Wedding Memories: The Aisle

Seating of the grandmothers...

The mothers...



And the nearly 2-year-old unofficial flower girl, accompanied by daddy.

She did not relish this role and sought refuge with Mamalaine. Her momentary howls were heard in the back.

I still blame the scratchy dress and the confusion of the day.

Mom seated, the boys are ready!

Bring on the ladies!

Holding up well to the pressure of going first and solo.

Listening to the voice in her head telling her not to hold her flowers too high.

Walking down the aisle? Been there, done that.

Classy.


If there's ever a time in a wedding when I well up a little, it's when it's the bride's turn to walk down the aisle. My own wedding started out as no exception.

No really, I'll be okay. Spare the make-up!

Aw shucks, how can I be anything but thrilled? When I saw all the faces of 200 people I love smiling back at me, I was too happy to ruin my make-up. Besides, I had the best view:

Wedding Memories: Here Comes the Groom

It has now been exactly two years since our wedding day. Between how long it feels and how short it feels, I suppose two years is just about right! We certainly have come a long way and been through a lot in two years. In just the last one, we had a Halloween party at our home, got pregnant again and had a miscarriage again, saved up money like crazy only to shed it all in the purchase of our first house, got pregnant a third time and now eagerly expect the arrival of our daughter in January, and went on many trips to visit family and see the world ourselves. All-in-all a bit easier year together than our first, and I can only expect each year will be better than the last!

It's also been over six months since my last "Wedding Memories" post, but I don't intend to give them up forever. So I'll just pick up right where I left off!

After I and my maids were done having our pictures taken in the church, it was time for us to disappear and make way for the men.

First and foremost, this handsome devil!

Brothers Andrew, Michael, Handsome Hubby, Paul and friend Lance. All the brothers look so different now!

Megan manned the guest book, while Donna and Phyllis (friends from the church office) prepared the informal reception for people coming to only the ceremony.

Before long, people started showing up for this:




My grandparents... and his.

As the top-notch brass quintet started to play...


It was time for me to emerge from my hidey-hole!

Wedding Memories: Church Arrival

It's really time to keep moving on this series before I forget every detail of that day almost 18 months ago. We left off with pictures in the garden in this post. Soon after that, we left for church.

When we arrived, the choir was warming up.

I couldn't pay attention long before feasting my eyes on floral wonderment. Our wonderful, fabulous florist absolutely came through. She took my ideas--fall theme, orange and green, bridesmaid dresses in "Vintage Pearl"--and came up with THIS:

Terra cotta roses. Mango calla lilies. Soft orange asiatic lilies. Buttery gerbera daisies. Hypericum berries and transparent oak leaves. I was there to marry Erich and all, but I kinda fell in love with my bouquet that day.

There were also transparent oak leaves in the pew ribbons.

That's Gina the florist in the back standing by my mom. She had set everything up and made sure it was just right. Before she left she visited me in my little waiting room, took my hands, and told me to enjoy the day and relax and everything will be great. She was the bomb. Meanwhile, my maids waited while I got a bunch of solo photos taken.

My extremely soon-to-be father-in-law, preparing for the service, stopped by to greet me:

Then I got some group photos with my maids. I look so much better with my jewelry on, and we all look better with flowers. I'm thinking these church shots put the garden photos to shame.

Wedding Memories: Garden Photos

I had decided that I wanted Magi, the photographer, to take pictures of me out in my parents' backyard. In retrospect, I'm not sure the photos are worth the amount of time it took, especially considering the fact that I had forgotten to put on my jewelry and the flowers were delivered directly to the church. The backyard pictures definitely would have looked better with jewelry and bouquets. Also, I envisioned more action photos of strolling through the garden, but they were pretty much all posed.

Okay, have I talked down the photos enough? They're not my favorite, obviously, but there were some good ones:

There were also some good ones of me with my lovely maidens:

With sister and Matron-of-Honor, Anne

Sister-in-law Erin

Friend Sarah

Friend Melissa



All of us

And last, but not least, one with my mother

All that smiling was starting to get tiring, and the day was still young!