Today was the day I planned to tell you about my sister’s wedding (finally). Today’s the day I turned 33 (a palindrome once more!). Today is also the day we’ve been sitting around twiddling our thumbs in hopes they’d transfer my dad from TriStar Centennial Medical Center to Vanderbilt’s Stallworth therapy facility (still didn’t happen—insurance companies sure don’t make things easy, do they?).

So as you can imagine, this past week has not exactly gone as any of us planned.

But who can ever plan for such things like a massive stroke that comes on without warning? Life is unpredictable, so even the most Type A-ers like myself have to learn to adapt as it ebbs and flows. Or at least surrender to the sobering fact that we can’t always be in control of every situation.

These past nine days have been tough for everyone in my court—my mom is a complete champ when it comes to handling difficult situations with patience and grace, so let’s just put that out in the open—but to those of you who have reached out, sent Tweets or Snaps, come to visit the hospital or simply emitted love into the universe at our expense, thank you. We’re hopeful for a stellar recovery and lucky that our family is all so close by to be here for dad through the rehab process.

Has there ever been a more appropriate and non-ironic time to use the term #blessed? If ever I truly meant it, that occasion is now.

But onto the fun part—let’s take a trip back in time to September for “the royal wedding” (as we refer to it internally), shall we?

Style Blueprint did a lovely write-up on Kari and Josh this week, how they met and their metaphorical (and literal) journey to the altar. Let’s just say, the Zen yin to my sister’s slightly dramatic yang? That’s Josh in a nutshell.

If you dig love stories like that, I urge you to click through and read all about their origins—peppered with a bit of scandal (they were co-workers at a Big Four firm! oh the horrors!)—followed by a retelling of their engagement here.

I’m obsessed with my perfect princess of a sister, and her husband is a pretty awesome dude, too, so I think you should head on over there and read more about these atypical accountants. Seriously, was ever there a cuter bride and groom?

But I’m not overly sappy (usually), so I’ll give you the down-and-dirty details instead of the lovey-dovey ones.

It was decided very early on—by whom, I’m not sure—that Kari and Josh would get hitched in our hometown of Tullahoma. First of all, getting married in your hometown when you’re Southern means that you’re looking at a wedding of a couple hundred folks, minimum. Don’t believe me? Just watch.

That’s what 500 people spread out over one massive lawn looks like. So space was the first issue we dealt with, but then when we found a farm that was essentially a blank slate, Mom nailed down a date and we all collectively zeroed in on a plan. If ever the term “it takes a village” held true, it was planning such a soiree with limited resources.

While having a blank slate is definitely nice if you have a vision, it’s also a real pain in the you-know-what, having to bring in every last thing from the portable toilets right down to the generators.

Mom consulted her long-time pals Myra and Lynn, who have spearheaded many an event design for her in the past. They brought together her dream wedding—I mean, we all know it’s actually the mother-of-the-bride’s big day and has little to do with the bride and groom, right?—did the flowers and pulled together the thousand-and-one details such a big event requires to make it the picture-perfect wedding everyone envisioned.

And can we talk about how adorable the flower girl and ring bearer were? I die.

Joe Hendricks did such a perfect job at capturing the entire event as it unfolded that I cannot recommend a better wedding photographer for future brides—in both Nashville and beyond.

I may have had an even better time at Josh and Kari’s wedding than my own—probably because I wasn’t the center of attention and could enjoy all the finer details for a change—and am ready to do it all over again! They might disagree on that part, but come their 10-year anniversary (or maybe even 5), I propose one mega follow-up shindig.

All photos courtesy of the loveliest wedding photographer, Joe Hendricks. Event design and flowers by the unflappable Myra Farr & Lynn Ramsey. Bridal hair and makeup by the uber-talented Brenna Mader. Catering by the rockstars at Natural Bridge Events. The most delicious wedding cake straight out of Sunshine Cake Shop. Dreamy music by Innocenti Strings Quartet (ceremony) and Party Planet (reception). Kari’s dress by Watters WTOO from Arzelle’s Bridal. Bridesmaids’ dresses by Dessy, Adrianna Papell and Bill Levkoff. Invitations and programs designed by Kari and our mom. Bridal party makeup by Mallory Spasoff. All equipment rentals from Christopher Equipment Rental / Master of Ceremonies. Beer from Ole Shed Brewing and libations from Liquor Locker. Favors from Goo Goo Cluster.