The last two-three weeks were spent in Missoula with my sister, and her fiancé Mark getting ready for their wedding. It was insanely busy, a little bit stressful, but mostly just a lot of fun. Errands, lists, to-dos and running around to the max. I was glad Missoula is really only a small town and you are only ever 10 minutes from anything else. On top of getting married, Kara and Mark just bought the house below. So lots of moving and packing going on on top of wedding preparations.
Kara's friend Julie hosted a beautiful bridal brunch for Kara and her Missoula friends the Saturday morning a week before the wedding.
It was an absolutely lovely time celebrating Kara.
We went over to see the new house and in the yard was this deer and her two twin fawns. CUTE! (And a sign, perhaps?? :)
After my parents arrived, I "moved in" with my good friend Allison and her husband Greg. They are across town (10 minutes)... where they have a beautiful little house, chickens, a vibrant growing vegetable garden, two kitties and the best hospitality Missoula has to offer. We had hearty homegrown-urban-farm-breakfasts outside every morning. Mmmmm... eggs, veggies, toast, tea... fresh raspberries from the garden. Plenty of fuel for the long days of go-go-going. It was lovely to spend evenings and mornings with them in their beautiful and peaceful space.
We drove out to Lubrecht, the wedding venue, about 45 minutes out of town. Its an 'experimental forest' run by the University of Montanas biology department I believe. It has a lodge, cabins, box cars, camping facilities and was perfect for a full weekend wedding event. We drove out there with mom and dad to get a sense of the space/place and go over last minute details with the director. Below we were scoping out the actual ceremony site, a pretty little grove of Aspens off the big meadow.
Bride and groom, walking and discussing:
Friends and family began arriving through out the week to help and be a part of things. And oh-by-the-way, in case you weren't aware: Middle Sisters ROCK!
We had a mass-assembling the favor bags party up at Tim and Lindsay's with Kim and Martin and co.
More preparations throughout the week:
Thursday morning there was a scheduled 'trail run'... Only a valiant few chose to run, the rest of us enjoyed a trail walk together on a beautiful crisp Montana morning up into the rattlesnake.
Thursday afternoon luxurious tonail do's:
Mens rental wear to be fitted and collected:
Thursday evening we had a family dinner... Hansons meet Robinsons, Robinsons meet Hansons:
The new Robinson-Hanson duo:
Post family dinner, we had a fun bridal gathering with Kara's special out-of-town friends.
Friday afternoon we finally managed to get everyone and everything up to Lubrecht in one massive collective effort... Kara and Mark welcomed family and friends throughout the afternoon. At 5 the wedding party met on site for the rehearsal:
Special little flower girls:
Auntie Eileen and her sweet grandkiddos (oh, and Signe the dog):
Some of Karas very special friends who were a part of the ceremony:
After the rehearsal was a big BBQ for all. Than and Tim grilled up a storm of delicious local beef and veggie burgers, Missoula friends brought luscious salads, and the Moose Drool and Summer Honey were flowing. We got the bonfire lit and and s'mores were enjoyed by all but perhaps most especially by the younger contingent.
Stay tuned for wedding/reception photos!!
