Ben and Ashley’s wedding morning started early with 7:00am appointments at the salon for the bride and her bridal party. A 1:00pm ceremony meant we had to be ready for the first round of ‘getting dressed’ photos by 10:30am.
7 girls + 3 hairstylists + 1 make-up artist = just over 3 hours of beauty making magic. 
Ashley’s mother arranged for a beautiful breakfast display of Sunrise Bakery goodies, fruit, and mimosas for everyone to nibble and sip on as we had our hair pulled and faces made up.
The perfect excuse to use our new glasses.
The bride had the honor of popping the bubbly
Every morning should begin with mimosas.
I nabbed my favorite orange date scone and a generous helping of fruit.
Ashley had provided the salon with a photo of a braided hairstyle she had pinned and loved for all of the bridesmaids. Since the stylists already knew what to do with everyone’s hair, the process went relatively quickly.
Chelsea and Amanda went first and looked absolutely adorable in the chic up-do.
There was a tiny hiccup when the stylist got to mine and Kelly’s thick hair, but she made it work.
They saved the best for last.
I loved Ashley’s loose front swoop and low bun of curls. It was perfect.
She really didn’t need the make-up – she was already glowing!
Bridesmaids ready to go!
We left the salon and headed to Ashley’s house to change and take a few getting ready photos with the photographer. Seeing Ashley slip the dress on with her hair and make-up done and the veil in place was definitely had me wiping a few tears away. We did a mini-toast to the bride and made sure Ashley ate a granola bar before she left the house.
Ashley and Ben opted for an intimate first look with only the two of them and the photographer in attendance. While the two of them did their first look at a nearby park, the bridesmaids and groomsmen got to work decorating the getaway cars.
Yes – carS. Ashley and Ben really wanted to leave the ceremony in Ben’s VW Beetle, which he restored in high school and took her out in their first date in, but there’s no way the bug would have made the 25 minute trip to the reception site. Plus, the bug doesn’t have AC – a BIG no, no for wedding day hair!
So instead of making the entire trip in the bug, Ben and Ashley decided to just circle the block, then return to the parking lot to take Ashley’s car to the reception site.
Fine by us, double the cars = double the fun.
The bug had to be ‘picture appropriate’ but Ashley’s car was a no holds bar.
Blow-up condoms? Why not. 
All ready for the newlyweds!
I’ll be back with the ceremony and reception!
{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
I love the idea of them driving away in the VW. So cute!
And I love the hair on all of you ladies!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More recently posted..Gum
Bahaha blow up condoms? Hahah, you guys really had fun with that one.
Sana recently posted..Trip to the Big Apple
LOVE the shot of all the girls with their hair done. And all the decorating the car pictures. So classic.
Cait’s Plate recently posted..Soft Pretzel Nuggets
I love the painted glasses – they’re such a cute gift idea!
Sarah @Blonde Bostonian recently posted..11 Random Things
Seriously. Blow up condoms? I just can’t. Ugh.
What? You have a problem with that? I’m just disappointed that tubes of lube and spermicide were not also involved. Eternal love! And/or generic one-night stand. Whatever!
I wish the brides would’ve picked out bridesmaid hairstyles for the weddings I’ve been in, that’s always the hardest part! I would’ve loved someone making that decision for me! You all looked gorgeous!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen recently posted..Whole wheat apple cinnamon walnut bread
You all kick ass! To much fun was had by you all! Love it!!
MrsSwan recently posted..We are the backwards family
love the hair! i love updos that use braids!
The VW is so cute and perfect for a “getaway car.” Please post pics of them actually in the car.
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..Yoga Makes Me Roar!
Blow up condoms? Seriously? I can’t even begin to express how disrespectful that is. If someone my at my wedding did that to my car…they would not be invited back. This was their special day- why do something so obnoxious?
It was fun!
They knew it was coming (it’s a tradition in my family to decorate the newlyweds’ car) and they never said ‘no condoms.’ When they saw the condoms – they laughed and told us ‘don’t worry – payback is a bitch’ then got in the car and drove away.
Nothin’ but class there.
Just because something is a tradition doesn’t make it classy or appropriate. We an agree to disagree, but I’m just seriously disgusted
Liz recently posted..New Theme: Retro-fitted
So classy. I love how you really drove it home with pictures of you blowing up said condoms.
I saw your tweet and just don’t get it… it’s “old school” to decorate with condoms at an actual wedding? So confused.
I live in CFL, so at the very least I hope readers don’t think we are all this tasteless.
I said it was ‘old school’ because I know it was a lot more popular back in the day to go all out decorating the cars – not necessarily with condoms. No one meant any disrespect – we were just having fun, as were the bride and groom. They’ve seen it before and were expecting it for their own wedding. Every family is different and this is just our family’s sense of humor and our way of congratulating the bride and groom. If they had said no then we would not have done it. It was all in good fun.
I really can’t grasp why so many people feel the need to share their opinion on your blog in such a negative/angry way. Putting you down and calling you names is not acceptable. I am a high school teacher and I think I am going to add a couple of lessons abt constructive ways to express dissent. The cattiness in some of your comments totally counters the progress society has been working toward in females uplifting one another. I’m not trying to be aggressive or rude but she is so obviously full of class, grace and love AND she knows how to have fun!…I live in the deep south and we so rock the blow up condoms! Churches, also, promote healthy sexual relationships btwn married peops. It is their wedding night, the jig is up…so sex is not taboo for them in any way. I’m proud of you for never apologizing for who you are! You’re doing a great job, Meghann.
Wow! All this over blow-up condoms! They were just having fun.
Aw what a fun morning, I can’t wait to see the rest of the pics!
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This is too cute! I love the braid in you guys’s hair and the car is hilarious!!!!!!!
I just love wedding stories…I’ve been in 5 now and my 6th is coming this October. The VW is such a sweet cute idea! I’ll definitely have to remember your car decorating techniques…:)
And, adorable bridesmaid dresses!
Heather @ Housewife Glamour recently posted..13.1 Miles: Training Week 8
Blow up condoms after a Catholic mass ceremony? Family tradition or not, seriously disrespectful to the couple and their Church.
Agreed. Wrong place, wrong time for that kind of “tradition.” In any case, the fun tradition of condoms on a car is proooobably less important to uphold than respecting. the Church’s tradition in regards to contraception.
Where did you get those glasses? I’m looking for some for my bridesmaids, and love those!
I really love the braided hairdos for you girls – looks so sweet
I love the hairstyle you all had! My brother and sister-in-law’s ceremony was at 3, so luckily we didn’t have to hit the salon until 10. Everyone else slept in, and I was the freak who woke up at 7 to workout… Haha.
oh my gosh… that’s hilarious!
I love the hairstyle she chose. It’s gorgeous on all of you ladies!
Emily recently posted..Marathon Training: Week 7 in Review
Love that VW!! And all of your hair and makeup looked amazing! I just love everything about weddings!
Maureen recently posted..A Saturday to Myself
Cute Bug!! I love that idea. And I love the ladies’ hairdos!
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife recently posted..Motivational Monday
The bridesmaids dresses are really cute and a great color! What brand are they?
Lauren @ Sassy Molassy recently posted..Thoughts on Hagg Lake
I completely agree. The fact that they said “Payback’s a bitch” should tell you that they were pretty wholly unimpressed by your juvenility. I feel very sorry for Ashley; if someone disrespected me by doing something so tasteless on my wedding day, I would certainly question their judgment and manners.
Christine,
No one is being hurtful to Meghann but rather posters are expressing their distaste for something truly distasteful. Blowing up condoms (with your DAD to boot) outside of a Catholic Church is extremely disrespectful. If you don’t see that, it is your prerogative I suppose. It is pretty obvious, though.
What if I told you my dad was the one who bought the condoms? And he was blowing them up too? I don’t mind the opinions of how distasteful this was, to each their own, but I would like to point out that I was not the only one blowing up condoms, nor was I the one who started it. There was a group of 10 or 12 adults (including fathers and uncles and a devout catholic grandmother) who surrounded the car and blew up condoms. We all laughed – the bride and groom laughed – everyone was happy. This scene isn’t for everyone (I 100% admit to that), but of everyone in attendance, no one was saying how distasteful it was and I believe that’s what really matters.
Meghann,
. I’ve been a reader of your blog for the last few years (you were actually the first healthy living blog that I started to read-can’t describe how much I want to thank you for bringing me into this world as a reader!). This is actually the first time I have ever posted a comment but I was literally fuming as I read the comments and wanted to make sure that the majority of your comments are HAPPY ones and therefore felt obligated to give you some loving. I think all of the judgey comments are so uncalled for- if people don’t agree with your opinions/actions-they don’t have to read your blog! Instead of preaching about how inappropriate the condoms were, why don’t they take a little time to practice some tolerance? Sex between a married couple is supposed to be celebrated- and most definitely not seen as a secret taboo act. Besides, everyone will have their own wedding dreams, but a wedding without silliness and fun doesn’t sound like the perfect wedding and certainly not something that would fit your family’s personalities the way you have portrayed them on your blog. Kudos for you for being able to brush these inconsiderate comments off your shoulder. Personally, I think that the commenters above clearly have too much tension and time on their hands…and most definitely need to get laid more often 
First of all, I wanted to say I freaking love all of the last few posts-it sounds like it was the perfect weekend for the bride/groom and all the family and friends. And btw, the two of them are going to have GORGEOUS babies
Hey Meghann! I’m so in love with those wine glasses! Can you send me where you got them?
I know she ordered them off of Etsy, but I’m not sure who the seller was.