Cait's wedding, pt 2: the trial[s]

I've known about Cait's wedding for longer than I'd had my date set, and I knew I was going to make it to her big day no matter what our situation.

I hesitated buying plane tickets, because I wanted to clear the unpaid time off with my new boss first. When I finally got around to it, the airfare was pretty expensive.
In order to keep our newlywed budget in tact, I ended up flying out friday morning (the day of Cait's wedding) with a return flight on Saturday evening.

Because of a three hour time change, I convinced my mom and grandfather to meet me near the airport with two cars (so I wouldn't have to rent one), in order for me to make the 2.5 hour drive up to Western MI. I planned to arrive an hour early to the wedding to spy on pictures being taken, or just relax at my cousin's girlfriend's house.

All was well Friday morning...my plane arrived 10 minutes early, and I met my mom, grabbed the car and was on my way.

After about an hour cruising up I94, I decided to stop at a rest stop/visitor center on the MI border to reapply makeup and change into a dress. I gave myself about 15 minutes leeway, and right on time I hopped back into my car to go.

Key in the ignition, check the lipstick in the rearview, and start the car.

I said--start. the. car.

I was getting nothing. But level headed, logical me was not about to panic. I've had a dead battery before. I got this...no problem

I calmly pulled my jumper cables from my trunk, popped my hood and asked the older couple in a mini van next to me if they wouldn't mind giving me a quick jump.

The gentleman, (I'll call him John) was more than helpful, offered to take over and I think I'm set. But after the fifth try and not getting a single response from the car...I'm getting nervous.

The couple asks me where I'm headed and I just lose it. "My friend's wedding...I'm still an hour and a half away!" I blubbered. I called our mutual friend JR, but he had already arrived and if he would have headed back to pick me up, we would have both missed the wedding.

John tinkered around under the hood for 15-20 minutes and said he thought it might be the starter, but there was nothing more he could do. He apologized and headed to the bathrooms with his wife, telling me to see if I could hitch a ride. I thought I would have to just head home.

At this point tears are streaming down my face and my makeup is falling apart. I wanted to call Cait so bad to tell her I couldn't make it, but didn't want to distract her on her special day. I was a mess!
Then John walked back up to my car window with another couple in their early 60s.
"This is Larry and Janice, and they're heading up past Grand Rapids. We just met them in the bathroom and told them your story. They'd be happy to take you up with them."

I just blinked through my tears, got out of my car and profusely thanked them. He wouldn't take my money for his help and time. John said, "We just heard a sermon about helping others. For all I know you could be an angel in disguise."

I grabbed my bag and walked over to Larry and Janice's van. I tried to gain composure, introduce myself and explain my situation again. Larry and Janice from Kansas City, MO, were heading up to Cadillac, MI to see family and for a class reunion. We were both leery of one another at first...the whole car ride I kept thinking--I'm hitch-hiking! What am I thinking?!

Larry and Janice wouldn't take money either, and I don't have any contact information, but I'm so grateful for their kindness. It makes me a little sad that I'll never see them again, but God was so good in keeping me safe and providing me with such kind people that day!
Larry and Janice dropped me off on a highway exit to meet my cousin's girl friend, Nicole, who brought me the rest of the way to the wedding.

I realized shortly after we left the rest stop, that I was going to miss Cait's wedding ceremony. I was pretty devastated and tried to hold back the tears the rest of the drive. I arrived at the wedding just as all the guests were walking back from the ceremony site to the reception tent.

What I saw of Cait's wedding was lovely, and I can't to see more of it. In the meantime, this tear jerking video of the wedding was posted yesterday. You need to check it out to see what I missed!

I'm not kidding! Go! you can come back here when you're finished.

Cait and Wil have the funniest siblings ever and their toasts were spectacular. It was a big wedding, so it was hard to grab one-on-one time with the bride and groom, but we managed to snap this.

taken on my camera by bride's bro

The dances were beautiful and we sent them off with a smokey sparkler tunnel to blissful married life :-)

guest photo by s.c.

(Oh, how did I get home being stuck carless in MI, you ask?...my mom and grandpa save the day again and make a 5+ hour road trip to come get me. I arrived home with barely an hour to pack up and head to the airport for home! And I couldn't have been happier to be at home, in CA, with my hubby.)

If you're still reading this, I'm amazed. I tend to be really long-winded. More exciting picture heavy posts are coming!

Next up: pre-wedding celebration re-caps!
Bachelorette party, bridal brunch and rehearsal!