We had our rehearsal dinner the night before our wedding last month. I emphasized to everyone to please be on time. Almost everyone was there on time, however I couldn’t find Andrew or his family anywhere! I found them upstairs, just talking. 
And then my brother shower up.
My brother Steven, who is our resident “crazy” sibling, came to our rehearsal as a homeless man. Yup a homeless man.
At first, I couldn’t believe it – but then again it is my brother so it really didn’t surprise me too much. I jcouldn’t stop laughing and I still laugh now when I look at that picture. I mean, not many brides can say that their brother showed up to their rehearsal dinner looking like that! Plus, I was kind of impressed with all the effort he put into it and how well it turned out! He had a family friend help him with the makeup, though she didn’t want me to know because I thought she would be mad. ;P
The groomsmen didn’t realize it was a joke until after the wedding. ;P They thought that he was actually homeless! Once they understood the joke, they thought it was a lot funnier. Andrew’s poor mother had to be escorted down the aisle by him. I know she thought it was funny, but he even told her that she didn’t have to hold his arm. I am just giggling writing about this!
The actual rehearsal was a little rough. I may have broken down into tears on several different occasions which was absolutely mortifying. Everyone was looking to me for decisions, asking me a million different questions at the same time, and then when I would make a decision, they wouldn’t agree or like it! It was driving me absolutely bonkers. And when I get overwhelmed and upset, the floodgates just open! So embarrassing. In the end, however, everything worked out and we ran through it once more and everything went smoothly!
I just wanted to eat! x_x
The fellowship hall, where we had planned on having the dinner flooded the day before, so we moved the food upstairs to one of the Sunday School rooms. I actually think I liked it better up there! Andrew’s parents catered Olive Garden so we had chicken parmesan, fettuccine alfredo, breadsticks, salad, and his sister baked cookies! It was all so good!
Since we had to move all of the food upstairs, we brought up tin holders and bunson burners to keep the food warm. They placed water under the tin food, so that the burners would warm the water, which would keep the food warm. When I went to scoop myself some chicken, though, the whole thing collapsed and water went everywhere. I just stood there, frozen, as everyone tried to put the food back on the stand, but kept dropping it because the tins were so hot. All my girls just giggled at me. -_-
After dinner, we handed out our gifts. I wish I would have taken pictures because I made really cute bags for everyone with their names on it. We used yellow bags with mint blue tissue paper we found at the dollar store to match our wedding colors. All of the groomsmen received a flask with their name and our wedding date engraved on it. I bough all of my bridesmaids pearl necklaces and earrings and then some lotion and body wash from Bath & Body Works.
I bought Andrew’s mom a necklace I found from Etsy with a sweet message on the inside. It was so cute how it was packaged! I think she really like it! I mean, I would have liked it if I got it! 
My dad’s side of the family is from Pennsylvania, and it’s about a 12 hour drive from there to St. Louis, so we don’t get to see them very often! They went out for margaritas afterwards and Andrew and I joined them. We had a great time – and it was perfect for me because it kept me from worrying and stressing about my big day tomorrow!
This is the first post in a series about my wedding. Read about the morning of my wedding next!
I can’t wait to read about all that in your other posts. It’s okay. i just had a very simple wedding, I just wanted to get married as soon as possible. My husband and my commitment to him just mattered more to me, you know? Plus, I hate making decisions I don’t understand. Too much pressure and stress, but I’m glad you were able to do it. Still, I have mixed feelings about your brother showing up like that. But it was merely a rehearsal, so I won’t be too harsh.
Oh, update your link! ^^
Looks like this was a fun night despite the rehearsal being a bit rough for you. I’m glad that’s over, and I look forward to reading about your ceremony
On the flipside, your brother’s actions would have horrified me, but at the same time, I can see the humour in it, haha!
aww, becca you and andrew look super!! <3 <3 <3 i wish you and andrew all the love and all the best, i can feel the love on this post, to be honest! and your brother showing up as a homeless man was funny indeed!
looking forward to see your post about the big day! congratulations to you both.
by the way, the necklace that you've given to andrew's mom is beautiful, especially the message!
I figured you have been super busy since there has not been a blog in a while! Congrats on the wedding, cannot wait to see the pictures! I am glad the rehearsal worked out smooth in the end. I feel like if you can get all the stress out that day then the actual day is probably less stressful (probably not true but I would like to hope it works that way.) The necklace is adorable! It is all about the thought, and you definitely nailed that one for sure!
Yes! It actually did work out that way. The day of was much less stressful since we had already worked out most of the kinks.
Hahahahah. That is so funny that your brother did that. The amount of effort that was put into it is really great! No wonder that some people thought he was really.
Oh no, that would have been terrible dropping the food. At least people tried to help! xD
Awwww, that is such a sweet gift to give to your mother in law, I hope that she really liked it.
Aww, the picture is so lovely.
Can’t wait for more updates.
It sounds as if your Rehearsal Dinner was very entertaining and relaxing.
It was very sweet, weird of your brother to dress up as he did – I’m sure he knew how stressed that you were and he wanted to make sure you had a reason to smile even when things went bad. I’d have died from embarrassment if I’d dropped the food – or at least turned a pretty shade of red, since I’m one of those people who blush rather easily. 
It was so sweet of everyone to help you out, and your rehearsal dinner food sounds yummy. Olive Garden is one of my favorite restaurants. The gift for your Mother-in-Law is so sweet – it’s one of the items that I will hopefully be able to give my future mother-in-law…when I finally meet and marry the man of my dreams. I look forward to reading the rest of your posts about your wedding. <3
I love how your brother dressed up as a homeless man! It’s really funny and I think those kinds of gimmicks really help lighten up everyone’s mood, especially with the stress of the rehearsal eating up on you! Glad everything went well, though!
I really like your gift for your mother-in-law, and the message too! It’s a really sweet gesture and one that will always remind her that she raised such a lovely young man
That’s funny that your brother showed up as a homeless man! That’s definitely memorable
Aww, sorry to hear that the rehearsal was rough, but I’m glad it worked out in the end. At least you worked out all of those in the rehearsal and not the day of! Those are also really nice gifts for your groomsmen and bridesmaids, and the necklace for Andrew’s mom is pretty. The message on it is so cute!
I can’t wait to hear about everything else! Congrats on your marriage!
Congratulations! I look forward to reading about how the wedding went.
Your brother is hilarious. I wish I had a brother! If my sister pulled off some weird stunt like that at my wedding rehearsal, I’m not sure how I’d react…
That is a gorgeous necklace.
So much love! Yet to read your *ACTUAL REALLY SUPER BEAUTIFUL POST* but I felt it was in order to read this one first.
I would have loved receiving that gift too, that you gave to Andrew’s mother. I love the message in it, it’s so beautiful I just want to squeal. It was a very thoughtful gift to give her.
I was also going to say I was thoroughly impressed with the effort your brother put into his homeless costume. It would have given me a huge laugh as well. I’m sure he put a smile on everyone’s faces.
I’m going to read your more recent post now and get ready to cry and everything!!