Love Fest: My Wedding

My wedding day was one of the favorite days of my entire life.. rivaled only with the birth of my children.   Looking back, there are things that I would change or do differently but only a select few.  It was not only a celebration of our love, but really reflected who we are.  

I stressed over every detail, but at the end of the day?  The only thing that mattered was that I became his wife. 

my little man was NOT happy

my little Mommy's Boy

one of the moments I remember most was shared with my grandfather before the doors opened.  With tears in his eyes, he told me how proud he was of me & how much he loved me.  

my shoes..  Yes, I went for comfort over style. 

Our guests held sparklers as we left the ceremony.  

Grooms Cake:  Choc Cake, Choc Icing & choc covered strawberries.  

3 tiered wedding cake:  yellow cake with pineapple filling & white cake w/ strawberry filling





The pictures on my cake table were of each of our grandparents on their wedding day.
Joe's grandfather played a huge roll in his life and passed away when he was only in high school.
It was my way of remembering such an important part of why the man I loved became who he is. 

the centerpieces:  I made these myself.  The vases are metal coffee tins covered in contact paper

our wedding party

the bridal party serenading us with Happy Birthday

my mini-me dancing to "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison

Our first dance

dancing with my Daddy

dancing with my grandfather

They lasted through the cake cutting, the dances, the food & just couldn't last any more. 

Details

October 23 2004

Ceremony at First Baptist Church Memphis, TN

Reception at The Palm Court

Photography by Shane Carr Photography

Dances

First Dance to "Crazy Love" by Van Morrison & "Crash into Me" DMB

Grandfather/Daughter to "Beautiful in my Eyes" by Joshua Kadison

Daddy/Daughter to "These are the Days" by Van Morrison

Little Touches

I placed personalized notes with poems and handkerchiefs at each of my family's seats on the pews.

I made every centerpiece for the reception and each of the bouquets for the bridesmaids

Our Guest Book was actually a scrapbook filled with black & white pictures of each of us from childhood    

all the way through our engagement.  Each page is filled with words of advice and well wishes from our family & friends. 

Wedding favors were cd's filled with songs that were meant something to us

Wedding programs included a lyric from a favorite DMB song

Celebrate we will 

Because life is short but sweet for certain 

After the Fact

The reception was over at midnight, but the party didn't end.  We walked across the street to a local, hole in the wall bar.  I was still in my wedding dress, but had lost my shoes somewhere along the way.  I had no id, no purse.  And half the bar bought me shots and drinks.  

For more of the story read:  My Last Walk of Shame

Best advice I received and have passed on to many new brides-to-be:  Don't stress about the wedding.  It's only one day.  The focus should be the marriage and life you're planning.  

Pick what's important to you and focus your budget around those things.  For me?  I wanted a great photographer, dress and venue.  Everything else was immaterial because I knew I couldn't keep them.  I was willing to cut back on the flowers & cake if it meant I could have the dress I wanted.  

And because my little Love Fest goes along with another linky..  I'm joining the Fabulous Valentine's Challenge.