Wedding Ceremony

 I got my wedding pictures back! I'm breaking this up into a few sections though, so it's going to be wedding central over here!

When I woke up the day of the wedding, I felt excited, and in pain. I had a huge zit on my face. I didn't want that around all day so I quickly destroyed it. Then went back to sleep. Then woke up again. I expected to feel nervous and anxious and a mess but I wasn't. I just felt a calm all day. This was the right thing to do.

We set up things at the church early that morning and everything was coming together. That was a lot less stressful than I thought it would be, but I think that's because everyone was making sure I had the easy jobs and wasn't stressed. There was a run in with some missionaries and a baptism which was pretty funny and everything turned out alright.

I took a shower and waited around for my bridesmaids to show up. I was about to start painting my nails when Kelsey showed up with her boyfriend. So we talked while I painted my nails with a clipboard. Then Britton showed up, but I couldn't hug her because I had wet nails. It was around this time that Kelsey gave me her gift, an engraved ring on a chain. She said she'd gotten it sized to fit me as well. I slipped it on my ring finger and noticed something. I wasn't wearing my engagement ring! Then began the frantic search through the house for it. I tried to keep it quiet so that my parents didn't hear because I didn't want my dad freaking out either. I told myself, worst case scenario, I'd just have a wedding band the rest of my life.

It was around then that I found my ring sitting on the chess board in a corner of the house I have no memory of going to. I was just so grateful to have found it. I contemplated texting Sammy to tell him the story, but decided not to stress him out before the wedding. I could tell him in person later :) Bridget showed up around then with a box of shoes and we helped her pick the best ones! It was a very difficult process filled with excellent foot modeling. :) My grandma at this time introduced herself and told everyone how my dad is referred to as her perfect child which made me giggle :)

My co-worker Nikki did my hair. She was running a little late but everything turned out alright. I wanted to keep it simple and just straighten my hair, but I let her do it anyways because she was so excited to do my hair and hey, why not be a little pampered? She ended up doing Brinley's hair for her as well which looked great. Since we were late, I did my own makeup and then we finally got out the door. It took the help of all the bridesmaids to help me carry out all my things which I'm so glad they were there for!

Everyone was following us and on the way there we lost Kelsey. Brinley drove me to Sammy's house and we sang "Can't Be Tamed" the whole way there. Yes. I sang a semi scandalous Miley Cyrus song and the way to my wedding. When we got to Sammy's house, everyone was pulling up and there was nowhere to park. My dad was in the street telling people where to park and me to get inside and get dressed. I wanted to make sure Kelsey made it there ok, but we were running out of time.

Britton, Bridget, and Brinley helped me get my dress on. It was quite funny, all of us piled into Sammy's old bedroom with guests things everywhere, everyone trying not to look at me in the almost nude while I got my dress on.

I wore Sammy's dress shirt and football shorts to get ready in. Say hello to Michael Jordan on the wall.

Thinking back on that, I get really emotional. I was with my best friends who've always been there for me and no matter what love me, and I was getting married. I can't wait to spend those days with these special ladies as well. I felt so loved and special and like a princess. It was so great to hear their approval of my dress which I was worried about looking good. But it was perfect. :)

We could see the boys taking pictures in the neighbors backyard through the window. So, I did see Sammy in his suit before the ceremony. Hehe! It felt so crazy, especially seeing all of Sammy's friends dressed up as well. His neighbor Brandon was able to get out of a play rehearsal he had last minute and be there which was really special!

 

 

 

 

My bridesmaids headed down the stairs right around then and I was by myself. So, I took a selfie.

And then Miss Olga, Sammy's neighbor and friend, took these.

And then, it was time to go down the stairs and get married! I had to be careful where I walked so Sammy couldn't see me through the glass doors too early. 

Viviann our flower girl got a little nervous at the start of the wedding, so she took awhile to start walking. By then, I had started walking too. I was thinking, come on Vivann! You've got this! Then I looked up and saw Sammy. 

He was crying. He looked so happy. It was perfect :) 

I love this picture so much! 

The ceremony was performed by my (old) Bishop Taylor who I've known for 11 years. I was impressed when he mentioned that in his speech! It was such an amazing ceremony and perfect. I was a bit nervous though because we didn't really tell Sammy's family who was marrying us, just that we had it covered. I wanted Bishop Taylor to perform the wedding and that was that!

We got to say vows to each other. I thought that you weren't allowed to say vows, so I was calling them vowy things all day, but it's the other way around. You're not supposed to say promises because a vow is stronger than a promise. In my vows, I said the word promise a lot but was so nervous I didn't edit it on the spot. I'll post our vows on another day!

I put Sammy's ring on his finger too fast so there's no picture of it. I was so excited! 

And then, after the rings were on, we said the words I do. It was surreal. It didn't feel real. It still doesn't feel that real. 

And we were married!

So then we stood there awkwardly not really sure what to do. So we walked down the aisle again, then took lots and lots of pictures.

My brother is the one standing in the middle by himself. He cracks me up! 

Vivann wasn't supposed to be in this picture, but once she was in one picture, she wanted to be in all of them. This continued all night and was so stinking cute!

 

After all that picture taking, we got to just talk with our friends in the backyard. There was so much love and so much fun and so many laughs and smiles at our ceremony. It couldn't have been better. I was so happy :)