Never Let Go.
the knot.
'Kieran's POV'
If there are two things I hate most in this world it's surprises and being the center of attention. And these things are well known to the people in my life, but oh boy do they keep on happening to me! My mother on the other hand, being the Southern belle that she is LOVES attention and thinks that as a bride you must be the center of all things. I swear the minute I got off the phone with her telling her that Jamie had popped the question she started planning our engagement party. Hell she's probably started planning the wedding and our honeymoon too!
But what my mom doesn’t understand is that my fiancé is professional athlete, and we don’t exactly have time for a party. But try telling that to my hard-headed mother! In less than two weeks that woman managed to find a date that worked with both Jamie's schedule and his parents, found and booked a venue downtown and planned the actual event. Alone, solo, all by her lonesome and rightfully so because she knew better than to ask me for help. I wanted absolutely nothing to do with it! Planning the wedding itself is most likely going to kill me, but I pinky promised Jamie and Lauren that there would be no Bridezilla sightings.
The only things my mom asked Jamie and I's opinions on for our engagement party were the guest list and the food, two simple things we both agreed to easily. We wanted barbecue and for there to be under 100 people, and with that we were done. Now all the happy couple had to do was show up! My mom scheduled the party for a rare Friday night that the Stars weren't playing at a venue called Off the Grid, a modern space that was actually perfect for Jamie and I's tastes.
When we walked in I was stunned at my mom's design talent, the place was decorated in sleek black and white with gold glitter and hints of Victory Green. It was gorgeous, she had done a great job capturing Jamie and I's relationship. Throughout the venue there were pictures of Jamie and I scattered all around from various points in our relationship, a photo booth, and a box where people could leave us marriage advice. My dad joked that my mom had spent the last month doing nothing but scrolling through Pinterest, and it showed in all of the little details she had put together.
Everything about the party turned out to be great! Our guests all seemed to have a great time and the food my mom had catered in was delicious! Jamie's parents, grandparents, sister, and a few other friends and family members flew down to celebrate with us and enjoy the Stars game the next night. My mom's side of the family was all there for the most part and my brother and his wife Morgan were also in attendance. Did I forget to mention that Kilian got married? He met an amazing girl finally and they got married this past summer! Now we're all just waiting on babies, which is another thing everyone brings up when they talk to Jamie and I. Apparently as soon as you get married you're supposed to start popping kids out! This theory scares me a little bit I'm not going to lie, but I know one day I want to be a mom. My family and Jamie's all get along very nicely which will make the whole kids thing much easier when that day comes!
As our guests mingled and left us words of marital wisdom while enjoying the open bar and cupcakes from my favorite bakery our Maid of Honor Lauren and Best Man Tyler took to congratulating us in front of everyone. Lauren went first and I was thankful she spared everyone from some of our more embarrassing memories. She did however manage to make me cry and laugh all at the same time, I could only imagine what her toast will be like at our actual wedding! Hopefully she doesn't try to rap or break out in a dance because that would just be awful but I could totally see Lauren doing something like that.
Tyler's speech was great, it was really more to the both of us instead of just to Jamie. He rubbed it in that we really needed to thank him for getting us together in the first place. He joked about the whole "Kieran's hot" thing from one of the first times we ever met and said he hoped to one day find a love like the one he watched form right in front of him. Jamie and I realized that night that we are very lucky to have such an amazing group of family and friends all coming together for us, we are very blessed. Everyone toasted to Jamie and I and to our engagement wishing us a life of nothing but happiness and love, things I knew I would always have being with Jamie Benn.
--------------
Yay!
7/9/15