Wedding Weekend: Photo Sneak Peek

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the day.

We didn't hire a professional photographer, so we just had a bunch of different people taking photos throughout the day. I am waiting for some other people to forward the ones they took to me so I can edit and include those too.

They are clearly amateur and they're certainly not perfect.

On the other hand, they capture the day, naturally and realistically.

That's a lot more like us then perfect is anyway.

Enjoy!

(click any photo to enlarge)

A city girl and her soldier

Making sure I'm ready

I'm a bride!

Husband and Wife

Three Generations

My Sister and I

The rings

Wedding Weekend: Recap

I had a glorious weekend, which is evident from the "wedding hangover" (my friend came up with that term, so I can't take the credit for it) that I had today.

Getting up to join the real world was grueling.

I just wanted to stay in bed and watch re-runs of FRIENDS and eat Lucky Charms all day.

Class, work, and all the reading I had to do just didn't seem like a good alternative.

But I'm here, at school, giving it a try anyway.

And while I'm trying to kick my butt into a more motivational state, I'll give you a recap of the weekend.

I could NOT have asked for a better weekend. The hotel room was perfect, both families super-awesome and totally supportive and the ceremony went flawlessly.

The highlights for me:

• Having girl time with my mom and sister the morning of our wedding. Getting ready, drinking wine and goofing off was the great way to get my morning started. My sister did my hair and it looked amazing and I really enjoyed the memories we made dancing around the hotel room to Disney songs!

• Hearing the love letters Al and I wrote to each other as the pastor read them during the ceremony. Al is not always "one with words" but what he wrote in the letter was beautiful and definitely the most memorable part of the ceremony for me.

{Which reminds me that I still need to get ahold of the pastor and get copies of our letters from her. In our haste, we neglected to make copies for ourselves and I think that is something I want to have to cherish for many years!}

• Having my sister hug me after the ceremony and say "I am so, so happy for you."
  For those of you who have followed along with some of the recent issues (and more issues) we've had, you know how that statement truly meant the world to me. For one weekend, my happiness was all that mattered to her. That was priceless to me.

I can honestly say that once the weekend finally arrived, it could not have gone better.

And then, less then 48 hours after becoming his wife, I brought Al to airport to say good-bye.

It's hard, as it always is. But now he's my husband, forever. And that helps...a little.

I'll leave you with the text he sent me this morning:

I would say good morning, but it's not very good. First time since our wedding that I've woken up without you. I love you lots!

Wedding Weekend: The Big Day

I get married TODAY!

(not my cake topper)

Sure, it's an untraditional cake-topper, but it's an untraditional wedding.

And as much as I'd love for every last one of you to be here to celebrate with me, that's just not possible. So, instead, I'm giving you a peek at our vows (part of them, anyway.)

As I mentioned, we didn't want this to be a super-traditional wedding, so we didn't have the traditional vows. We're not a "to have and to hold" couple and we're especially not an "honor and obey" couple.

We wanted to get more creative.

So we did.

In addition to writing each other a love-letter, which my pastor will read for the service, we were able to look through a book of more unique vows and adapt them to our style.

My favorite part of our vows:

"I promise to respect you as your own person,

with interests, desires, and needs as important as my own,

I promise to do my part,

to weather whatever storms lie ahead,

and joyously celebrate our triumphs.

I promise to love you,

In the only way I know how,

Completely and forever."

What I love even more is our ring exchange:

"This ring is a symbol of the strength and beauty of our love,

may it belong to your hand as my heart belongs to you,

separate yet close, simple yet miraculous."

My sister should be here any minute to start getting ready with me and help do my hair and makeup. Al is probably (dreadingly) putting on his class-A's and getting ready to join me at the church. And my mom is inevitably running around making sure everything is in it's place in true devoted-mother fashion.

All I can say is that I am truly, undoubtedly blessed. And currently walking on clouds.

Wedding Weekend: Preparation

Al came in this afternoon.

Since then we've been running around doing typical day-before stuff.

He made sure to get my car washed and make sure the camera was charged.

I went and got a mani/pedi with my mom and sister.

We confirmed everything else was ready and then we went to dinner.

Now we're just sitting here, freshly showered, enjoying some wine and each other.

Tomorrow, this man will be my husband.

How cool is that!?

Wedding Weekend: Preview

The time has arrived, dear blog-friends, for me to rid myself of the girlfriend and fiancée titles and assume my role as wife.

This whole thing has been a complete nightmare to plan. The craziness, the last minute planning, with all the uncertainties and accommodating everyone's lives...

The last two weeks have tested my patience and my sanity.

They have tested Al's as well.

It has even tested our relationship, our communication and our love for each other.

And I'm proud to say that we made it.

We pushed through and we are stronger then ever.

We are ready to take on this life together, as husband and wife.

It wasn't easy, but it was worth it.

Because in 48 short hours, I will be married to a wonderful man.

And THAT is worth more than my words can say.