My Best Friend's Wedding

Anyone who follows my blog knows that I've been preparing for this past weekend for many months now; or perhaps even, many years. It was 21 months ago that Nick asked my best friend of the past 19 years to be his wife.

Debbie's a married woman now

It's bittersweet in a way. It's the official end of our "childhood". The end of imagining I still come first to her like I did when we were 12. But at the same time it signifies her finding happiness. It signifies the beginning of a life she always wanted; a life we talked and dreamed about with each other when we were 12 (and 15, and 17, and 22, and 24, and 29...)

Remember this? Whodda thought she'd become this beautiful...

So it was a happy day and truly the most fabulous wedding I've ever been to. And no I'm not just saying that cuz I was the Maid of Honor.

• Smack dab in the middle of San Francisco, one of the most beautiful cities in the world
• And smack dab in the middle of "touristy" San Francisco (the famous Ferry Building)
  
• Unseasonably warm [read 80°] weather
  
• One of the best looking bridal parties I've ever seen *wink*
  
• Not a dry eye at the touchingly beautiful ceremony
  
• Soaring ceilings and a feeling of grandeur at the gorgeous reception
  
• An open bar with free libations flowing for 5 hours
  
• Even a local celebrity showing up to personally serenade the couple!

When you're in our age range, you go to LOTS of weddings. I think they started around 4 years ago and haven't stopped - each year seems to bring more and more. And while the Bay Area is a very big place, I've now been to 4-5 weddings where the ceremony or reception brings me back to a place I've "wedding-ed at" before. This was absolutely not one of those weddings. I knew it'd be spectacular when Deb and Nick found that the Ferry Building had an event space upstairs. A wedding at the FERRY BUILDING??

F/4.5, 1/2 s., ISO 400 and HAND HELD!!

Pictures of Deb, Nick and their parents -- LOVED those soaring ceilings and the lighting!

Having a wedding in San Francisco truly puts you in the spotlight for the day. Not only do your guests gaze upon the beautiful and happy couple but so do hundreds of tourists! As we (the bridal party) wound our way through a few city landmarks for pictures, I lost count of the friendly tennis shoe-donned, backpack-laden tourists excited that their sightseeing came complete with a drop dead gorgeous bride in a fairy princess dress...oh and a groom too. ;) Many a traveler went home with pictures of Debbie and Nick stored away on their point & shoots.
Just as I suspected, Deb's wedding felt a little bit like I imagine my own will. I mean, our guestlists would probably be 25% the same - which is a large number when you think about all the [parents'] friends and family who attended! But it was still very much her wedding. Deb planned and executed this wedding perfectly. As of course I would have expected her to. The flowers, the food, the music, the vibe. It was Deb - and Nick too.

I'm still hearing people say it now - days later... from folks who aren't as biased as I: "One of the best weddings I've ever been to." Well, I agree. And for the rest of my life, I'll never forget this day.