Tales from the Motherhood: Renewing of Vows

Last weekend we were in San Diego for a renewing of vows ceremony for some of our best friends.

(Most of these photos are by Shauna at Studio 7.)

It was a total surprise to the wife. All of it. I mean, who would expect her husband would scheme behind her back and coordinate an extraordinary event for your 13 1/2 year anniversary?

Here's a recap of how it went down.

1. The groom, who we'll call Russ, had been thinking about and planning this for several years.

2. He arranged to have about 45 people come in from around the country and put them up in a hotel in Carlsbad, CA.

3. He had their friend and interior decorator arrange stuff for the reception and decorate. Absolutely gorgeous.

4. They were on vacation in San Diego and the bride, who we'll call Stacy, thought she was going to a spa day at Los Willos in Fallbrook for her sister-in-law's birthday.

5. She went into a room for her spa treatments and there was a DVD playing that her husband made. I didn't see the video, but I imagine it went something like this, "You are the best thing ever. Best wife. Best mom. You're hot. I love your guts. And I want to renew our vows. I have 3 dresses for you to choose from. Get all dolled up and then let's do this. Right now. It's on."

6. Stacy came out of the room in utter shock. Crying the ugly cry. A few moments later I walked in with my video camera rolling. More ugly cry. I will spare her and not post that video here, but she was weeping like a baby. I won't spare her the ugly cryin' photo.

7. Then a few of us got all done up. I got hair, makeup and nails! It was so dreamy. I get my hair and makeup done every 13 years so it was such a treat!!! Thank you Russ!

8. Ceremony: Bride and her daughter cross over a small lake on a boat. Groom and their son meet the up with the gals as they get off the boat.

9. The pastor who married them performs the ceremony. More surprise and tears for Stacy.

10. Beautiful reception. Good food. Gorgeous and tasty cake.

11. Russ plays guitar with talented worship leader and sings "Hold Us Together." Meanwhile their 9 year-old accompanies on the piano and their 7 year-old . . . forgets her tambourine. So Shiloh downloads a tambourine app on my iphone and she taps it into the microphone.

12. DVD of photo montage that Russ made plays for everyone. Final song on the DVD is "Always" by Grammy award-winning Switchfoot, Stacy's favorite band. Ours too. (You might remember Elijah's meltdown when we told him we went to a Switchfoot concert without him.)

13. Worship leader stands up and leads everyone in prayer.

14. Prayer over. Eyes open. Jon Foreman (lead singer of Switchfoot and ridiculously talented songwriter/musician) is on the piano singing "Always." (If you are not familiar with Switchfoot or this song, do yourself a favor and check out this video.) More shock and ugly crying for Stacy.