Wedding Part 1 - Getting Ready & Ceremony

I just went through my catalog of posts and updated a couple that I hadn't labeled. When I finished labeling, I realized my last couple posts, when not about the wedding, were all about the following three things: Reading. Running. Cooking.

Now, loyal reader of one... Just kidding, I know it's more than one. To my three loyal readers: I know you probably don't read, cook or run as much as I do (because you're probably luckily employed and don't have endless hours to devote to inessentials so I'm sure I'm testing your patience with repeating the same activities over and over. Today I am determined to talk about something else! ...How about that wedding? I know, I know, I talked about it non-stop for a whole year you'd think I could let it die. But I received my professional pictures from Debi Parker Photography and now I'd love to run through the day for those of you who weren't there. Wait who am I kidding, the three of you that read this were definitely there. :)

First things first, lemme just say, it. was. hot. And threatening to rain like you wouldn't believe. (We're talking raindrops during family picture time) It is a miracle it all came off without many hitches and that everyone survived.

My wonderful make-up artist was Allison from The Shop Salon in Bethesda. It's a fantastic place and she did a great job. For those of you that don't know I used to think I might become a make-up artist, (I used to harass all my friends with make-overs from Kevyn Aucoin's book Making Faces), so I adore when other people do my makeup. Ck and I used to have a trade where she would do my hair for a concert if I would do her makeup for going out. Of course now she's surpassed me in training by far, but we both love talking about new products every chance we get. Anyways, it was awesome having my makeup handled by a pro.

We had stayed up late the night before making flowers so the morning after called for super classy cupped mimosas, courtesy of Lizzy. We all were having our hair done by my sister (who is currently at The Fig on Third which is a fantastic salon in Hollywood I just recently got my hair done at, see the last post on this blog) and her friend from childhood Mikyla (also at the Shop Salon!)... in fact right at the beginning of the day we actually blew a fuse with all the hair dryers running :)

For the bridesmaids gifts, I bought each of the girls a different locket. In each locket, I put a small colored paper backing and then attached a folded up quotation that reminded me of them and a brief personal message. I also gave them each a note all fancy written with one of those old fashioned quills I'm obsessed with and sealed them with wax. Of course I made one for my mom too!

Michelle was the first to break, but I yelled at her to stop crying. Her makeup was too pretty to mess up so early :) Love you Michelle!

The pictures below are my favorite of the getting ready pictures. I feel like we look like The Beatles Abbey Road.

My family surprised the heck out of me by arranging for this car to transport me up the hill to the wedding site. It's carried a whole bunch of important people, including World War I veterans... but I was the first bride! I even got to drive it myself. I'm a modern woman, I am!

This picture below is my favorite of them all. The colors, sunflowers, my face, Ed holding me. I just love it.

I'd say it was a sign that the goats came up and posed with us, but really, they were just hungry. It's like saying my cats like me when they jump on my face at 5 a.m. I do not mistakenly interpret that as love.

Ya'll it is AMAZING that these pictures look as good as they do. And by that I mean, it is amazing you cannot see the waterfall of sweat on both of us. We were melting. Debi was wonderful and pep talked us through having to cuddle eachother in 100% humidity and layers and layers of heavy clothes for us both. 

I loved my downtown abbey shoes.... I hope I have occasion to wear them again!

All my little program babies. Super easy to make, found them here 

Each cup had a straw and a red tag label I wrote out names on so everyone would hold onto their glass as an additional souvenir. 

I wanted to give out favors, but not anything throw-away. So I thought, hey, food would be great! So I found this seller on Etsy that has handmade lollipops with all sorts of delicious flavors, Leccare Lollipops. We picked out: Green Eggs & Ham (Pink Himalayan salt and green apple caramel), peach cobbler, ginger & blueberry, and rose & honey. There was a variety of each at each table.

So many people helped put everything together (thank you guys a million times over). The burlap runners had to be cut and ironed, the mason jars wrapped in burlap and lace, filled with water balls, flowers arranged, wood table numbers cut, chargers cut, lace doilies borrowed.... it was all so much and it was done with so much help.

The table settings were really simple and easy, biodegradable cutlery packed into those stamped silverware envelopes, biodegradable cloth napkins (as seen in Martha Stewart's Living), and biodegradable plates. Yes, it's intentionally not fancy. It ain't about the stuff right? It's about the party!

These flower arrangements below were my contribution to the flower arrangement party. I loved them the most, especially in their little white milk pitchers. My Uncle Tom created alllllll the wood chargers and the sign of our names below. Also you can see the bunting, mostly cut out by me, with much help at the end, and then sewed together by family. My attempts to sew, no matter how determined I was, were futile. Womp womp!

This picture is my Omi's family, her mother and father and all 8 kids. I look like I could stand at the end of the line and fit right in with them. They've got some good strong genes. Sadly, only two of the siblings are alive today, but very happily, they were both at my wedding. Thank you for coming Omi (second from the right standing) and Aunt Dolly (last on the left standing)!

This is the farmhouse I cooled off in several times. Thank god for that.

My handsome man :)

 My mother-in-law Susan was completely, and I mean completely, responsible for all the wonderful boutineers and bouquets for the bridesmaids and me. She arranged them and wrapped them, with some of the bridesmaids as her minions. It was a beautiful contribution.

Ed's old friend Patrick played guitar for us, "God Only Knows" for everyone walking down the aisle, and then "Let My Love Open the Door" for the recessional. 

Lizzy read from From The Feast of Love by Charles Baxter

Here’s a profundity, the best I can do: sometimes you just know… You just know when two people belong together. I had never really experienced that odd happenstance before, but this time, with her, I did. Before, I was always trying to make my relationships work by means of willpower and forced affability. This time I didn’t have to strive for anything. A quality of ease spread over us. Whatever I was, well, that was apparently what she wanted… To this day I don’t know exactly what she loves about me and that’s because I don’t have to know. She just does. It was the entire menu of myself. She ordered all of it.

Michelle read from The Last Good Time by Richard Bausch

There was a lovely time, long ago, too private to tell anyone, or too ordinary. It had nothing to do with anything, really: it was almost embarrassingly humble. One December night, unable to sleep, he had glanced out the bedroom window to discover that it had snowed. He woke his wife and made her come to the window, and the surprise of it delighted her as it had delighted him.
They dressed and bundled the baby up and took a walk, and watched the dawn arrive, and when they returned to the house, he took the day off. They played with the baby, cooked dinner, and baked bread. They listened to the baby playing in his playpen, and they talked idly about anything that came into their minds, and that evening, late, they lay whispering to each other about what a beautiful day it had been.
He thought about all this on his way down to the grocery store. The memory of it came through him like a breath, and then he was savoring it, basking in its warmth. And he thought that this is what love really meant: this very ordinary memory. That love was easy and plentiful as grass, and as still, as calm somehow.

After the readings my Uncle John, who was officiating, did a "hands ritual" I found online, (sorry can't remember where, apologies if you're the one who wrote it, just let me know and I'll give you credit!) that went as follows:

“Carly, please face Ed, and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you. 

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as he promises to love you today, tomorrow and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.

These are the hands that will lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you.

And these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

Ed, please hold Carly’s hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.

These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving.

They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

And these are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.”

And then we were married! Yay!

I nearly ran off without my bouquet. I was just so excited no one passed out, no one died of heat stroke, and now we could get to the festivities! Also didn't hurt that I knew back inside was air conditioned... just kidding :) 

Happy newlyweds!

Next post will be part 2 with posed pictures and the reception! Prepare yourself for some trippy, psychedelic stuff....