The last flurry of activity before a wedding is always the busiest. The bride arriving for the wedding rehearsal (looking much more composed than I did when I arrived for mine!), the heart-tugging practice walk down the aisle, the dinner afterward where the couple begins to realize, “This is really happening!”

That was the case with Amber and Daniel’s rehearsal the evening before their beautiful wedding last month. There was so much anticipation. So many emotions. So much love poured out on the couple.Amber’s rehearsal was the first time her father had ever walked one of his girls down the aisle. They ended at the arch Daniel had made with his father. Amber had added a cardinal to the arch — and to her bouquet the next day — to bring her grandmother, her father’s mother who had passed away, to the wedding.

Oh, what’s that? You want to see the whole ceremony site? You’ll just have to wait for the wedding feature to see it all dressed up for the wedding day!
Never a dull moment. . . .Once the rehearsal wrapped up, the party moved to Daniel’s parents’ backyard, where an al fresco dinner had been hurriedly moved from the back lawn to the lean-to, thanks to the threat of storms. It was like a tented reception, only with a solid roof and no tent flaps, and it was absolutely beautiful. Daniel’s mother Stacy had planned and prepped the table settings, with help from some close family friends.The little girls got their own table settings — and I have to say, I was a little bit jealous. The adult tables were beautiful, but when it comes right down to it, nothing tops a Disney-themed table!Sage provided the amazing Southern comfort food for the evening — and really, it was so incredible, I’d be tempted to drive four hours to Tallahassee just to eat that food again. Really. I’d be happy to get in my car and go now.Just as Amber, Daniel, Daniel’s parents, and Amber’s aunt Mina had handcrafted almost everything for the wedding, they created the favors for their guests and bridal party, too.While everyone else was eating, we grabbed the opportunity to get a few quick shots of Amber and Daniel — on their last night unmarried. I remember that feeling so well, the adrenaline rush of knowing you’re only hours away from marrying your best friend. People talk about a bridal glow, and I think in Amber’s case, it was already blooming at their rehearsal dinner.And then came the fireworks — a sunset that just about stopped my heart. The forecasters had called for rain that day, and they were calling for even more on the wedding day, but God was winking at the forecasters in that sunset.

If I lived there, I don’t think I would ever want to leave.
We headed back to Honey Lake for the night . . . as Amber headed off, unbeknownst to her, to her surprise bachelorette party. After the evening we’d just experienced, we truly couldn’t wait for the next morning to come.Check back tomorrow to see part one of Amber and Daniel’s amazing wedding at Honey Lake Plantation!

Vendors:
Ceremony venue: Honey Lake Plantation Resort & Spa
Rehearsal dinner venue: Private residence
Catering: Sage

~ Laura