starsthrumysoul
06-29-2009, 03:14 PM
I'M MARRIED!!!!!!!! :jphappy:
I had the most wonderful, beautiful, memorable day! I can't wait until our pics are ready so I can post!!!!
Paul and I didn't do the traditional "don't see each other before the ceremony" thing.. we spent the night together the night before, and even had pictures taken before the ceremony.
On Saturday we woke up... I head out before he did to the hotel that we were staying at that night. All of my bridesmaids and my mom and brother (my man of honor) met us there and we got our hair and make-up done. Everyone looked SOOOOO gorgeous, I could not believe it. I let everyone do whatever they wanted with their hair and make-up (shoes too), which I liked better than every girl looking exactly the same. My aunt brought me my dress (which I had forgotten to pick up at the bridal shop the day before!) and also some bagels for everyone. We had fun getting ready, though it took longer than I thought it would (about 4 hours for 8 girls!).
Once all ready, we met the boys downstairs (they were getting ready in another hotel room). Paul looked so incredibly handsome in his tux, clean shaven, gel in his hair. I could not believe how well he cleaned up from the night before (wearing shorts and a t-shirt to our rehearsal dinner! Granted, it was a backyard picnic...). We had a wonderful first moment together, and then were on our way.
From there we headed to two different locations to get pictures - a park, and then this area on Main street in the town we were getting married in that had a pretty alleyway with an arch in it. Then it was on to the wedding.
The girls and I hung out in a special room until the wedding started. It was nice and cool, and they had stocked it with drinks and snacks and all. Before I knew it, it was time.
There was a long hallway that we walked down before we got to the ceremony site. We were waiting for a long time, so I figured I had time to run to the bathroom (I was standing right by the door). So one of my girls helped me in. It was so annoying trying to hike up all those layers of tool of my dress and slip to be able to go! Then, right as I sat down, the wedding coordinator came in and said "they've started playing the music and everyone's waiting for you!" I was in such a rush to get out that I only got my underwear up around my thighs, and there they stayed through the entire ceremony!
It was wonderful - it was so beautiful outside, sunny and warm. I could not take my eyes off of Paul as I walked toward him. His smile was bigger than I have ever seen it. My dad handed me over, gave Paul a hug, and said that he couldn't imagine anyone better for me. And then the ceremony began. My girlfriend Megan had gotten ordained for the event and was our "reverend." She spoke so eloquently, and projected well (we were outside and our coordinator had forgotten the microphone). She welcomed everyone and talked about love and committment. Then, my cousin Jessie read an excerpt from the velveteen rabbit that we had chosen. She too did a wonderful job. Then we had the community (our guests) stand to take vows that they would support us. Then we had our musicians play (and sing) "what a wonderful world." Everything was so wonderful, and I could just not help but think the entire time that this could not have been more perfect.
Then, I read my vows. I felt so proud of myself for getting through them without crying. But I wasn't so lucky for Paul's vows - the things he said were so incredible (I'll post later)... Paul's usually not sooooo good with words, so it just hit me like a train.. I teared up, and at the end he pulled a tissue out of his pocket for me and everyone awwed. We then exchanged rings, with Paul putting my ring first on the wrong finger (everyone got a chuckle). Then, before I knew it, it was over and we were sharing our first kiss as husband and wife.
It was all so amazing. Later on a girlfriend told me that she took a video of the ceremony on her digital camera, so I can't wait to see it (we didn't have a videographer). The reception was incredible - the food was good, the music was good, people danced.. We had a blast. Both his and my brother made beautiful toasts, and I even had a special moment with his brother later on that night when I was looking for someone to pull our car up to load in everything we needed to take with us. He took the keys from me and said "I'll go get it for you, sis. I can call you that now!" It really touched me...
After we went back to the hotel, we hung out with friends for about an hour and then headed to bed. Don't worry... we had time for us too :)
What amazed me about myself is that I never once felt one bit nervous the entire day long. I really enjoyed everything, stayed cool, and went with the flow. It was so easy, and I chalk that up to loving Paul so much and being so happy about permanently committing myself to him.
I think it'll take a while before it sinks in that we're married... I still feel weird calling him my husband :-P
P.S. For those of you who read about our trouble with his mother, it was all resolved and she was there. I mean, there's some damage done but we've all made up.
I had the most wonderful, beautiful, memorable day! I can't wait until our pics are ready so I can post!!!!
Paul and I didn't do the traditional "don't see each other before the ceremony" thing.. we spent the night together the night before, and even had pictures taken before the ceremony.
On Saturday we woke up... I head out before he did to the hotel that we were staying at that night. All of my bridesmaids and my mom and brother (my man of honor) met us there and we got our hair and make-up done. Everyone looked SOOOOO gorgeous, I could not believe it. I let everyone do whatever they wanted with their hair and make-up (shoes too), which I liked better than every girl looking exactly the same. My aunt brought me my dress (which I had forgotten to pick up at the bridal shop the day before!) and also some bagels for everyone. We had fun getting ready, though it took longer than I thought it would (about 4 hours for 8 girls!).
Once all ready, we met the boys downstairs (they were getting ready in another hotel room). Paul looked so incredibly handsome in his tux, clean shaven, gel in his hair. I could not believe how well he cleaned up from the night before (wearing shorts and a t-shirt to our rehearsal dinner! Granted, it was a backyard picnic...). We had a wonderful first moment together, and then were on our way.
From there we headed to two different locations to get pictures - a park, and then this area on Main street in the town we were getting married in that had a pretty alleyway with an arch in it. Then it was on to the wedding.
The girls and I hung out in a special room until the wedding started. It was nice and cool, and they had stocked it with drinks and snacks and all. Before I knew it, it was time.
There was a long hallway that we walked down before we got to the ceremony site. We were waiting for a long time, so I figured I had time to run to the bathroom (I was standing right by the door). So one of my girls helped me in. It was so annoying trying to hike up all those layers of tool of my dress and slip to be able to go! Then, right as I sat down, the wedding coordinator came in and said "they've started playing the music and everyone's waiting for you!" I was in such a rush to get out that I only got my underwear up around my thighs, and there they stayed through the entire ceremony!
It was wonderful - it was so beautiful outside, sunny and warm. I could not take my eyes off of Paul as I walked toward him. His smile was bigger than I have ever seen it. My dad handed me over, gave Paul a hug, and said that he couldn't imagine anyone better for me. And then the ceremony began. My girlfriend Megan had gotten ordained for the event and was our "reverend." She spoke so eloquently, and projected well (we were outside and our coordinator had forgotten the microphone). She welcomed everyone and talked about love and committment. Then, my cousin Jessie read an excerpt from the velveteen rabbit that we had chosen. She too did a wonderful job. Then we had the community (our guests) stand to take vows that they would support us. Then we had our musicians play (and sing) "what a wonderful world." Everything was so wonderful, and I could just not help but think the entire time that this could not have been more perfect.
Then, I read my vows. I felt so proud of myself for getting through them without crying. But I wasn't so lucky for Paul's vows - the things he said were so incredible (I'll post later)... Paul's usually not sooooo good with words, so it just hit me like a train.. I teared up, and at the end he pulled a tissue out of his pocket for me and everyone awwed. We then exchanged rings, with Paul putting my ring first on the wrong finger (everyone got a chuckle). Then, before I knew it, it was over and we were sharing our first kiss as husband and wife.
It was all so amazing. Later on a girlfriend told me that she took a video of the ceremony on her digital camera, so I can't wait to see it (we didn't have a videographer). The reception was incredible - the food was good, the music was good, people danced.. We had a blast. Both his and my brother made beautiful toasts, and I even had a special moment with his brother later on that night when I was looking for someone to pull our car up to load in everything we needed to take with us. He took the keys from me and said "I'll go get it for you, sis. I can call you that now!" It really touched me...
After we went back to the hotel, we hung out with friends for about an hour and then headed to bed. Don't worry... we had time for us too :)
What amazed me about myself is that I never once felt one bit nervous the entire day long. I really enjoyed everything, stayed cool, and went with the flow. It was so easy, and I chalk that up to loving Paul so much and being so happy about permanently committing myself to him.
I think it'll take a while before it sinks in that we're married... I still feel weird calling him my husband :-P
P.S. For those of you who read about our trouble with his mother, it was all resolved and she was there. I mean, there's some damage done but we've all made up.