Lauren's Wedding day

Saturday September 1, 2012 Lauren and Ben were Sealed in the Provo, UT temple. For years, she wanted to wear her great grandmother's dress. Zorah Henrietta Horne Jeppson was married in the Salt Lake Temple June 7th 1929.  The roaring 20's, just before the great depression and crash.  Zorah's beautiful bridal portrait has graced our home and has been a conversation piece since I was a little girl.  When Lauren returned from her mission she put me in charge of finding a dress maker that could replicate the dress.  I found a bunch of websites of wedding dress specialists and was shocked at some of them.  Not THAT great. We decided on the dress designer Nancy Barrus of  http://www.nancybarruscouture.com She was excited for the challenge of designing and sewing Zorah's dress.    Lauren had several fittings over 2 months and had the perfect dress.  Now for the man.

Benjamin Philip Hardy was in some of Lauren's Psychology classes.  Both are returned missionaries, (Ben-Philidelphia Penn, Lauren- Charleston WV) are students at BYU and  MTC teachers.  We told her to not tell him of the dress for a while, it could be a deal breaker f he thought she was "wedding crazy".  Because we were in Omaha, Lauren and Ben did all the planning and preparations on their own of their own creative genius. Lauren decided to buy table cloths instead of renting.  Our neighbor, Sherry Neiger put the table cloths in her steam setting dryer getting out the hard creases and I ironed most of them.  Gayle Jorgensen came and did the last half with me on a make shift (mattress cover on a long table) ironing board.    Ben came and ironed for a bit a few days before the wedding.   Ironing took about 8 hours of my time plus Sherry's time.

Utah County Court House Family Dinner

Friday night we had a setting up party at the court house where we set 16 tables and 4 serving tables.  We forgot about a table for the DJ so he ended up using a sheet I brought.  The table cloths were champagne color (gold) and the sashes were light blue, pink and champagne.  For wrinkle-free transportation, we rolled the table cloths up and put them in a sheet (used by DJ later).  Each chair had a sash on it and the tables were decorated with embellished D.I. vases and Costco flowers.  The tables had place cards on them and photos of the guests at their wedding, vintage wedding photos and ones of Lauren and Ben. They were lovely.

Lauren had Ben had some photos taken by his aunt Jane before the wedding. They were beautiful decoration. I (mom) wanted a formal bridal portrait to match the one of Zorah, but there seemed to be no time for that.  The day before the wedding we settled on doing it between the sealing and dinner but it didn't sit right with me so I arranged that morning (final plans 10AM)  for us to get the portrait taken at 11:30 before the festivities.  My sister Debbilyn Clark Day, Lauren's best friend Mirinda Pettit Call, Lauren and I drove to Spanish Fork running two errands on the way.  One to the Flower Patch to pick up the babys breath bouquet I decided to order the day before and the other to check them into the Hines Mansion Bed and Breakfast in downtown Provo.

Our photographer Jessica Myrick, had us drive to her assistant's studio in her basement.  We took the Zorah photograph placing Lauren in the proper position and it ended up being a full bridal session!  I was pleased, this was my only request in having the Zorah dress, a formal portrait.

On the way home from the sitting, Debbilyn said this was the last lunch she would eat as a single woman so we quickly swung into Cafe Rio for a bite to eat.  Meanwhile the family was arriving at our home in Orem.  We had sandwich makings and fruit for them.

We had about a half hour to spare before Ben picked up Lauren to go to the temple.   We all got ready and Kay couldn't find his temple recommend!  I called the temple and found out what to do.  We needed to come early so they could figure it out.  We were there  about 35 minutes before the sealing, it is recommended we arrive 30 minutes early.  Kay sat in the foyer waiting for them to call President Wilkinson, his branch President.  The recommend was signed by former released bishop Wynn and needed renewing next month.  After 3 or 4 calls they got him and Kay was allowed to enter.

Our branch President- Tom Wilkinson said he was in the middle of Wyoming trying to make phone calls but  he couldn't  get any bars on his phone.  No service.  His phone was in his hand and he received a call... from the Provo Temple asking about Kay, and getting permission for Kay to attend Lauren's sealing. All was well and as soon as Pres. Wilkinson hung up  from the temple call he got on the phone to make some calls  now that he had service but again, no bars...no service. Tender mercy.

Meanwhile I went in and saw Janell and her companion, Sister Mullin.  Janell, at the request of Lauren, was able to attend the sealing.   The MTC mission President called her in to tell her she was approved and could go from 3PM to 4:45PM.  The sealing was at 3:30.  He said her cousin could not attend.

Ryan Day was at the MTC too, getting prepared to go to the Milan Italy mission.  His mom suggested he at least ask and apparently he did and had the MTC President, President Brown, call him in and had a good talk with him but the answer was, "no".

Janell, Sister Mullin, Mirinda and I went in to help her get ready, she was wearing her own temple clothing and insisted in the brides room, she could do it herself before we arrived.

In the largest sealing room at the Provo temple (75) we had a little over 50 there.  Ben's Grandpa Rex Hardy sat in the mother of the groom seat.  The sealer was Brother Hullinger.  They were sealed and everything went beautifully.

After the sealing, Lauren did need help getting into the silk dress and fitted cap veil.  I had put the bouquet into the refrigerator in the children's waiting room.  We had rain when we walked in and sun when we walked out.  Too much sun where we were squinting.  Janell was allowed to stay for pictures and we insisted her companion be in the pictures too because that is part of the story.

We drove to the temple with Caleb but he had to run to the court house reception center to be our family representative there so he took our car.  Caleb kept coming back and forth with keys and saying he was getting a ride with someone else and then not but Kay ended up with some keys to a car that wasn't even there.  We were stranded at the temple... we called everyone but.... they had turned off their phones for temple use so we finally got a hold of Pete's daughter, our niece Kember who came back and picked us up.

Meanwhile Lauren went to the Hines Mansion to get her hair done for the reception with the photographer and Mirinda Pettit Call in tow. 

We got home and quickly changed and remembered all of the sudden, the costco flowers.  I threw my dress into a bag and we high tailed it over there, got the flowers for the tables and went to the Provo Court House.

When we got to the court house it was about 20 minutes to 7.  It seemed like all the men were looking out the front windows.  There was a Latino festival going on at the court house lawn.  Lauren was warned about it 3 weeks before the wedding about it but she insisted we should have it there in the vintage 1920's building.  At the bottom of the court house front steps was a real live boxing ring with fighting going on. The courthouse lawn was graced by large tents and a Latino concert. The steps were being used as bleachers for the boxing match.  Just as we arrived, the men inside reported they crowned a winner and they were dispersing.  Yea! We separated the flower bunches and mixed them while Rachael followed making them look pretty just minutes before the party started.

Frances made signs in Spanish (recommended by the officer assigned to our event) stating that the building had no restroom and was only open to wedding guests. The security guard stood at the south door, the only door open for wedding guests and a few parking stalls coned for us. No one seemed to have a problem with parking and we didn't hear the party outside until we left the building!

At about 7:05PM I called Lauren who told us to start with the prayer and they would be there when we opened our eyes.  Kay asked Rex Hardy, Ben's grandfather to pray and just as we were quieting down, Lauren and Ben arrived. We prayed and ate.  The photographer put up a back drop where the fight window was and started doing formal portraits of the vintage dressed guessts.

Caleb was the go-to man making sure things were going smoothly, sound could be heard, keeping the line out of the dance floor for the portraits, inviting all to have their picture taken. Dancing when he felt like people needed to dance. We needed Caleb!

Jessica Myrick and her assistant Christina Curtis did formal wedding portraits the whole evening.  Percy and Anne Smith came through the line and she said they needed separate pictures for their obituary.  Percy made funny faces but had some serious ones and then they had some together. The Neigers said they want to make sure to get a copy of their portrait.  Free formals, who can resist? For those who came, when we get them we will post them to an online website for you to download!

Lauren had a relative of the Hale family do the music with her playlist.   Songs from 1920s to 1940s.  The parents said a few words to the crowd about our kids and the dancing started.  The food was done by Utah Celebrations Catering and Yogurtland (where they had their first date) and people were raving over the yummy food.

The video and photographers all said that was the funnest wedding and most relaxed they had ever attended.  Lauren didn't have a cake or a garter or a bouquet throw.  Just a party. We were cleaned up and home by 10PM.  A great day. Congratulations Lauren and Ben! We love you! 

Alaska 2012

Kay, Pete and Caleb took their annual pilgrimage to Alaska for some fishing.  They bought a van there  at the auction, got a screaming deal on it and got rid of the old suburban.  They didn't bring home as much fish as other years because of the limits.  They are all ready planning 2013!

Lauren's Temple Wedding

Saturday September 1, 2012
Lauren has been planning this day for years.  She wanted to have her great grandmother's dress, Zorah Henrietta Horne Jeppson was married in the Salt Lake Temple June 7th 1929.  The roaring 20's, just before the great crash and depression.  Her beautiful bridal portrait has graced our home and has been a conversation piece since I was a little girl.  Lauren wanted that dress.   She put me in charge of finding a dress maker that could do the job.  I found a bunch of websites of wedding dress specialists and was shocked at some of them.  Not THAT great.     We decided on Nancy Barrus of   http://www.nancybarruscouture.com She was excited for the challenge of designing and sewing Zorah's dress.    Lauren had several fittings and had the perfect dress.  Now for the man.

Benjamin Philip Hardy was in some of Lauren's Psychology classes and they hit it off.  Both are returned missionaries and  MTC teachers.  We told her to not tell him of the dress for a while, it could be a deal breaker but not for Ben.

Lauen decided to buy table cloths instead of renting.  Our neighbor, Sherry Neiger put the table cloths in her steam setting dryer getting out the hard creases and I ironed most of them.  Gayle Jorgensen came and did the last half with me on a make shift ironing board.  We put a mattress cover on a rectangle table and it worked much better than the board.  Ben came and ironed for a bit a few days before the wedding.  We also had sashes for the chairs I ironed.  Ironing took about 8 hours for me plus Sherry's time.

Utah County Court House Family Dinner

Friday night we had a setting up party at the court house where we set 16 tables and 4 serving tables.  We forgot about a table for the DJ so he ended up using a sheet I brought.  The table cloths were champagne color (gold) and the sashes were light blue, pink and champagne.  We rolled the table cloths out up and put them in a sheet (used by DJ later).  Each chair had a sash on it and the tables were decorated with DI vases with embellishments Lauren made and Costco flowers.  The tables had place cards on them with photos of the guests of the table at their wedding or vintage photos or ones of Lauren and Ben. They were lovely.

Lauren had Ben had some photography taken by his aunt Jane before the wedding, to be used as some of the decorations. I (mom) wanted a formal bridal portrait to match the one of Zorah, but there seemed to be no time for that.  The day before the wedding we settled on doing it between the sealing and dinner but it didn't sit right with me so I arranged that morning (final plans 10AM)  for us to get the portrait taken at 11:30 before the festivities.  My sister Debbilyn Clark Day, Lauren's best friend Mirinda Pettit Call, Lauren and I drove to Spanish Fork running two errands on the way.  One to the Flower Patch to pick up the babys breath bouquet I decided to order the day before and we check them into the Hines Mansion Bed and Breakfast in downtown Provo.

Our photographer Jessica Myrick, had us drive to her assistant's home.  Christina Curtis has a studio in her basement.  We took the Zorah photograph placing Lauren in the proper position and it ended up being a full bridal session!  I was pleased, this was my only request in having the Zorah dress, a formal portrait.

On the way home from the sitting, Debbilyn said this was the last lunch she would eat as a single woman so we quickly swung into Cafe Rio for a bite to eat.  Meanwhile the family was arriving at our home in Orem.  We had sandwich makings and fruit for them.

We had about a half hour to spare before Ben picked up Lauren to go to the temple.   We all got ready and Kay couldn't find his temple recommend!  I called the temple and found out what to do.  We needed to come early so they could figure it out.  We were there  about 35 minutes before the sealing, it is recommended we arrive 30 minutes early.  Kay sat in the foyer waiting for them to call President Wilkinson, his branch President.  The recommend was signed by former released bishop Wynn and needed renewing next month.  After 3 or 4 calls they got him and Kay was allowed to enter.

Meanwhile I went in and saw Janell and her companion, Sister Mullin.  Janell, at the request of Lauren, was able to attend the sealing.   The MTC mission President called her in to tell her she was approved and could go from 3PM to 4:45PM.  The sealing was at 3:30.  He said her cousin could not attend.

Ryan Day was at the MTC too, getting prepared to go to the Milan Italy mission.  His mom suggested he at least ask and apparently he did and had the MTC President, President Brown, call him in and had a good talk with him.

Janell, Sister Mullin, Mirinda and I went in to help her get ready, she was wearing her own temple clothing and insisted in the brides room she could do it herself.

In the largest sealing room at the Provo temple (75) we had a little over 50 there.  Ben's    Grandpa Rex Hardy sat in the mother of the groom seat.  The sealer was Brother Hullinger.  They were sealed and everything went great.

After the sealing she did need help getting into the silk dress and fitted hat veil.  I had put the bouquet into the refrigerator in the children's waiting room.  We had rain when we walked in and sun when we walked out.  Too much sun where we were squinting.  Janell was allowed to stay for pictures and we insisted her companion was in the pictures too because that is part of the story.

We drove there with Caleb but he had to run to the court house reception center to be our family Representative there so he took our car.  Caleb kept coming back and forth with keys and saying he was getting a ride with someone else and then not but Kay ended up with some keys to a car that wasn't even there so we called everyone but.... they had turned off their phones for temple use so we finally got a hold of Pete's daughter, our niece Kember who came back and picked us up.

Meanwhile Lauren went to the Hines Mansion to get ready, hair done for the reception followed by the photographer and Mirinda Pettit Call. 

We got home and quickly changed and remembered all of the sudden, the costco flowers.  I threw my dress into a bag and we high tailed it over there, got the flowers for the tables and went to the Provo court house.

When we got to the court house it was about 20 minutes to 7.  It seemed like all the men were looking out the front windows.  There was a Latino festival going on at the court house outside.  Lauren was warned about 3 weeks before the wedding about it but she insisted we should have it there in the vintage 1920's building.  At the bottom of the steps of the court house there was a real live boxing ring with fighting going on. Big huge tents and vendors and a concert venue graced the court house lawn. The steps were being used as bleachers for the boxing match.  Just as we arrived, the men inside reported they crowned a winner and they were dispersing.  Yea. We separated the flower bunches and mixed them and Rachael went around making them look pretty just minutes before the party started.

Frances made suggested signs in Spanish stating no bathrooms and wedding guests only.  We had a security guard at the south door, the only door open for wedding guests and a few parking stalls coned for us. No one seemed to have a problem with parking and we didn't hear the party outside until we left the building!

At about 7:05PM I called Lauren who told us to start and pray and they would be there when we opened out eyes.  Kay asked Rex Hardy, Ben's grandfather to pray and just as we were quieting down, Lauren and Ben arrived. We prayed and ate.  The photographer put a back drop where the fight window was and started doing formal portraits.

Caleb was the go-to man making sure things were going smoothly, sound could be heard, keeping the line out of the dance floor for the portraits, inviting all to have their picture taken. Dancing when he felt like people needed to dance. We needed Caleb!

Jessica Myrick and her assistant Christina Curtis did formal wedding portraits the whole evening.  Percy and Anne Smith came through the line and she said they needed separate pictures for their obituary.  Percy made funny faces but had some serious ones and then they had some together. The Neigers said they want to make sure to get a copy of their portrait.  Free formals, who can resist?

Lauren had a relative of the Hale family do the music with her playlist.   Songs from Zorah Jeppson's day on her lists.  The parents said a few words to the crowd about our kids and the dancing started.  The food was done by Utah Celebrations Catering and Yogurt Land (where they had their first date) and people were raving over the yummy food.

The video and photographers all said that was the funnest wedding ever.  Lauren didn't have a cake or a garter or a bouquet throw.  Just a party. We were cleaned up and home by 10PM.  A great day.