Caroline + Will

After almost 7 years of dating, Caroline and Will were married on August 24, 2013! 

Their weekend was absolutely perfect. Family and friends traveled from all over the place to be there to celebrate these two. 

I was so excited to see my sister so happy. Caroline had waited and waited for the day she would be Will's bride, so to see how eager the two of them were to pledge their lives to each other was so special. 

Wedding week kicked off with our cousins Barry, Amy, Jake, and Sam coming from Florida to stay with my parents for the whole week! I can't even begin to describe these people. The absurdity, noise, generosity, laughter, and love that our family experiences with them is on another level. We LOVE them, so to have them in Raleigh for a whole week was the best! 

Barry is an incredibly talented chef and just so happens to be the most giving person on this planet (Amy, you're alright too), so he offered to cook for Caroline's Bridesmaid Luncheon - just as he did for mine :). The luncheon was on Friday at our friend's the Barkers house. The hostesses did such a great job, it was so beautiful and I know Caroline felt so celebrated. 

I had to take pictures of every course Barry served to relive the blissful food coma I was in....

After the luncheon, the bridesmaids and Mom all went to get pedicures for the big day then headed home to get ready for the rehearsal. 

That night, we went to 518 West for the rehearsal dinner where immediate family, the wedding party, and some Navy boys I had heard so much about gathered to toast the happy couple. I may or may not have made it through mine without crying...

The morning of the wedding, the bridesmaids were all able to have a relaxing and low key morning while we got ready in the parlor room at the country club. It was so nice not to feel rushed or stressed, probably because we all got our make up done professionally! (A first for me - I felt like a celebrity) 

Caroline hinted that keeping busy would be good for her so that she didn't start getting nervous, so I was happy to help her out there. She spent a good chunk of time doing my hair :) It wouldn't be a wedding without Caroline helping me get pretty somehow - even if its her own! She also had a special visitor give her some love while she waited...

Caroline's photographer, Robyn Van Dyke arrived while we were finishing getting ready to get some pictures of us in our awesome robes that Caroline gave us. (I've been living in my robe since this day!) All of the following pictures are by Robyn Van Dyke photography! 

 

The rest of the night was flawless. We finished getting ready at the church, prayed over Caroline, and headed down the aisle with 8 flower girls and ring bearers - all children Caroline has cared for over the years. The kids were perfect and it was such a sweet personal touch that made the wedding so Caroline! 

 After the ceremony, a trolley took us from downtown to the reception at the country club where Caroline and Will led the party all night long! My dad might have stolen the show for a brief couple of hours on stage - but who didn't expect that?? The band was awesome and had the crowd involved the whole time - they played Sweet Caroline and let the navy boys serenade Caroline Top Gun style!

Caroline and Will, Ben and I are so excited for you and your new life together! We are so excited to be family and to get to walk through marriage, babies, holidays, and the rest of this life with you both! We love y'all! 

 Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Craven!!