small things: family

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

The wedding reception and open house

For the start of a great life and eternity together, there has to be a great celebration.

And we Whitakers love to celebrate!

Both Sarah and Josh lean towards rustic. So the Great Hall at Stone Gate Weddings and Events in Pleasant Grove, just down the street from the temple, was perfect. And if you live in Utah County, I highly suggest using Marvelous Catering for your events and visit their restaurant Molly's for some out of this world food.

I've included some of my favorite photos to tell the story of the evening, then

some from our open house in our home.

Joseph and I somehow didn't get the kissing memo.

Sour candies are Josh and Sarah's favorites. It was such a hit, it had a line of people all night long.

Nice?

Nope!

That's okay

Aaaannnd the youngest gets the bouquet. Good thing the "getting married next" tradition isn't real.

Dancing!! This has to be one of my favorite parts of receptions. I've always loved dancing, but when our whole family is out on the dance floor, it takes it to another level. We have such a good time!!

If you ever have a dance party and need to fill the floor,

just call the Whitakers and we'll fill it up. We love to dance!

The Jeromes are great dancers too!

What a great start, right?!

A month later, we had an open house for our friends and family in California.

I loved decorating our house for the happy occasion.

Sarah's use of deep red and navy were perfect to start my Valentines decor.

Aren't these two Mickey cousins the cutest ever!!

Thanks to my brother-in-law Dave and niece Brooke for taking the photos

of the open house. I was able to enjoy our family and friends without worrying.

And thank you to our friends who always support us.

It was a joy to witness the beginning of their lives together. I know life will have its ups and downs, and back and forth. But with commitment to each other, hard work, a lot of love, and faith, these two will find great happiness together.

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Sarah's big day!!

There's never a time limit for posting about a wedding. That makes this week, the "love" week a perfect time to share some photos from Sarah and Josh's wedding.

These two are so cute together! Because of work and school, they had been separated by distance, making the wait that much harder. Their patience paid off on December 15 in a packed room of the Mount Timpanogos Temple, surrounded by family and friends.

Before the big day we had part of her bachelorette party at the Cirque Asylum in Sandy, Utah.

We had so much fun trying something new. Let me tell ya, it was way more difficult than it looks! It puts quite a bit of pressure on your wrists and hands, not to mention your core.

Sarah nailed it!

There was plenty of laughter and goofing.

I was determined to try everything the young girls did. To my surprise,

I did it!

So fun!!

There had been blizzards leading up to the wedding, so we all came with coats and sweaters, but thankfully it was a beautiful day.

It was a blessing to witness Sarah and Josh lovingly make covenants with each other and God. The sacred nature of the temple and the work done there, doesn't allow for photography.

But the experience is a wonderful memory that won't be forgotten.

Thankfully, they will be able to go to the temple often to do work for other families

and remind themselves of the start and progression of their own eternal family.

So joyful!!

Everyone!

Woohoo!!

This picture is deceiving. Although it looks like we are wooping it up, there wasn't any sound coming out of our mouths. We didn't want to become a distraction to the serenity of those inside the temple. But the expressions of happiness on our faces is all real.