The Fiesta Fellowship!

The Friday night "Fiesta Fellowship" was definitely a highlight of the wedding weekend! Katelin and Nathan had dreamed up this event as an opportunity to connect with their out of town guests as well as close friends and family before their wedding day. They knew that with over 300 people expected for the wedding, time with guests at the reception would be very limited. The purpose of the fiesta was to enjoy a fun time in a casual setting with those who had made such an effort to be present for the big event.

The evening started off with volleyball and outdoor play at our neighborhood community center, followed by a delicious dinner of chili, chips, and cookies! After dinner, a Family Talent Show took place with the theme being - what else? - Katelin and Nathan's marriage! We had about 16 "acts" for the show and it was a riot! I loved seeing the creativity of the various families present shine forth! We had poems, skits, and songs - some serious, some hilarious. It was a night full of laughter for sure!

Mema and Papa sample the salsa. :-)

My adorable cousin, Madison, enjoying the playground swing.

Having a ball playing volleyball. Eventually, there were so many players, they had a Round Robin competition going with different groups rotating in to take the court every time the ball hit the ground. It was crazy!

My Arkansas cousins - Katherine, James, and Megan.

Dinner is served!

Friends enjoying fellowship together!

Madison and her mama.

The Rebsch and Day families are introduced.

Katelin and Nathan tell their love story.

130 dear friends and family gathered to celebrate with us!

The Talent Show is underway! This is the Bridges family from Dallas sharing a delightful song they wrote about "Kate and Nate."

The Baumgartner family all the way from Nebraska performed a skit about the recipe for a successful marriage.

These two little guys sang a wedding version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." It was adorable!

The Loo family did a skit using Hannah's head and John's arms, showing Katelin preparing for her wedding day. :-)

Tara and Kelly performed the famous "Sister, Sister" song, posing as Katelin and Katrina. (Tara wore a brown wig just for the occasion!) Their act was actually a medley of songs from various musicals that they selected, choreographed, and even wrote customized words for to fit the event. It was amazing!

Katelin and Nathan look on with chuckles!

The 13-member Courter family from Tennessee blessed us all with a song in 5-part harmony about God's will. They really should record a CD. Their a capella music was absolutely glorious!

7 year old Gracie took the state and perfomed a beautiful solo piece also about God's will.

Another beautiful family harmony piece by the Pedersen clan from the Sacred Harp.

Mrs. Powell had us rolling with laughter as she recited her piece of prose called the "Pee Little Thrigs."

Tara, Kelly, and I wrapped up the talent show with the benediction blessing from Numbers 6, sung to the tune of Edelweiss. It was a song we used to sing to close out Maiden's Quest retreats. Katelin wanted it in her wedding, but when that didn't work out, we decided to sneak it into the talent show.

Posing for the camera......
No comment.

Fellowshipping into the night!

P.S. If any of the above pictures are grainy or unclear, you can click on the photo to view a bigger version of it.

Photos courtesy of Hannah Coen and Katherine Dalby