Getting Ready:
I headed down to the City Center Marriott around 10 am to get ready with the rest of the girls. Tanya took care of the hair and makeup costs for us bridesmaids. We got our hair and make up done in an executive suite on the 29th floor with a beautiful view of the city while having the movie, Sex and the City on and drinking mimosas.
All of our flowers
One of the views from the room
Photos:
We were running a little late to get down to the lobby and meet for pictures. We went down to the street level to run outside and hop into the limo for the next couple of hours to take pictures around Minneapolis. Just walking from the hotel to the limo was freezing! It was so cold to be in a dress outside. We all packed into the limo, all 13 of us, including 2 photographers. We were just a couple of blocks away when we realized we were missing a groomsman! Matt was still back at the hotel so we turned around to go pick him up. We got him and we were back on our way again and about 5 blocks from the hotel, there's a cop car behind us and he is pulling us over. The photographers are in the front seat, smashed with the driver and the cop approaches the window and we hear some talk about a seat belt and improper use of it, something minor at least. Well the minor pull over turns into something major. The limo driver apparently was not licensed to drive people as a public, hired limo driver and the cop said they would be towing the limo and we all had to walk back to the hotel. It is freezing and Tanya is in her wedding dress! Chris insisted to the cop that Tanya cannot walk back to the hotel in her dress so the cop decides that we can go back to the hotel with an escort. He follows us all the way back and then tows the limo. Tanya and Chris remain very calm in the situation and do not appear to be upset, even though I'm sure they were. In the meantime, multiple people are scrambling to find alternative transportation for us because there are pictures to be taken! The photographers take the guys down the street to get some pictures while our next form of transportation can be found. After the guys, us girls head down the street to get some photos. There are guys on the street and in cars that are making cat calls to us and congratulating Tanya. There's even one guy who walked by us and asked Tanya if she was getting married. She said yes. His response? "You just threw your life away." Nice! We head back to the hotel and take some more pictures inside City Center. After about 3o minutes, the hotel provides two private taxi's for us, a Suburban and a minivan and we head to the St. Anthony area, specifically the Stone Arch Bridge. Tanya and Chris used to live in the Stone Arch Apartments right next to the bridge. We get out of the car, freezing our butts off and get our pictures taken on the bridge before heading to the next location, First Avenue. The plan was to go to First Avenue, outside of the building and take pictures in front of the famous wall, adoring stars with names of all the bands that have played there before. Not only do we get those pictures, they let us into First Ave. to take pictures in the empty club. We pose on the stairs and up at the bar but the one catch, no pictures on or of the stage with Matt Kearney's band sets up for the show that night. It was so fun and different to be in there when it was closed and empty. We headed back to the hotel to relax for about 30 minutes before having to go into a room and "hide" until the ceremony started.
We were running a little late to get down to the lobby and meet for pictures. We went down to the street level to run outside and hop into the limo for the next couple of hours to take pictures around Minneapolis. Just walking from the hotel to the limo was freezing! It was so cold to be in a dress outside. We all packed into the limo, all 13 of us, including 2 photographers. We were just a couple of blocks away when we realized we were missing a groomsman! Matt was still back at the hotel so we turned around to go pick him up. We got him and we were back on our way again and about 5 blocks from the hotel, there's a cop car behind us and he is pulling us over. The photographers are in the front seat, smashed with the driver and the cop approaches the window and we hear some talk about a seat belt and improper use of it, something minor at least. Well the minor pull over turns into something major. The limo driver apparently was not licensed to drive people as a public, hired limo driver and the cop said they would be towing the limo and we all had to walk back to the hotel. It is freezing and Tanya is in her wedding dress! Chris insisted to the cop that Tanya cannot walk back to the hotel in her dress so the cop decides that we can go back to the hotel with an escort. He follows us all the way back and then tows the limo. Tanya and Chris remain very calm in the situation and do not appear to be upset, even though I'm sure they were. In the meantime, multiple people are scrambling to find alternative transportation for us because there are pictures to be taken! The photographers take the guys down the street to get some pictures while our next form of transportation can be found. After the guys, us girls head down the street to get some photos. There are guys on the street and in cars that are making cat calls to us and congratulating Tanya. There's even one guy who walked by us and asked Tanya if she was getting married. She said yes. His response? "You just threw your life away." Nice! We head back to the hotel and take some more pictures inside City Center. After about 3o minutes, the hotel provides two private taxi's for us, a Suburban and a minivan and we head to the St. Anthony area, specifically the Stone Arch Bridge. Tanya and Chris used to live in the Stone Arch Apartments right next to the bridge. We get out of the car, freezing our butts off and get our pictures taken on the bridge before heading to the next location, First Avenue. The plan was to go to First Avenue, outside of the building and take pictures in front of the famous wall, adoring stars with names of all the bands that have played there before. Not only do we get those pictures, they let us into First Ave. to take pictures in the empty club. We pose on the stairs and up at the bar but the one catch, no pictures on or of the stage with Matt Kearney's band sets up for the show that night. It was so fun and different to be in there when it was closed and empty. We headed back to the hotel to relax for about 30 minutes before having to go into a room and "hide" until the ceremony started.
Ceremony:
At 6 pm, the ceremony started. I was the 2nd bridesmaid down the aisle with my lovely groomsman escort, Michael. The ceremony itself was nice and brief and intimate. And I only cried once after Tanya started crying. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Zenner!
Drink:
The bar was open for about an hour before the dinner started. The hardest parts of the day for everyone were over and now it was about kicking back and having a good time. Instead of a guest book, Tanya and Chris had a drum head with a picture of them on it for everyone to sign. Chris is a drummer and it was such a great idea and I wish I would have gotten a picture of it.
My honey!
My honey!
Best Man, Kelley
Groomsman Wil
Chris, Jason, Wil
Me, my sister Jamie and BIL Tom
The cake
In lieu of a wedding favor, Tanya and Chris made a donation to the American Cancer Society. Chris's mom passed away from cancer when he was 17 years old.
Eat:
Dinner started in a different room about an hour later. The dinner was steak, chicken or some vegetarian choice. The cake was delicious! At the head table, there was a beautiful vase for each of the bridesmaid's to put their flowers in and to take home at the end of the night.
Kristi, the matron of honor giving her speech
Dance:
The reception was held in the same room as the ceremony and another room conjoined room that was opened up. Instead of a DJ, they had the band Big John Dickerson play throughout the night. Our friend Jamela shares the singing spotlight with Big John.
Me and Big John singing, "Mustang Sally"
I have no idea what dance move I am doing here! Looks pretty outdated to me.
The Honeymoon Suite:
We took a peek at the honeymoon suite that Tanya and Chris had at the hotel. It was two levels on the highest floor, the 31st. There was barely a wall, only tall windows that had remote control curtains that had to be 2o feet tall.
View from above. Michael looks like a banker behind the desk
I had a great time altogether this day. It was a little surreal for me to watch Chris get married, because at one point in my life, I wanted to marry Chris. Chris and I met on January 6th, 1995, ironically Tanya's birthday. We started dating each other and decided to be exclusive with each other on my birthday, January 21st. Chris was my first true love. Him and I dated until October 22nd, 1999, months shy of 5 years. While we were together that long, we probably shouldn't have been as we didn't always get along the greatest at times but always had a connection to each other. Chris and I remained friends, as long as the girls he was dating would allow it, which wasn't very often. He got sick of that and if a girl he was dating didn't like the fact that I was in his life as a friend, then she usually didn't stick around for too long. I am pretty protective of Chris as he means a lot to me and I didn't want him to get hurt in relationships. I was very good at knowing what girls he was dating would and wouldn't work out and none of them ever did long-term. Actually I was never wrong. Chris finally met the girl in January 2006. I knew that Tanya was a good girl and I knew that it would be a long-term relationship. Tanya is also the first girl in Chris's life to accept me as Chris's friend, a best friend, and not have a problem with it. She was also a girl that I was able to get along with and I knew she would treat Chris well. And here we are, years later and you two are married to each other. MANY girls in Chris's life always told him that he would never get married and would be a bachelor forever. Tanya, you out shined all of those girls and ended up with the prize. I love you, Tanya and I love you, Chris. Tanya, you have become a great friend and Chris, you have remained a best friend to me for so many years. Michael and I love you as individuals and as a couple and wish nothing but the best for you both. Congratulations, Tanya and Chris Zenner.
In lieu of a wedding favor, Tanya and Chris made a donation to the American Cancer Society. Chris's mom passed away from cancer when he was 17 years old.
Eat:
Dinner started in a different room about an hour later. The dinner was steak, chicken or some vegetarian choice. The cake was delicious! At the head table, there was a beautiful vase for each of the bridesmaid's to put their flowers in and to take home at the end of the night.
Kristi, the matron of honor giving her speech
Dance:
The reception was held in the same room as the ceremony and another room conjoined room that was opened up. Instead of a DJ, they had the band Big John Dickerson play throughout the night. Our friend Jamela shares the singing spotlight with Big John.
Me and Big John singing, "Mustang Sally"
I have no idea what dance move I am doing here! Looks pretty outdated to me.
The Honeymoon Suite:
We took a peek at the honeymoon suite that Tanya and Chris had at the hotel. It was two levels on the highest floor, the 31st. There was barely a wall, only tall windows that had remote control curtains that had to be 2o feet tall.
View from above. Michael looks like a banker behind the desk
I had a great time altogether this day. It was a little surreal for me to watch Chris get married, because at one point in my life, I wanted to marry Chris. Chris and I met on January 6th, 1995, ironically Tanya's birthday. We started dating each other and decided to be exclusive with each other on my birthday, January 21st. Chris was my first true love. Him and I dated until October 22nd, 1999, months shy of 5 years. While we were together that long, we probably shouldn't have been as we didn't always get along the greatest at times but always had a connection to each other. Chris and I remained friends, as long as the girls he was dating would allow it, which wasn't very often. He got sick of that and if a girl he was dating didn't like the fact that I was in his life as a friend, then she usually didn't stick around for too long. I am pretty protective of Chris as he means a lot to me and I didn't want him to get hurt in relationships. I was very good at knowing what girls he was dating would and wouldn't work out and none of them ever did long-term. Actually I was never wrong. Chris finally met the girl in January 2006. I knew that Tanya was a good girl and I knew that it would be a long-term relationship. Tanya is also the first girl in Chris's life to accept me as Chris's friend, a best friend, and not have a problem with it. She was also a girl that I was able to get along with and I knew she would treat Chris well. And here we are, years later and you two are married to each other. MANY girls in Chris's life always told him that he would never get married and would be a bachelor forever. Tanya, you out shined all of those girls and ended up with the prize. I love you, Tanya and I love you, Chris. Tanya, you have become a great friend and Chris, you have remained a best friend to me for so many years. Michael and I love you as individuals and as a couple and wish nothing but the best for you both. Congratulations, Tanya and Chris Zenner.
