time to party!

Good times were had by all, friends. Good times were, indeed, had by all. If Mr. + Mrs. Llaneza have a life anything like their wedding reception, a lifetime of fun awaits!

last moments.

One last picture with my best friend not bestie before she put on her wedding dress in preparation to walk down the aisle to meet her husband? Of course!

One last picture with my best friend not bestie as Miss Whitney Anne Barnett, dressed + ready for her big debut? Again, of course!

I cherish the memories I have made with this lady over the past eight years, and I'm looking forward to all the memories we'll make together as we now both bear names that are different from the ones we had when we first met. What a blessing it is to know that when we refer to each other as best friends forever, we truly mean what we say. Her last name may be new, but her heart is still that same beautiful heart it's been since I've known her.

something borrowed.

The sixteenth of July, nearly three years ago.

The twenty-sixth of April, just a few days ago.

Words can't begin to adequately describe what a blessing it was for Ma to be present with both me + my best friend as we walked down the aisle to meet our husbands. This something borrowed, in particular, will forever be one of the biggest, most treasured blessings I've ever been able to call mine. Whitney was one of the few that surrounded me with love when Ma went to be with our gracious Lord Jesus, and my heart will forever swell with thankfulness + joy when I picture her holding one of my most prized possessions in her hand on the best day she's ever known.

almost time!

What's a wedding day without a proper night-before-the-big-day slumber party? We got up + got our wedding-day-prep attire on + made two quick pit stops at Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts + picked up some last-minute things at Whitney's house + pulled into the church parking lot just after ten o'clock in the morning.

What followed was several hours of pampering + getting ourselves ready for when our dear friends would say "I do." It's always fun when a bunch of girls get together!

While I wore a smile on my face all morning + afternoon, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have many tears swell up in my eyes as I pictured what was coming next. It's not every day that your best friend gets married, you know.

rehearsal dinner.

'Twas the night before the wedding, which means emotions were high + smiles were big + laughs were loud + butterflies were starting to form. Larkin's on the River did not disappoint, and neither did the memories we created as we dined. The memories that were reminisced about weren't disappointing either, and I'm so thankful I got to be a part of this magical evening.  The evening that followed, however, was an even more magical evening, one that our lovebirds will never, ever forget.

bridal luncheon.

On Friday afternoon, the Llaneza + Barnett wedding weekend festivities began on Main Street at Mary's Restaurant. It was a beautiful time of fellowship + celebrating the upcoming union of David + Whitney, and all of us were stunned that the big day was only one day away! We reminisced over the past seven months of our precious bride's engagement as we watched her eyes glisten + listened to the excitement in her voice with every word she spoke. Our Whitney Anne was about to be a wife!

Isn't she beautiful?

miss barnett.

We met in Mr. Meade's  pre-calculus class when we were juniors in high school.  It was one of those how-in-the-world-are-we-just-becoming-friends moments, and it's been her + me since then. We would have week-long sleepovers at a time, even in the middle of the school year, and I'm pretty positive that for two whole summers in a row, we didn't hang out with anyone else unless one of us was going to be there. The lake + the beach saw us together regularly, and her family quickly became my second family.

It's hard to believe that it's been nearly nine years since we first became inseparable, but it has been the most fun adding new memories to our timeline of friendship every time we get together. We've laughed together + cried together + given each other "looks" so often that we always know what each other is saying without a word being spoken + defended each other + prayed together + made plans to never, ever let the day come when we're not friends. Not just mere friends, but the best kind we can be. 

Three years ago,  she stood by my side as I became a wife, and today, this twenty-sixth day of April, I get to do the same for her. A whole new chapter is beginning for Miss Barnett, so much so that "miss" will never be a name we call her again. I am elated to watch her walk down the aisle, and I have no doubt in my mind that what comes next for her + David will be the most thrilling ride they've ever been on. Marriage is a beautiful blessing, and one centered around the love of our gracious Jesus Christ is what makes it so.

In honor of this special, once-in-a-lifetime day, I think a little flashback of where this duo began is most appropriate, back when marriage was just a distant dream for the both of us. I sure do love our yeah-you-had-to-be-there friendship!

Best friend not bestie,

May you know that you are loved + cherished more than you can imagine, may you be confident that the power of Christ Jesus is within you, may you never, not even for a second, doubt that this next adventure you embark on today will be more incredible than any of your wildest dreams., and may you trust that no matter what, I'll always be right here with you, cheering you on as you pursue the adventures placed before you. Happy wedding day to you, best friend not bestie, my precious soon-to-be Mrs. llaneza!

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us." 
-1 John 4:18-19