Dearly Beloved...

...we are gathered here today for me to share the news with you, that I have recently put some thought into becoming an internet ordained minister. If you are like any (or all) of my friends who I have recently told this to, you are probably scratching your head or have a look of disgust on your face, asking...why?! Well, like all great ideas it stemmed after a few beverages were consumed a few weekends ago with some friends. And what better place for the birth of this idea than at an engagement party. I was discussing with my happily married friend, Sara, how she would enjoy renewing her vows with her husband, Clay. Still newlyweds themselves, the conversation as you can imagine running on an open bar, got away from us a little, but resulted in me getting ordained, becoming a notary for the paperwork, and hosting what might be a very casual sand volleyball tournament/backyard BBQ party in their honor. I'm quite the event planner/entertainer, so becoming ordained would just be one more thing to add to the social résumé, anyway. Now this obviously isn't the reason I'd be doing it, yet would be a bonus. Living down south in the "Bible Belt", as well as just understanding the general importance of a ceremony to begin with, I can see where one might not want my services at their initial wedding. However, like the character of Joey Tribbiani on the great show, FRIENDS, I think my personal touch would be an asset to any one's big day. I've been to several wedding ceremonies (mostly destination), including my own 2 sisters, where the ministers do not know any thing about the bride and groom and you can clearly tell they tried to memorize facts about them to share with the congregation. Not a bad thing, but just lacking a personal touch. 

I could provide whatever you wanted. Perhaps a certain look or theme. A certain story. Maybe it's nothing. I know my opening and sermon would be better than this:

Maybe you're one of those "get in and get out" couples that's just ready to celebrate. Short and sweet ceremony - I can do that. I, too, like to party, but you already knew that because we are great friends and you want me to officiate your wedding. In fact when sharing this dream of mine with members of my bowling team on Wednesday, one Debbie Downer (sorry Lauren) crushed a party dream and told me I wouldn't be able to win the lottery if I became a notary. Another conversation that spiraled out of control. Before we knew it, we had realized that suddenly I was actually worried I was going to be a 26 year old ordained minister-notary that won 300 million dollars and couldn't collect. A little far fetched. We decided I'll cross that bridge when I come to it :) 

So what are the negatives? A 'waste' of money? If you are looking at a financial return on my investment, then yes. But if you are looking at memories that could last a lifetime, then ehh, maybe not. 

Abuse of power? This was brought to my attention - and I take offense that you would think that I would do something like that (cough*Hannah*cough). Trust me, I know I can't just go around marrying people. According to this really 'reliable' website, I need paperwork and letters for that...but... apparently nothing else.

So yea, stay tuned. Who knows, the next wedding you go to, I may just be the one legalizing the love on someones big day. xoxo

A Room With My Favorite Things...

Coley and Evan

...My friends. Great food. An open bar. A dance floor. Music. And bonus points for a tambourine. 

The "My Wedding Workout" tab hasn't seen any action since October, and with the 2013 season already started, I thought why not give a sneak peak at this years calendar. I last spoke of Coley and Evan's wedding, in Season Highlights. Wrapping up my 'season' with one beautiful ceremony, an even better reception, and a band that I can't live without - Az Izz. I remembered these gentlemen from my glory days at the Sigma Chi Fraternity house in Clemson, in what was sure to always be a party that didn't disappoint. However unlike those parties, this day, October 20th, 2012, the men arrived in tuxedos to impress, moves to make you smile, and an array of songs that had me on the dance floor from the moment I was 'allowed' to be. It was a perfect weekend.  To kick-off 2013 Andreana and RJ tied-the-knot in Palmetto Bluff. Another beautiful weekend, surrounded by friends and dancing. Lots and lots of dancing...obviously

my favorite thing to do at a wedding, besides make best friends with the lead vocals, which comes natural anyway :) Another great thing about all these weddings is seeing some of my most favorite people. I was in Kaci (pictured on the right - the less tan of the two women who are not me) and Paul's wedding not too long ago, and it's just fun to see out of town friends all the time. Nonny (Andreana's alias) and RJ's wedding was perfect in every way. One way though that sticks out the most - - after the typical send off at the end of the reception, we were invited not back inside the reception tent but to the "after party" in the Inn. More open bars, a DJ, dance floor, and new reception. Amazing. Dance heaven. There were sides to some of my friends I've never seen before - for example - apparently the newest and latest dance moves are push-ups...in a dress...in the middle of a dance circle (8th grade sytle). Impressive? It was. 

So like I said, the season is heating up. Many to come, and unfortunately a few on the same day. I love weddings. I think they are a blast, +1 or not, and I think it's so sweet of people to include me in their special day. Here are the fun nuptials to come for 2013....and from what I've heard, there are a few more lingering. Secrets, Secrets!

Blake & Sally, Beth & Micah, Nat & Kathleen 

Rebecca & Branford, Jessica & Jonathan, Paige & John, Wes & Becca

Season Highlights



Coley and I love the Biebs



I did it. I caught the bouquet. For the first time, my midget height mixed with front row excitement, and I did it. It was mine. The odds were most likely in my favor since I've been to several weddings and never came remotely close. There seems to be such significance to catching the bouquet, too- something like, you are next in line to get married? Or something like that. Now of course, looking back I felt bad taking that experience away from the girls around me or who all have serious boyfriends, or well....a boyfriend at all, but at this wedding, Carolyn the bride, pretty much threw it right towards me. You can probably tell by my facial expression, that even I was shocked! Nay, thrilled! Especially if you saw the photo shoot Andrew and I (my friend who caught the garter) took on the dance floor. We thought we were on "So You Think You can Dance", or some other reality show battling it out. How embarrassing.....or not. We killed it...right. I am sure this was the first and last catch of the "season", wedding season that is. I have one more wedding on the fridge for this year and it's approaching quickly. My dear friends Coley and Evan. On October 20th they will tie the knot and will formally be known as Mr. and Mrs. Gault. Looking forward to next years weddings already, too! Nothing makes me happier than fun friends celebrating together. Especially when there is music and dancing involved. Which apparently when joined together leads me to stick out in a crowd. My friends Lauren and Meredith had the same photographer and as I'm dancing at Mers wedding, Lauren informed me that the photographer came up to her and said, "Is that the same girl from your wedding?". I guess I'm a real entertainer. I asked Lauren if I needed to tone it down a notch, and she said no. And I believe her. I guess when this body hears music, I just can't be tamed (Don't worry people my moves are conservative). Can't wait for nuptials and receptions to follow! Here's what I missed from this years.... Meredith & Andrew, Taylor & David, and Allison & Frankie's. What. A blast!

I'm baaAaack!

I went from posting every day there for a while to not posting at all. Perhaps its because I have moved and not signed up for Internet at my new place, or perhaps I have been busy, or maybe it's because I haven't gotten the urge to write anything. Or its all of the above. So I thought I could at least fill you in on what I have been doing. I last posted on the 22nd. Since then its been Memorial Day. That weekend I missed out on a bachelorette weekend for one of my favs - Taylor D. They went to the dirty Myrtle, while I stayed in Greenville attending Freedom Weekend Aloft. Our stations have a large role in the festival and this year we were visited by Gavin DeGraw, Colbie Caillat, and Eddie Money. It was a really nice night out and good thing, since I sweat like I stole something when there's warm weather. The following weekend I went to Carolyn and Randy's wedding in Clemson. It was amazing!


Also friends who sweat profusely, Carol, Randy, and I discussed how hot we were probably going to be as the wedding was outdoors, but someone called in a nice breeze and it was gorgeous weather. Lots of 'old' friends I haven't seen in a while and quite the college reunion. I caught the bouquet for the first time at any of the million weddings I have attended. I never really "go for it" but it was like Carol through it right at me, so I embraced it. My friend Andrew caught the garter and of course, in true college fashion, we had a photo shoot.
For some reason when I go back to Clemson, whether it's for a football game or an event like this, I seem to forget that I ever graduated. Whoops. Since the weather has been nice in Greenville, a handful of us have also fully embraced Downtown Alive - a downtown festival type thing every Thursday night from 5:30-8:30p at the North end of Main Street. They shut down part of the main road and have Budweiser trailers out on-site, as well as live music. A fun thing to do after work, that occasionally leads to karaoke. See what I 'may' mean here. In other news, our little Soybean, my niece Sawyer, has been growing like crazy! Her hair is out of control and her big Buddha belly is becoming a trademark special to her. Her words are forming and she is all over the place. She thinks she doesn't like the feel of sand, but what does a 1 year old know? I am determined to change her mind at Hennessey-Barham-Gunn-Tejara beach week. Counting down the the days to mayhem.

Next on the agenda for this weekend is the wedding of Meredith and Andrew. Staying in town for this one and am super excited to see it all go down. They are so great and I know it's going to be a blast. Mer and I lived together for the past year before we both moved into new places, and now her and Andrew are settled into their new home. I have never seen 2 people so efficient at DIY projects in my life. Their new house is beautiful. Proof that hard work and patience pays off. So excited for them! So I guess that's it for now, other than that driving to work this morning I passed a woman on an electric wheelchair coming towards me on an on ramp to busy HWY 85. I laughed and then questioned what I saw. Not sure where she was coming from or going, but next time I'll see if she needs a ride.

I Do!

Tony and Whitney
Married January 28, 2012

The start of 2012 wedding season has been a huge success. Perfect days, matched with crazy nights, and a little less traveling then last year. I started off 2012 with a bang! The Eikenberg - Pallia wedding was a 6 day affair for me. I flew into BWI in Maryland after work on a Wednesday and left Monday morning early enough to head straight to work. It was amazing. The Eikenberg family is like my own and growing up mine and Whitney's parents would have to pry us away from each others houses. We both grew up in similar families - 3 girls, 1 boy, same birth order, same neighborhood, same schools, and even dogs from the same litter. Two peas in a pod, that's for sure. Our humor and inside jokes are truly something of their own, and Tony, Whit's husband can testify for that. Sometimes I wonder if he was second guessing what he was getting himself into. Tony is the perfect match for Whitney and his family is just as amazing. Whitney and Tony had a rowdy wedding party, one I was delighted to be part of. They got married at the Tidewater Inn in Easton, MD. It was gorgeous!

The following weekend I got to head to another amazing party, the joining of Lauren and Mills Maxwell. I met Lauren in Clemson and Mills through Lauren, and have become really close with them while living in Greenville. Their wedding brought a new experience, and the most amazing DJ/Band experience I've seen. It was different and ridiculously entertaining. It was a DJ service, but they had a drummer and once the party got started they had multiple dancers, costume changes, props, etc. It was really fun and different. Check out the Electric Company. Props to Lauren and Mills for bringing something new to the table. I knew it was coming, but to most it was a surprise. I started to video tape the entrance but of course, just when you need a camera it's full, and I didn't want to miss any of the party so I put my camera down. A huge shock to those who know me well. Lauren and Mills had their reception at the Westin Poinsett Hotel in Greenville. It was goregous and a hot spot for weddings in this area. The food was amazing!

Lisa and Stephen tied the knot a few weeks later on April 21st at the Ryan Nicholas Inn in Simpsonville. This was the second wedding I had been to there and it was just as pretty as the last! A great place for a reception with an indoor/outdoor feel. Lisa and Stephen also had a DJ and the party got started very quickly :) Not a huge shock for the two of them are a blast! Lisa and Stephen are my soon-to-be neighbors, and I am pumped about that! Since the reception was a little bit away from downtown Greenville I took the liberty of ordering a bus for us "drinkers" to get back downtown safely. I had done this for a wedding before and its amazingly cheap for everyone and always works out well. If you ever need to do the same in the Upstate of SC, call up Bowers Signature Services. They are amazing to work with and super flexible! They have everything from small cars, to huge party buses, SUV's and/or passengers vans. Call them.

Next up to take the plunge is Carolyn and Randy. This one is a long time coming and I cannot wait to party in Clemson with them! It's going to be crazy!

also read: http://hennesseyhits.blogspot.com/search/label/%23MyWeddingWorkout

We have since added more cute couples to the list of soon-to-be's....

on to 2012

Another successful wedding weekend! The now married, Shawn and Keaira Huffman are off to beautiful St. Lucia! This was the last of the 2011 weddings that I will be able to attend - sad to be missing out on Kayla and Jason (soon to be Chalfant's) next weekend, but I will be working our Radiothon for the Children's Hospital here in Greenville, SC.


2012 shows great promise for another busy "Wedding Season". Lots of fun couples and most of them are 'local' which helps the calendar....and the wallet. That being said, many more engagement parties, showers, and bachelorette weekends to close out 2011's "Wedding Season". It never gets old, I love it. Thank goodness, too. I don't know what Bed, Bath, and Beyond would do without my business.






Kayla and Jason (far left) were roommates of mine at the beach one summer in the OBX. There were 11 of us in a house in Nags Head, NC and it was basically like "The Real World". 6 guys, 5 girls and quite the interesting mix. They get married next weekend and I have to miss it. I am extremely bummed. Not only is it back in our old stomping grounds (OBX) but its going to be like a giant reunion of our beach family - The Morning Doves.

Tony and Whitney (centered) get married in January 2012 and have asked me to be a part of it. I have accepted, obvi, and cannot wait to get crazy with them. Whitney was my childhood best friend and I basically lived at her house growing up. The wedding is back in MD where I grew up, so crabcakes and football, here I come.

Mills and Lauren get married the following weekend in February. I frequently crash at Hotel Maxwell after nights downtown, even though my house is just a miles away. Mills and Lauren are a fun couple who like to partake in social events themselves, which has made us really good friends. Their sense of humor is outstanding. This Greenville wedding is sure to get rowdy.

Stephen and Lisa have a really cool story on how they met. If you believe in fate, you're a fan of them. Not too far behind Lauren and Mills, they'll get married early Spring in Simpsonville - one town over from Gville. Lisa and I met when I moved to Greenville through mutual friends and became close instantly. Walks and gossiping about our latest disasters and successes have brought many laughs. I'm super excited for this one, too.

Randy and Carolyn. FINALLY! I have been waiting for this one for a while. They've been together since we lived in doorms and attended frat parties like we were the coolest chics around. A Clemson wedding and sure to be a shit show. I love getting together with them because its constant laughter. Especially listening to stories from /about Carol. Love.

Meredith is my roommate and will be marrying the handsome Andrew. Her dress is stunning and totally Mer. Andrew and I share the same birthday so of course he's legit ;) Kicking off June with a wedding in Greenville is just the right way to start the Summer. Elegant and Class - this one will be a good one.

Kristen, another one of my beach "besties" met Nick in dental school, so that means one day they will have their own practice and be loaded - right Swartz? They are hilarious and I can't wait to make the drive to VA to see them. It can't come soon enough.

I would love to call out the other couples that will soon be added to this list, but I don't want to jinx it. Not that I believe it would, but I'll leave the pressure to the girlfriends.

Here are few of the cute married couples from over the years.

Guess What!?! I'm....

I was on the 5 year plan in college and man, did I make it count. If there were/are 2 things I was/am great at it was/is drinking cold beverages and finding people to do it with. That's people to drink the cold icy beverages with (aka beer) not find dudes to sleep with... I can see where that might have come out wrong. Anyway, that has led to an ongoing joke at my office several years later (flash to present day) that every time an event date pops up, someone will turn to me and ask, "Wait, Lacey, do you have a wedding that weekend?". The answer is normally yes. If not a wedding, a bridal shower, engagement party, bachelorette weekend, etc. I use the phrase, "My friends are dropping like flies" to explain my social life lately. For some reason over the past year and a half a large group of my friends have all decided its time to take the plunge. I'm definitely in that age range so it's nothing out of the ordinary and almost all of them I saw the proposal coming, so that's a good thing I guess - not that it matters. It's like what happened several years ago where all those middle school girls teamed up and decided it'd be a good idea to get knocked up by their boyfriends at the same time; somewhere out in the Midwest or something. Only this time around its a bunch of guys buying expensive finger loops and girls throwing really pretty parties.  And a lot goes into throwing a wedding. I've had the real pleasure of attending 12 of these spectacles in 2011 and will be attending at least 7 in 2012.

Some of my friends have even asked me to be a part of them which has been a real pleasure. Sadly I had to miss out of the Dawson/Snipes nuptials due to being the MOH in my best friend from High Schools big day, but I managed to still be there.....thanks Duncan.

These have been some class A functions, and I've been super impressed. I feel like I've gained quite a bit of experience in the bridal department and here are my thoughts on some of the "important" details, take 'em or leave 'em.  

1. The phrase to the left is depressing. Not because I'm single going to all these weddings - trust me, that's the fun part - but the word "divorce". It happens, a lot. Did in my own family. But I can proudly say that EVERY wedding I have been too (thus far), I see lasting the long haul. I hope they agree.

2. Where do you draw the line? Invite who you want to invite and forget the rest. If you wouldn't go out to dinner with someone then they shouldn't be given a free meal on you. And if you are THAT girl or guy (usually girl) who feels you should have been invited, then they did the right thing by not inviting you.

3. Plus 1's go to those in serious relationships. Or to everyone at a large wedding. I find that I have the most fun at weddings without one. Use it as an opportunity boys and girls.

4. I love being part of a wedding. It's a front row seat, I've been blessed with nice dresses that I will actually wear again, and you get to go to the rehearsal dinners. Boom. Good food,  embarrassing stories, and even better drinks. I've been successful at having a monster hangover many atime the morning of a wedding. I should add 'rallying' to my resume.



5. Thank God for my 2011 Tax Return. Without it, honestly I don't know what I would have done. Its gross to think about the amount of money I have spent on friends this year. I know they'll do it for me, right?  Either way, weddings are a frickin blast. I hate it when I have to miss one.

I can always seem to justify spending the money, too. Especially when its something of a "life" landmark like getting married. There's a handful of couples I'm still waiting for any day now for one of them to call and tell me the good news - - that they are engaged, that another party is on the way, and that its time yell, "more champ please!"

wheeewh, sorry - I'm known for making a short story long. I have quite the amount of wedding knowledge, general opinion, and stories to tell from wedding weekends.....such as 2 bridesmaids (sisters of the bride and groom) getting food poisoning the night of the rehearsal. Yes, exactly like the movie "Bridesmaids". I'll touch on that another day.....I think its been long enough to look back and laugh, right Whit? Amy?