The Wedding

I don't think it's possible to sum up my wedding day in words. I don't even think pictures can portray the amazing emotions I felt on that day. Imagine happiness, wrapped in excitement, covered in serenity, put in a bag full of nerves, which is then shipped off to success-land and dropped off at 1234 Amazement Avenue. That doesn't even compare to the overwhelming emotions that I felt.

I stood in the bridal room at the Maitland Art Center, listening to the excitement of people setting up and getting ready for the big moment. For the first time I saw everything flash before me. There I was, marrying the man I'd known for eight years that I would spend the rest of my life with. It was all too surreal. How could something this wonderful happen to me?
I never dreamed of my wedding day. I didn't have some pre-selected childhood fantasy built up in my mind of what the tables would look like, what color the cake would be, or how we would enter the reception after taking pictures with the photographer. But somehow my non-dream came true. Everything looked absolutely beautiful.

Then, I put on my dress.
I stood there in a long white gown, my hair professionally curled, makeup professionally applied to my face... and stared into the mirror. Suddenly, I thought something I wouldn't believe came from my own mind. I looked beautiful. I felt like a first-grader playing in momma's dress-up clothes. I stood there feeling like a woman, feeling put together, feeling confident and incredibly loved.

I took a deep breath. I walked outside my little room. I could hear the romantic guitar music I'd chosen for the guests to be seated to. And my heart raced. I can honestly say that I never felt faint, but I did feel something that almost took me off my feet. I didn't want to cry. I didn't cry. I just breathed. I took in air the way I would if I'd been holding my breath for two minutes and could finally release. In fact, that's exactly how I'd describe that first oh-my-God-I'm-a-bride moment: like it was the first breath I ever took.


A few minutes after it sank in, Mom brought Dad over. He smiled at me with those beautiful blue eyes. The same blue eyes he blessed me with 23-years ago. I smiled back, but my eyes filled with tears. It wasn't sadness. He looked more proud than I'd ever seen him before. He whispered something to me. I don't remember the exact words now, but it was something along the lines of, "you look so beautiful." And with that, I put my arm in his and we headed for the small outdoor chapel.


The ceremony was stunningly romantic. My emotions exploded. We promised ourselves to each other a long time ago, but hearing him say those vows meant more to me than he will ever know. I choked up and sobbed my way through the entire ceremony. I am forever grateful to my sister who thoughtfully placed a tissue between her breasts before the wedding. She knew I would lose it. I was happy that she pulled the Kleenex from her dress for me to wipe away my tears and my expensive makeup.


After that, the wedding seemed pretty routine. The emotional part was over. We took pictures, talked with our guests, fed each other cake, and swayed our way through a painfully long first dance.

I don't have many pictures yet to share from my special day, but I included a few that show the emotion of the event.