...and had a Big Party...

When Hub saw pictures of our cake, he said, " Wow!  Our cake really was pretty. I bet it tasted good, too."  We wouldn't know.  That's right, ladies and gentlemen, the bride and groom missed out on the cake.  It's a hard life.

This is the moment we thought the band was playing the wrong song.  Turns out, we were mistaken.

Once we figured out it really was "our song" and we should be dancing, we decided to forgo the steps we'd learned at dance class and just sway.  We felt only slightly guilty.  The slight guilt left us when friends promised to tell our instructor that we had done a beautiful job.  That's what friends are for.

We were briefly instructed on how to cut our pieces of the cake.  Personally, I found the instructional help to be lacking, as we followed directions, but it didn't seem to go properly. Therefore, we had to have assistance.  At least we look like we know what we're doing in the picture, right?

This is how much cake we had.  Really, you can't even call it a piece.  It was more like the tiniest of tiny crumbs.

This is the little Princess singing, "and I was like baby, baby, baby, ooh. like baby, baby, baby, nooo. like baby, baby, baby oooh, thought you'd always be mine, mine....and i was like baby, baby, baby, ooh. like baby, baby, baby, nooo. like baby, baby, baby ooh, thought you always be mine, mine...and i was like" for the fiftieth time.  Such a precious memory, as well as my favorite part of the wedding video.

They caught my bouquets!  Kanis actually caught two.  We still aren't sure what that means.

We danced a little before we left.

Then we walked into our happily ever after.

July 24, 2010: We All Got Ready...

I woke up on the morning of my wedding earlier than necessary but pretended to still be sleeping.  I couldn't field questions from my mother about how I was feeling or see my father's sentimental glances my way as he tried to change the subject.  I know that's what it would have been like because that's how my little family of three operates.  I bet my parents were secretly a little happy that the bride-to-be didn't come bounding down the steps before necessary, too.  They needed time to think just like I did.  When I couldn't wait any longer, I got out of bed, finished packing my suitcase for my honeymoon, set the suitcase outside my door, and locked myself inside.  I looked out the window a little and sprawled myself out on the bed.  My thoughts were too many, too fast, so I hushed them.  


I took a long, hot shower.  When the water cooled enough to stop tingling my skin, I turned the knob for more heat.  Once I had washed my hair and my face and my body, I cried.  I cried tears of joy for the path of life I'd be choosing to follow, and I whispered prayers of gratitude for how blessed my life had been.  I cried for the paths of life that I had chosen not follow, the paths I had turned away from.  I cried for all the people I loved so dearly who had traveled so far to see Hub and I get married.  I cried for all the people who couldn't be there, the ones I needed so desperately.  And once I was done with my sadness, I turned my heart back to joy and gratitude, and I cried a little more.  


After my shower, I dried my hair and brushed my teeth and put on my "getting ready pajamas," and I made my way downstairs.  My parents and I made small talk over a bite to eat.  My mother and I went over the day's itinerary for the millionth time.  We watched a slideshow of pictures and got a little teary eyed. 


My bridesmaids arrived for lunch, and, for the first time, I was really nervous.  I thought it unwise to alarm anyone on the morning of the wedding, so I sat quietly as my mind spun webs of insecurity and fear, and when I had had enough of that, I shut it down.  I made my thoughts line up, and I worked through each of them until I was satisfied, until I knew for certain that I what I was about to do was right.  I rejoined the party while we finished lunch and flipped through the channels and laughed.


All the getting ready went just fine.  Well, mostly fine.   We ran a little late.  Mom's dress was altered incorrectly in the front, but after some creative snipping and pep talking, she looked stunning.  Too and Kitty put me in my dress; God bless their hearts.  They were troopers.  Just before we started our girl pictures, the house was a wreck.  Everyone was running in a million different directions, and every need was urgent.  Charles found my misplaced lipstick, Kitty helped me in my shoes.  I secured my veil with the proper tips from all my girls.  


The pictures with my bridesmaids and parents went well, and they all left to take their proper places.  Daddy and I stayed behind.  Martha, the wedding planner's assistant, was more nervous than we were, I think.  She kept running outside and back into the kitchen and worrying over how to get the doors opened and shut and locked.  Dad and I laughed about her.  I think she was good comic relief.  I don't remember what else Daddy and I talked about while we stood in the kitchen and waited for our time to go.  I just remember that I was happy, and I was ready.


When Martha came back for the hundredth time, it was finally time to go.  Daddy and Martha helped me get myself all tucked in the golfcart, and I kept praying that my veil or my train wouldn't get loose and be run over. Some teenage girls passing by told me how lovely I looked, and I thanked them. I stayed properly tucked in for the one hundred foot drive and took my place in line behind the bridesmaids.  Everyone smiled and told me I was gorgeous.  Too hugged me and Kitty held my hand.  I took deep, steady breaths as each bridesmaid vanished inside.


After the last one was in, the wedding planner shut the chapel door.  Daddy and I were positioned and my veil was fluffed.  Then my wedding planner gave me the best advice.  She said, "Okay, Jessica.  It's time.  This is all going to go really fast.  So, take a deep breath, and pay attention.  You want to take this all in, look at everything, or you'll miss it.  And you don't want to miss the best day of your life.  Take some mental pictures, make some memories."


I took my deep breath. When she asked if I was ready, I nodded, with a smile, and she opened the door.

...and We Welcomed Everyone with a Party.

Before we left for Florida, I had a pretty good idea of who would attend my wedding.  By the time the Welcome Party rolled around, I had completely forgotten.  I think this was a good thing to forget because I found myself constantly pleased to see someone else, excited that he or she would be present for the big day (as if the days leading up to the "big day" hadn't been "big" enough). 

After the Welcome Party, I wanted to be with my Hub and my friends.  I hadn't planned to feel that way, but I did. So, we all went back to bridal party's house.  We sat in the living room and chatted and laughed.  We were loud and silly and I think I could've stayed there forever, at least until the food ran out.  If I let myself get quiet, though, the back of my mind started whispering, "you're getting married tomorrow, you know?"  I think Hub's mind was whispering to him, too.  I could tell by the look on his face. 

When I got ready to go Hub drove me home, and I can't for the life of me remember what we talked about, but I'm sure it had something to do with how quickly life passes and how impossible it seemed that tomorrow we'd be married.

July 23, 2010: The Ladies had a Luncheon...

The dining room was quaint and daintily decorated in shades of blue.  We gathered around tables and nibbled our salads in between stories and giggles and photo opportunities. When we'd finished our fruity dessert and the last photo had been taken, we all went our separate ways with hugs and well wishes and see you tonights.  It was just a little luncheon with some of the most important women in my life, but I think it was a luncheon I'd always dreamed about.  I felt calm.  I felt ready.  I was ready to get married. I was ready to grow into the woman I so desperately want to become.  I was ready to accept advice.  I was ready to believe in something bigger than myself.  I was ready, really ready, to walk down the aisle.  Saturday was coming, and I was ready.

...and had Dinner.

The food was delicious and the atmosphere delightful, but the company was even better.  The rehearsal dinner was the time when our friends and family toasted to Hub and me.  They told funny stories and said the nicest things and everyone laughed a little and cried a little bit more.  I don't recall another time in my life that I have felt so loved, so appreciated, so special.

The time spent at Bistro Bijoux in the picturesque party room illustrated more brilliantly than any other life experience the true meaning of family, of love.  Family isn't only about flesh and blood.  Family is about love and friendship and honesty and trust. I firmly believe you can be somebody's sister or brother or cousin or niece or nephew without a single relative in common.  I know this to be true because of the people in my life who have taken care of me, leaned on me, believed in me, and loved me.  
These people are my sisters and brothers and uncles and extra mothers and cousins and nieces and nephews.  These people raised me.  These people have tested me.  They have seen me fail.  They have seen me succeed. They have made me a better person. They have taught me about love and life and hope and happiness, and for them, I am eternally grateful.
Knowing these people is an honor; loving them is a privilege; and being loved by them is a blessing far too immeasurable to put into words.

July 22, 2010: We Rehearsed...

The wedding rehearsal was surreal.  One groomsman was violently ill, another was missing, and we'd forgotten to bring the marriage license.  We didn't start on time; I got the evil eye from many for not adequately publicizing that there would be cameras; after running around and worrying and wanting everything to be perfect, I just sat down.  I gave up.  I talked to my friends and my family and my soon-to-be groom.  I let it all go; I was happy.


Everything started and finished just fine, except that I never started paying attention.  I had someone else play my part and walk down the aisle; I answered a few questions and changed a few things; but, other than that, I remained unconcerned.  I had finally resigned to the fact that no matter what happened in that chapel on Saturday, everything would be fine.  Maybe it would've been helpful to listen to Mr. Lou talk about what was going to happen, but I didn't.  Maybe I should've sat closer to the front so that I could interject my thoughts, but I didn't.  I just sat and watched and started to understand.  I started to understand that Hub and I really were getting married.  I started to understand that all of the preparations and stress and worry and fun had come down to this.  It was time.  It was time for me to decide that the memories surrounding my wedding weekend would be fun and joyous and entertaining and stress free as possible. So, I decided that I was done worrying and perfecting.  Things would turn out alright.  The good Lord would take care of me, of us, and He did.  Of course, He did.


When I write down all these feelings I had and these decisions I made in a one hour time span, it sounds so serious and deep, but it wasn't.  I was bored.  I was ready to leave.  I already knew about everything that was happening because I had played the tape in my head over and over of what my wedding would look like.  I knew everything would be just fine, just beautiful because I'd already seen it a million times.  Finally, I was confident that everything really would be absolutely, positively perfect.  And I understood that any piece of the wedding that didn't turn out absolutely, positively perfect would be out of my control, anyway, and probably wouldn't matter in a week's time.


It was a beautiful revelation.

Thank You Isn't Good Enough

Remember day before yesterday when I said I'd be back tomorrow to talk about my bridal party?  It looks like I meant the day after tomorrow which would be today which would mean I'm right on schedule.  Right?  Right.  Okay, here we go.

This picture of all of us outside the chapel and the one on the beach are two of my absolute favorites from the wedding.
Aren't we all just precious? ;)

Here I am with all of the boys. Starting with the upside down one and going clockwise, you have: Jakie, the Prince, Dubbie, Tylando, Will D., Jimmy(the one you can barely see), Ando, and Caber.

The bridesmaid's didn't get as crazy, perhaps due to the dresses.  I don't want to leave the impression that they're lame or anything because they're pretty awesome.  Starting from the left: Kanis, Too, Hub, the Princess, Kitty, Tater, and Charles.

UNRELATED TO POST: Perhaps I should add  a little note about nicknames.  I use many, but not all, of these nicknames in real life.  Mostly the girls' are real and useable, the boys' are a little less so.  I go with nicknames on my blog because I don't think it's fair to plaster someone's name all about the internet.  I just thought you'd like to know that. :)

I conceived this whole notion of appreciation for my bridal party to start off the posts about my wedding quite a while ago. The execution of this, however, has been a little tricky.  I had a million different ideas, and every, single one of them seemed inadequate.  Finally I realized that I can't adequately describe how much these lovely ladies and gentlemen mean to me.  Each of them contributed to the fun of the wedding weekend.  They weren't just there to take up space.  They were there because Hub and I love them all very dearly.  These people are more than friends; they're our family.  They're my brothers and sisters.

Each of them, in their own special way, has taught me what true friendship is and what it means to be able to count on people. I feel so blessed that my bridal party ended with these very special people in it; I feel so blessed that my bridal party ended up containing the people I truly wanted to stand next to Hub and I as we took our vows.

I consider it an honor that each of them so enthusiastically agreed to participate in the wedding festivities, but, more than that, I consider it an honor to know each of them.  They are beautiful men and women who will change the face of this earth for the better.

6 Months, and I Forgot.

Hub and I have been married six months today! Don't worry, that's not what I forgot.  These past six months have flown by, and I've enjoyed every  minute.  Except those minutes I was really, really sick after our honeymoon. Since it's been six whole months and my mouth has been shut about it, I think it's time to talk about my wedding.  Right after our wedding, we went on a cruise for a week, drove to Atlanta, then to Arkansas, packed all our stuff, some sickness was trying to kill me, moved to Louisville, and good gracious I was too exhausted to talk!  Believe it or not, my friends, that last sentence is no exaggeration.  It was a whirlwind, maybe 25 whirlwinds.  I can't be certain.  After we got settled I wanted to write about our wedding, but I didn't know what to say.  Things like, "IT WAS SO COOL!!!" "It was the most funnest ever!" "Hub and I were married in a fairytale setting.." etc, etc.  just didn't seem right.  I needed time to process.  I think I've had plenty, so here we go.  If you'd like to read about how it all got started, click here for our engagement story.  (If that' link isn't working for you, I'm sorry. I don't know why.  If you're still curious, check out October 2009. The Ouachita Trial. )



On another note, I forgot to post Sunday Snippets yesterday because I'm a failure at life.  Actually, that's not true. :) I forgot to post Sunday Snippets yesterday because this apartment has turned into Project City.  When you figure out all the different projects I spent my weekend on, you'll forgive.  Mostly I'm just talking to my dad.  He hounds about these things.  Anyway, more on Project City later.

Stop by tomorrow for some Bridal Party Appreciation. :)

Back to Blogging.

I took a blogging break so that I could live a little.

My agenda?

-Go to Florida.

-Get married.

-Go on a cruise.

-Go to Atlanta.

-Go to Arkansas.

-Pack to move.

-Move to Louisville.

-Unpack.

-I think you get the drift....

So, now that all the traveling and craziness has settled down (has it?), I'm back to blogging again. I'm glad to be back. It's a routine, and right now, Hub and I are both craving some routine. We moved one week ago tomorrow, and our days have consisted of Target runs, unpacking boxes, trips to the dumpster, arranging furniture, Kroger runs, etc, etc. There is no real method to the madness, but things are starting to come together.

I promise to blog about the wedding and cruise and fun festivities, and I promise to blog about moving and post pictures of our cute new place at the Crescent. (Eventually).

It's good to be back. :)

One to Go

Exactly one month from today, Hub and I will be married. We'll go back to visit the beautiful chapel, but I'll be in a gorgeous white dress instead of a pretty white coat and he'll be in a handsome tuxedo instead of a cute button up. Then, before we even know it, it'll all be over and just beginning all at the same time.