When I crawled into bed after Laurel and John’s rehearsal dinner on Friday night, I knew their wedding day would be amazing. When pre-wedding festivities are filled with so much love, laughter and late-night dancing, you know the wedding will be fabulous!
Ryan and I checked into our hotel in downtown Orlando 30 minutes before I had to be at St. Stephen’s church in Winter Springs. We carpooled over to the church and met up with the beautiful bride-to-be, her groom, their families and the wedding party and went through the ceremony so everything would run seamlessly the following day.
After the rehearsal, we caravanned back downtown for a gorgeous rehearsal dinner at 310 Lakeside hosted by John’s parents.
John is British and more than 20 guests flew to Orlando from England for the wedding. It was so great to meet everyone, including John’s parents since Laurel has been raving about her future in-laws since they first met. They were incredibly kind and thoughtful and planned a fantastic rehearsal dinner all the way from England!
The evening began with cocktail hour outside on the patio. We really enjoyed getting to know the groomsmen and members of Laurel and John’s family who came into town for their special day. Once the festivities moved indoors, we took our seats and John gave a beautiful speech.
It was funny, personal and made me cry. But I wasn’t the only one who cried! He also made his bride-to-be tear up….
And laugh!
As I listened to John speak, I couldn’t help but cry because he spoke so beautifully about my best friend and her incredible family. The words he said about Laurel could not have been more true and through his speech it was clear just how much he loves her and cares deeply for her and her family. I’m so glad my best friend found such an incredible guy.
The father of the groom spoke next and took us through a funny slideshow featuring baby pictures of Laurel and John. They were adorable and made everyone laugh!
Our dinner for the evening was delicious and started with a caesar salad, followed by mahi mahi and chocolate mousse.
After dinner, we headed out to party it up downtown with our other friends from college who came in town for the wedding. It ended up being quite a late night out full of dancing, singing and catching up with some of our closest friends.
It was a blast!
Clearly.
Wedding fun to come!
Congratulations Laurel and John!
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Sounds like you guys are having an awesome time! Weddings are the best!
Love your blue dress! It’s so pretty!
I love when speeches are touching with some funny bits throw in… I think you get a great idea of the relationship between the two people! Plus, the fact her in-laws set up the entire dinner from overseas shows she’s becoming a part of a great family. Your dress is gorgeous, as always! Have a great time!
My best friend got married last weekend and they had their rehearsal dinner at 310 Lakeside too! I thought it was a perfect venue for a rehearsal dinner. I also had the mahi mahi, good choice. Glad you had a good time :]
I’m not sure I’d be able for a wedding after such a fun filled night! 🙂 Love the blue dress!
It looks and sounds like a fun night! When my stepbrother, he is from London, got married this fall a bunch of people flew over from England and it was so cool to meet everyone.
Looks like a beautiful, love-filled evening.
I absolutely love your dress! Can you share the link, please:)
Looks like a wonderful time!!
Fun! 🙂 Glad you were able to share such great memories with your friends!
It seems like you had such a wonderful time! I’m the same in that I can’t help but get emotional at the speeches people make for pre-wedding festivities. The food you ate also looks delicious and that dress looks beautiful on you! 🙂
ditto the love for your dress, julie.
saw the pic of the bridesmaids dresses on your instagram. SO beautiful! can’t wait to hear all about it.
sounds like a blast – my best friend is getting married in october (to my fiance’s brother)…i can’t even think about how much i’m going to cry!!
If the rehearsal dinner was that fun, I cannot imagine how fun the wedding was!! I love your dress, by the way. I am a huge fan of all things lace. That blue looks really great on you, too! 🙂
What a fun wedding rehearsal! I can’t wait for the wedding recap!
Obsessed with your blue dress, so chic!! Happy you had fun love your hair too! Love + Shine Courtstar
Looks like you had a lot of fun! The wedding sounds like it will be even more fun, hopefully you guys aren’t too hungover from the rehearsal 🙂
Loving your blue dress by the way it is really pretty!
Sounds like it was a great party! I love your dress! I have been looking for a v-neck lace dress like that for my rehearsal dinner. Where did you get it?
Did you happen to get your dress at Ann Taylor? I have one very similar I got for my cousins wedding this summer. 🙂
Congrats to Laurel! I love weddings 🙂
Sounds like such fun! Congrats to Laurel!
I love, love, LOVE your dress!! Where is it from?
I love your blue dress too!! I’m on the search for a cute dress like that for some weddings this summer.
I am obsessed with your dress!! It’s gorgeous!
omg! i totally thought she was getting married to bennie or whatever his name is! wasn’t she dating him for a while?! this is when you know i’ve read your blog since way back! ha!
I love their “Eat, Drink, and Soon to be Married” sign! Looking forward to reading about their wedding. 🙂
Where’s your dress from? LOVE IT!
The dress you are wearing is beautiful. Please provide details, I must have one! Thanks!
Where is your dress from?? I love it!
Looks like such a blast!! Love wedding season, it’s always so much fun!
I love your blue dress your wearing!!!!!! It is so cute. Where did you get it?
These photos were so pretty! Loved seeing all those smiles 🙂
Great photos! Looks like you all had a blast 🙂 Can you do a fashion post on your outfit!? LOVE the dress!
Looks like a great time. I adore your blue dress!
Ah, yes, it’s such a great feeling when you know your closest friends are in a good relationship and with a loving man! 🙂 It sounds like it will be a great wedding~~~
I just love weddings because they’re always a mini college reunion. Sounds like you had a blast–and I, too, love the dress.
Looks like you had a lot of fun. :o)
Where did you get your dress?? I love the color!
Great, its look great fun, you all look smart, i think you all had decided to drop cookies
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Love the 310 restaurants!