And oh, what fun we had with the groomsmen and their kilts!  Dressed to the nines in traditional Scottish garb, they strutted their stuff with more manliness than you could ever ask for.  To add to this theme, a few family members performed a Scottish dance…with some awesome bagpipes!

Rachel and Jared, we can never forget you, or this memorable evening.  Here are a few of our favorites images, click here for the slideshow or scroll to the end of this post.

Slideshow:

In support of the Go Red for Women program (part of the American Heart Association), some buildings around San Diego were lit up in red.  The US Grant Hotel downtown was by far the most impressive.

And here are the lovely volunteers for the Go Red for Women campaign:

Women of all ages, this should be a concern for you.  It’s important to think about this with respect to every aspect of your life.  You can take this online Go Red Heart Checkup to assess your risk for heart disease.  And please, spread the word to your fellow women.

No detail was left unattended, Tranny Air was the complete package.  From homemade beverage carts plastered with the Tranny Air logo, to individual bags of salted peanuts also bearing the logo, to seatbelt and oxygen mask demonstrations, to coffee and cocktails, it was nothing but first class down the boulevard aboard Tranny Air.  The girls couldn’t walk 10 feet without cameras flashing them at every angle.  What a night!

The Tranny Air uniforms were all designed and handmade by the flight attendants themselves.  Wigs were primped, preened, and Aquanetted to perfection.  The girls trotted down the street amidst cries of delight as passerbys cheered them on.  But they were all business, making sure everyone’s seat backs and tray tables were in the upright and locked position.

Where am I in all of this?  I was the Official Flight Recorder this evening for Tranny Air, also known as “The Black Box.”

The girls openly shared their personal experiences with the programs and spoke about how their lives have been enriched by those experiences. They laughed and reminisced about how they worked together as a team. And at the end of each presentation, they warmed our hearts with their sincere and deep appreciation of the CCL mentors and program coordinators. I was so impressed with their excellent public speaking abilities and their willingness to get involved. I feel enriched after hearing them share what they’ve learned. CCL is truly a fantastic program, made possible by more wonderful women who devote their time and energy into mentoring these girls.

You go girls! You are the women of the future and it’s clear you will go on to achieve great things in life.

OK, enough smiling pretty. Let’s see the real you, girls!

Now that’s more like it!

Yay! We graduated and we love CCL!

Becky Lee, YWLP Program Manager, congratulates each graduate as they receive their certificate. This girl wears her heart on her sleeve, and it really showed tonight. The pride on her face was unmistakable. Becky Lee is awesome!

Aimée Cabanding was the planning force behind this flawless graduation ceremony. Thanks again Aimée for inviting us!

Here is Skip trying to bribe one of the judges.

The lovely trophy for grilling the best beef.

Check out Skip and Carey’s reactions as Dana revealed the vote count.  Can you guess who won?

The contestants with the happy and well-fed judges.

Skip showing he can be a good sport.

The delightful Arlene Evans of WPPI.

Skip had this little surprise for Carey after the competition.

And here’s Molly, Carey’s dog, relaxing and enjoying the fun of BBQ Smackdown 2008.

What an awesome event!  Carey and Skip were able to raise $1000 for the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation.  I can’t wait for next year to see if Skip can come back and dethrone Carey!

The best thing about BBQ Smackdown is that all the proceeds go towards the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation  (NILMDTS).  This amazing foundation has a network of over 5,000 volunteer photographers, ready to document the shortest of lives, the life of a baby born and lost.  A time of rejoicing and new life is sometimes turned upside down into a time of grieving.  You can read more about the cause here.

If there are any other photographers out there interested in going to the Smackdown, let me know!