Our Wedding: The Ceremony Part 1

I wish that I had the time, and I hope to one day get to write down the exact words that were exchanged between everyone during the ceremony at our wedding, but for now I am just going to to the overall recap. Kevin was raised Catholic, and I was raised Christian (not that there is really that much of a difference between the two of us) but we knew that we wanted to do a mixed ceremony, by having a Priest and Pastor marry us. My Uncle, who works at the Church we got married at, married us as well as Father Ron, who actually was a coach on Kevin's football team when he played at our Community College.

Our ceremony was very traditional, as we are a very traditional couple. I would say we are old fashioned and traditional which are almost the same thing. We wanted all the traditional vows said, we didn't want to write out own. How cool is it to say the same thing that SO many amazing couples before you have said. Our parents, grandparents, great grandparents and many others.

Here is our ceremony in pictures. I figure this will be the best way to recap it.

My grandparents

My grandma on the left, and Great Aunt

Kevin's grandparents

Kevin's parents and brother

My mom and brother

Our candle lighteres (my cousins- so gorgeous!)

Our mom's lighting their part of the unity candle

Myhandsome groom!

Kevin waiting for me to walk down the isle

Here we go...

Trying so hard not to cry.. but the tears are just coming out. This was by far the best moment of our wedding, see Kevin waiting for me at the end of the isle, waiting for us to become husband and wife. No moment will ever compare.

Love this photo, Maid of Honor W is wiping her tears on the stage, and I love being able to see Kevin's face.

We had group hugs and individual hugs before Kevin and I walked up to the stage. Our parents are the one who got us to this point in our lives, and we wanted to thank them for that.

We had our grandparents walk down the isle first, then our parents. Then our 8 pairs of bridesmaids and groomsmen. I loved everyone of them, but waiting in the back for all of the bridal party to walk down the isle was crazy! I couldn't wait to see my handsome groom waiting for me, and it just seemed to take forever!

Part 2 of the ceremony coming up!

Our Wedding: The Church

SOOO the church that Kevin and I settled on getting married in, was Green Valley Christian Center which also doubles as a Christian school. My mom teaches 2nd grade at the school, my entire family attends church there, and my Uncle is a pastor there! So, while it is not my home church (25minute drive from my house) we knew it would be special and so fun!

We had the rehersal the night before the wedding there, and set up some of the decorations, but here are some of my favorite pics of the church all set up!

The stage all set up!

one of three large floral arrangments on the stage of the church

One of my FAVORITE parts, the isle. Loved everything about it.

Our Programs

Programs and guest book

Unity Candle

Overall, the details were what made MY wedding unique and I loved them all!! I remember telling Kevin on our honeymoon that I wish I could have just stood at the end of our isle after the ceremony and looked at the room for five minutes. It all went by so fast, however I do love the pictures that were captured:)

Up next, The Ceremony!!!

Our Wedding: Bride+Bridesmaids/ Groom+Groomsman

My groom and I decided we didn't want to see one another before the wedding. We are both very traditional and liked the idea of seeing one another for the first time walking down the isle (however, I could barely see because my eyes were filled with tears!) So this meant that as far as our timeline went, my bridesmaids and I took pictures together before we headed to the church. We took them outside at the Sand Rock Farm (duh, gorgeous!) and I loved that time with my girls!

I think that the timing of all the pictures worked out well. We had Sarah (my photographer) stay with us girls, and sent her 2nd shooter to the boys!

Maids of Honor

I love what Bridesmaid K said about me in these pictures, "your happiness and joy was so contagious on your wedding day." That is exactly how I felt, so giddy and happy to be marrying my best friend.

you can almost see the N painted on my toes, N for Nice of course;)

handsome boys

Kevin with the men in his family, his grandpa, dad and two younger brothers.

After our photo sessions it was off to the church! The hour was getting closer and I was getting so excited!!! Up next, is the church!

Our Wedding: My Photographer!

I can't believe I haven't mentioned this amazing girl yet! So Sarah McKenzie Photogrpahy (www.sarahmckenziephoto.com) did our wedding pictures! Sarah, who is in her early 20's is a friend of mine from elementary school! I have known her such a long time. She moved to Texas when we were in middle school, and we kept in touch throughout the years, but then she decided to come back to California for her college years. She graduated college and became a wedding photographer soon after! She did move back to Texas, but after I learned she was a wedding photographer I was super excited!!

When Kevin and I first got engaged, we were talking and she told me that unfortuntley she was already booked for our wedding date, which was still 8 months away on June 18, 2011! I was a bit dissapointed, but knew that this was the way things had to be. I still wanted her to do an engagment shoot with us, if she would. Several months later, she called me in pure excitment to inform me that the couple she was supposed to shoot on June 18th, had cancled and she was free to shoot our wedding!!

I was so incredibly excited! She is so talented and from looking at her previous work, I knew that I would be happy with her work. Let me just say, that every picture she captured from that day is amazing. I am so happy with the outcome of the pictures (which are a HUGE deal to me) and wouldn't have wanted anyone else.

THANKS SARAH!

Our Wedding: Getting Dressed

After we all had our hair done, it was time to meet at the Sand Rock Farm. This is where our Reception was taking place. It's a BEAUTIFUL bed and breakfast, and it has the most amazing gardens and places for pictures. I remember the day that Kevin and I went with our parents to see the Sand Rock Farm. I stepped onto the property and just "knew" that this is where I wanted our wedding reception to be at. As we took a tour of the property and walked through the rose gardens and vintage fountains I could see our reception taking place, and that is what sealed the deal for me. I LOVED how everything turned out. It was the most special time.

Since we were having the reception outside, my in laws decided to book one of the rooms for my bridesmaids and I to get dressed and hang out in before the ceremony.

I had to hold on soo tight while my mom and MOH tied my into my dress. I was so happy to finally be getting into my wedding dress! It meant we were one step closer to heading to the church to marry the love of my life!!

I really loved all the special moments I had with each of my bridesmaids as they all assisted me in getting ready. Bridesmaid K helped with with putting my shoes on (because there was no way I could get them on myself, with this huge dress on!!) My MaytronOH helped me with putting my tiara on before we left to take my bridal portraits and bridemaid pictures.

We didn't get too many pictures of the guys getting ready (because lets be honest, they don't really have the many things to do to "get ready") but here are a few of my cute husband putting on his fancy tux:)

Next up! Bridal Party Pictures and Bridal Portraits!

Our Wedding: Getting Ready!

**** I have been wanting to blog about the wedding....and 4 months later I'm getting around to it? Better late than never. So here it is, the best day of my life:)

June 18, 2011

                I went to bed very early, which was a surprise to most everyone. When I woke up Saturday  morning, it didn’t hit me right away that today was MY WEDDING DAY. It took a few minutes, but I took a deep breath and soaked in the feeling. Most of the girls had to take a shower, and we were ready to have breakfast upstairs. We went upstairs to see Kris and it was so surreal. I was standing in the place that I had been waiting for for 8 months. This day had finally arrived. I had 4 of my bridesmaids with me the night before the wedding, so we all were waiting to have breakfast. It started off yummy with fresh fruit, coffee, orange juice and cinnamon sticky buns. Then the “main” course came out. We all were a little confused, it was a parmesan egg soufflé with grilled asparagus. Huh. We all tried to be polite and ate some of it, however I would have rather had eggs and a bagel. Either way, it was a memorable morning.

                Once breakfast was over the girls and I split up. I went to my house with two of my bridesmaids, while the others each went to get their own makeup done. My very soon to be mother-in-law was in charge of doing my makeup. I got to my house and sat down and all the fuss over me began. My bridesmaid Caitlyn got us Starbucks (which was really welcomed!).

My amazing cousin-in-law redid my cute toenails and painted a cute N on them with hearts. I loved them, it was so special. My mother-in-law did an AMAZING job with my makeup and eyelashes. I really really wanted some fake lashes, but I didn’t want them to be “fake” looking. So I researched them and decided on individual eyelashes. They ended up looking great!

After my makeup was done we were off to the salon to get our hair done! All the bridesmaids were meeting us there, and I was running a little late so they were all there when I arrived!! I immediately sat down to get my hair done (my overall hair was really upsetting and not what I wanted at all, but I wasn’t going to let anything get me down that day).

The girls had already started getting their hair done and most were just about finished. I had ordered these adorable flower headbands for them to wear, so as I was getting pampered we dealt with the best way to add those to their hair. Overall everyone’s hair was beautiful and turned out just like I wanted.

Once everyone’s hair was done, we all headed to the Sand Rock Farm to get dressed!!