The Whirlwind Wedding

In good Poese daughter fashion Bethany got married with just two weeks notice! She and Grady worked at the base hospital together and have known each other since January, but had only been dating since the end of June or early July. I got a phone call from Bethany on the 10th of July telling me that she's getting married, to a guy I'd never heard of before much less knew she was dating, and she says "Oh, and the wedding is in two weeks!" Say what?!?!? (I just hope this is a tradition that does not extend to my daughter! :P)
Of course I had my questions for her and did some grilling (she is my little sister afterall) but I could tell she was 100% sure of what she was doing and totally and completely head over heels for Grady.
Soooo the kids and I drove down with my parents all the way to Fort Walton Beach/Destin Florida (about 16 hours each way!). For those of you who think I've lost my last marble deciding to take the kids on a 32 hour round trip weekend road trip, yes, I would have LOVED to have flown instead! However, the day before Bethany called, Dennis and I spent a lot of money in the furniture store so I could not afford the plane tickets on top of new furniture! I was dreading the drive down with my 1 and 3 year olds, but to my surprise (and Grandma and Papa's too I'm sure!) the kids did amazingly, rediculously, miraculously well!!! They were SO good and I am so proud of them for being such little troopers! Of course they had their moments (what kid doesn't??) but I am still amazed that they took the entire trip there and back (inluding abrubt changes to routine, and sleep deprivation) in such stride. What can I say? I breed rockstars! HAHA
Anyway, the wedding was beautiful, Bethany was gorgeous (LOVED her dress and her hair), and Grady turned out to be so sweet, caring, and madly in love with Bethany and Braden. I photographed the wedding for them (sweating bullets the entire time for being so out of my element) but they turned out pretty good all things considered. I'm not 100% happy with them (I'm more like 25% happy with them!) but Bethany has assured me that she was just glad to have pictures at all, and there are several that are print worthy.
After the wedding we headed to a very swanky hotel for the reception put on by Grady's family. It was perfect! Small, intimate, and full of love and laughter. The food was delicious (seriously, the best fish I've had in my entire life!) and of course it was fun watching Bethany get cake shoved up her nose and in her ear :) Ahhh, a sister's delight LOL.
Here are a few pictures from the big day. Don't they make such a cute couple? Love them!