Lessons from Wedding Planning / 32-day Engagement

 James and Hanna were engaged on July 25, 2023 and were married on August 26, 2023.

I would actually recommend a short engagement. Why not? Get it done. It definitely did require quick decisions and the need to simplify.

We had bought Hanna's wedding dress in May - knowing that her relationship with James was progressing. So that did make it easier for a short planning time.

The one thing we would recommend is going to your pre-marital doctor's visit early - ideally need more than one month (or two weeks in Hanna's case) to get things situated and regulated.

I learned:

-Rely on the people around you to help you

-Learn ideas from others (where to get fast, quality and reasonably priced invitations - through the Canva app and then printed at Staples)

- No one likes chocolate ice cream

Wedding Luncheon

We had a wedding luncheon in Afton, Wyoming at a park. 

We had roast beef, salads, and desserts. We had a short program to honor the bride and groom.

Larsen and Carly sang "Kiss the Girl"

Jill, Lucy and Carly gave Hanna a wedding survival kit.

James's sisters sang, "Cowboy Take Me Away"

James's siblings also share a few memories.

Both sets of parents shared a few thoughts and then James and Hanna also share a few thoughts.

Then they were off to Island Park for their honeymoon....but it was memorable as Hanna got strep throat and had to go to the clinic in Island Park to get medicine.

 

James and Hanna Wedding Day

August 26, 2023

Star Valley Wyoming Temple

Sealer: Marlin K. Jensen (Austin's mission president)

 

Teichert's Reception in Cokeville

 Hanna and James had their reception in Cokeville the night before their wedding. I highly recommend it. Then there is much less to worry about on the day of the wedding, and they can head off on their honeymoon after the wedding and luncheon.

We stayed in the basement of James' uncle's house in Cokeville. They are on a mission, and they had the best raspberry patch I've ever seen. Vonda, James's mom, fed us every meal. She's an amazing woman to just pull that off - she was feeding all of her kids and grandkids also.

On Friday, we helped decorate the church gym for the reception. It was so simple but awesome. They served brownies and ice cream. Janetta, James' sister did the flowers. She is amazing.

James family and friends came, but we also had family and friends make the effort to come. Declan Nunn (Hanna's cousin) came. Don & Lynn Thomason (Austin's mom's cousin) came. Brian and Bonnie Summers (friends from when we lived in Hyrum) came. Then my siblings and parents came and then stayed the night to be there for the sealing the next day.

A funny moment was when we were cleaning up after the reception, and some of James' nephews had snuck into the brownies and Vonda caught them and made them do 10 pushups - right there in the church kitchen.

Hanna & Maddie's Bridal Shower

Hanna and Maddie Leishman have been friends for a lot of years. They were in the same ward. They played on the same basketball team. They were in the same grade and same friend group.

They both went on missions after high school, and then they both got married within 2 weeks.

So it worked out to have a double bridal shower.

Lots of people came and were so generous in their gifts.