Weddingbee Blog

Here was my phone conversation with my mom regarding our transportation:

Mom: I called the transportation company and have booked something called [pauses to read from the notes she scribbled down] a Lincoln Stretch Navigator.

Me, laughing: A stretch Nav? Mom, that’s balla.

Mom: …I don’t know what you just said.

Me: Balla. Baller?

Mom: [crickets]

Me: Nevermind. It means I like it.

We piled 14 people into said stretch Nav at our reception venue, where we’d gotten ready, and we headed to the church. It looked lovely on the outside, arriving at the church:

It looked like this on the inside. Yes, that is a styrofoam cooler. Ah, class. You can’t teach it. You either have it or you don’t.

*guest photo

…We don’t. But we did have beer and champagne, so we win.

Once we arrived at the church, I felt a sense of calm. It’s the church we attend, so I have all kinds of warm memories attached to nearly each room of the church. We love the people there so dearly…plus, it’s pretty to look at.

The dramatic front doors were home to two wreaths I made.

Here is a brief tutorial for these wreaths: buy a wreath and hot glue some stuff that you like to it. Ms. Prairie Dog: your leading source for hard-hitting DIY since…never.

Inside, the first thing guests saw were my garlands. They were one of the very first wedding decisions I made, and I am still completely in love with them. They felt whimsical and festive and perfect for a May wedding. They made life difficult for my photographers, but when I walked down the aisle, the lines of flowers gave me tunnel vision so all I saw was PDog. He said the same. It. was. awesome.

*guest photo

The floral garlands led to an altar arrangement. Given my specific and elegant instruction of: “big and spring-y,” my florist completely surpassed my imagination.

On the steps of the church, I posed with my almost-husband.

Then we got a few shots on the side of the church, somewhere I’d never noticed as particularly scenic. As we stood there, I thought of last year’s church picnic, of dashing under the arch to grab supplies from the downstairs kitchen. I thought of PDog, maneuvering Christmas trees into the church’s front lawn in the winter. It’s nice to get married in a place that feels a little bit like your own.

Plus some B&W action:

When we made our way back to the church’s front doors, some immediate family had arrived. It felt so surreal, to see other people on your wedding day. I really didn’t feel like all the fuss was about me (us); it just felt like family vacation! And I love family vacation. It means I get to see people I love, like my lovely Nana.

Meanwhile, two of my favorite guys—my brother and my littlest cousin—watched from the steps.

*guest photo

I could probably do a whole recap post about my little brother. As soon as he arrived in Cincinnati, it became clear that—even though it was, of course, my wedding—it was a little bit his wedding too. I have this very specific image of him before the rehearsal, wearing his navy dinner jacket and re-taping the aisle garlands so that they were even- without direction and without being asked. He greeted people as if he were the host and generally made sure that it was the best possible weekend.

So, eventually I let him ham it up in some pictures too.

PDog showed off the stretch Nav to interested parties:

*guest photo

We tried to take a few more wedding party photos too, but to be honest, it was hot underneath those dress layers. NO idea how you July/August brides do it.

By then, more guests were arriving inside. I know that seeing the bride beforehand is a no-no or whatever, but I simply did not care. It is our wedding day, and we will to hug EVERYONE.

*guest photos

Then my mom began shooting me disapproving looks, which clearly said: you are being GAUCHE; stop letting people see you in that dress. She gives me that look a lot. What can I say? I’m gauche.

So we retired to the parlor of the church, to relax while guests arrived. I slumped into my usual ladylike posture, while PDog looked on, completely uninterested.

*guest photo

I try not to dole out too much advice ’round these posts. Different strokes for different folks, and so on and so on. SO, this is not a tip, necessarily, but a tidbit from my experience.

Spending my whole wedding day with my partner and entire wedding party was the best thing ever. We didn’t get married until 4PM, so I could have gone for 14 hours of our wedding day without seeing PDog or his groomsman. I don’t know about you, but they’re not just “my friends” and “his friends.” We’ve been together for so long that our friends are friends with each other by now. And having them all in the same place? It made the day feel relaxed and real. Forget the convenience of doing pictures beforehand. It’s just nice to be with them.

…Then the pastor came to get PDog, as it was time to “get set.” And that’s when nerves prickled under my skin like electrical wiring gone terribly wrong. But that’s a post for another day.

Photography- Katie Albrecht of Blink of an Eye

Old Episodes

• A Prairie Dog Companion I: Reader, I Married Him
• A Prairie Dog Companion II: So It Begins
• A Prairie Dog Companion III: Pictures of You
• A Prairie Dog Companion IV: What We Wore

Full disclosure: I have plagiarized every recap title thus far, so here are the people I’m crediting: Charlotte Bronte, Tolkien, The Cure, and Jessica Quirk. Anybody know today’s…? I’m not sure if I’m not creative enough to write my own titles or if I’m just living out my repressed dream of being a reference-writer for Gilmore Girls scripts.