Wedding Day Part 1

Wedding preperation/ceremony...

The day began at 4:00 A.M. Arlene and Marlou were arriving to start on hair and make-up. Both moms, Girlie, Kristi and I were getting hair and make-up done. Kristi and I didn't start our sessions until 6:00. So we just sat back for a couple hours laughing and talking with everyone. Arlene and Marlou are so good at what they do! They made us all look and feel so beautiful! The day before Marlou asked if me and Kristi wanted fake eyelashes. And Kristi said "Yeah, if it doesn't make me look like Bambi". Living in Hawaii, Marlou doesn't see deer like we do in Idaho and responded "What you don't want to look like a stripper". Haha! So the next morning we joked about having eyelashes like Bambi... the stripper, not a deer.

My shoes and earings were found online after intense searching. The shoes came from somewhere international and smelled so funny when I got them. I loved both of them! The garter... such a weird thing to me. Rillz wanted to do the whole garter toss thing so the day before the wedding I went and got one. Odd concept to me. Oh well.


Our rings in the awesome pokey flower!

My wedding dress in the hotel lobby. The photographer had the hotel staff hang it for her.

Girlie getting her face put on by Marlou

Doesn't this picture look like Kristi... The first time I looked at it I had to re-look. It is me, not Kristi.


But here is Kristi with Arlene getting her prettied up

Girlie all done and waiting. She was crackin me up!

My mom looking like death at this moment. She was a 4 a.m. appointment. Barely awake

Getting the dress on...

My mom already to go! Doesn't she look beautiful!

For some reason I like this one...

The guys were getting ready and I heard from my photographer that they were pretty funny! As you can see, they were busy putting each others shirts on and on backwards. Davy happened to have those goofy glasses in our wedding colors for each one of them to wear.

I happen to think Rillz is handsome :)

Why do boys have it so easy to get ready. It's light out and they get to just chill for a while. The girls started getting ready when some of the boys just got back from the bars.

Davy getting ready...

Elmer getting ready...

Rillz spending time on his hair. I wonder how nervous he was ?!?

The hotel is about 5 minutes away (in car), in a normal city, from Kaka'ako waterfront park (the ceremony place). But, when there is a huge floral parade that morning and a farmers market at Kaka'ako, that we found out about the night before, it could take a good 45 minutes. Yep, took about 35 minutes to get there. And luckily the farmers market was nothing to worry about.

Thanks to Davy, we had a live guy playing the songs we chose during the ceremony on acustic guitar. That was SO beautiful!

While guests waited he played: A Simple Love Song by Anuhea

While the bridal party walked down he played: Better Together by Jack Johnson

While I walked down he played: E Ku'u Morning Dew

When the ceremony was over he played: I honestly can't remember right now. Haha.

The ceremony was nice. Reverand Michael Nelson married us. He had kind of a weird vibe. When he started saying his speal he said "Thanks for all being here for Aurelio and Cindy on their special day". Yep, Cindy. He didn't think it was very funny when I looked around and said "Am I at the wrong wedding? Anyone here named Cindy getting married today?" I thought it was HILARIOUS! It's his fault he didn't know who he was marrying at his 9 a.m. appointment and deserved to be embarresed. That sounds mean on my part... but it was still funny!

Exchanging rings


Elmer and Kristi

Davy and Girlie

Brent walked my mom down

So happy!

Just Married!


It's the reverend marrying Aurelio and Cindy... haha

Me and my dad walking down. (Obviously these pictures aren't in the order that everyone actually walked down).

Gracie, the flower girl, walking down with mom and dad Rivera

Brecken, the flower boy, walked down with Jeff.

Nana and Nan walked down together

The aisle decoration

Hooray for being married now! We then took pictures... and more pictures! It was a lot of fun. Our photographer was found on Hawaii craigslist. At an awesome deal I must admit. Of course coming from craigslist I was quite skeptical. We met with her, Lora, a week before and after meeting we were way excited. Lucky us, she really turned out great! Our reception started at 12:30 so we figured we had lots of time between to do all sorts of pictures. Well, time ran out FAST. At 11:30 we were getting phone calls saying "get your butts headed back to the hotel". The parade was in full swing and the exact route we needed to take back. We didn't hire a driver or anything so we actually rode back with the photographer. Haha. It took an hour to get back! Yep remember the "should be 5 minute drive in a normal city" thing. Driving in Hawaii 85% of the time sucks!

So we got back to the hotel and then the reception started...
I wanted to post a bunch of other pictures but loading pictures on here sucks and takes forever lately. Everytime I try I get a whole 4 pictures in an hours time. This will never get posted if I keep trying. Now to start the endless hours on the reception details. Enjoy! :)

Day before the wedding

The day before the wedding (Friday) Rillz had his little "bachelor" party with some friends and family. They all went golfing. The guys were gone for 6 hours! Don't worry guys, I can finish all the last wedding details myself. :) I made the ring bearer pillow and flower girl wristlet the day before. I honestly had no idea for either. I stopped at an awesome craft store and just walked around lots of times until I got ideas. My problem was both of them just turned one years old. A typical ring bearer pillow is about as big as Brecken and a flower girl basket would just get thrown or dropped. This is what I came up with...

Both just went on the babies wrists. I honestly don't even know how long they lasted on them. They aren't the cutest things but when time is running out you just do what you gotta do.

After making those I went and had a manicure/pedicure with my mom, Kristi, and Nan. That was nice and relaxing. Then we went and ate. It was about 4:30 by now and I still didn't have my bridesmaids shoes and I had to be at the hotel by 6:30 to deliver the wedding favors. I was stressing a little. Luckily, Payless shoes was right next door and Kristi and I found a pair that was pretty cute! So off we raced to the house to grab everything for the wedding and quickly drive 45 min. to the hotel. We made it there about 6:35.

We met up with Rillz at the hotel because he had just gotten done golfing and was already in Honolulu (where the hotel is).

This is a picture of Pacific Beach Hotel where our reception was and where we stayed night before wedding and wedding night.

That night Rillz, Kristi, and I met up with Beang (a cousin) to help with seating charts and then the 3 of us went to McDonalds for some food.
Kristi and I stayed in a hotel room together that night. It was fun just talking until we both fell asleep around 11:00. The only thing that I missed was Heidi being there too. I just love my sisters so much. They are my best friends!
Next post... wedding day!

Surfing and Catameran

Brent, Kristi, and Jeff wanted to give surfing a try while in Hawaii. We asked our friend (basically Rillz's brother) Davy to teach them how to surf and take them out. I had a lot of fun watching everyone. Mali, Davy's 4 year old likes to go out and surf so she taught everyone how to get up on the board. She is just adorable. It was entertaining watching Brent, Kristi, and Jeff attempt fake surfing on grass.
Kristi getting lessons...

Jeff getting lessons...




Mali and her dolly

Me and Mali teaching Brecken and Dolly how to surf.

Brecken... natural surfer!

Rillz and I chose not to attempt the surfing just in case we broke our faces or something before our wedding day.

After surf lessons on the grass we went to Waikiki to take lessons out in the real world. We got to the beach and Davy asked us if we wanted to ride a catameran. Every one wanted to so we docked the surf boards and jumped on. It lasted about 1 1/2 hours. I enjoyed it. So relaxing out in the water. Mali got boat sick and Kristi did a little too. But other then that it was nice.

By the way... There is no Gunnar in pictures because that day he went with Grandma and papa to Polynesian Cultural Center.

After the catameran Jeff, Kristi, Brent, and Davy took the surf boards out. Davys mom and dad, Rillz and I took care of Brecken and Mali. Not sure why I didn't take pictures but it was a lot of fun. Rillz and I were playing with the little ones on the beach and a lady said "you guys have such cute kids". I had to tell her... neither of them are ours. But they do look like they could have been.

Kristi, Jeff, and Brent were sore the next day and arms were tired but all of them had a great time and all got up on their boards.

We went back to Davys house and Davy tried to convince us to stay for dinner. We had family flying in from Alaska. Davy and Rillz convinced me to call mom Rivera and ask if we could stay for dinner. They knew mom would tell them no but tell me yes. It worked. So we stayed. They made grilled oysters and steak and bought some poke! What a great night with family.

What a good day!

Hawaii update

Yesterday, Monday, my mom, dad, and Nan got in. My mom and dad came in first in the morning. Rillz and I met them at the airport. Rillz felt really sick. He had a fever and was shaking all night, sore throat... the whole bit. So he just dropped me off with my parents and went back to the house, took meds and slept ALL day. In the meantime I hung out with my parents. We went to try on my dress and find my mom a dress to wear for the wedding. I took them to Zippys to eat. And then we went to where my mom and dad are staying in Waianae. My dad and I went walking on the beach together for a while. It was nice. That night we had to pick up Nan at the airport so went back into town and stopped at the Navy Commisary before to pick up groceries. That was my Monday. I got to spend it with my parents.

Today, Tuesday, Brent came into town. Kristi, Jeff, the boys, Rillz, mom, dad, Nan, Brent and I all went to Pearl Harbor. It was nice to revisit now that I am actually old enough to care and understand. I actually took pictures today.

After Pearl Harbor, Rillz and I took off back to the house. We had a 3 hour job ahead of us. We cleaned and filled 180 bottles of soy sauce for our wedding favors. Girlie helped quite a bit too. Thanks :) Now I just have 100 more for the Idaho reception.

On a side note: Girlie and I went to Longs grocery store and someone crapped in the middle of the shampoo aisle. So GROSS! A huge pile of doodoo just sitting there.

Tomorrow will be busy. Swap meet in the morning, pick up dress and bridal party outfits, pay final bill for reception (yikes!), find mens shoes, stay at our friends Davy and Darcy.... the list goes on. Better get my sleep! Goodnight.

Hawaii so far...

My (oops I mean our) wedding is in a week! Crazy!!! I (I mean we) got into Hawaii on Monday. We started meeting with vendors Tuesday and getting everything in order. My soon to be mother in law said she knew a really good seamstress that could do my dress. I wasn't worried because I just wanted a simple dress in aloha print material. How could you screw that up? On Tuesday that was the first place we went. OH MY GOSH!!! It was worse than the worst image I had in my head. The lady told me, "The picture you gave me just looked so plain so I added this.. and this... and this". Oh hell no. How do I get out of this one? So we kindly told her this is NOT what we were looking for but we would pay for the material that it cost her. The dress basically looked like this except for strapless so no sleeves and just went straight across. But the material and all that crappy doiley looking stuff and lace... yep. That was on there.

It's like that dress came straight out of 1990. Needless to say, I had no dress. I will admit I had a break down. The only time I have cried (so far) over any wedding stuff. I just felt hopeless. How was I going to find a new one in a place a didn't know without my sisters or mom. Rillz took me around places that day. We got stressed and finally said screw it... lets go to the beach. So we spent a couple hours on the beach. How nice!

Wednesday we woke up and went for a long walk. Then went searching for a dress. I got my bridesmaids dresses made at a place called T & L muumuu factory and shipped them to Hawaii. So I had a brilliant idea to look them up and see if they were on Oahu. They were! So we went. Everything on the floor that was already made was way to short. Of course. I mean, I do tower over everybody. So we told them our situation. Just so happens that while we were there, the dress designer was there too and totally willing to make my dress how I want it in a week! FOR REAL! The stress just melted. Better yet, they said they would just make Rillz's shirt and the groomsmens shirts. Those ladies in that shop are AMAZING! I have already gone in for a dress fitting. I LOVE it so far!

Wednesday night we met with the florist Christine. She has been great too! Helping with so much. And then went to meet Bing at the Pacific Beach Hotel where our reception is going to be. Everything went so smooth and easy.

Thursday we met with Reverand Mike Nelson. We were a little sad that a close family friend wasn't able to marry us to make it more special. But Reverand Nelson was nice enough. We also met the photographer. She is so funny. I can't wait to work with her on photos! Her company is Just once photography. I found her on craigslist so was a little worried. But all is good. Thursday Rillz's sister, husband and baby came into town. We were all excited to see them. That night we had a lot of family over for the baby's birthday and a cousin, Nathan, birthday.

Friday Rillz and I just hung out with family in the morning and then went to Davy and Darceys house to relax. And Rillz wanted to watch the BSU game (Davy used to play for BSU so loves watching the games).

Today is Saturday and we are getting ready for Graceys (our niece) first birthday. Let me tell you, first birthdays hawaiian style are NUTS! Spend thousands of dollars on them and we are expecting 250-300 people. Yep... NUTS! So we have been putting together goody bags and preparing food.... the list goes on. Kristi and Jeff and the boys come into today in about an hour to be there for the party too. They are staying until the 27th (when we leave back to Idaho). I am excited. They are staying at Rillz's parents house with us. Don't worry. The house has PLENTY room! So that's how things are going so far. Time to go help again...

P.S. I haven't even taken one picture yet with my camera. So terrible.

Wedding Plans

Time is FLYING! I have 3 weeks until leaving for Hawaii. I am so excited to go! Ready or not here it comes! Actually, I am very ready for the day to come. I don't want to think about wedding planning anymore. I am extremely excited to finally be married to Rillz in a month. I am wanting to blog some things about the wedding.


Here are our colors...
Obviously pictures don't do them justice. But it's green and orange.

Our Save the Date card....

Our wedding invites...

I have the flowers, bridesmaid dresses, hair picked, ceremony set up, food picked, blah blah but I want to wait for the actual wedding to happen and share pictures from that instead, just in case it turns out different from the pictures.

One thing I do love... Getting the RSVP cards back in the mail. They are so fun to get and open up! Haha.
Alright, that's all I have time for now. Need to go make dinner.