Weddingbee Blog

Happy December, everyone! I don’t know about you, but I appreciate the snow while it’s here and often dread it until then. So how about we take a look back at a warm-ish and awesome day in the fall? Yes, let’s.

After our first look, it was time to head to the ceremony itself.

Here’s something big, folks: I was prepared to feel something really enormous. I was ready for something powerful to take me over. I had tissues in my pocket, and I was ready for the tears…and they never came. The whole time, it was like I was watching from just outside. Were these the words we had asked the minister to read? Why, yes, they were, and they did sound quite nice. Was that the meaningful poem? Yes, it was. Hmm, I can see why we chose it. Hey, are we doing things in the right order?

This didn’t make the ceremony less special to me. I look through these pictures, and it’s almost like my world has shifted a little; I am moved enormously now. But at the time, I was so focused on how it was going that I had trouble being there for it. Now, every picture brings back the emotion from the whole day.

Anyway, on with it.

(All photos by Ellie Leonardsmith or Alison Abreu-Garcia)

Our ceremony location was absolutely beautiful.

I love this picture of our minister, excited and happy before the ceremony starts. I like to think that this is how everyone looked that morning.

My little brother walked my mom down the aisle. It was a big production to get him to dress up; he agreed to wear the shirt and pants that were actually somewhere near his waist, though he would not wear a belt or tuck the shirt in. He was thrilled to be allowed to wear a bowtie.

Fancee’s grandpa and mom walked down the aisle together.

My sister and my dad came down—I love how they’re both smiling here. I wish I could have seen this a little less through the “Eek I’m next!” frame…it’s nice to have the pictures to look back on.

At this point, the music started! We finally decided on what music we were going to play for our entrance two nights before the wedding. Just like deciding what time to get married, I can’t imagine having any other music. So, listen to the music below. Our bridal brigade started to come in when the music began, and then we came in at the hallelujah (at 1:24). How can you not get goosebumps here? You can’t. Especially if you just took off your sweater and are, you know, about to get married.

We had asked all of our bridal brigade to wear either a navy blue dress or khakis, a white shirt, and a blue tie or bowtie (bowtie for my little brother, of course). They picked whatever they wanted in their price range, and may I just say they all looked amazing? I love these people. Also, you may notice some of them were carrying books. Yes, there were books in our ceremony! As someone who always wrote “reading and writing” as a “hobby” or “additional interest” anytime possible, I thought the books were kind of amazing. They all had the readings we wanted—yes, the individual poems were important, but so were the books themselves. Who needs to carry flowers down the aisle when you can carry e.e. cummings?

Everyone had arrived, and they were standing, waiting for us to enter.

My parents and one set of grandparents watching us come in.

Fancee’s mom and grandpa watching us arrive.

(You guys!? Isn’t she SO PRETTY?! She is the prettiest. Whoa, I am lucky.)

And here we are, ready for the big words.

Funny story here: I could not look out at everyone. I did once, and everyone was looking at me! It made me really nervous, so I looked at Fancee for the rest of the time. Also, I knew I wanted to hold her hands, but I didn’t know if I was supposed to, or how I was supposed to do it while holding flowers. The solution came when our minister told us we could give the flowers to our bridal brigade and hold each other’s hands. Lots of choices that are tough to make when all your favorite people are staring at you! Luckily, marrying her was not one of the tough choices.

Did you find yourself as present as you anticipated being?

(In case you missed anything, first we spent time with all our people and then we got ready.)