The Big Day

So the wedding is over.  I spent over a year planning and stressing and crying and yelling and wishing for this one day.  Not gonna lie...I'm glad it's over!  I do however wish I remembered more, but they always tell you it goes by in a blur and it sure did.  Overall, it was an amazing day and I would BARELY do anything different which is pretty good for me.  Here are a few highlights from the big day.

The girls and I started the day off at the spa at Wine & Roses which was amazing and all the girls ended up looking beautiful even though I felt like a drag queen because I never wear that much makeup.  Thankfully I didn't look like a drag queen!  I do wish I looked less scary in the non-makeup pictures, but whatever, it was fun and relaxing, a perfect start to the day!

My inspiration picture suggested to me by Erin about 2 weeks before the wedding.

No makeup yet....scary!

Their spa is so pretty and peaceful.

Ray took these shots paparazzi style through the doors.  Love it!

Pre-spa, the girls and I had a mimosa and Kristin and Vanessa gave quick and sweet toasts.  Love these girls so much!

How cute was my mom in her Mother of the Bride shirt?  Thanks to Laura for thinking of it, Lauren for getting the shirt that morning, and Jessica for ironing it.  Team work!

The boys had fun getting ready too although theirs was a little boozier than ours.  They were great sports with taking the sock pictures I requested too.  They all looked so handsome!

My handsome husband getting ready.

Mike & the boys made good use of his groom's gift.

One of my favorite memories of the whole day is when Mike and I saw each other for the first time.  We decided to take all of our pictures ahead of time so we got to go straight to our reception after the ceremony. Ray helped us choose a place to meet to see each other alone for the first time that day.  He literally hid behind a tree taking pictures of us and they are just so beautiful, I love them so much.  Mike, who everyone knows is not normally a really emotive person, was so happy and smiley once he saw me that it made all my stress and worries disappear for the rest of the day.

Everyone knows I hate having my picture taken so the couple of hours we spent taking formal pictures were my most stressful of the day.  I wish I had relaxed a little more and taken it more slowly.  There were a couple pictures I forgot to take and I don't look great in some of them because I'm so tense and stressed and for some reason I'm pulling faces or talking in half of them which makes me mad, but overall we got some beautiful shots so it turned out great.

It's rare Laura & I take a picture together where our faces aren't touching.

Our families were great sports about everything and we got some really special photos with all of them as well.

my mom and I

Mike, his mom, & Scotty

Mo-in-Law, me, & Mike

Dad, Monica, me, & Mikey

Mom, me, Mike, & Laura

After a couple hours of taking pictures, I was pretty frazzled.  The girls and I went back to John & Jess' room where we proceeded to sip on some champagne and have an impromptu dance party.  Dancing around with them cured my frazzled nerves and it was one of the highlights of the whole day.

After the dance party with my girls I was more than ready for the ceremony.  The ceremony ended up being beautiful.  John was the best officiant I've ever heard and I've never seen Mike happier or more loving.  I couldn't believe how much I cried, but I was just too happy not to!  What an amazing memory, I'm so glad it went the way it did.

Walking down the aisle with my dad

I loved how simple our ceremony location was.  All it needed were some poms, perfect!

We started out playing it cool.

Then I started crying.

And being cool went out the window.

I tried really hard to get Mike's band on to no avail!

Husband & Wife!

Bippity Bopping down the aisle to Bruno Mars

Doing Ray's end of the aisle smooch

My favorite picture from the day

Benefit of having a tiny wedding, you can get all your guests in one picture!

I honestly don't remember much of the reception, but from what I hear everyone had a great time.  I didn't eat anything, but the food looked great, the cakes were amazing, the toasts were beautiful, and there were some funny drunk guests.  Success!!

Dad giving his beautiful toast

Cheers!

Me being weepy while Laura gave her toast.

Owen killed it with his funny toast.

Cake!

Bling!

Overall, it was a perfect day.  I will always nitpick things, especially pictures of me!, but I'm so happy with how it all turned out.  And now.....I'm married!  So weird!  I couldn't be happier though and am so glad to have started my married life and not have my own wedding to plan ever again!