Zion". Monique might have to correct me on that one later. It was a beautiful song and the singers really did a nice job with it!!

The vows.

After the vows were said, rings exchanged and the kiss to "seal the deal," Mo's nieces and nephews sang a hymn from our hymn book, number 226, "O, Teach me how to love." They did a FANTASTIC job!!! I was SO impressed with them and VERY proud of them!! :) (P.S. -- Mo's step-mom, Karen, made the dresses for the girls. Aren't they cute?! This is a good picture, too, to kind of see what dress Monique's sisters, Melody & Michelle, chose for the wedding. I'm not sure where they bought them from, but I thought they were very lovely!)

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Daren & Monique as Mr. & Mrs.!!!!!

I caught this picture as they were walking away and I think it's one of my FAVORITE pictures from the day. I just love the simplicity of it.

Saying congratulations and some visiting before the reception.

At the reception. My job for the wedding involved taking pictures for the guest book, so my personal pictures of the reception aren't very organized. I was happy with what I captured, though!

The next couple pictures show the "damage" done to the car! Yes...these pictures were cropped to protect the reputation of those who had a hand in this car makeover. ;o) They were actually very nice to Daren & Mo's car, thank goodness. :) If you click on the first picture, it will open up to a larger view and you can see the GREAT pictures that someone drew on the front windshield of Daren & Monique. It was quite hilarious!! ;)

Signing the marriage license to make it official.

Getting ready for the bride & groom to make their get-away! We had BUBBLES to blow on them as they ran through!! :)

I didn't do so well on this shot, but Daren & Monique are right in the center of this picture. Click on it to make it larger, if you'd like.

THE END!! It was an absolutely LOVELY day and I think that Monique did a wonderful job with putting this wedding together. It was simple and elegant and heart-warming and special. I was glad to be there and I hope I "captured" the day in a way that's acceptable to all of you!! :) If there is a special something you'd like to see from the day, please let me know! I may be able to get my hands on a picture taken by someone else and I could possibly post it here. That being said, if you were at the wedding and want to e-mail me some pictures to post, please feel free to do so! I sure wouldn't mind posting pictures here that others took as I know that I did not capture everything! :)