Mawidge...Mawidge Is What Bwings Us Togewer Today

Mawidge, the bwessed awwangement, that dweam wiffim a dweam... 

...Ven wuv, twoo wuv, wiw fowwow you fowever...


Carissa and Jake tied the knot on 31 December, 2010. It just happened to be the coldest day of the year in Mesa. So instead of taking pictures outside, majority of them were inside to save ourselves from the freezing weather! 


These aren't the professional pictures! I had Gareth, Kirsten's husband, taking the pictures for me so we could have some! 


Here is the Howden Family with Jake. Matty Dale is missing. (Good reason too- he's got 9 months left in the San Jose, CA mission) 
Doesn't Carissa and Jake look amazing???

Next, in-laws were allowed in the picture along with any children. In our case, it's technically only one child. The princess/cat, Cheyenne. Yes, she had a matching bridesmaid dress!

And here is the whole Howden family (minus Matty). From left to right: Reese and I, Michael (18 going on 19 years old), Jake and Carissa Hess, Mom and Dad, and Cheyenne, Michael, and Candice Ballard.

Howden siblings with Jake. Michael is so huge... 

All the family waiting to be summoned for their picture!

Howden sibling picture. We left a space for Matthew, someone just needs to photoshop him in!

The Howden girls- we look nothing alike. 

Crissy and Michael

Jake, Carissa, and the broke from wedding parents. 

The oldest child with the parents.

Carissa and my mom head butting? My mom is secretly saying "no Carissa, you cannot have anymore money."

My stunning Mother and sister. Carissa got her dress from Arizona Bridal and my mom designed her dress with the help of Gemma who made the beautiful dress. It's called the traveling dress. Made in Australia, traveled around the world to Arizona. 

Carissa and my dad. He's secretly thinking "FINALLY!"

Carissa, my beautiful Gran, and Jake. She is the best and most beautiful Gran in the world!

Gran and Carissa getting ready to head butt!

And then we moved onto sibling family pictures. Clearly Reese is the only sane one. The (as my mom calls us) Demonic and Hess family.

The Hess and Ballard Family.

Carissa with Clarice Cheyenne.

Carissa with Payton. 

The Hess and the Sharp family.

And here is a Evans family picture (girls only). We are missing a few South African's... But from left to right: Candice, Kirsten, Ruby, Carissa, Corryn, Shirley, Cheyenne, Courtney, Mary-Ann, Liisa, Sandie. 

This is what Carissa's centerpieces looked like!

We braved the cold for a little bit to take some wedding party pictures!

Carissa and Hailey 

Carissa and Kirsten

Carissa and her slave matron of honour, Liisa

Carissa and I before we were told to stick our chests out...

After...

Carissa and her bridesmaids! Our dresses also traveled all the way from Oz, made by the amazing Gemma. Seriously, she is A-MA-ZING!

Look at Candice- typical.

We may or may not be wearing spanx...

Posing for the photographer. Isn't Carissa's bouquet beautiful? Our flowers were pretty too, they just weighed more than a newborn baby. 

Bridesmaids making Jake feel awkward!

Super awkward... 

And the whole wedding party. None of the bridesmaids knew any of the groomsmen. In fact, this was our first meeting. So getting close to take pictures was semi-weird.. thats why there are noticeable gaps. Pay no attention to my face. And Michael is a head taller than everyone. 

Notice how Candice is snuggling up to Kirsten, Kirsten is leaning back on Candice, Hailey is snuggling up to Michael, I'm invading Jakes personal space, and Liisa has snuggled up to Ruby. Rubs was the only one who actually listened to Rachel Priddy's instructions "lean in".

Starting to get a little more comfortable. What is my brother doing?

This is us being "seductive"...

More strange pictures!

Back to 12 West. Here is Uncle Stuart and his grandson (my pretend son) Payton. 

He loves his Grandpa!

Payton also has a massive crush on his Aunty Candice. It's cute now because he's only 1. 

Oh, just flirting up a storm... mohawk and all!

Before the dinner started, we all made a grand entrance!

Matthew and Corryn (parents)

I walked in with someone who didn't care to have any part of the fun, to put it bluntly. So while he just walked in, I galloped in, like a horse. Who looked more stupid? We'll have to wait for the video!

Liisa and Groomsman.

Michael and Ruby. 

Hailey and Groomsman.

Kirsten and Groomsman. Why couldn't mine do that???

Payton was asleep, or else he would have been part of this picture! Candice and Cheyenne with Groomsman and son. 

And the reason why we were all there, Carissa and Jake!

A South African tradition, toasts before dinner. 

Carissa and Jake

Cheyenne just wanted to party... Gemma made her dress too!

Jake's dad giving his speech.

Beautiful Ruby and some weird guy who followed her around the entire holiday... 

The matron of honour, Liisa Lee. 

Jake professing his undying love for Carissa. 

I was like, "Kirsten and Gareth smile" and this is what I got.... 

Take two... Where did Kirsten find him?

And the beautiful Mary-Ann!

Proof that Cheyenne just couldn't sit still. She took off her headband, Candice tucked her dress in her stocking, and she pushed this around for about 15 minutes. 

What a weird child...

Ruby being attacked by Chace!

Best friends! I am actually quite surprised Chace didn't try zoom in on our noses or something!

He did however try get a shot of some goods, so being the good cousin I am, I covered them up!

Liisa and her son, Payton. Was this before or after he head-butted you?

One of my moms friends from South Africa! Her and Debbie have been friends since they were in Youth! It was such a surprise to have her there. 

See, it was a good thing we all were spanx. Rachel, our trainer was there. She came up to talk to me while I was getting chocolate and marshmallows. Not the best thing to be eating when your health-nut personal trainer walks up! 

Carissa and Jake during their first dance!

Yay, my other parents were there! Reese is so lucky to have such great parents, and I am lucky to be married to Reese- one with great parents. 

This would be an even better picture without the man in the back-round. 

My best friend (and pregnant) Tami and her husband! 

Love her!

Aunty Sandie and myself!

Me and my beautiful Gran!

It was really late, and I am not sure Payton knew where to laugh or cry.

These two are so weird. I am not even sure what to say about them. They met for the first time a year ago, and only spent about a week hanging out prior to this. Anyways, I caught them telling secrets to each other during the reception. When I asked Reese about it, he goes "Courts, we are best friends. Gareth is my bff". I still roll my eyes... 

Spanx came off as soon as the dancing started. Do you even know how uncomfortable they are?

Party people!

Rubs and Payton!

Reese jumping in the picture... 

Mary and I.

Cousins!

Cousins... and Reese...

Carissa and Jake getting down!

More dancing!

My favourite picture of the night! Love him!

Cousins and friends!

Oh Reese, for petes sake! I think this was a planned move by him and Gareth... 

Me, my mommy, and Michael

No resemblance whatsoever!

The parents! Not too much dancing- my mom needed to protect her new assets! 

Getting ready to cut some ice cream cake!

Cheyenne and her dada dancing!

My dads brother, Uncle Atholl and his wife Aunty Charmaine dancing the night away!

Showing the bridesmaids how to dance while not tripping over their dress...

So this is obviously not a good quality picture. Its over-exposed and what-not, but isn't it still so adorable? Look at those baby blues!

The Village People...

Oumi and Cheyenne

Cheyenne trying to get away from Oumi and Oupa. Oupa trying to make sure Oumi doesn't fall over. 

The Village People again with the bride. 

Oupa and Cheyenney dancing. 

Reese and Mary

Preparing to take the garter off with his teeth!

Pretty successful!

We seriously danced the night away. We got home just after 1am. Ruby and Chace had to leave Saturday morning :( and the rest of the family left on Sunday. Liisa and Jeremy drove them to LAX (Los Angeles) so Reese and I babysat Payton. He actually spent the night. Payt was really good until 5am when he woke up. Reese said that has pushed back our first child another 3 years. But seriously, how can you resist this face?

And while we had to go back to our daily lives, Carissa and Jake spent the next week or so in the Caribbean! Congrats Carissa and Jake!