Monday, 14 August 2006

• Katie and Rodney Harms - 8.06.06

  
  

  
  

  
  Watch out - this is a long post and full (and I do mean full) of pictures.  Julianne was the unofficial photographer for the weekend and took over 1,000 pictures!  Hopefully anyone trying to view this post has a fast internet connection.  This is not just Katie and Rodney's wedding, but the whole wedding weekend.  Remember to click on a picture to see a larger version.
  
  Girls' Night
  Jeff and I both worked Friday morning and hit the road just after 1pm EST.  The time zone change made it possible for me to meet the girls at a decent time to take Katie out for the night.  We made it to the hotel in Washington in good time and I freshened up a bit before leaving Jeff at the hotel and taking the car to Peoria.
  
  I met everyone (i.e. Megan Koons, Katie Krumeich, and Julianne Null) at Katie's apartment just in time to head out with Katie (Hekel) to pickup Rodney's sister, Evalina, at her hotel and meet the group at Olive Garden.  It was so good to see Megs since she's been in China this whole past year.  While at Evalina's hotel, Katie showed me her engagement pictures that a friend did as a wedding gift.
  
  Dinner was fabulous and leisurely.  It was so good to share time with the girls again and to meet Evalina.  After dinner we (minus Evalina who was extremely tired from traveling) drove down to the riverfront to walk around a bit and just enjoy the breeze and each other's company.  As an added bonus, there was a Nickel Creek concert going on down there, providing some nice background music.  This was, for me, one of the best parts of the weekend.  Katie and I got to talk one-on-one and share with each other several times and that was a real blessing during this busy, people-packed time.
  
  

  
  Katie, Katie, Me, Megs, and Julianne
  

  
  We eventually took the walking path along the river's edge down to "the bench."  Katie and Rodney love to go walking together down by the river and often stop and pray together at a particular bench.  This is also the bench where Rodney proposed.  Katie said it was special to be able to show their special spot to us; I agree with her.
  
  

  
  Katie sitting on "the bench" where Rodney proposed
  

  
  On the way down to the bench, we saw Rodney, his parents, and bro-in-law, Charlie.  It was a complete surprise to see them but Katie was very excited to see Rodney.  As soon as she saw him, she let out a long, "Yaaaaay!" and gave him a great big hug.  We told the Harms bunch that we were headed down to the bench and they said they had just come from there!
  
  Next we went back to Katie's apartment where we had small, pampering gifts for her.  Before opening gifts and drinking tea, each of us gave a toast to Katie with our plastic champagne glasses and sparkling grape juice.  It was one of many special moment together throughout the weekend.
  
  

  
  To our dear friend, Katie Hekel soon-to-be-Harms
  

  
  Preparations
  Saturday morning for the girls meant making corsages, boutonnieres, and bouquets under the supervision of the talented Megan Koons.  The picture below is actually from Friday afternoon as Saturday morning the girls weren't looking quite this fresh.
  
  For me and Jeff, Saturday morning meant meeting my parents for brunch at the new-ish Cummins restaurant.  We very much enjoyed a long meal together before parting ways.
  
  

  
  Krumbs, Katie, and Megs working on the flowers
  

  
  

  
  

  
  Rehearsal Dinner
  Saturday afternoon Jeff and I went over early to Sommer Park on the northside of Peoria to help Rodney's parents set up for the rehearsal dinner.  We had a great big picnic at a private shelter - it was a great idea!  We had pulled chicken sandwiches and fried chicken, vegetables, fruit, chips, and delicious dessert.  Some friend of Rodney's dad really wanted to make a cake for Katie and Rodney so we had a big German chocolate sheet cake at the dinner.  Also, Rodney's mom brought her famous mint brownies that Katie will need to learn to make for her new husband.
  
  I personally enjoyed seeing both Katie's immediate and extended family again.  Since we've been friends for so long, I've gotten to know her parents, brothers, grandparents, and uncle.  It'd been awhile since I'd seen her extended family, but they remembered me as I remembered them.
  
  As a gift, each of us at the dinner got a nice drinking glass with "Rodney & Katie ~ August 6, 2006" printed on the side.
  
  

  
  I love this picture of Rodney and Katie because they both look relaxed and like they are enjoying themselves.
  
  
  Katie, Megs, Me, and Jeff
  
  
  A great picture of Katie and her mom
  
  
  Rodney, Katie, Megs, Me, Jeff, Julianne, and Katie
  

  
  Rehearsal
  After the dinner, most of us went over to Bethany Baptist Church for the rehearsal.  Katie had a huge grin on her face most of the time and practically skipped down the aisle, swinging her bouquet of bows.  That Katie's a cute one, that's for sure... and very excited to be getting married.
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  Getting Ready
  Sunday morning was absolutely beautiful when we all met up in Washington to get our hair done.  It was a fun, relaxed time.
  
  

  
  

  Getting beautified
  

  
  My mom came to watch us get our hair done and share some relaxed time with us before the big event. The salon we went to is right around the corner from my parents' house. Mom even brought pictures of Katie when she was young to show to everyone.
  
  

  
  Mom and Katie
  

  
  

  
  
  The finished bride - another fantastic picture by Julianne
  
  

  After hair was done, we went back to Katie's apartment to help her get ready.  Katie was like a giddy little school girl who couldn't sit still.  Those who know her can imagine this all too well, I'm sure.
  
  At this point, the pictures really say it all:
  
  

  
  Anxiously waiting to put on "the dress"
  
  
  Meg helping Katie put on her mom's pearls. Katie also wore her mom's garter.
  
  
  Megs positioning the veil
  
  

  This is what triggered the tears. Krumbs and I started tearing up immediately after this and Megs followed shortly after.  Our Katie is all grown up and getting married!
  

  
  
  I think she likes being a bride
  
  
  Beautiful and serene (and trying not to cry like the rest of us)
  
  
  Four of the five bridesmaids with the bride - Me, Megan, Katie, Katie, and Anna
  
  

  When Katie was all ready, we sent her off for pictures with Rodney down at the Gateway Building on the riverfront:
  
  

  
   Seeing each other for the first time on their wedding day - do you think they're happy?
  

  
  While Katie and Rodney were enjoying pictures together, the rest of us scrambled to get ourselves ready.  We tried to get a quick bite to eat for lunch, but unfortunately the nearby McD's was as slow as molasses so we ate some carrot sticks and celery at the church while waiting for guests to be seated.
  
  We waited in the nursery area before going out for the ceremony:
  
  

  
  The flower girls, Holly and Audrey, smelling the flowers
  

  
  

  
  

  Katie chillin' with Adam and Eve while waiting for the ceremony to start
  

  
  The Wedding
  The wedding ceremony itself was absolutely beautiful!
  
  I thought I'd gotten my tears out back at the apartment, but when Katie came down the aisle with her dad, they started back up again.
  

  
  Chris walking Katie down the aisle
  

  
  The entire ceremony was a beautiful worship service to our Lord, giving Him the glory only He deserves.  After the giving of the bride, Rodney's dad read Philippians 2:3-11 (my favorite passage!) and Katie's dad read Ephesians 5:22-33.  Next, the worship pastor (and a good friend of Rodney's) lead everyone in singing "Indescribable" and "And Can It Be".  This is when my tears really started.  It was utterly amazing and God-honoring to watch Katie and Rodney stand together, both holding each others' hand and raising their other hand in worship to God during their wedding.  Rodney's grandpa read another scripture passage, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.  Pastor Rich gave an excellent charge and then we watched ats Katie and Rodney vowed their lives to each other under God.  For the lighting of the unity candle, Pastor Fred lead the congregation in singing "In Christ Alone".  "In Christ Alone" is also what Jeff and I played while lighting our unity candle as well as our class song at Cedarville.  Needless to say, this song holds a very special place in my heart.
   
  

  
  Lighting the unity candle while the congregation sings "In Christ Alone"
  
  
  
   
  Praying together                                  The Kiss!     
  
  
  The bridal party
  

  
  After the ceremony, we took a "party bus" over to Grandview Drive overlooking the Illinois River.  It's one of the most beautiful places in Peoria.  We took pictures in front of a beautiful Spanish-style house and then overlooking the river.
  
  

  
  Newlyweds
  

  
  

  
  The girls enjoying the moment
  

  
  

  
  Fortunately for Katie, the groomsmen decided against throwing Rodney down the hill and into the river.
  

  
  Reception
  Let the celebration begin - it's party time!
  
  The reception was at The Cornerstone Building - an old stone church in downtown Peoria that has been refurbished and turned into a banquet hall.  It was absolutely gorgeous inside with candles lining the walls and simple flower arrangements and floating candles on the tables.  The food was also amazing and we bridesmaids devoured it since we hadn't eaten since breakfast!
  
  After dinner, Isaac (the best man), Megan (the maid of honor), and Chris (Katie's dad) gave heartfelt toasts describing their friends and daughter.  Megan talked about how Katie is faithful: faithful as a friend, faithful in her studies, and faithful to her God.  It was a wonderful toast and we lifted our champagne high in honor of our faithful friend Katie Harms.
  
  After dinner came the traditional bouquet and garter tosses - neither of which Jeff and I can participate in anymore!  Then came the socializing with guests and dancing!
  
  

   
                      Cutting the cake                          Father-Daughter dance to "Sunrise, Sunset"
  

  
  

  The DJ didn't have this song so Katie called me to bring the CD as she naturally assumed I had it. This was the song that Katie's parents had their first dance to at their wedding plus Fiddler On the Roof is Katie's grandpa's favorite movie.
  

  
  We bridesmaids wanted to request a "Girls Only" song for Katie and ended up with "I Will Survive".  That was one fun dance, let me tell you.
  
  

  
  Just like old times in the dorm, only this time I'm dancing too instead sitting on the bed and watching.
  
  
  
  The video is a little dark, but you get the idea.
  
  
  Katie leading a conga line during "I Will Survive"
  
  
  
  The dark video version of the above picture
  
  
  Oh Cedarville, oh Faith Hall - Katie, Becky, Crystal, Megs, Julianne
  
  
  Katie's brothers - Dave and Dan
  
  
  What are these two up to now?
  
  
  Me, Katie, and Mom
  We three have so many good memories together!
  
  
  Me, Roper, and Katie in what has become our traditional picture.
  It was good to see Rope again now that he's back from his summer in Jamaica.  He stayed with my parents in my old room while he was in Illinois!
  
  
  Bride's parents: Chris and Barb                      Groom's parents: Angie and Morrie
  
  
  A sweet newlywed moment on the dance floor
  
  
  Meg and Katie during "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You"
  
  
  The last minute car decorations - seriously, the groomsmen forgot about decorating the car until Jeff mentioned it to one of them during the reception!
  
  
  
  
  
  

  And yes, that is the car they drove away in - Rodney's beloved, really old Renault.
  

  
  These pictures are but a small attempt to capture what it was like to watch my Katie get married to and celebrate her union with a godly man.  I feel like I have left out so much, but even for a word person, it is sometimes hard to get it all written down.
  

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