Wedding Part 1

September 25, 2011 was the day that I married the love of my life, my high school sweetheart and my better half. In no way was I prepared for how this promise, this covenant would change my life. You know when you are about to embark on something great and you have that feeling that everything you know is about to change? Welcome to married life. Everything does change.


The morning of our wedding I woke up with a feeling of relief. It was finally here. After seven years, the wait was over and boy was it worth it.


All of my bridesmaids came over and we spent the morning eating, drinking coffee, opening presents, reading letters and watching Bridesmaids. Wonderful start to a wonderful day.

Here's a few pictures of the morning and some of their little goodies that were waiting on them!

Before shot. I couldn't pick my favorite if I had to.

Here are some of their goodies! Just a small thank you for being such an important person in my life! The night before I gave them each a small scrapbook that I made for them! Everyone got an awesome coffee mug with their initials on it! Also, I handmade paper bags with little love stamps on them, filled with goodies like handmade bookmarks and letter to each of them trying to explain how much they are loved. Try writing that in a letter.... no easy feat. 

Here are the mugs and bags!

Close up!

Hannah finally getting to look through her scrapbook!

Mom and I toasting to my new last name!

Dona: The miracle worker of all updos

Right before we left, my sweet friends prayed for me. Such a sweet time for me.

My sweet gran.

In conversation about weddings, people always said to me, "Make sure you take some time to enjoy every part of the day. It will be gone before you know it." So that's what I did. I was determined to soak in every laugh, every hug, every tear and every thought on our wedding day. Ya know, it's true what they say... it is gone before you know it. Push every care or worry out of your mind and take the day as it comes. Savor its moments. Create the silence you need to remember it. (you'll kick yourself in the fanny if you don't.)

Taylor and I decided to see each other before the actual ceremony. I'm a bit of a romantic so people were surprised when I told them. I am so thankful we did this for a few reasons... 

1. The moment I finally got to see Taylor was one of the sweetest moments to me. We were alone (except the photographers and videographers that were creepily lurking in the bushes... you know who you are :) Since we were alone, we got to share exactly what we were thinking. The smiles and smooches that I got from him in those moments eased every nerve that tried to distract me. 

2. Since we saw each other, we could get tons of pictures done so that we could catch the best lighting of the day and also spend more time with our lovely guest after the ceremony! 

3. Taylor had his back turned while I walked up behind him. Seeing him standing there waiting for me was a beautiful memory that I will never forget. I could focus on him... not on the 175 other people that were starring at me :)


Here are some pictures!

I'll blog more tomorrow about the rest of our day! In the meantime, go to our photographer's website and check out some more of her incredible work!