When we left off, the girls and I hammed it up outside the hotel for a while, and the men hammed it up and did manly things inside a different hotel. I assume they headed to the church in various vehicles after their hamming was done, but again, I wasn’t actually there.
Photo by Jennifer Shaffer Photography
After our hamming was done, I announced that it was time to hit the limo! Then I looked left, right, left again, and said, “Uh…where’s the limo?” It was supposed to arrive at a specific time, which had actually already passed, and I had been a little worried during the photo session that we were making the guy wait confusedly. But I need not have worried, because he was not there, waiting around confusedly; he was driving around about 45 minutes away, confusedly.
If you recall (you probably don’t, since I wrote this back in July—do you even recall who I am??), we had changed the pick-up location for the limo driver, but he had decided not to listen to us or something. (Side note: I wasn’t pissed about it at the time, because I figured it was just an honest mistake. But it would have been nice to get a little discount sumpin’ sumpin’ out of the deal, considering he didn’t actually drive us for the allotted time we paid for…I won’t link to the company’s website, but needless to say, they don’t have very good reviews online, and I wish I had thought to check there before.)
I got on the phone with Mr. Unicycle’s dad, who informed me about the mix-up, and told him to deck the guy real good when he saw him. Then I turned to my own dad and said “Let’s take the truck!” My dad was going to drive himself to the church in his pickup truck, so I figured we’d let him take the bride too. Even then I was thinking “This could make a good story. I actually love the idea of arriving at the church in a pickup truck.” So we did!
I made sure to duck down in my seat as we rolled up, and we snuck in the side entrance to hide in the basement. Meanwhile, our guests were greeting each other in the vestibule:
Photo by Jennifer Shaffer Photography
Photo by Jennifer Shaffer Photography
And getting their homemade boutonnieres and corsages pinned to them against their will.
Photo by Jennifer Shaffer Photography
Photo by Jennifer Shaffer Photography
Photo by Jennifer Shaffer Photography
Mr. Unicycle’s cousins handed out the programs I labored over.
Photo by Jennifer Shaffer Photography
Photo by Jennifer Shaffer Photography
Meanwhile, the bridesmaids, my parents, and I waited nervously in the church basement. Well, I waited nervously. Everyone else was going about their day having a grand old time, anticipating the open bar and dance party. Meanwhile, I was shitting bricks. (Can you say “shitting bricks” in a church basement? OK fine. I was shitting rocks.)
Guest photo
The church we got married at is connected to the school I went to for kindergarten through eighth grade, so I have many memories in that basement, which served as our gymnasium, cafeteria, AND auditorium—we liked to get our money’s worth. I was a little bit overcome with emotion as I looked around, remembering seventh grade lunch gossip, third grade parachute games (those seriously rock), second grade talent shows, my eighth grade graduation, etc. I even had my Girl Scout meetings in this basement (actually, my old Girl Scout leader took the above and below guest photos!), and one time we saw a bride about to get married upstairs in the church, and all the Girl Scouts suddenly went wedding crazy and started drawing our future wedding dresses. Everything in my childhood happened in this basement, and now here I was dressed as a bride, ready to get married upstairs.
Guest photo
I think my mom was getting nervous too. Her flower was also trying to jump ship boob.
Meanwhile, Mr. Unicycle and his brother waited at the altar for what seemed like forever to him. He told me later that he thought I was running late. (I would never!) He didn’t consider the fact that I may have gotten cold feet or become a runaway bride, so I realized I need to work harder at keeping him on his toes.
Photo by Jennifer Shaffer Photography
Rico…
Photo by Jennifer Shaffer Photography
…Suave. Sigh. He is so hot.
How do you think you’ll feel the moments before you walk down the aisle? Is your husband/fiance Rico Suave too?
Awww, that’s so sweet that you have all of these great memories in the place where you got married 
. I got ready in the place where I’ve taught Sunday school for years and in the church I’ve gone to since I was born. I was 20 minutes late walking down to aisle (boo) not because of a limo driver, but because 3 of my BMs were late to get ready because they were dealing with a GM attire emergency that no one told me about until after the wedding. I was so nervous that DH thought I wasn’t going to show (his mum tried to convince him I wasn’t and that he should call it off). Your limo company sounds no good but the pickup truck story will be a great one to tell. I got a ride in my bridesman’s teeny car. Congratulations on your marriage! You guys look very happy
You look so beautiful, Unicycle, and your programs look SO amazing! Can’t wait to read about your ceremony!! 
I love that you took your dad’s pickup to your ceremony! I just wish there were pictures, it sounds like a memorable moment!
Its cray cray, because we totally did a first look before coming down the aisle, but I still began to get nervous as shit. Those butterflies were insane. You were such a beautiful bride..I can’t tell you were shitting bricks at all!
Oh girl, I feel your pain. Our limo had us all (the whole bridal party) at a park about 30 minutes from the church, where said limo then proceeded to break down. The replacement limo got lost trying to come after us, and it was just madness. However…it all worked out okay and didn’t ruin my day in the least.
Mrs. Unicycle, Chicago, IL Age and Occupation: 23, Editor for a Web Publishing Company Fiance's Age and Occupation: 23, MD/PhD Student Engagement Date: March 26, 2011 Wedding Date: June 2012 Venue: Bridges of Poplar Creek About Me: I’m a writer by trade who likes analyzing pop culture, making fun of celebrities, and laughing until I cry. I’m the queen of half-assed crafts, and there’s nothing I won’t try to DIY. You can usually find me reading blogs on my laptop in front of a good Lifetime movie, wine in hand. I’m planning a polka-dotted summertime wedding to my physics geek college sweetheart, and when I’m not making stupid puns I’m freaking out about my wedding timeline.
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