Mr. and Mrs. James Blakeman

Our family had the honor and privilege of being a part of a beautiful beach wedding this weekend.  A young lady who attends our church, has been our family's hairdresser and has taken care of both Bentley and JennaBeth in the nursery got married and we couldn't be more happy for her.  Both Mike and Bentley participated in the ceremony.  Mike sang both during the ceremony and at the reception and presided over the "sand ceremony" and Bentley was the ring bearer.

Thank you so much Lena and Kiera for keeping JennaBeth for us!  We just knew she would NOT make it the whole evening and would be much happier playing and getting in bed by her usual time of 8 o'clock!

Now, I will give you this warning right up front about this post - if you don't like wedding pictures or pictures of very handsome little 5 year old boys in tuxedos, you might want to skip to the next thing on your to-do list.  This post contains LOTS of pictures, because like I've said before - a momma with a camera is a dangerous thing!

I took a few pics of Bentley before we left the house on Saturday evening:

Be still my beating heart!  We had to go by the reception venue before going to where the ceremony was being held and I took this picture of Bentley and my oldest Cecily...

I know I'm a little partial, because they are mine, but I just happen to think I have some of the most gorgeous children!  And these two really love each other!  I think big sister was a little smitten with her baby brother all dressed up!  I got this next shot of them after arriving at the beach while we were waiting on the ceremony to get started...

I am so very proud of Bentley!  He was very patient with waiting and all of the picture taking by both me and the photographer for the wedding, which happened to be the groom's parents.  They have a photography business for all you locals - Waite Photography.  Here he is after getting his boutonniere...

By the way, there was a bride involved and not just a ring bearer!  And here she is as she was coming out for the ceremony...

I think that is just the sweetest thing...father and bride just beaming at each other!  Jessi was an absolutely stunning bride.

Here is the pretty little flower girl and that handsome ring bearer again...

I think the little stinker held his head down most of the time during the ceremony and he was perfectly still.  Several people commented on how well he did, but said that he looked scared.  I commented that fear can be a good thing some times!!!  It is probably what kept him from shuffling around and kicking sand everywhere!  The weather was absolutely perfect for this wedding.  The lighting the sun cast on the wedding party was amazing.  Here is the father about to walk his little girl down the isle...

I don't think I've ever, well I know I have never enjoyed a wedding ceremony in my bare feet.  It was nice to enjoy the breeze off the water and dig my toes in the sand as I watched two people who obviously love each other commit to spend the rest of their lives together.

See my little guy...stiff as a board with head held down, but he sure was cute and was making this mama's heart flutter all over the place.

James and Jessi had the practice of "hand binding" as part of their exchange of vows.  I've never seen this before, but liked it.  Here is the best man, James brother, "binding" the bride and groom's hands together...

My sweet husband presided over the "sand ceremony".  If you are familiar with a unity candle or water ceremony at weddings, this carried the same concept...the blending of two lives into one...

And of course the big kiss...

Now you officially have Mr. and Mrs. James Blakeman...

Don't you just adore the smiles on their faces?  And you'd adore the smile on the ring bearer's face if you could see his face...

The sunset was beautiful for all the pictures taken after the ceremony...

Mr. and Mrs. James Blakeman

Jessi and James with Jessi's brother and parents.

The wedding party.

Bentley and Brenna...ring bearer and flower girl.

I just love the bare feet in the sand!

Jessi and her brother, Jeff.

The wedding party with family of the bride and groom.

First sunset stroll on the beach as husband and wife.

One of the nice perks we got to enjoy was a limo ride from the beach to the reception taking place at Nervous Nellies.  Bentley thought this was really cool...

Outside the front of the restaurant was a huge beach chair, which made for another perfect photo op...

The reception was lots of fun.  Jessi had the cutest little favors for her guests.  They were little wedding dresses and tuxedos filled with personalized M&M's with the bride and grooms name and wedding date...

The wedding cake and topper was just adorable...

Bentley and Brenna were "officially" announced to the reception guests...

Bentley had become rather smitten with the flower girl by the end of the evening and was asking if he could sit by her!  You might can tell in the picture, but she slid her arm in his...too sweet!

Mike sang Steven Curtis Chapman's "I Will Be Here" for the bride and groom's first dance.  It was really special hearing him sing this song, because he sang it to me at our wedding!

Yep, that sure brought back a lot of sweet, sweet memories!  I don't know what Randy and Simon or JLo or Steven Tyler (American Idol judges) would say, but I just don't think there is no other voice like my husband's!

The reception buffet was WONDERFUL!  Poor Bentley was so thirsty and hungry by 8 o'clock, he was fit to be tied!  He sure was happy when the drink and food time came around...

Don't worry about the Miller Lite cup!  His had Coke in it!!!  And mine had sweet tea and Cecily had Coke and Mike had Sprite...just so ya know :)

It was very touching to watch Jessi take her father/daughter dance with her dad...

I had asked Bentley if he would dance with me and he said "NO!".  Cecily asked him if he'd dance with her and he said "NO!".  Then he said, "But I'll dance with Ms. Jessi!" - with a big smile on his face!  Well, when he had the opportunity, he chickened out, but he did take this sweet picture with "his" Ms Jessi (that's what he used to call her when she was keeping him in the nursery)...

We got ready to go home and I realized I had gone the entire evening without getting not one picture with my handsome little man!  So, as we were leaving, Mike got this one of us in front of the water fountain next to the restaurant...

James and Jessi,

Thank you so much for allowing our family to be part of your special day.  We were honored to be there and witness the miracle of God binding two hearts together.  May Christ always be the center of your life together.  We love you guys and pray God's richest blessings on your marriage!  You are truly special to us and always will be!

Blessings,

Jennifer