So here's a pic of my discipleship partner from my undergraduate years, formerly Ania Cudzewicz, now Mrs. Ania Cottrell. <3
She had the classiest rustic + vintage chic wedding that I've ever seen.
She was LITERALLY royalty in her dress. She looks gorgeous, doesn't she?
I'm so proud of her <3
One Jump Ahead of the Blogline! XD
(bonus points if you caught the Disney reference)
- Korean Cafe Breakfast with Hannah
- Crepe Brunch with the Enginerds
- Ryan + Ania Wedding
To "jump", hit "Ctrl (or Cmd for Macs) + F" and type in the EXACT title.
Again, TONS of photos. You have been warned.
I left town last Thursday morning and got myself up to Ania's place in Montgomery, IL in good time. Considering how BAD I am at long distance travel and my default setting of "SLEEP" whenever our family goes on long vacations that require tons of driving, I'm actually really proud of myself for making the trip up and down.
Korean Cafe Breakfast with Hannah
So, one of the things that I've loved about Champaign (the few times I've been up there) was the plethora of food choices, and IN PARTICULAR, Caffe Benne. A lovely Korean cafe with "bingsu" (essentially ice kachang or luxurious snow cone dessert things).
I had been craving this for a while, so when the opportunity came for me to catch up with my friend Hannah over a bowl of bingsu, the answer was YES and AMEN. I ordered the "Green Tea Bingsu". Sugar boost, lots of ice (for re-hydrating) and healthy red beans and pecans, combined with my FAVORITE GREEN TEA ICE CREAM.
Best breakfast ever. <3
They also had a coffee ice cream version and like...4 others. Gonna try them all eventually :)
They also had cute little cakes and breads that I'd like to sample in the future.
Crepe Brunch with the Enginerds
Coming from small-town Carbondale, anything more than a 15 min drive seems like a big commitment. lol (you big city people can laugh at me, I'll forgive you)
That said, I'm SO touched by the fact that my boys, Brian and Ricardo, from my engineering days were willing to drive out from Chicago to meet me for brunch in Naperville.
We met out at a place recommended by Ricardo (who works in Naperville) called "Butterfield's", a breakfast place that's kinda like a classier Denny's or something. Closer to Harbaugh's here in Carbondale, but with better lighting and atmosphere.
I ordered me a Ham and Gruyere Cheese Crepe.
T'was delicious :)
The mandatory selfie.
(From left to right: Ricardo, me, Brian)
Thank you guys for coming out to hang out with me.
Here's to many more years of friendship! I'm proud of you guys and what you're doing!
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Ryan + Ania Wedding
There was craziness going on, from the wrong flowers being delivered (the company made good and redelivered the CORRECT flowers from Ecuador the NEXT DAY), misprints on the wedding programs from Vistaprint (some print-savvy negotiations from me helped fix it and we got them printed at Staples just in time), and more happened, but things were more or less okay otherwise.
We arrived at a nearby Days Inn Saturday afternoon and rehearsal + dinner was Saturday evening. Dress code was Sunday best, and given that it was my first time meeting the other bridesmaids, I was quite looking forward to all of it.
Future Mr. and Mrs. Cottrell!
We had a room reserved for the 50 or so people for dinner.
Dinner table decor.
I ruined the decorations for everyone by pointing out that the little white pebbles in the vase looked like chopped red onions because of the purple water lol XD
Candy table
Dinner roll with butter, mashed potatoes, oven-roasted herbal chicken, DELICIOUS pot roast.
The beef was SO TENDER OMG.
Salad.
Peach cobbler with coffee (black, for those who care)
That evening, all the bridesmaids went back to their respective hotels. I was staying with Ania (bride) and youngest/4th bridesmaid (Morgan). Sara (1st bridesmaid) was in the same Days Inn with her boyfriend and Hannah (3rd bridesmaid) was in a nearby Best Western. All of us (minus the busy super mom matron of honor) got together in our room to chat and do facials (and the other did nails).
Sunday morning was the day of the wedding.
Got there before 9am to meet the hairstylist, Nicole.
Morgan getting her hair done.
Sara getting her hair done.
Hanna getting her hair done.
What my hair would look like if I had crazy anime/manga style bangs
(this is a result of my hair being piled up hilariously on my head)
Photographer and dress (squee! it was gorgeous!)
Ania's hair comb
Mostly completed make-up with completed hair.
I really wanted it all pulled to one side to prove to myself that an asymmetrical hairstyle is realistic for me in the future. lol XD
Selfie with the bride.
What we were fed for lunch by Starved Rock Lodge to make sure we wouldn't starve.
Ania's good about feeding her girls :)
Here are some shots of the dresses!!
Morgan with Ania
Bridesmaids + Bride
Top left to top right: Me, Sara, Hanna
Bottom left to right: Morgan, Ania, Ashleigh
Ania bought all of the bridesmaids jewelry to go with the dresses.
What I assume is a glass pearl combo with Swarovski crystals earrings and necklace set.
Bride and mother. Photographer is just to the right of the photo taking official photos.
First time the father of the bride sees Ania.
It was such a beautifully emotional moment to witness.
After the ceremony, walking back down the aisle with my groomsman counterpart, Matthew Gette.
Wedding reception dinner.
The steak was FREAKING TENDERLY DELICIOUS.
Father-Daughter dance.
I'll be honest here...
My battery broke during the dancing portion after dinner because I was essentially the ONLY single female there (everyone else was married, Sara is practically engaged, and Morgan was there with her mother and brother), so that was...really awkward. This is LITERALLY the second wedding I've stayed back long enough to dance in (the first was Phil + Marie's), and I've officially decided that unless I have a date (or my sister) there for the dancing, I'm gonna be ducking out unless I'm in the bridal party. Unpracticed, spontaneous dancing is probably one of the most uncomfortable things I've ever done in my life.
I left Monday morning and made it back just in time to scarf down lunch and go to a 3 hour class at 3pm. That went till 6pm, I made it home, and had an online meeting with another class from 7-8pm.
I'm exhausted after coming back (and I STILL haven't unpacked...both my craft stuff from the Eclipse sale and the stuff from my trip), my left knee is attempting to kill itself, and I'm essentially overwhelmed with school, but this trip was WORTH IT. I got to see great friends again, made new friends (the bridesmaids were some of the most fun ladies ever), and got to witness one of my best friends from college get married.
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This #FeatureFriday, I'll provide you all with a breakdown of some of the decorations from the wedding (since that would've made this post even LONGER).
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See you Friday!~
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