Getting Ready for Our Big Day: Behind the Scenes

In honor of our 5th wedding anniversary on Friday, I'm dedicating this post to to my husband. And I thought he would like to hear all about what I was up to during the hours when we were apart right before our wedding ceremony.

First, Carrie picked me up bright and early in the morning, and took me to the spa. Where I got prettied up.

Don't you love my sweat suit? It was blue (and new) and the back was embroidered with "Future Mrs. ___________." I think I eventually gave up wearing it around our first anniversary. It just didn't seem appropriate after that.

The flowers were delivered to my parents house, and were waiting for me when I got there. I remember being *so* pleased with how they turned out. Seeing the flowers was the moment when I realized that I was getting married later that day.

It had started drizzling rain while I was getting dressed, so the limo backed into my parents garage so that I could climb in without getting wet. Only my dress was so huge that it was more like being stuffed in. So much for having my gown steamed and pressed the week before the wedding.

This is us at the church. Note that we are outside. In the drizzling rain. Why are we outside in the rain? Oh, because we are locked out! My mom forgot her key to the church...and we waited for about 10 minutes for another church person with a key to show up. But it seemed much longer. And the photographer thought it was hilarious. We have like 316 different shots of us locked out of the church. And I'm smiling in most of them.

We finally got into the church, and got my huge dress all straightened out again, and then we took pictures. And some more pictures. And more pictures after that. My face hurt from smiling, but I was so darn happy and excited and nervous that it didn't matter.

During our portrait session, the heavens really let loose, and I could hear the rain pounding on the roof and there was a near constant rumble of thunder. I was happy to be inside already.

And then it was Kevin's turn to arrive at the church and take pictures, so we were sequestered into a Sunday school room in the back of the church.


Note to self: Next time you are planning a function where you need a dressing room or luncheon area, make sure it is more glamorous than a Sunday school class for little kids.

So we gals had a nice light luncheon, sitting on tiny chairs meant for little kids at a short table while the guests arrived and everyone else took their places.

And while I sat on a tiny chair in a huge dress with a plate of cheese and crackers, I asked if anyone knew whether Kevin had arrived at the church yet, suddenly unsure whether or not he would show up. And then my bridesmaids laughed at me. And one of them (I can't remember which) said to me, "Any man who rents a tux for the rehearsal is definitely going to show up." And as quickly as the panic set in, it went away again.