Angie Sliger Photography

What’s an Ironman????  It’s an absurd race that crazy people do.  First they swim 2.4 miles in open water, then they bike 112 miles on their bicycle and last they run 26.2 miles……all in one day.  If you’re like me you are thinking “why?”.  They say it’s the challenge and that it’s fun.  That’s why I call them crazy, but whatever.

So why does this have anything to do with being a bride?  Let me tell you.  Missy, my best friend, signed up for this crazy race one year ago.  Yep!  She planned, trained and prepared for one year……..JUST LIKE YOU!!!  She was excited, nervous, happy, frustrated.  She laughed a bunch, and I think she even cried some too.  She wished away the days to get that much closer to the big event.  She invited her family and friends to the race that was being held down in Panama City.  So it was a “destination event” in our vocabulary )  Once we arrived at the beach, a few days before the race, we finalized the remain details.  Heck, they even had a special dinner, or better known to us as a rehearsal dinner.  I kept telling her through out the whole week that this was like a wedding, but skip the silk, cake and flowers and enter the polyester, race number belt and complex sugars.

On race day she stayed calm and ended up having a stellar race time at 12 hours and 20 minutes.  We were able to see her and cheer for her at each event.  It took all day and I saw her 35 seconds total…….but man it was worth it.  I was so proud of her and all the others that I knew doing the race (Jere, Dee-Dee, Abby, Rebecca, Mark).  I think that you can see that I hang with some super freaks!!!

The day after the race I think she was soar, tired and ready to sleep for a week……..Just like you!!!!  She was sad it was over, although her husband was glad to have his girl back…..Just like your fiance!!!!!  The one difference between a bride and an Ironman is that we hope she gets to experience this big event again…….

Missy at the bike rack

Missy looking back at me during the swim

Missy at mile 70 on the bike

Mile 4 of the run

Missy Hulbert, 35, from Franklin TN, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!!

She's still silly after 12 hours of hell

Someone is getting hot meals again

Okay, Kelly and Will had more fun than anyone should ever have.  They were married at St. Henry’s and had me fooled with outstanding behavior the whole time at the church.  Actually, there were a few times I had a hint of what was to come, but over all they really held it together.

This dress was amazing, because it was amazing on Kelly!!!  The ladies over at Faccio sold her this dress!!!  They are amazing and if you are looking for a gown you must check them out!!!!

After a beautiful ceremony, and on the way out of the church to go to the reception, I heard the boom box screaming the Beastie Boys.  Love it!!!

Once at the Traveler’s Rest we finished up our pictures.  This was a blast because everyone had loosened up by this point.

Finally we went to a party!!!

They danced and danced and danced and sang and sang and sang!  When it was time to go they didn’t want to!

They are trying soooo hard to be good )

Alex and Reagan are finally 4!!!  I get to see them once a year and I love them more each time.  Cheri, their mom, is constantly apologizing and giving me a little something extra when she pays me.  I actually shot Cheri and Chad’s wedding way back in the late 1900′s.  Obviously we stay in touch!!!!!  They Rock!!!!