2017 was definitely the year of weddings!  we went to angela and trav’s wedding in houston at the very beginning of september, and then at the end of the september, we headed east to the appalachians to see my cousin ashlin get married.  i have ALWAYS wanted to go to the appalachian mountains, and it was early fall there and absolutely beautiful.  everything took place where several states come together right near the cumberland gap, so their ceremony was in virginia, their reception was in tennessee, and our hotel was in kentucky [i got to check kentucky off my list of states!].  so that was pretty cool.  i love that area – it feels very picturesque, and we were singing “wagon wheel” the whole time, haha.

it was most of the family’s first time meeting the groom, dan, and my mom and mimi threw a lovely couples shower for them the night before the wedding, which gave us a chance to get to know him and his family better.  the day of the wedding, all of us kids went on a hike in cumberland gap national park, and mike’s friend from college, coincidentally also named dan, met up with us and went on the hike too, since he’s going to grad school in tennessee.  that night, ashlin and [her] dan got married in front of a historic log cabin at the breathtaking wilderness road park with rolling hills and mountain views.  my dad actually played the guitar for the ceremony, which was sweet.  their reception was at the top of this cute restaurant in the cute town of cumberland gap.  it was a gorgeous evening.

ashlin is the first of the four grandkids to get married [ironically, she’s the youngest of the four too], so that made it extra special.  dan has two little girls from a previous marriage, and they just love ashlin.  she’s a great mom!  it was a beautiful day celebrating ashlin and dan with the people i love.  [and now this sweet couple is pregnant!  they were wanting a boy and that’s what they’re getting!  i’m just thrilled for them.]  anyway, below are some fun pictures with family from the weekend:

{the start of our road trip from atlanta, georgia [where we flew in] to sharps chapel, tennessee where ashlin lives}

{almost there… i snapped this picture out of the car window as we crossed over a lake in the great smoky mountains near ashlin and dan’s house.  it was so pretty.}

{the cute couple!  and the lovely shower hostesses posing with the bride-to-be.}

{a fun one of these two!}

{these are some of my favorite people.}

{i was so happy to have my handsome date join me!  and aren’t these cookies cute?!  these were made by the same lady as the ones in this post and this one at mike and priscilla’s engagement party.  she is amazing!}

{aunt and uncle and niece and nephew}

{we all had a pretty great time!}

{we missed mike and priscilla, but they arrived late this night and we were glad they could make it for the wedding.}

{we kinda sorta matched on accident!}

{early the next morning, about to go for a hike!}

{the tiny town of cumberland gap, tennessee!}

{i decided that i love the great smoky mountains.  truth be told, i always knew i would, and that’s why i had always wanted to go.}

{some of the leaves were just starting to turn.}

{an old civil war cannon in cumberland gap national park, where we all went for a hike.}

{oh dear.} ;)

{the start of fall}

{we saw some gorgeous views.}

{mike’s friend dan, who was living in tennessee and came out to meet us.}

{love him.}

{the great smokies… and some sass!}

{this road was straight out of a movie!}

{where virginia, kentucky, and tennessee come together.}

{sweaty}

{family.  but mike blinked and apparently jamie and arend didn’t know each other well enough yet to cozy up together.} ;)

{these three all went to the university of texas together.  this is the point when most aggies would hiss like a snake, but they’re pretty cool i guess, so i’ll keep that to myself.} ;)

{this was such a fun little adventure!}

{later that day, all cleaned up from our hike and ready for a wedding!}

{aunt carol [or whoa, as we call her] and uncle greg}

{my ladies}

{weird lighting on this one, but here’s a girl pic!}

{nothing was official at this time, but here’s me and my future sister-in-law!  she’s so fun.}

{might be one of my favorite pictures ever, looking all handsome together in their suits.  the three studs or the three stooges?  i think they can be both.} ;)

{hanging out before the wedding}

{mother and daughter}

{where ashlin and dan got married!  this was wilderness road state park in virginia.}

{this was cute.}

{all ready for a wedding!}

{siblings!  the sun was bright.}

{the great smokies in all of their glory.}

{it was so fun to hang out with these two.}

{selfie time}

{super blurry, but this is my dad playing guitar for the ceremony!  ashlin and dan had picked the sweetest song.  great work dad!}

{this was a sweet moment, when the flower girls walked down the aisle and hugged their daddy.}

{our beautiful bride and her dad walking down the aisle!!  cue the tears…}

{this is happening!}

{because ashlin and dan are big volleyball fans [and dan used to coach], they had dan’s former players setting volleyballs back and forth above them as ashlin and dan exited the ceremony area.}

{and just like that, they were married!  here are a few from their professional photographer…}

{their cute family}

{i love this shot of ashlin and her daughters!}

{and ashlin and her dad, who have been inseparable since day 1.}

{dan and ashlin with all their families!}

{…and our little rehder clan.  we seriously DID NOT PLAN the whole shades of blue thing, but i’d say we nailed it, wouldn’t you?}

{it was so beautiful out.}

{we love our mimi!}

{with my date!}

{my peeps}

{the OGs.  [original gangstas, for those of you not up on the lingo.  it should be noted that this originally autocorrected to “the dogs” which i seriously considered leaving as is.  when the shoe fits…]} ;)

{these two.  staaaaahhhhhp it.  they are too cute for words.}

{dusk.}

{what a place to be}

{back to the cute town of cumberland gap.}

{blurry, but here’s the father-daughter dance.  i’m not sure if uncle mark was holding it together… we definitely weren’t!}

{ashlin and arend, my two cousins on my mom’s side.  when you only have four cousins total, it’s a big deal when one of them gets married!  these were some exciting times for us.}

{i love this photo of my mom and me}

{sparkler time!}

{this was fun!}

{yes, those are my cute parents, kissing in front of the shiner beer guitar in the window!  i love them.}

congratulations ashlin and dan!  we are so happy for you, the girls, and your sweet baby boy ezekiel that’s scheduled to make his arrival on november 1.  can’t wait to see you guys in a couple weeks!  and what a fun weekend this was to look back on.  xoxo