I’m a jealous person. I know, I know, not the most flattering of personality traits, but since honesty is one of the better of those, I may as well admit it.
I went to a wedding just two weeks after ours, and though it was surprisingly just like ours (funny what they say about imitation), I was a bit jealous. That couple did very little of their own planning, and I thought about how nice it would be to just walk into a well-planned wedding.
I saw the lovely Mrs. Meatball’s pics and I was OH, so very jealous. She looks like the cutest and happiest freaking fairy (I say that with love!) and I wanted to be just like her. Just like that. Exactly like that.
But then I got a sneak peek at a few of our pictures and I remembered: Oh, THAT’S who I am. I’m the loud mouth who laughs with her whole body.

I’m the nutcase whose every thought crosses her face – flattering or otherwise.
I’m the one who hugged her mom so tight,

laughed so hard,

danced so much,

ate every bite on her plate

and smiled at her husband all night (or is that lust?).

That’s me.

And him? He’s the cutie pie who dances a jig when he’s all dressed up.

He’s the man who fully admitted wanting to pass out from the stress of standing in front of all of those people.

He’s the fella who noticed how much fun I was having dancing with my brother and so he just had to cut in.

And we’re the couple so happy with our lives that we couldn’t help but want to host our own wedding,

at our own home,

on our own street.
Because we love our neighbors, almost all of whom joined us for the party, even those who had to be helped up the street or helped home afterward.

And we love our families, our people who traveled hundreds of miles — and then another twenty between our house and Home Depot — and smiled while cleaning and hugged while helping.





And we love our friends, who traveled and sweated and calmed a stressed out woman down by taking over the directing and the executing and the scheduling.



And then they danced.

That’s us.

And this was our wedding.

Consider this the beginning of my recaps. As you can see, they won’t be organized in any rational fashion. You know the story, because you’re living it. Guy meets girl, proposes, much planning and freaking out ensues, then culminates in a wedding filled with carefully and lovingly executed details and stunning coordination. Except that I’m not much good at details, and the coordination was anything but stunning, so instead, I’m going to share our story in the way that feels best… which I’m going to figure out as I go.
All photography by Angela Herzog of Angela Herzog Photography (www.angelaherzogphotography.com) unless otherwise noted. Asterisks (*) indicate that post-processing was done by me, and thus, should not be held against her. See this post for more details.
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Share this post: And It Begins…

Am. in. love. with your wedding. Call me jealous!!
So excited for your recaps.
wow I LOVE that your dance floor was in the middle of the street!! ![]()

Eeee! Can’t wait to see more, Mrs. Cheese!
Oh, and on a side note, I, um, love how you’re “LUSTING” after your hubby (how shall I say…) below the waist. ::okay, turning red now from that observation::
Mrs Cheese! I LOVE LOVE LOVE your pics! I’m jealous of homey and full of love everyone is! You are gorgeous! And your wedding looks amazing.
Your wedding site? You are so lucky to be able to see that every day as part of your home. And it was gorgeous.
I am SO happy for you. It looks like such a fun personal wedding!
Yay for recaps!
Wow, Mrs. Cheese. You got YOUR wedding. And it looks like it was SO MUCH FREAKING FUN.
GORGEOUS! I especially love that you ate all of your food-so many of us miss that. I love the combination of dress, bolero, and veil. So chic. Congrats to you both.
I love love love this post! What a great snapshot of your day–it seems like it was just so you. I’m tearing…
I love you and your wedding!!!! You are so fun and filled with life and happiness — and jealousy
Gorgeous wedding.. can’t wait to see how it all went down!

Aw, shucks, y’all.
@Miss Bruschetta: Too funny! I love that pic for a bunch of reasons, not least of which is that people either think it’s cute or it makes them uncomfortable. I was actually looking at a spot on his shirt, but it looks like I was looking forward to playing Twister!
I’m absolutely head over heels for your wedding. It looks gorgeous, and has much of the same feeling I want to evoke at my wedding, which will be taking place at a local park. Thanks for the inspiration, Mrs. Cheese!

You look amazing! And it looks everyone had a great time! I hope my wedding turns out as good or I’ll be jealous! ![]()

You and the family so fabuilulous and happy! Congrats, lady!
Looks like perfection to me Mrs. Cheese. I can’t wait for more!!!!
MRS Cheesy I LOVE YOUR WEDDING! I can’t wait for the rest of your recaps ![]()
P.S. You are so freakin’ GORG!
i’m sobbin’ mess reading your post. a jealous sobbing mess :] your pics are lovely. and you are beautiful! it looks like you had such a lovely + wonderful time. also, gosh, you’re such a great writer. i’m jealous about that too :]

@Mrs. Bird of Paradise: You’re cracking me up. Really. I’m giggling like a fool — even the dogs are like, “Whaaa?” I’m so glad we’re all united in our jealousy. ![]()
I absolutely love your post!! You are so stinking adorable! This post plays out like a story, and the photos capture the awesomeness that is your wedding. Cannot wait to see more!
Mrs Cheese - Gotta add to the YOU LOOK GORGEUS!!!!! comments - WOW!! You & Mr look so happy! Congrats!!
Is it just me, or did that little old man make anyone else teary?
Congrats, Mrs. Cheese!
SO SO SOOOO Beautiful! I can’t wait to see the rest of your pics as well. I love that everyone has their own vision and their own wedding, and own happiness and yet we are all still so jealous of everyone else!
LOVE your recap so far! Looks like such a blast! And you look absolutely gorgeous, Mrs. C! ![]()
Mrs. Cheese your pictures are great and your wedding looked wonderful. Thank you so much for this post. It made me tear up a little while I’m sitting here in my office. Thank you and congrats!
Best. Recap Post. Evar. I am so in love with your wedding, Mrs. Cheese. In fact, I think I have a bee-crush on you.
You and your wedding were GORGEOUS! I can’t wait for the rest of your recaps!
Everything looks so awesome! I’m so glad the cheesey recaps have begun. You look like a giddy school girl!! Oh and… uh, are you checking out Mr. Cheese’s package in that one pic?! LOL. Bad girl. Twister is for after the wedding not during. ![]()

@Lauren: Speaking of him, he’s our neighbor - 96 years old, and the pic of me on my Blackberry was actually me frantically trying to find him a ride so he could join us. He wasn’t ready to go home when everyone else did, mentioning that if he was 30 yrs younger he’d be all over the dance floor! And HE sent US a thank you card the next day — for arranging his transportation and having such a fun party. That picture makes me teary every time.
one word, three letters…
w.o.w.
awesome pictures MRS Cheese, you look totally gorgeous and I can’t wait to see all the details.
HAHA. Oh man I didnt even see Bruschetta already beat me to that one!

@Miss Mary Jane: Ditto.
@MissCamera: I vaguely remember being concerned about a spot on his shirt, but I much prefer the dirty explanation. I have an even better one of him with this 1980’s I’m-a-badass face (he was even biting his lower lip) and I’m checking him out like, Oh, yea. ![]()

Girl, what a magical day. You are so sweet to be jealous of me, but in many ways I feel the same about you! What a wonderful start to what I’m sure will all be KILLA recaps!

@Mrs. Meatball: You looked like a fairy, and I looked, um, lusty.
And, um, you mean I’m not DONE with recaps?

You are absolutely gorgeous! I’m now in suspense to read your recaps. ![]()

I’ve been looking forward to this! What a wonderful, jealousy-inducing start! You’re absolutely gorgeous, Mrs. Cheese. Can’t wait for more of the story. :o)
okay, i delayed my lunch so i could check out the first of the recaps…
so.totally.worth.it.

@tea: LOL! You must follow on Twitter. Glad it was worth some extra time being hungry!
I can’t wait for the rest! It looked just like a wedding should. Full of love, laughter, friendship and family. Congrats!
Mrs. Cheese (emphasizing the MRS part of course)! You’re absolutely stunning
And your wedding looked fantastic… I’m so excited to see the rest of the recaps!
I have been SO anxiously awaiting these! And this is one of my favorite recaps. EVER. Love your style, Miss Cheese! Or I guess that’s Mrs. Cheese now. ![]()
Perfection, Mrs. Cheese!! Can’t wait for me….like seriously….canNOT wait.
Oh em gee I’m so excited for the recaps. All of these photos are gorgeous. I’m totally jealous!
Oh, Mrs. Cheese! If that was the only recap I had to read from you I would be fully content. THose photos were gorgeous and your words are so honest and real. I truly can’t wait to see more of your wedding!

EEEEKKK! I totally can’t wait to see more. Loving the ceremony set up and even more loving the reception in the street!! And Mrs. Cheese….you are smokin’!!

Cheese.+Amazing
Your photos are amazing, you and your husband are stinking adorable, and I’m head over heels in <3 with your style!
Mrs. Cheese,
You look so BEAUTIFUL! I would love to have a wedding like yours! Even to the point where I was looking for home to rent hehe because we don’t have that kind of land for that many people! Can’t wait for more recaps! =)

I love how homey your wedding feels. Like it’s just a whole lotta good times with good friends. And you, MRS. Cheese, are absolutely STUNNING.
Wow! Your wedding was beautiful! Keep the recaps coming. I cannot wait to see more
PS - you looked amazing in that dress!

I LOVE your wedding!!!!! I’m excited for the recaps to begin!!!
You’re you Mrs. Cheese, I think that is what we love about you and your posts full of feeling, emotion, and YOU. Your wedding looks absolutely perfect. I love the pic of your neighbor. So cute. Also, that pic of you hugghing your mom, brought tears to my eyes. Such a wonderful picture. ![]()
Awesome! And the photo and story of your 96 year old neighbor makes me a bit teary as well! I’m loving your recap style (almost as much as YOUR wedding style)….so keep em up please ![]()
Beautiful pictures!!! And the Little Old Man is adorable. Bring on more pictures, we demand it!
Love.ly! I cannot wait to see more. You looked totally stunny that day!
I agree w/ the 58 people above me - it looked wonderful! Can’t wait to hear more. I’ve been looking forward to it!
Oh Cheese! Your wedding was BEAUTIFUL! The wait for the beginning of recaps was worth it!
I’m sobbing over the picture and explanation of your neighbor. Bless his adorable heart!
Your wedding looks absolutely AMAZING! =) And you are a beautiful, stunning, JOYFUL bride.
Oh Mrs.Cheese - you’re making me cry! Love, Love, LOVE the photos and can’t wait to read more!
perfection! your dress, your hair, your wedding… it’s all perfect! Congrats!
You do it your way, Mrs Cheese! Your way is always awesome! I’m so excited for your recaps. And I love the tent in the road.
Everything is so beautiful - awesome post! I am grinning like a fool because reading it made me so happy
:) And, yes, jealous!
love you, love your pictures, love your wedding, and can’t wait to see the rest!
I have goosebumps….seriously, I do. I freaking LOVE your pictures and the way you put this post together!!! INCREDIBLE is a word that keeps coming to my mind. You looked absolutely STUNNING! I especially love the “dirty” picture of you and Mr. Cheese, the pic with your mom (too cute!), the pic with your 96 y/o neighbor (too freakin’ sweet!), and the pic of you looking over your shoulder (hot!)!!!! I cannot wait to see more recaps! I’m so jealous of how your wedding turned out and I hope mine is just as awesome as yours was!
Ok…I need to shut up now. ![]()
Aw. This is so awesome! I mean I really needed this. To realize that this is our moment and our wedding. Who cares if I want a lace dress on a destination sandy beach. If it is the one it is the one because that is me. If Mr. FF wants a silly hat that he loves then so be it! Thanks for an awesome post. BTW you look amazing and it looks like it was so fun and perfect.
Oh Mrs. Cheese! I’ve been dying to see pictures of your big day! We got married on the same day in the same city, and following your planning has been cathartic, and so will the recaps be! You’re stunning; I’m in love with your bolero, and I love how HAPPY you all are. Can’t wait to see more!
mrs cheese, love your recap with all the wonderful photos!! and you look so fierce in that over the shoulder photo.
Loved your post! You were a stunning bride! I was thinking how so very wonderful it is to have your wedding at your home and be able to look at this or that corner and remember this or that special moment. Love it!! Sopping it up with a biscuit! ![]()
Wow! I love this post, you looked absolutely beautiful, and your wedding looked like an absolute blast! Congrats Mrs. Cheese!
OMG, Mrs Cheese! This just gave me chills! Your pics are beautiful and your message hit it right on the head for me. It was clear what was important to you and I love your recaps so far!

Congrats, honey! You did it your own way on your own terms…and it was FABULOUS!! Everything looks so beautiful, including you. ![]()
I just got so misty-eyed reading this (at work)! Your comments on jealousy really hit home with me! Thanks for that!!! I loved this recap, and I can’t wait to see more!!!
You look beautiful. If I have one picture as fabulous as your “lust” photo I will be happy forever. Your wedding looks amazing and boy are you a wonderful writer.
Your 96 year old neighbor - I have an 86 year old neighbor who always mows my lawn when I am at work and brings my trash around even though I yell at him all the time for it! I wish we were getting married where I live so I could have a photo with him like that. Can’t wait for more
Jeeeaaaaaaalous! I am naturally jealous, too, Mrs. Cheese (no shame!) and I was worried I would feel jealous at every wedding I went to after mine. But I just remember how much fun we had and how great we looked and I feel better!
You looked FREAKING AMAZING. Your mother is beautiful and you looked just like her! It is amazing to think all of that was your house and your neighborhood. You did a great job!

You looked soooo amazing and your wedding looked so fun! I’m so glad you’re blogging again for recaps because I’ve really missed your down-to-earth wisdom ![]()
Wow! I love it!
I am 1-month until my wedding today and it is so easy to get caught up in all the crap and say “why did I even want to do this?!”
Seeing your pics…your very real pics that show such joy…you reminded me that I really AM excited for all of this. I can’t wait for the day to arrive.
You looked so happy!
funny, my wedding is months away but I already feel jealous of your wedding
You look so genuinely in love with your man and your life. Its funny how sometimes we need a kick in the pants to realize how thrilled we are with our own lives.
Sweetest, most wonderful post ever! I totally know how you feel - - even though I haven’t had my wedding yet. It is so easy to see/experience someone else’s wedding, event, or even their life and just feel sooooo jealous! But then at some point you’re reminded of your own wedding, event, life etc… and there is so much to love. Your wedding looks like an amazing celebration!! I’M JEALOUS!!! Congratulations on such a wonderful wedding, husband, family, friends, neighbors, and pictures!!!
Cheesy!!! I love you and this post and can’t wait for more unorganized bliss!
Is there a more vibrant-y word than vibrant? That’s what your wedding looks like! Congrats and so so excited to see your recaps!
sooooo as a TN bride, I have already been in touch with your photographer since your teaser posts, and love her to death. Planning on using her for sure, so thank YOU for using her or I never would have found such a fab lady! Your wedding is very much what I envision mine to be….it must be a TN thing
your looked beautiful and congrats!
I’m kvelling!!! This is the most beautifully worded recap ever. I feel like I feel what you were going through on the day of your wedding. And what a day it was! What a gorgeous celebration of family and friends and you seriously look stunning. I’m on the edge of my seat to hear more, girl!
P.S. I’m jealous of your white chairs. We had ugly chairs at our wedding. So there! ![]()
ps if my backyard was as green as yours we would have ours there too…I am unfortunately the proud owner of the “ouchy TN grass”

I love love love too many things in this post to even pic a few to comment on specifically. It felt straight from your heart and was very CHEESY in it’s attempts at squashing the event-icipation/pressure of recapping in chronological order. I love your non-linear love for life ![]()
I LOVE your wedding!! Everything looks perfect and you look beautiful!!
Holy cow, I teared up over this! This is what a wedding is supposed to be!

@mmc4474: Oh, yay! She’s really awesome. Really. We don’t look nearly as good in real life.
@West Coast Bride: HA! You caught me. I can’t hang with the other ‘bees in their super fabulous craftiness, and I totally sucked at the little details, so this seemed the best way.
Thank you so much Mrs. Cheese. I will try to keep your “this is us” philosophy in mind for the remaining three months and after the wedding. It’s a wonderful and healthy way to look at things.
You looked absolutely beautiful by the way. I also have a face that reads like a book. ![]()
Hello Gorgeous! I love the yellow long tables….::sigh:: and a home wedding ::sigh::. I begged the rents for a home wedding, but alas they voted for an in-ground pool on my perfect plot o’land for the tent. I’ll live vicariously through your posts. I <3 your big personality and hope I smile as often as you did on my wedding day ![]()
Marriage, like one’s life journey, are alike in the fact that there is no one Right way to do it. I think your wedding was absolutely beautiful. And your wedding, like life, forces you to know and accept who you are, to really make it beautiful! And clearly you have done that! Now I’m jealous….oh how the cycle continues….;)
Simply beautiful. How special to have your wedding at your home!
I am all teary - mrs cheese, this post was awesome. This tells the story, in a very cohesive manner, of two people whose love for one another brought them together. I LOVE IT!
I’m loving this post!! You looked so amazing in your dress. Quick question: how danceable (new word?) was your dress? I have a VERY similar dress and I’m worried that I won’t be able to dance (and I’m a big dancer.)
All of your different expressions make your pictures THAT much better. I hope I can achieve the same on my wedding day. Congrats and can’t wait for the rest!

Congrats MRS CHEESE! You are beyond gorgeous and there is so much joy oozing from each picture. I’m so happy for you.
mrs cheese, these pics are awesome and i am already loving your recaps. can’t wait to read more
Aww I love the wya you wrote this post. I love how everything is so you. Your writing style is amazing. The way you describe you and your husband on the wedding day is perfect.
I’m looking forward to all the other recaps!
love how your wedding turned out- feeling very inadequate that mine will not be nearly as cohesive/charming as yours! count me in the “jealous” category;)

Your wedding recaps are starting out so awesome. I am just loving the feel of your wedding already and you write about it so sweetly it totally is touching my heart right now. I am really enjoying the casual family portraits, they really show a persons true personality rather then stuffy stand straight and smile portraits!
Aww Mrs. Cheese!! What a wonderful, fun, loving wedding! I love the picture of you and your mom hugging each other…your mom is so adorable looking! Thats where you get it from! And I love the picture of you two looking at each other sitting down, the one above the yellow chairs…and the yellow chair picture too! Fun! Where did you get your little lace jacket…so cute I love it! You look fabulous!

Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous kick-off post. We all hang out with the green-eyed monster sometimes - but it takes a really amazing person to admit it. I admire you for this and soooo much more!
I saw posts from you Mrs. Cheese, and Mrs. Penguin on Twitter during work today and I was SO EXCITED to come home and hunker down and read your post. It was so worth the wait. ![]()
Your wedding was gorgeous and YOU are gorgeous! What lovely pics!

Mr. Cheese is all sorts of hawt hehe…that’s for you Mrs. Cheese. ![]()

This is my favorite recap post ever! Your wedding looks like it was real, and fun, and just perfect! You and Mr. Cheese are a couple of hotties! ![]()
And now I am jealous of YOUR wedding!! so gorgeous! and I love your street and your neighbor too….completely lovely!
You look stunning!
lol. I can totally relate to the faces. I am sure I will be saying the same thing. Nearly every thought I have crosses my face, and I am sure that my wedding day won’t be any different!
I sneaked into reading your recap during work today and images from your wedding (especially the one with your neighbor) keep flashing through my mind! That’s how amazing your wedding looked to me and I love everything about it. And the commentary is a bonus! Oh how I love anything-Cheese-y =)
YOU are the first bee who nearly got me crying there!
Oh, I always laugh out way too loud, with my whole body and my face in an awkward mouth-wide-open smile. wish I would look half as good as you doing it!
Mrs Cheese you look AWESOME!!! and i loved your dancing floor
ohh I really love when people laugh with their whole body’s!!! so cute!
Mrs Cheese, I loved following all your posts. You’ve made me laugh, you’ve made me cry, you’ve made me reflect about myself and today you definitely made me jealous! Can’t wait to see more!
That post actually brought tears to my eyes (at work!) I love the photo with you and the older man (grandfather perhaps?).
Congrats on a beautiful wedding.


you are GORGEOUS and you guys look so happy
i’m definitely jealous now too…
I’m going to copy the sentiments of the 132 people above me and say - You were STUNNING, the your elderly neighbor is ADORABLE, and your man is SMOKIN’!
Can. NOT. wait for more recaps!
I see photos of weddings like yours and I have that wedding lust. Sometimes I wish we had opted for a home wedding or beach wedding, something simpler… But then I realize the whole point - you’re being you! I need to stop worrying what my parents or others will think about going non-traditional on the guestbook, or having a DIY photo booth with props, or having YMCA on the do not play list! These things are things that will make the wedding more “US” and that is what will result in the pure joy shining through in memories and photos, like you have!
Congrats, everything looks gorgeous!!

You are such an eloquent writer! I can’t wait for more!
GORGEOUS!! I knew it would be! You were stunning & I love that one where he’s looking at you w/ “those eyes”…a lovely wedding, Miss Cheese!

ok, I’m late but I had to reply anyway.
I am officially obsessed with your recaps. like the other readers I’m sure as you planned I have envisioned how things would turn out, but I was way off. It was BETTER.
And I love that last picture. You need to have it printed and frame it somewhere. If my pictures don’t turn out well, then I’m going to hang it in my house instead! hahahaha ![]()
OMG I love your dress your wedding everything!!! Everything looks utterly perfect!
[...] about ANYONE, I imagine reading those words to them myself. And, like when I called Mrs. Meatball a really cute freaking fairy, I often check with them to make sure they take it in the spirit I [...]
Your recap totally gave me goosebumps. I’ll have your wedding, please! ![]()
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Mrs. Cheese, Knoxville
Age and Occupation: 29, Engineering Manager
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, CAD Designer
Engagement Date: July 31, 2008
Wedding Date: May, 2009
Blogging Since: October 16, 2008
Venue: Our home and the two acres it sits on
About Me: I’m an emotional girl who loves sentimental things, parenthetical asides, and trying to do things herself. I can cook, sew, am a whiz at planning, terrible at delegating, and totally in love with my fiancé (who will be my second husband but first love of the rest of my life). For our home/ garden/ DIY wedding, we’ll be moonlighting as interior designers, home improvers, and gardeners with the help of our fabulous friends and neighbors. We can’t wait to be married, and are learning how fun getting married can be.
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