Our Wedding: Formal Pictures - Family and Wedding Party!

After the Ceremony, we hurried downstairs back into the Bridal Room where I got ready! It was there that in front of our Best Man and Maid of Honor and Officiant, we signed our marriage certificate! It was officially official!

I finally got to really look at how handsome P looked in his wedding duds, and finally got to show him the look I was putting together for the past year and a half (especially the shoes!)!

The posing for formal pictures was - I'll admit - slightly stressful. Gathering one group, dismissing another, trying to keep the bridal glow about me :-P and wanting so badly to just be with Patrick - It was tough!

Luckily, Evgenia was a pro at getting things done quickly! We had so many gorgeous pictures of us and our friends and family to share! Here are a few of our favorites!

 

Very dashing!

Mom and I show off the shoes!

This is one of my very favorites.

Next up - I'll gush more about Eve Photography to show you our favorite Bride and Groom formal pictures!

Love,

Micah

Our Wedding : The Ceremony

Resuming re-caps!

The Ceremony!

I was shaking as we made our way (sneakily) up the stairs to hide in a little galley kitchen before the boys would see us. I was surrounded by my best friends and my family. This was when everything started to become less dream-like and more real to me. I stood behind my girls, who chatted quietly and excitedly. Every now and then, the girls would check in with me. But it was good to have the 10 or so minutes of quiet reflection for me. I had been waiting all my life for this...for the proposal, for the engagement photo session, to ask my best friends to stand with me, to find the perfect dress, to pick our wedding bands that we'd wear for the rest of our lives...as well as all the other joys and frustrations that come as you plan a wedding.

Just then, I heard the boys lining up on the other side of the door! Someone made Patrick laugh and once I heard his voice, my heart skipped a beat and the tears welled in my eyes. This was it! It was actually here and happening! I was so happy! I heard the string players begin, and knew that my mother-in-law was being led down the aisle by our cousins, then my little brother escorted my mother to her seat.

Next, the boys headed down the aisle!

They were followed by our sweet ring bearer and flower girls --- who took their jobs QUITE seriously!

After my lovely bridesmaids each made their way down the aisle, it was mine and my father's turn. 

I mentioned that Patrick's composition that he dedicated to me would be played by our String Quartet as my father and I made our way down the aisle. Well, I am sure it sounded lovely, but as soon as I stepped out with my dad, I couldn't hear anything. I saw my handsome groom, and that's all there was (He looked pretty happy to see me too!).

We walked together, this man who raised me to the man who stole my heart. It was beautiful. I kept squeezing my father's arm, partly to calm my nerves, partly to let him know how excited and happy I was and partly to imprint the memory in my mind. I looked around at my friends, family and all those who came to support us. I last found the eyes of my mom, and smiled. This was our day.

The room looked amazing. It was grander than I had planned or dreamed it would be. The flowers, the beautiful blue, and all my crafties looked perfect (Special THANKS to my Auntie who did all the set up that morning!). It was exactly as I envisioned, but BETTER!!! Our Officiant, Father Steve began the service. We heard beautiful words. We kept looking at each other. Much like The Office's Jim and Pam Halpert, we took "mental pictures" to remember each moment. 

One of my very best friends from grade school beautifully read our chosen reading. And then we heard our best friends' composition and performance of the Pablo Neruda sonnet in Spanish!

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,

or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.

I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,

in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms

but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;

thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,

risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.

I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;

so I love you because I know no other way

than this: where I does not exist, nor you,

so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,

so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

***

No te amo como si fueras rosa de sal, topacio 

o flecha de claveles que propagan el fuego: 

te amo como se aman ciertas cosas oscuras, 

secretamente, entre la sombra y el alma.

Te amo como la planta que no florece y lleva 

dentro de sí, escondida, la luz de aquellas flores, 

y gracias a tu amor vive oscuro en mi cuerpo 

el apretado aroma que ascendió de la tierra.

Te amo sin saber cómo, ni cuándo, ni de dónde, 

te amo directamente sin problemas ni orgullo: 

así te amo porque no sé amar de otra manera,

sino así de este modo en que no soy ni eres, 

tan cerca que tu mano sobre mi pecho es mía, 

tan cerca que se cierran tus ojos con mi sueño 

And then, one of my very favorite parts of our ceremony occurred. We were so lucky we got to hear our ridiculously talented friends sing an a cappella version of our favorite Shakespeare Sonnet. Sonnet XVIII. You can see the tears in my eyes in the picture. This was our love sung by our friends. It was an incredible moment that we won't forget.

Then we stood and looked over one another. We exchanged vows, the traditional vows in a marriage ceremony. Our voices were shaking, but we spoke the truth. I'm not sure about Patrick, but I felt like our vows were these wonderfully traditional words made true and real by the simple fact that we were the ones speaking them. I felt like we were saying them, just us, to each other. It felt like we were the only people in the room. We placed our beautiful wedding rings on each other's fingers. Father Steve blessed our marriage, and pronounced us "Husband and Wife." 

The Vows. 

The rings.

The Blessing.

"You may kiss your bride!"

And we we're officially two souls joined. 

Two very silly souls, joined. 

Next up, FORMALS and RECEPTION RECAPS!!!

Best,

Micah

Our Wedding: Getting Ready!

Finally...more recaps! Sorry this has taken so long! Now that I am officially on maternity leave (EEK!) I should post more regularly (of course, depending on when the little one decides to get here). I am sorry for really disappearing. If any one is still following me, thank you and I am humbled by your faith in me. I want to be a better blogger again, I had so much fun planning the wedding, and after already a year of marriage, I am saddened by my dropping the ball with postings. I will be trying my darnedest to keep going! Especially during my wait for baby! Anyway...RECAP!

My eyes popped open on the morning of our wedding to overcast skies...but I couldn't care less! I was up, it was early, and we were getting married! We ate breakfast, I showered and we hopped in the car to the hair salon. I was meeting my bridesladies there and everything up until I pulled into the parking lot of the salon felt completely surreal. I found myself jokingly saying "yay!" when people asked how I felt. I was truthfully, completely overwhelmed and just hoping that we kept on time, and that P wouldn't see me on my way into the Towers!

                            

Now, there are no pictures of me during the "transformation;" no before make-up pictures or before hair styles. I wanted to make the best use of my time with the photographer, and I thought prep pics could be covered at the Towers when we were adding our finishing touches (like MY DRESS!). So, that's why there aren't any before pictures! (Plus - no make up and me = yuck!).

I had my bridesmaids (including my MOH) get their hairs did first. And gave the waiting bridesmaids their gifties! I never did a post on what they were, but they were pretty sa-weet! The gift bags included:

1. Flippie-Floppies - So they could get all comfy on the dance floor!
2. Lip Gloss
3. Tissue packets - for "Happy Tears"
4. A water bottle - 'cause...y'know...
5. Heart-shaped white sunglasses
6. An individualized, personalized charm necklace with their initials and matching earrings (I was so thrilled, they all wore their jewelry that day)
7. A hair flower that matched their dresses complete with a peacock feather (another DIY project, I should have posted! GAH!)
8. A card that I wrote thanking them for being there for me 

I was pleased to see that they were thrilled with the gifts! After all, they had given so, so much to me.

Then, it was my turn to sit in the salon chair. My hairstylist decided to adjust what we came up with from my hair trial and I must say, I LOVED it! My mom did my make up, and I think she did it perfectly: enhancing my features, but I never felt like I had too much make up on or, like I didn't look like myself. We headed home to meet up with the rest of the bridesmaids and pick up my dress to get going over to the Towers!

After! (Sorry there's no before picture!)

All ready for the dress! It was waiting for me, all hung up and pretty on my closet door and I was anxious to get it on. But that would have to wait until we got to the Towers!

Here's my dress! I hadn't posted any pictures before in fear of Patrick accidentally seeing it.
Here she is in all her lacy, beautiful glory!

I gathered up my accessories and my shoes, after they were beautifully captured by the photographer, we grabbed the favors and headed to the car! It was finally beginning to feel real!

My shoes, garters, our rings, my hair flower and peacock fan! 

Giving Dad a See-You-At-The-Aisle Kiss!

So we hopped in the cars and headed over. To that place I had seen in my dreams for almost two years. To our place, Patrick's and mine. I had been texting my guy throughout the day --- just last minute questions/answers and timing things. But when we pulled up and parked about a block away from the Towers, my nerves awakened and I was petrified he'd accidentally see me! I quickly texted him "We're on our way!!!" to which he replied "We're all ready. :-)" and my heart soared. I was at the same time calmed and thrilled by that response. That's my man. And in a little over an hour, I'd be marrying him. We gathered our things, me cradling my dress, and briskly headed toward the Towers. 

We had to kind of awkwardly sneak up to the Bridal room, and once there, I felt like I could allow the giddy feelings to take me over. I pulled on my undergarments and got ready to step into my dress. What a beautiful moment; to finally slip into the most precious piece of clothing I'd ever wear. I felt beautiful in it, and I knew Patrick would love it.

It takes a village to get all those buttons perfectly aligned!

Surrounded by love!

When that was done, my little sister, MOH, helped me into my glorious blue shoes!

I slid my garters on and played with my two beautiful flower girls, who were getting excited: their big moment was coming too! After I was ready, the girls finished primping themselves and we waited.

I got a 'special telegram' visit from my soon-to-be mother-in-law! She brought my gorgeous something borrowed (a rhinestone bracelet) and my wedding gift from Patrick! I had sent my wedding present to him via bridesmaid :) and I was ready to see what was inside mine!

He wrote me such a sweet note on a vintage postcard from Capri, Italy (WHERE OUR AMAZING HONEYMOON WAS!) and gave me a beautiful white banded watch. On the face of the watch is a rotating 'hand' that eventually lines up letters to read "Love Knows Not What Time Is." Crying. Obviously. Its so beautiful! I love it so much! He also gave me a mini cupcake phone accessory and a Bane action figure, and a book called "Greene On Capri" written by someone named Greene who obviously had an amazing experience, like we were about to have, in Capri. (GOSH, does the man love me or what? Wee!)

I still had some time to wait before we'd be ushered upstairs to begin the ceremony. It was really nice to have a few moments to really collect myself and realize where I was and what was going on around me. Our day had finally arrived! After a year and a half of planning, crafting, stressing, making, arranging and debating. The day was here. We were about to be wed!

Next up, The Ceremony!

Best,

Micah

Family, Friends, Toasts & Champagne! {Rehearsal Dinner}

First things first: I apologize for disappearing. As soon as we returned from the honeymoon, my theatre company opened our second production (of which I was the production manager), and then Patrick, myself and a few other friends went into rehearsals, and opened a run of the musical Next to Normal, followed by me immediately going into rehearsals for Evil Dead: the Musical (yes, that's right...Evil. Dead. The Musical.). Needless to say, our life as newlyweds began and continues to be super busy!

I want to begin re-caping our wedding, if only for the joy of re-living it. It was the best week of our lives thus far. Let's start at the very beginning, The Rehearsal & Rehearsal Dinner!

Our rehearsal was at 11:00am on the Friday before our wedding (there was another wedding happening that day in our venue), so we woke, got ready and headed out immediately to the Towers. I wore my white strapless BCBG I told you about, with my DIY beaded necklace!

My Soon-to-be Husband wore a matching shirt! Love.

I admit I was getting nervy and stressed on the way to the Towers for our rehearsal. We had spent the night before assembling the favors (which, of course, I'll tell you all about), and there were a few things that still needed to fall into place. I hadn't seen Patrick for a few days (I had left work early to be able to finish up last minute errands/projects before the wedding, and had headed down to RI), but as soon as I saw him, I felt the nerves calm and excitement grow!

To tell the truth, as soon as our Officiant arrived and took charge, things went relatively smoothly! Our groomsmen and bridesmaids stepped up to the plate! With our friends looking on, my dad and I preceded to practice our walk down the aisle to Patrick who was waiting for me. During the rehearsal of the Ceremony, both Patrick and I suddenly became very emotional. I believe it started really to sink in that the following day would be our wedding day. We could barely make it through the vows! I looked around at my friends; some from when I was in elementary school, some new friends; and to my family, the smiles shining from their faces. I started to really feel the love and support around us that would continue to grow through the rest of the day and continue past our wedding day that still goes on today. We completed the rehearsal and finally got a clear picture of what our ceremony would be like. It was just as we hoped for, but until then, couldn't fully picture. We were so excited!

After that, we parted ways again; the girls and I to mani/pedis and the boys for lunch and maybe a game or two of disc-golf. I opted to drive with Bridesmaid Joelle, who sweetly offered to cart me around. But when we got back to the place where she had parked her car, we noticed that her driver's side rear-view mirror was hanging by a thread! Someone had swiped the car, and knocked it almost off! We headed to the police station to report it (all the while, my stress levels slowly rising). When we got there, a nice family was reporting that they had swiped a car a few moments before! We found that it was the same accident, and cheer was restored to both Joelle's and my own faces as the report was filed and apologies were accepted.

We arrived late to the nail salon, and I made a few changes to my original plan for my nails (opaque white heart on the ring finger and bright blue toes). But I went with a soft pink for fingers and toes and outlines of hearts on the ring fingers --- I think they came out really well!

Final pic of my sparkly without the wedding band!

After all the ladies were properly pampered and polished, we headed home. I gathered up the peacock fingerprint guestbook and headed with my parents to the Tower House, the beautiful bed & breakfast where we stayed the night we got engaged!

My handsome little brother and beautiful MOH sister!

Guys, I can't sing enough praise for this place. Not only was the rehearsal dinner delicious and full of family, friends and love, but they decorated for us and made the place into (seriously) an enchanted garden. The weather was perfect, everyone was outside, there were lights and lanterns in the trees, and delicious nomblies around every corner.

But the best part of that night was the toasts. It's actually quite hard to capture with words the amount of love, honesty, friendship and family that were poured into each toast; and almost all of our friends and a lot of family members stood up and said something. P and I were overwhelmed with happiness! Our best friends made us all teary with their sentiments. Patrick's cousins made us laugh and cry and our ring-bearer and my little cousin stole the show with some fantastic lines ("I remember when you two started marrying each other..."). The toasts were such a gift to us. My grandfather came up to me at the end of the night and said "You know, you have amazing friends." And I do know that. I couldn't be more grateful.

 

With a beautiful rehearsal dinner where we re-connected with far away family and old friends, laughed and cried happy tears with our dearest and toasted and ate delicious treats, Patrick and I got ready to spend our last nights as an unmarried couple. He drove me home, just like he did when we met and carpooled to rehearsal in that fateful production of Birds of Paradise. We kissed goodnight. And turned in, dreaming of our wedding day!

More to come!

Love,

Micah