Mrs. Petunia, Ft. Lauderdale
Age and Occupation: 31, College Professor
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Engineering Student/Part-time Barista
Engagement Date: December 8, 2006
Wedding Date: March 2, 2008
Venue: Riverside Hotel
Blogging Since: August 6, 2007
About Me: Our original idea of running off to get married quickly turned into an event with 100+ guests once other people got involved and I, too, got swept away in the lovely madness that is wedding planning. Mr. Petunia and I are obsessed with all things World of Warcraft, Monopoly, and Nintendo, so we’re planning on including some fun “game-y” details into our wedding.
I DO, I DO, I DO: The Ceremony Part I
April 9th, 2008 @ 9:29 am by Mrs. Petunia
I’m not trying to bore you with a thousand photos of the ceremony: I really am trying to pare it down to pictures that will show something somewhat helpful to other brides (and even so, I wasn’t successful enough to get them all in one post: my apologies). But here’s what I want to share. For starters, that there will be a moment right before walking down the aisle where you will be so happy/excited/nervous, you won’t realize, until you see the pictures, that your father looked at you this tenderly:
Or that’s it okay to take a moment right before walking down the aisle to really take in the look on your groom’s face (or bride’s) as you walked toward him (her). Or that the sky was really that blue:
And though some think it old-fashioned or patriarchal or whatever, there’s still something to be said about that moment when you’re given away by your father, or your mother, a brother, even yourself — it doesn’t even matter by whom — because that moment when you reach the end of the aisle really just means things are about to get good…
…and you realize you’re getting married in the company of all the people whom you love and who love you and who get to see the way the person you love looks at you:
Then someone, maybe your sister, will read a poem so beautifully that it will make you go into what Oprah likes to call the ugly cry:
I love a good party, but for me, it’s all about the ceremony.
45 Responses to “I DO, I DO, I DO: The Ceremony Part I”
your pictures came out so beautiful. What a great photographer!! he captured all very touching moments. I felt like I was there.
Girl you nearly made me cry! And gave me goosebumps! What beautiful, beautiful pictures. A lovely day.
I’m with you, its all about the ceremony for me too.
ooooh.
I am all teary now.
beautiful and touching pictures.
You two look awesome and so in love!
I am all choked up! So beautiful!
These pictures are flat out BEAUTIFUL. You made me choke up- how am I going to get through my wedding day?!
Please post as many pictures as you like. They are beautiful and so are you!
That last picture….sigh. They’re all gorgeous, but that’s a swoon-worthy one–all at once so tender and so sensual. Keep posting more! As a BtB, this is extremely helpful!
May I ask what the poem was?
Beautiful!
thanks for sharing.
Well said! Cheers! 
Agreed…..these are absolutely gorgeous. And your descriptions make me even MORE excited about my wedding; who would’ve thought it possible!
Ditto to the previous posts - and I totally agree. It’s all about the ceremony for me - laughter + tears = successful wedding in my mind.
I’m all veclempt now! Thanks for sharing - and keep ‘em coming!
I’m a ceremony gal too. Yours was beautiful!
You are so obviously loved, and you looked so lovely! And these pictures are stunning, and so is everyone in them.
Now I need to go wipe my tears away…
Breathtaking!
Great pictures. And your words evoked so much emotion from me just sitting here reading them. I totally agree. During planning, I was all about the reception but in the past 4 months I have realized the ceremony is the most important part of the entire day. Bring on more pictures!
So beautiful. I have some major goosebumps!
So, so pretty, and I LOVE your earrings — can I ask where you got them? I am looking for the perfect pair…
We owe it all to our photographers!
@KG: The earrings are from Regina B — http://www.reginab.com/
@elizabeth: My sister read a poem in Spanish. It’s a poem by Rafael Alberti called “Sabes tanto de mi,” or basically, You Know So Much About Me, literally, or figuratively, You Know Me So Well. She broke down right before the last two stanzas. They go something like this:
And later love, later, see that life continues
Wide open to the years and full of color
Without end, never closed to the sun.
You know that in me hope never dies
That years are not leaves, but flowers
That I am never past but always future.
You could never bore us with your pics
gorgeous! thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos, it’s a reminder for me that the most important think is the emotion and love that makes the day special, not the diy projects.
the pictures are AMAZING…you are SO BEAUTFUL…you have the prettiest “ugly cry”
Absolutely beautiful!! I’m going to have the ugly cry on my day, too…
Can I ask where you rented/bought Mr. P’s and his groomsmen’s tuxes from? I think the FI might really like them. Thanks!
honey, you made me cry!!! so happy for you
wow… this was one of my favorite posts ever! so beautifully stated and the photographs are so moving. *sniff sniff* Thanks for sharing!
I’d also love to see the rest of that poem by Rafael Alberti! We’re putting poems on our tables, and this one sounds perfect..
too sweet! and a total tear-jerker at that! Congratulations! you looked stunning!
Amazing photos– I can feel the emotions pouring through my computer screen.
MORE PICS! MORE PICS!
No way this is too many pictures. You just left me craving more. I love the sweet and meaningful descriptions that you have accompanying each photo. So beautiful.
I’m a videographer, and this is one of the number one requested shots we get. It is always worth it. It’s the culmination of the entire process where all of the stress, planning, emotion and love come to a head; even the most stoic Daddies get choked up when they take their daughters arm to walk her down the aisle!
i so have goosebumps…and i have my little personal heater on under my desk, so it was definitely your words that chilled me.
wow…thank you. i have no idea what i will be feeling during these moments, but you’ve given me a very good idea…..
just yesterday, i started to wonder if i wanted a long veil……your pics are pushing me to at least try one on!
Please post as many picture as you want! I could look at these all day long…
But seriously, these are beautiful pictures. I especially love that last one of you and Mr. Petunia, such a sweet picture. It’s all about the ceremony for me too
Did you and Mr. Petunia see each other before the ceremony?
Oh your post has me fighting back the tears. That photo of your dad looking at you. That’s PRICELESS. Like a Mastercard commercial come true. Beuatiful and touching. Each picture IS worth 1000 words.
AWWW!! what sweet words to accompany your pictures. =)
You look flat out GORG! and I LOVED what you said about the people you love, who love you seeing the way the person you love looks at you <– makes me melt!
everything was so beautiful. may i ask where did you get your sign “this way to the wedding”?
