losing my bachelorette party *virginity* (:

one of my best friends, rachel redd [harman], was married on august 19, 2010... but that isn't what this post is about. rather, it is about the surprise bachelorette party that took place the week before.  i had never been to a bachelorette party, but i feel like this was a great one to lose my bachelorette party virginity to! (:

the party was held at rachel's fiancée (now husband) joe's house, because his sister was hosting it. we showed up at 6, and rachel was supposed to be there at 630... but she thought she was just painting her toes and having a girls night with joe's sisters... so no rush in getting there, i guess.  she finally showed up at about 730, and needless to say, she was utterly surprised.  the first words of her mouth were, "ah guys, you should have told me! i would have gotten ready!" ...clearly, rachel hasn't been taught the meaning of the word surprise.

 rachel, aka the "hot bride"

so, the goal of the evening was to break into groups and go on a digital scavenger hunt. basically, we had to take a camera around bountiful and take pictures of ourselves doing these crazy tasks.  each task got a certain amount of points, and the people with the most points got a prize. (:  my team consisted of me, hannah, rachel's mom kaylene, and rachel's older sister kristal. ...and i guess from here on out, i'll let the pictures do the talking!

task #1: get a picture in front of the bountiful temple (where rachel & joe were married) simple enough..right?

task #2: go to the bountiful rec center and get a boy to kiss you on the cheek. one bonus point if you can get a boy on each cheek.

so here's the story: i walk in and just yell "hey, we need some help." these kids just stare at me so i explain to them what is going on. they agree to help, but they want to put their skates on first. they took forever, and i was in a rush, so that didn't make for a very happy brielle. they definitely weren't cute enough to be wasting my time like that. so, we get out to the parking lot and i see these two super cute lifeguards walking to their car. of course, i jump on this opportunity and...

...get an adorable picture with these cutiepants (:

task #3: write a note to rachel on the wall at spoon me.

we get there, and realize spoon me is closed for construction. rachel's mom, being the brilliant school teacher she is, decides we should just write a note and stick it on the window. "rachel is the hottest bride ever. lucky joe!"

task #4: buy yourself a treat. get one bonus point if you have a boy buy it for you.

we decided it was kristal's turn to have a little fun, and this nice man offered to buy her a small soda! (:

task #5: do a handstand by the flip's sign.

if you can't tell, this is hannah. she is a handstand champ.  we didn't think anyone was in there until she finished her handstand and this lady walked out... awkward? i'm sure she was quite confused.

task #6: build a human pyramid outside cafe rio. one bonus point if you get strangers to join in.

these kind boys were nice enough to help me be the base of this lovely pyramid! apparently, we weren't the only group they helped.  i'm beginning to wonder if they just camped out outside of cafe rio all night long for this very purpose.

task #7: climb on the firetruck.

so we get to the fire station... no fire trucks. so kaylene tells us to "pretend like we're climbing". i dunno what hannah thinks she's climbing, but she's definitely not getting anywhere...

final task: do a cartwheel on the 50 yard line.

we seriously sprinted to the football field. uphill. in heels. my first cartwheel in a while... kind of hurt. 

so, after finishing all our tasks, we proceeded back to joe's house where we found out... we lost. but it was definitely fun anyway!

then came time for...present opening! (which is always an adventure at bachelorette parties, i hear.)  i just got rachel a simple vicky's gift card, but the other stuff she got was intense! ...lingerie, body paint, candy garters... a fake baby? haha i laughed the entire time... but i think rachel felt a little awkward having her future mother-in-law watch her open all her sexy little gifts!

me, rachel, hannah, & our gift (:

sadly, the night had to end sooner or later, and we made our way back to orem at about 10 or so.  even still, the bachelorette party was one of the most fun times i've had in a while!  i wish more of my friends would get married (not really guys!) so we could do it more often! (:

and of course...

good luck to the new MR. && MRS. JOE HARMAN! (: