Rayfield/Phillips wedding week <33

so this last week, my best friend, Kimberly, just got married to one of my other best friends, Riley Rayfield in Colorado! it was such an overwhelming week, full of so many emotions, that I unfortunately neglected until the minute that the two newly-weds rode off in their marriage-mobile for their honeymoon. But I’ll get to that later.

The whole trip began on Friday, when the wedding planner, the bride, one other bridesmaid and I headed off in a Ford Explorer just packed to the brim with wedding paraphernalia. There was absolutely no room to even breath.

We drove to Vegas for the night, where we met another bridesmaid who was to ride with us the rest of the way to Denver. Luckily, the wedding planner, Rachael (of Lace and Likes) has a brother who works at a bar on the strip, where he hooked us up with giant daiquiris, and we got to begin the pre-wedding celebrations a whole week early. The bride had a great time.

                                                                  Britt and I at the Rockhouse on the strip

The next morning, we lazily got out of our hotel beds and began the 12 hour drive to Colorado. I hardly remember it because it was just so long and draining, but the good part is that the five of us girls got to laugh and share stories and really spend some good time together.

                                                                       driving with kim and brittany!

We arrived in Arvada, Colorado super late that Saturday night, so we all crashed at Kim’s lovely parents’ house until the next day when the three of us bridesmaids stayed at another maiden’s house a few minutes away. Then, that whole week was just a blur.

Every morning, we would wake up and ask, “so, what’s the plan?”. And every morning, the answer would be the same: no one knows. We just kinda went with the flow, did some projects, ate some food, spent time with Kim (not much though, she was quite busy, but she was surprisingly zen the entire week, thanks to Rachael), and did a whole lot of crafts and busy work. [you can see a lot of the projects on Rachael’s blog. but I can’t take a whole lot of credit. She did all of it. I just helped]

I can’t believe how fast that week went. I blinked, and suddenly it was Thursday–the day of the Bachelorette party! All the girls, and a few others, went out to a piano bar and drank heavily. It was just what we needed. However, Marissa (the bridesmaid from colorado) and I would cry and laugh about how little money we had. Our response was simply, “put it on my tab”. It was all worth it though, because the bride deserved everything, and all we were concerned about was her having a great last night out as a single lady.

                                                                                    Me and Marissa

That next morning, Friday, we groggily awoke a little late and began to make chocolate-covered strawberries for the reception (which were almost forgotten, but don’t worry, they made it to the reception). Then, we headed over to the venue, which was the Turnhalle room at the Tivoli in downtown Denver…it’s cool because it’s an old opera house, and now it’s a student union….look how cool!

It was absolutely perfect! We all set up until the rehearsal, and then headed over to the groom’s parents’ house and had Chipotle! Funny factoid: the happy couple originally wanted Chipotle to cater the wedding, but it ended up being to expensive, so they abandoned the idea. The parents surprised the soon-to-be-marrieds with the delicious  food on the night of the rehearsal dinner. Kim and Riley were ever so pleased.

That night, a few bridesmaids and the bride headed downtown to the Magnolia hotel to relax and finally spend some alone time with our favorite bride. we put on masks.

 I was the only one in the mask at this time #embarrassing

The next morning, we snagged some breakfast, and started to get ready! It was actually quite peaceful, and everyone ended up cleaning up REAL nice! Especially the bridey 🙂 We then headed over to the venue, which was just a couple blocks away, and got ready for the ceremony!

It was absolutely beautiful. The venue was decorated like a midsummer night’s dream!

(All thanks to Rachael Hershman!) The wedding was so wonderful, there were tears, laughs, and good food. The drinks were flowing like a river (a little much for some people….) and the festivities were such a blast, that time went so quickly.

the happy couple—meet the Rayfields

Before I knew it, we were sending the couple off with sparklers.

Up until this point, I don’t think I realized that this was really happening, nor did I realize that this was truly the end of one chapter in all our lives. We’re all moving onward and upward. I’m leaving to France, and Kim and Riley will be married. At the wedding, I was so fearful because I realized that nothing was certain. There was no guarantee that I would come back to California, or that things would all be the same. In fact, it won’t be the same at all. That moment that they drove off was the beginning of a new chapter, one that we are entering into blindly. There is no table of contents to ascertain that things will all be ok, or that my comfort zone of friends will still be there, waiting for me, when and if I ever come back to California. Or, the other scenario is that I will return from France completely different, and will have no need for my friends in California, and that is an even more horrifying thought. I did not prepare for this. Suddenly, tears were gushing out of my eyes, and I began to weep! Not even cute and sweet tears of joy–it was horrible. Thank goodness for waterproof mascara.

As I write this next chapter, I realized, after talking to a few encouraging people, that I will make my life and relationships with my friends how I want them to be. I will walk confidently, and know that my journey to France in just a few short weeks will not ruin anything I have with my friends, but it could only make it better, because I know that what I have with my friends comes around only once in a lifetime, and I won’t let myself forget that.

Countdown til I fly to Paris: 28 days.

[[[[photo credit from these goes to various people’s instagrams and weheartphotography!]]]]]

look at we heart photography to see more pics: http://weheartphotography.com/blog/we-heart-kimberly-riley-teaser/

and the wedding planner’s blog: http://www.laceandlikes.blogspot.com/

I have my visa!

Well, I did it. Finally got the legal documents I need to work and live in France for eight months! It was not an easy process either. Wait, I take that back…it IS an easy process, but I was so unprepared and frazzled to make it go smoothly.

I arrived at my appointment at the French Consulate in LA late because I got stuck in so much traffic. Classic LA. Luckily the security guy at the front was very sweet and tried to help me calm down (at this point, I was already so stressed because I was late and the contents of my purse were all over the place trying to find my passport). He said, “it’s ok, just get your application form.” My what?? Stupid me. All I brought to my appointment was my passport and the receipt for my appointment. The security guy looked at me, and I think he felt bad for me, so he just gave me an extra copy that I could fill out. Before I could finish filling it out, the woman from behind the window called me to the front. I quickly assembled all my things, which were all over the place. That’s what happens to me when I’m frazzled. I got to the window, and the woman asked me if I had brought my passport photos. By some miracle, I had left some extra passport photos with my passport and brought them with me, but left them in the car. She rolled her eyes when I said they were in the car, but we moved on. She then proceeded to give me directions and talk to me in ONLY FRENCH. She had to repeat everything because my brain was just not functioning correctly that day. I could tell that she was getting so frustrated with me, and I was getting frustrated because I just had to nod my head and pretend like I understood so that she wouldn’t hate me. She then asks me to stand back and take a picture, and naturally, I was smiling. She said something so fast and mumbled that I don’t understand, so I kept smiling, but wasn’t taking the picture. A second later, she shouts, “Ne souriez pas!” Meaning, don’t smile. I wiped that smile off my face so quickly, it’s unreal. She scared me a tiny bit. And it shows in the picture. (see below)

But it gets worse. We continued to fill out more paperwork, and next thing I know, I’m filling out a fedex envelope (not aware at the time, that that was how they were going to mail my passport back to me), and she asked me if I have made copies of everything. No. Why WOULD I have made copies. That would mean I was actually prepared. I responded, “no”, but I was’t worried because there are copy machines behind the glass in her office. She rolled her eyes at me, for the second time in just about ten minutes, and told me to go to Staples down the street and be back in 20 minutes before they closed for the day, otherwise I would not be able to get my Visa, and would have to wait a few more weeks for another appointment. Let me remind you that she is still speaking in French, and I was focusing so hard to make sure that I understand clearly where this Staples was, because I could not afford to wait for another appointment at the French Consulate. I grabbed all my things, dashed out the door only to hear the security man say, “be quick!!” I zoomed down the street, ran into the Staples, threw my papers at a woman to copy them for me, apologizing and pleading with her to move quickly. I got my copies, paid, and flew out the door, drove back to the consulate (which I passed a couple times because I couldn’t remember what it looked like. I’m telling you, I was such a mess) and burst back into the consulate with all my copies and my passport photos. I could see the look of surprise on everyone’s faces. They did not think I could make it back in time. Let’s be honest, I didn’t think I would make it back in time either. So, I gave the woman all my paperwork, my passport, and the fedex envelope, and she said I could go. Somewhat relieved, I walked out of that office just so dumbstruck—praying that I did everything right. I immediately called my best friend, almost in tears, telling her “the French are going to hate me.” I am so frustrating, and people need patience with me, something the French are not known for. I guess I’ll really have to grow up in the next couple weeks. I’m not ready. The French aren’t ready for me. But hey, let’s do this.