It’s almost here! Alison’s wedding to Russ is in less than a week and I haven’t even blogged about her bridal shower! Alright, here goes.
It’s amazing to think I’ve known Alison for 15 years. Seriously, when did I get so old? The early days of our friendship consisted of swim practice, carpools, and the never ending concoctions we’d dream up for taming our curly locks (start off with some John Frieda Frizz Ease Hair Serum, move on to a squirt of Herbal Essences Gel, and finish off with some Herbal Essences Spray Gel…those were the days!) Since that time we’ve perfected out hair regime and our friendship has matured to include weddings, marriages, and children. I couldn’t have been more honored when Alison asked me to be in her wedding. Not only do I love the fact that this is one wedding where I get to drink champagne, get dolled up, and dine at a non-vendor table, but I am so pleased that my best friend has found a true partner to share her life with. Russ is perfect for Alison. It’s as simple as that.
Now on to the Bridal Shower. Since the majority of the guests live in Washington, it only seemed fitting to host the party up in Seattle. Alison’s mother (Kitty) and I both loved the idea of having an Afternoon tea. Tea rooms can be so quaint and if you’ve never experienced an afternoon tea, it’s really something worth trying. Well, our tea was delightful. It was such a fun gathering of great people, delicious food, and an obscene amount of baked goods. Who could ask for anything more?!
I also loved getting to spend an extended amount of time with Alison and Russ. This was a trip I planned without JP or Grayson and it was really nice having a “mini vacation” from all of my Mommy duties. I had a wonderful time going on some runs around Alison’s home and also getting to do a bit of sight seeing. Plus, Alison and I finally made it up to the top of the Space Needle! Every time I have gone up to visit, we manage to make it over to the Needle, but then decide not to go up. One time it was too windy, another time one of us was tired….you get the idea. But this time we made it up and have the photos to prove it!
This is the exterior of the Queen Mary Tea Room. Very quaint.
The day before the bridal shower Alison and I had breakfast at the tea room. I made her take these silly photos and I am glad I did because I love her smile in them.
This is the lawn where Alison and Russ will be married…on Sunday! Can’t wait to post some photos from their wedding! It’s such a fun spot.
Afternoon Tea was Scrumptious.
One of the guests brought her daughter, who had a fabulous time hanging out with us old ladies. The staff gave her a special “pint sized” afternoon tea that included a peanut butter and jelly finger sandwich (without the crust of course).
Her own special tea cup.
And a yummy sugar cookie!
Though the ladies at the tea room repeatedly advised me NOT to get a cake (they kept assuring me that their would be more than enough food) I could not let Alison have a Bridal Shower without a cake. Not sure why they insisted on the candles, but at that point I was done arguing with them.
You can only imagine how crazy they thought I was when I ordered 2 dozen cookies. But for a girl whose favorite food is Cookie, how could I not indulge her sweet tooth?!
Alison with her mom and soon to be mom-in-law.
I can’t photograph a bride without making sure to include a mini portrait session. It’s habit, I guess.
Alison with her cousin Ashely, whose from El Salvador. I only bring up where she is from because I had NO idea Alison had family in Central America. Go figure.
Getting pastries the day after.
This photo is random…I know. Alison took me to the Ballard Locks on my last day in Seattle. It was such a gorgeous day and I had a great time taking all sorts of photos. What I got most excited about was the Fish Ladder where I got to see salmon swimming up stream. So, of course I had to take some photos. Here’s one of my favorites.
And finally proof that we made it to the top of the Space Needle. It was such a bright day (and I don’t have a built in flash on my camera) that I wasn’t very happy with the exposures of the photos when I had Alison and Russ stand in front of a certain vista. Either the skyline was blown out or they were underexposed (a little technical, but that’s the only way I know how to succinctly describe it). So we hopped on a bench and used the reflective glass of the windows to serve as our “vista”.
I leave for the wedding in a couple of days…. quite eager to embark on my next Seattle adventure!
