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Day 7 – Your dream wedding.

Eleven years after our wedding, I am still in love with the entire day. If I could relive one day over again, it would be that day. We paid for our own wedding and didn’t have a whole lot of money to spend, but you’d never know it. The highlights version of that day via my perspective:

• I didn’t wear a designer dress or pay a fortune for it either, but I  felt like an absolute Princess.
• In order to have our pictures taken before the wedding, it meant that J would have to see me prior to the ceremony.  I’m big on tradition and wanted the first time he saw me to be when I was walking down the isle to him.  So our wedding coordinator arranged to have the entire sanctuary cleared half an hour before pictures began.  The lights were dimmed and music was playing.  J stood at the front and I entered from the back and walked all the way up the isle to him.  He cried and told me how beautiful I looked.  It was a perfect moment.  One that I’ll never forget.
• My Daughter looked so beautiful in her flower girl dress.
• Same with my son in his adorable Size 3T Tux.
• I wanted our kids to be in the wedding with us.  My Daughter was, but my Son had other plans.  NAP plans.  He was tired and fell asleep within seconds of walking down the isle.  Thank goodness my Mom was on the front row, otherwise he would have laid down on the ground and took his little nap right there.
• When we got to the ring exchanging part of the ceremony, we not only gave each other rings, but had rings for both of our kids and said vows to them as well.   It was so sweet.  After we had finished KC’s part, our best man came down off the stage to get my little boy, bring him back up and he laid on his shoulder while he put his ring on his finger and read our vows to him.   He was awake and peaceful with the biggest blue eyes that were just glued to his parents.
• After that came the rose ceremony where we gave each of our Mothers roses and placed roses on the alter in memory of our Grandparents that had passed and couldn’t be there.
• You know how when they say “you may now kiss the bride,” sometimes couples look awkward and strange about kissing in public?  Some are nervous and just give an emotionless peck to one another.  Others are way too excited and start flat making out up there in front of God and everyone.  Ours was perfect.  The perfect kiss followed by the biggest bear hug from J.  While he was hugging me, he whispered in my ear telling me thank you for loving him and thank you for being his very best friend.  *Tears*
• After the ceremony, all four of us walked down the isle together.  We were announced as a family, not just as Husband and Wife.  When we got to the back foyer of the Church, I looked outside and it was pouring down rain.  I was torn between being upset and feeling so blessed.  While nobody wants it to rain on their wedding day, it immediately made me think of my Grandma.  She passed away when I was 13 and I really think it was her way of letting me know she was there.

All in all … the PERFECT day.  Followed by the PERFECT party!!!  That’s a whole other post for a different day.  The stories of my reception will live on forever!!!  SO much fun!