And how did we get here?  Checking In;  Practice Makes Perfect: The Rehearsal!; The Rehearsal Dinner!; The Rehearsal Dinner Slide Show; Girls Gone Wild!; Got Mah Hairs Did; The Guys Get Groomed; The Girls Get Glammed!; Get Me To The Church on Time!; The Moments of a Lifetime: Our Ceremony!; Love, Snow, and Portraits!; Mayhem and Cocktails!; These Are A Few of My Favorite Things (from the reception); Getting This Party Started; Here’s to Eternity!; Priorities: Cake!

And remember those cake toppers from my childhood Easter basket?  They didn’t actually end up on top of the cake, but rather, on a lower tier.  I’m not sure if it was on purpose or because the bakery didn’t realize I had a topper- but I couldn’t have been more thrilled with the placement, it looked great!

The actual cutting of the cake was all pomp and circumstance… the maitre’d kept making us do cheesy things while we tried not to roll our eyes.  Our focus was all cake- and when we finally got to taste it, it was delicious!  I know that eating one-year old frozen cake is a little bit of an odd custom, but I have to say, I’m looking forward to eating it again on our anniversary!

And how did we get here?  Checking In;  Practice Makes Perfect: The Rehearsal!; The Rehearsal Dinner!; The Rehearsal Dinner Slide Show; Girls Gone Wild!; Got Mah Hairs Did; The Guys Get Groomed; The Girls Get Glammed!; Get Me To The Church on Time!; The Moments of a Lifetime: Our Ceremony!; Love, Snow, and Portraits!; Mayhem and Cocktails!; These Are A Few of My Favorite Things (from the reception); Getting This Party Started; Here’s to Eternity!

And how did we get here?  Checking In;  Practice Makes Perfect: The Rehearsal!; The Rehearsal Dinner!; The Rehearsal Dinner Slide Show; Girls Gone Wild!; Got Mah Hairs Did; The Guys Get Groomed; The Girls Get Glammed!; Get Me To The Church on Time!; The Moments of a Lifetime: Our Ceremony!; Love, Snow, and Portraits!; Mayhem and Cocktails!; These Are A Few of My Favorite Things (from the reception); Getting This Party Started

So when I last left off, we were getting ready for our grand entrance upstairs at the main event!  Our band introduced everyone to Michael Jackson’s Rock With You, which was the perfect music for dancing into the room!  Then, J. and I had our first dance,  to Happy by Bruce Springsteen.  Our dance lessons paid off, and we didn’t fall down when the time came for the big dip!

Next, dances with our parents!  My dad and I chose Elton John’s Blessed, and J. and his mom chose Joe Cocker’s Love Lifts Us Up.  Both dances came off without a hitch, but not without some happy tears!

And how did we get here?  Checking In;  Practice Makes Perfect: The Rehearsal!; The Rehearsal Dinner!; The Rehearsal Dinner Slide Show; Girls Gone Wild!; Got Mah Hairs Did; The Guys Get Groomed; The Girls Get Glammed!; Get Me To The Church on Time!; The Moments of a Lifetime: Our Ceremony!; Love, Snow, and Portraits!; Mayhem and Cocktails!; These Are A Few of My Favorite Things (from the reception)

The Location

The menus (double sided!)

The tablescapes

The table names

The toasting flutes

The escort cards

The hot seats

The guest book

The good stuff!

The wisdom

Of course, you’ll note there is one important thing missing: the cake!  You’ll just have to wait for that one! 

And how did we get here?  Checking In;  Practice Makes Perfect: The Rehearsal!; The Rehearsal Dinner!; The Rehearsal Dinner Slide Show; Girls Gone Wild!; Got Mah Hairs Did; The Guys Get Groomed; The Girls Get Glammed!; Get Me To The Church on Time!; The Moments of a Lifetime: Our Ceremony!; Love, Snow, and Portraits!; Mayhem and Cocktails!

Since most of our guests stayed at the Pearl River Hilton, they took the shuttle bus to the reception- which meant the guests arrived in waves.  That was actually perfect for us, because we got to enjoy guests in waves too!  My favorite favorite favorite part of the cocktail hour was the music.  Two members of our band played jazz on the bass and grand piano.  It was so elegant and perfect for a cocktail hour.

Meanwhile, the serves mingled with the guests as they brought out plate after plate of appetizers.  Baby lamb chops with mint aioli, mini quiches, and of course J.’s personal request, piggies in blankets.  Yeah, we take our food really seriously.

Once everyone had the chance to grab a plate and a drink, the mingling began.  J. and I were so excited to see everyone after the adrenaline had slowed back down!  I think everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly- and I think everyone appreciated the repast after driving in the snow!

I have to say, I was sad to see the cocktail hour end because it was so lovely.  But more fun was ahead, so off we went to line up for our grand introduction!

And how did we get here?  Checking In;  Practice Makes Perfect: The Rehearsal!; The Rehearsal Dinner!; The Rehearsal Dinner Slide Show; Girls Gone Wild!; Got Mah Hairs Did; The Guys Get Groomed; The Girls Get Glammed!; Get Me To The Church on Time!; The Moments of a Lifetime: Our Ceremony!; Love, Snow, and Portraits!

And how did we get here?  Checking In;  Practice Makes Perfect: The Rehearsal!; The Rehearsal Dinner!; The Rehearsal Dinner Slide Show; Girls Gone Wild!; Got Mah Hairs Did; The Guys Get Groomed; The Girls Get Glammed!; Get Me To The Church on Time!; The Moments of a Lifetime: Our Ceremony!

Well, we all made it down the aisle and nobody fell!  Bridesmaid R. said she nearly did (whoops, aisle runner!) but graceful as she is I’m sure nobody knew.   And my dad walked me down nice and slowly, so as to savor the moment and also to help me keep my balance!  It was so nice to see all the amazing people in our lives who came to show us their support and witness our marriage.  I was overwhelmed!  But something happened when I got to the end of that aisle– J. and I sort of went into this perfect “bubble” and I barely noticed anyone else for the rest of the ceremony!

The pastor began with a welcome, and then the congregation was invited to sing a hymn (we chose “Joyful Joyful” by Mozart).  I’m not sure how thrilled our bridal party was to be singing, but they pretended well.  And given that I come from such a musical family, it couldn’t have been any different!  I sang my heart out and it calmed whatever nerves I had left.  I still remember the feeling, it was incredible!

Next came the questions of the parents.  I loved that the pastor allowed us to customize this part of the ceremony such that questions were asked of both J.’s parents AND mine.  I can’t stand the idea of a woman being “given away” like livestock (no offense to you traditionalists out there!  I see the romance, even if it doesn’t work for me).  But I adore the idea of entering into marriage with a public declaration of support from the parents of the bride and groom.  I think it was a teary moment for all of us!  And then, my dad raised my veil and gave me a hug.  (Yes, awwwwwe!)

Next, readings from my dear friend J. who read from the Song of Ruth (“where thou go I will go…”) and J.’s cousin B. who read from I Corinthians (“Love is patient, love is kind…”).

Followed by the homily.  One of the reasons I really liked our pastor was because he was so intelligent.  His homily was about us and not simply some regurgitation of whateverpeopletalkabout.  He spoke about the importance of being individuals, not just of being a couple.  Of finding unity though our differences, and allowing each other the space to be the people we are- and using those differences to find strength together.  For two people who lived a fair amount of life before finding each other, it was beautiful, poignant, and perfect.

And by the way, remember that aisle runner I made?  Turned out pretty great, huh?

Ok ok, back to the important stuff.  Some prayer, followed by vows.

J. said his vows so loudly and clearly, it literally brought me (and him) to tears.  By the time it was my turn, I could barely get them out.  But I did!

And then the rings.  We had them engraved with a private message, and our wedding date.  And we even put them on the correct fingers!

Then, more prayer followed by the lighting of our unity candle.  At this point, I was trying hard to savor every second, because I knew the ceremony was coming to a close!

And then, the best possible thing happened.  We were pronounced husband and wife.  We kissed!  And then, “Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. J… MISPRONOUNCED LAST NAME!”  Um, what?!  Hilarity ensued!  It was the first of many mispronunciations I expect are in my future, now that I have a new last name.  But I don’t mind AT ALL.  We got a great memory and a great photo out of it!!

We were married!  Hooray!

And how did we get here?  Checking In;  Practice Makes Perfect: The Rehearsal!; The Rehearsal Dinner!; The Rehearsal Dinner Slide Show; Girls Gone Wild!; Got Mah Hairs Did; The Guys Get Groomed; The Girls Get Glammed!; Get Me To The Church on Time!

Well, by some miracle even though we were all running late, and even though it had just started to snow, our group still made it to the church and our ceremony started on time!  I like to take the credit for this, since everyone was shuttled to the church on our ultra-glam school bus!  Ok, maybe it wasn’t that glam, but what it lacked in glamour, it made up for in cuteness!

Of course, as much as I wanted to join everyone, J. and I also wanted to keep with tradition and wait until the ceremony to see each other.  So I went to the ceremony with my sister and dad, who had pre-parked our getaway car in front of the church.  Isn’t it gorgeous?  I didn’t want a traditional white car (not that there’s anything wrong with them but I wanted something a little more interesting) and since antique cars are totally my father’s “thing” we decided on his 1937 Packard limo.  My dad trailered this car all the way from Ohio just so we could have it there!  I especially love how this car has been a member of our family for a while now– and has driven around some famous people!

When I got to the church, I was shuttled into a top secret preschool classroom to wait with my ladies, but soon after, my bridesmaids were whisked off to line up for the ceremony.  At this point, all I felt were butterflies and excitement!

And with that, the prelude began!  J.’s parents and then my mother and stepfather made their walks down the aisle and lit the candle to Bach’s Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring.  It was gorgeous!

And check out that gorgeous unity candle I made!  It wasn’t a huge element of the wedding, but I was glad I had found an inexpensive way to make it personal.  And I love the contrast of the mossy base with the smooth wood of the altar!

And then, the men lined up for the processional (Water Music, Air, by Handel- one of my all time favorites)!

J.’s two close cousins laid down the aisle runner at this point.  Remember that project? Well, given the snow outside, I was sure glad I’d listened to my mother and made one!

And with that, my girls did their thing.

And my flower girl did her thing too!  I can’t wait to share with you more of the video recaps, because what this photo doesn’t tell you, is how she was throwing the petals high in the air like fireworks!

Remember my DIY poms?  La-la-love them.

But where was the ring bearer you ask?  I think he was a little intimidated by all the people- he just didn’t have it in him that day.  Which I understand and respect.  I wish I had the fortitude to say “no” sometimes when I need to!  And anyhow, he was so cute it did not matter a bit!!

And then… the big moment!  Time for my grand entrance!  To Trumpet Voluntary by Clarke.  I wish I could find the words to express the way the organ sounded- the whole room was vibrant with song, and the moment felt exactly as it should have!  It didn’t take long for J. and I to lock eyes, and it was perfect perfect perfect.

Up next, the ceremony!!

And how did we get here?  Checking In;  Practice Makes Perfect: The Rehearsal!; The Rehearsal Dinner!; The Rehearsal Dinner Slide Show; Girls Gone Wild!; Got Mah Hairs Did; The Guys Get Groomed; The Girls Get Glammed!