Eat, Drink, and be Married!

We did!

"What does it feel like?" That is the question I get most often. How do you answer such a funny question. We have lived together for a few years now. I guess its more secure. I already felt like we would be together but now there is nothing to worry about I guess. I couldnt tell you what I worried about before. I dont know. But now I feel like I worry less or perhaps Im just so relieved that the wedding craziness is over. I dont know. I feel at peace, like this was Gods plan all along.

So the details, you know I do this for my own memory sake!

First lets start with the big day and I will throw in hightlights of the rest at the end.

October 15, 2011: Officially Mr. and Mrs.
We woke up at the inn, the beautiful Wisteria room. The walls are lavander and the bedding is white. Very crisp. It was chilly and perfect. I rolled over and saw my best friend laying there and it seem hard to believe that this was the day that we had been waiting for. This day would be one of the biggest memories of our lives.

It's strange knowing ahead of time when something, an event or action will change your life. If you think about it, most times something changes your life you dont know until it happens. But now you wake up and its there, in the pit of your stomach. You tell yourself, remember every moment this is important. What you eat, who you speak to, time on the clock all matters today. It's eerie.

Jonah and I decided to stay together that night instead of apart. We put a lot of thought into this action. I finally decided that I couldn't imagine not waking up next to my best friend on the biggest day of our lives thus far. Boy am I glad we did because in the middle of the night I woke up with a very sore throat and I was chugging ice cold water. My brilliant other half said, "No, Dear. You need a hot cup of tea. That will sooth your throat". He was right. The hot tea did the trick so I could get back to sleep.

I jump out of bed and open the curtains to see if we have rain or shine. Shine. Beautiful blue skies. I can feel Gods smile, his warmth. So we hurry and get ready because there is a big group breakfast at my Moms cabin this morning and Jonah still needs to drive all the way to Richmond to get Brandons tux and I need to get my nails done.

We arrive at the cabins and so many smiles, so much love. We felt blessed to have everyone there. I grabbed my little sunshines, Kayla, Landon, and Luke, and we all ate with everyone. It was fantastic. Then off we flew in separate directions.

Lynda, Kelly, and Jake were awesome at finding a nail salon that actually wanted to help us. We had some difficulty but eventually found one and I got some awesome one on one time with Kelly. I got to squeeze in some girl talk in the car with Lynda. It was nice. Ive missed this. Jake was so calm. What a great guy.

We got back to my room and my Dad was waiting there. He had a present for me. He had refinished my childhood/teen mirror from my bedroom set. He wrote me a letter talking about how the mirror had been there to help me get ready every day of school, drum major, dates, prom, and wanted to help me get ready for my wedding day as well. It was so touching. Very meaningful. He had redone the wood work and matched it with my current bedroom set. Such a beautiful and thoughtful gift. Exactly what I needed from my Daddy.

I took a quick shower and Jake started my hair. Man did he do an awesome job. I loved it. While he was doing that people started to show up. Beth, Kayla, Aunt Annalisa, Ingrid, the photographer, but not my make up or my Mom. Poor Mom was at home trying to give the ring bearers, Landon and Luke, a nap and bathed for the big day. She was stuck. I refused to put the dress on without her. She was so panicked because she was scared that she would miss it. I would never let her miss that.

Jonah finally dropped off my makeup and I did that while I waited for Mom. I must admit I did an awesome job with my makeup but I left my MAC lipstick I bought for the day at home. I used some plum on my eyes and tried to hide the fact that my spray tan made me look like Snooky.

Mom showed up and looked gorgeous! Her dress was perfect. She rushed and we started to get ready, she and Kelly helped me get in the dress. Kelly was so calm and collected the whole time. That was great, we needed a calm person.

Once I got in the dress Eddie and the boys stopped in. They all three looked so handsome. Just perfect. Got to talk to Ed a little and then the photog had us girls go take our pictures out front. I ran into my asst on the from porch and she started to cry. It was still very calming, very nice. I had a million photographers out there taking pictures. Heather, Ingrid, Sammi, etc...

Ben, our best man, delivered my wedding gift from Jonah. It was a sweet bear dressed in a tux whose heart beats. Very cute. Beth, the maid on honor delivered my gift which was a leather bracelet with our wedding date on it.

My big brother Rich walked the Moms down the isle to be seated. Such a handsome usher. He had blue hair and shades on. Seemed fitting. I loved having him there. Meant the world to me that he made it against the odds.

It was time to line up for the big walk. We had the girls go down the isle to somewhere over the rainbow/what a wonderful world by Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole. I came down to "The Light" by Sara Barellas. I walked down with my Dad and it was so nice, my shoes did get caught on the dress somehow but no one noticed. Jonah looked so handsome and nervous. He looked very timid.

In that moment I had to remind myself to pay close attention, this was big. I was looking around and smiling at everyone but I needed to pay attention to the beautiful man at the end of the isle and when I did I saw how completely handsome and breath taking he looked. Then I couldnt take my eyes off of him.

Preacher asked if I would take Noah to be my husband and I said No, but i'll take Jonah. Then he continued to call Jonah Noah the whole ceremony. Jonah corrected him and he still struggled. It was funny but a little disappointing. We exchanged our self written vows and rings and before we knew it we were married! It was sweet.

Photos, dancing, food, man the night flew by just like the day. But it was all beautiful. We enjoyed great friends and family members. We had the most amazing signature drink, Pumpkin Martinis. Everyone loved the food and drink. Uncle Jim was our rocking DJ.

We said goodnight to everyone and waited until everyone left before going upstairs.

Highlights:
*Such a beautiful rehearsal dinner. My Dad, Patti, and Jay really hooked us up. It was beautiful. There were white Christmas lights strung, the food was amazing, it was beautiful. Better than I imagined.

*We were late to our own rehearsal because we had to get the marriage license. They almost didnt give it to us because my DL was so faded. We also showed up in jeans and I looked like Snooky. Spray tan accident. Bad bad bad. Before dinner I showered and got it off of me. Got all dressed up.

*Mom and Terry were such big helps with the kids but more than that planning the entire event. It was thanks to them that I was so calm. They both took the burden for me.

*Lots of people RSVP'd but last minute a bunch of them couldnt come. They were missed. Thats the problem with having a wedding out of town, you should just assume that 1/3 of the ones that said yes wont be able to make it.

*Me, the family paparazzi, couldn't find batteries for my camera!! My biggest regret! I wish I had my camera! There are so many things I wanted to take pictures of and couldn't.

*Kaylas flower girl dress turned out pretty nice thanks to Jonahs mom. She fixed it up for us. Still wasnt $80 great though.

*I wish I had more time to spend with everyone one. There were family members I hadnt seen in YEARS. Aunt Beth I hadnt seen since I graduated high school! I would have liked to have spent more one on one time with my parents and Jonahs parents. You're so busy it just isnt possible.

When I remember more I will post. But thats it for now. I need to clean our house. Yuck. I had living like this. I will be hiring a maid. At least until our busy season is over. I leave at 7am and get home after 9. I dont have time to keep it up and I cant stand the mess.

XoXo!
MQ