Colleen & Josh

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Send an email to heidi {at} unabashedbliss {dot} com with a minimum of ten images from your wedding or engagement (be sure to credit your photographer). Write a brief description of your wedding; any special DIY projects; favorite detail or memory; etc.

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Colleen & Josh
July 2009

Ceremony ~ Saint Andrew Catholic Church
Reception ~ High Cedars Golf Club

I know Colleen from years ago when we met in seventh grade. Yes, we’re talking boy crushes, make up parties, shopping at the mall together and figuring the whole Junior High thing out. She was gorgeous then and my goodness she is stunning still! I’m in love with her and Josh’s wedding captured by Holly from Beautiful Endings Photography and wait ’til you see their post wedding shoot! Unbelievably mesmerizing! I’m convinced now of the benefits of doing a post wedding shoot.

We’d love to hear your engagement story: Josh had spent quite a bit of time designing my dream ring and was trying to come up with a great place to propose while it was being made. He decided on The Rose Garden at Point Defiance in Tacoma since it is one of our favorite places to go when the weather is nice. I remember he told me he was going to pick me up and we would go out there to walk around and then we would go out to dinner afterwards. When he picked me up, he was acting very quiet and all I could think was that I must have done something to upset him. Little did I know he was sweating bullets and getting ready to ask me to spend the rest of my life with him! When we got there we walked around for a bit in silence and finally he asked if I wanted to go sit on a nearby bench (which I thought was strange at the time but agreed to) where he got down on one knee (in the gravel!) and proposed! He pulled out the most beautiful emerald cut diamond surrounded by more diamonds with diamonds around the band (by now I’m sure you’ve noticed the diamond theme). I started crying and immediately said “yes!” We went back to his parent’s house where his folks, my parents and some more family members were waiting with champagne!

And your gorgeous gown: I found my dress at the 2nd place we went (The Wedding Bell)! I tried on about 15 gowns and the one I ended up with wasn’t even one I chose for myself. It was handed to me by the sales associate. It was diamond white, strapless with a sweetheart neckline and beading across the bust. The skirt was like fluffy whipped cream and had a billowy train that bustled into a puff of white satin.

What inspired you: I’d say I was mostly going for old fashioned glamour. Rich and vibrant colors inspired me the most. My colors were deep purple and kelly green. I wanted the bridesmaids to look like they could have walked out of a cocktail party in the 60′s and the groomsmen to have classic tuxedos with traditional bow ties like James Bond.

And your favorite detail: definitely our “getaway car.” We had a vintage, turquoise Studabaker that has been in my Dad’s side of the family since before I was born. My grandpa and uncle found the old, rusty frame and built it into what you see in the pictures. It was perfect!

Favorite memory: we had a beautiful and perfect Catholic ceremony. Everything was going almost “too perfectly” like a scene from a movie. At the very end of the ceremony, when the priest was getting ready to announce us as husband and wife, he said “It is my pleasure to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Josh Best” which led us to start laughing and a my mother to loudly whisper “FREESE!” from the front row! He corrected himself, re-introduced us and everyone had a good laugh. Our friends still address him as “Josh Best” every chance they get!

Weddings can be challenging! What was your biggest challenge: I would have to say my biggest challenge was the heat the week we got married! We were married during the hottest week of 2009 and it was over 100 degrees the day we were married. I was so worried people wouldn’t come, but luckily we had air conditioning and everyone showed up. I still feel horrible for my poor wedding party for all the photos we took outside before the ceremony!

What’s next for the Freese family: We are planning a vacation for our 1st anniversary on July 31st. We can’t wait to start a family in the next year and a half or so! For the time being, we are enjoying cooking, spending time with our family and friends, our jobs and being “newlyweds!”

Church: Saint Andrews Catholic Church. Reception: High Cedars Golf Club. Hair & Makeup: Gene Juarez. Dress: The Wedding Bell, 2B Bridal.

Beautiful Endings Photography