Friday, November 1, 2013

Moeller Wedding Extravaganza!!!

 Maddie and Jake tied the knot in Stillwater, MN October 26th!! I should wait to post this after I get some more (nicer) pictures... but I just can't wait!!

We've been working, planning and packing for days -- maybe months (well not as much as the Bride, of course)... but looking forward to the Moeller Wedding of the decade!!!  (shouldn't make time limits too soon.. you never know -- there are 4 "Moeller family" boys in their 20's!)

moeller cousins
Mom & Dad Moeller travelled to Stillwater with us -- 8 warm bodies in our well-packed Suburban -- 629 miles -- 12 hours (with potty and lunch breaks) -- and even arrived with our sanity and joyous attitudes intact!

Our Rapid City branch of the family tree arrived Thursday night, spending the evening at the pool and letting off some steam from the cooped-up-carride.  Friday morning was our "extra-curricular" day -- a side trip planned to the Mall of America with Bethany and Chris -- to be finished in time to get Liv & Theo to wedding "practice" at the church at 4:00 p.m.  I was happy to find Stillwater to be a rather "small town" on the outskirts of the Twin Cities and easy travel between hotel, restaurants, the church the reception venue.  Of course, iMaps on the iPhone didn't hurt either :)

(I will detail our trip to the Mall in a later blog post).

Friday and Saturday between responsibilities -- the Moeller cousins had a great time swimming and hanging out together...  seems to always work out that everyone has a "buddy-cousin" about the same age.  

Liv & Theo were flower girl and ring bearer -- and were quite prepared to be proper attendants for Maddie and Jake!  Of course, it does help that the last few years Jake has been with Maddie at family events... Liv probably doesn't even remember a family gathering without Jake.... So he is loved and cherished as a "moeller" already!

While at the practice, Theo heard the Pastor (Jake's uncle) ask who would give him the rings during the ceremony -- to which Maddie replied the Best Man and Maid of Honor would have them.  Theo sat straight up and declared rather disappointed "But I'm supposed to have the rings?!"  So it didn't come as a surprise when Holli reminded us that Theo was also disappointed he wasn't going to get to KEEP the tux.  Maybe that is kind of unfair -- considering Liv gets to keep her dress??  hhmm....
Jake, Liv & Mark

Theo was totally adorable in his tux -- and exact match to Jake's attire.... and Liv's dress was very similar to the lines in Maddie's dress too -- especially the bodice/neckline.  

The wedding time arrived -- and the kiddos did their jobs perfectly -- just as we expected.  The ceremony was lovely, personal and cozy -- and centered on God and the beautiful covenant of marriage.  Unbeknownst to our side of the family, Oct 26th was also Jake's parents 28th wedding anniversary, AND Jake's grandparents __ (60-somthing) wedding anniversary!!!  How cool is that!  What a great honor to be connected to another family of like-minded faith and values!!  





While the Moeller family re-connected, we also were introduced to some new "significant others" -- Mark's girlfriend Megan was there to join in the fun... and Abel's girlfriend Karyn who was not there -- but saw photos via Facebook (she is also in the Army).  (See what I mean about future weddings being possible .... but we are certainly not rushing anyone! ;)

The evening ended at one of the country clubs in town - dinner, dessert, music and dancing!  Maddie had made the cutest table number "signs"  -- one for each of the 17 guest tables.  Table #1 had a photo from when Maddie and Jake were 1 year old... #2, 2 years and so on...  They met when they were 14 -- so the "infamous" photo of one of their first "outings" together was at table 14.

With all the young cousins from the Moeller, Messing and Miller families -- not to mention friends of the Bride and Groom -- the dance floor was pretty rockin' right from the start.  Liv and Lars weren't sure what to make of it all -- even Theo took a few songs to get warmed up... but before long pretty much everyone was out moving' and grovin' (Uncle Layne and Betsy took Grandpa Alan and Cleo home just as the music was starting.... they were all ready for some peace and quiet :)

Sunday we made the trip home with one quick stop outside of Sioux Falls for a "long lunch" with Annette & Carrie... nice to be able to connect with them for even a short time since we were so close.





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