The Hughes Family: Shelby and Blake's Wedding Weekend

About a month ago, Kyndall and I traveled home to Tallahassee for an extended weekend in order for her to participate as the flower girl in a very special wedding. I have to preface this blog with a little bit of history so that someday when Kyndall looks back at this, she will understand just how much this meant to our family.

When I was exactly Kyndall's age, I had a pre-school teacher at First Baptist Tallahassee named Mrs. Shanna. She was a newlywed, not long out of college without any children of her own yet. I found favor with her and became her golden child, though she wasn't allowed to admit it at the time! She and my Mom became close friends and as time went on she would do special things for me that I still remember to this day. I have clear memories of her taking me home from pre-school and letting me play in her make up drawer. We would bake cookies and do crafts and she spoiled me in the most wonderful ways. Eventually I outgrew all of this but she and my Mom became even better friends and eventually her husband and my Dad became friends as well. It wasn't too long before she and her husband were expecting not one but TWO sweet baby girls. The twins were born and our families became even closer. She and my Mom eventually ended up working together, our families purchased a boat and a lake house together and you would rarely find a Kirkland without a Calloway or a Calloway without a Kirkland. We vacationed together, celebrated holidays together and I spent countless summers babysitting the twins. When I got married, Mrs. Shanna and Mr. Johnny had a very special part in our wedding ceremony. When my sister got married, Mr. Johnny sang at the reception. Just this past year the twins (who are now beautiful young women) graduated from dental hygiene school together, just like I did ten years prior. I like to think I inspired them, but who knows?! To put it simply, our families share a very special bond and I can't think of many childhood or young adulthood memories that don't involve the Calloways. When Shelby got engaged and asked Kyndall to be her flower girl, it truly felt like things were coming full circle. My little girl is now the age that I was when our families first met and the babies that didn't even exist yet are now marrying age. CRAZY.

The first thing on the agenda for the wedding weekend was the bridesmaids' brunch, which was hosted by my Mom and my Aunt on Friday at the Mays House Restaurant in Monticello, Florida.

The restaurant's co-owner is one of my favorite former teachers from Lincoln High School! I don't think I've seen her in person since I graduated so it was a sweet reunion.

My Mom and my Aunt Cathy, the hostesses

She was super excited to be sitting at the "big girls" table for brunch

Shelby gave all of the girls some very special gifts and Kyndall was especially proud of her monogrammed necklace

Kyndall with sweet Mrs. Shanna, mother of the bride

Hostesses with the bride

Mom and daughter

Beautiful twin sisters

That night was the rehearsal, which took place at the Southwood Plantation House in Tallahassee

Mrs. Shanna with her sister and her sweet Mama

Blake's family did a wonderful job on the rehearsal dinner! The house looked beautiful and the food was SO yummy!

Blake hand made these boxes for his groomsmen

The DESSERT table!!

Hands down the best divinity I've ever tasted! I think I came home with about 4 of these favors....

Two words.....sugared bacon. If you've never, you've gotta!!!!!

My people
(Matthew didn't come down for this trip since we were there more than just a weekend)

Bride's Grandfather reading his card. So sweet!

My Dad and Wyatt kinda matched!

Jackson's ring bearer gift, hand made by Blake

The groom's family thought of everything....even personalized to-go boxes!

Saturday morning it was WEDDING DAY and this little flower girl was beside herself with excitement!

The older girls were so sweet to treat Kyndall just like one of them. She ate up every second of all the attention and there were actually several times when I had to quietly remind her....."this is Shelby's day, not yours!"

She got so excited as the guests started arriving and loved watching all of the activity from the window

Passing the time by coloring with Amy. I'm telling you, these girls were so sweet to Kyndall!

Almost time!!!

All day long all she wanted to do was DANCE! Finally, it was time!!

The sweet mother of the groom let Kyndall HAVE her necklace because Kyndall saw her wearing it earlier in the day and told her how pretty it was. As if she hadn't already been spoiled, this was the icing on her cake!

Kyndall couldn't wait to get on the dance floor and the first thing she did was ask Jackson to dance with her. He was sweet to say yes....

Nobody was safe---She asked every single person she knew to take a turn on the dance floor with her. This girl is a dancing machine!

My Dad on the dance floor---A very rare sight! Kyndall's powers are quite persuasive!

Aunt Kelly is fun!

Eventually I took a turn....

My Mom and the mother of the bride---Best friends!

Kyndall made LOTS of new friends that night and never left the dance floor for a minute.

Grammy's turn....

Even Mrs. Shanna danced with her!

I had to MAKE her take a break for something to drink!

She had quite the fan club out on the dance floor towards the end of the night....

Yep, that's my FIVE year old they wanted a picture with! I'm not sure if I should be proud of this or not. One thing's for sure....she LOVES to dance, she LOVES a good time and she makes friends wherever she goes!