Simple Pleasures: I Married the Boy Next Door! :)

Here is my wedding day post. I'll probably get choked up just posting this! (It doesn't help that some of 'our music' is what's playing on my playlist right now! :P)

I think I will always look back on this day and smile; and not because everything came out just how I wanted it (though in my opinion, everything was perfect), or because the pictures were lovely (and they are! Here's our photographer's link), or because it went off without a hitch (which it did), but because because the whole feel, the undercurrent, was one of such joy. True joy. The kind that comes from feeling the blessing of God on what you're doing and how you're doing it. God led us through our courtship and engagement, and we felt that this was His will, and desired to give Him all the glory for it. We wanted that to shine through in our wedding as in what led to it, and by His grace, I think it did!

I had so much help on this wonderful day. My church family, immediate family, and dear friends were such a blessing! Thank you all so much!

Lydia took all the video (taken by herself, a good friend of ours who volunteered to film the wedding, and me), and put it all together with music and everything! I'm posting it at the end, so anything I leave out should be in there. ;)

We decided to do make-up on my bed. The cats were there, as usual (sometimes as many as four would be there at one time :) ), and instead of moving them, Mrs. Natalie incorporated them in the pics. I'm glad she did; it wouldn't have seemed right without cats. ;)

Relaxing until time to go to the church with Daddy, Denalyn, and Blue. There were a couple of moments like this where I could just relax 'cause we were ahead of schedule, and not rushing around because we'd forgotten something. Thank you to my wedding planner!

Mama helped me get dressed.

I was just a little excited.

Those are my Daddy's mother's earrings, and my Mama's mother made my veil. The necklace is Mama's and I sewed some blue ribbon on my garter. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. :)

We let the bridesmaids in to get a look before the ceremony. They didn't know it, but I was just as excited to get a look at them!

I love Lydia's face in this one. :)

Didn't I have lovely bridesmaids?

Daddy's first look.

This is where I finally started crying. I had been wondering what was going on with me honestly. I had gotten a little choked up a couple of times, but hadn't shed an actual tear before this. Not at the rehearsal, not the morning of, not while getting ready, even though plenty of other people were crying! I wanted that release, but for some reason, I was dry. Go figure. Anyway, after the camera people left I nearly ruined my make-up. If I hadn't gotten myself under control all that time trying to find out how to keep my eyes from looking puffy for pics would have been for naught. I calmed down though, and Daddy prayed for me before going to do whatever he did before walking me down the aisle.

Josh and I decided to go the traditional rout. Meaning the groom doesn't get to see the bride until the ceremony. But I knew I wanted to have a minute with him before the ceremony to calm my nerves, and hopefully his too!

It drove Lydia crazy that we wouldn't let her film. We even asked the photographer to step out after she snapped a pic or two. We wanted to have a calming moment alone to pray. It was very nice. I know it helped calm my jitters.

After that Mrs. J, my coordinator, had the bridesmaids and groomsmen line up to sort of shield me, and we walked around the church to the foyer. (The foyer bathroom was much too small to be used as the bride's room, and so we used one of the Sunday school rooms. Which meant going outside and walking all the way around to the front past the windows. Thankfully, the sanctuary ones were stained glass.) Then I got to wait (im)patiently in the ladies bathroom while everybody walked down the aisle.

First grandparents.

Then Mrs. Tracy, escorted by Matthew...

and the littles.

Mama and Atticus.

Mr. Paul and Josh.

Handsome, as ever. (And maybe a bit nervous ;) )

And then the bridesmaids who had been keeping me company in the rest-room left one by one.

Lydia and Atticus,

Matthew and Jessica,

K and Courtney

Jacob and Denalyn, best man and maid-of-honor.

Patiently waiting.

Here comes the bride! :)

Singing the first hymn. This helped my nerves too! The first half of the song my voice was shaking so much I had to stop at points (shaking from happy crying, which I'd done all down the aisle), but by the last of it, I was calm and able to finish the service without falling apart.

Mr. Paul opening the service.

Daddy giving me away.

Saying our vows. (We wrote them, basing them off the traditional ones, and adding some things in.)

Exchanging rings.

And finally...

our first kiss!

Mr. and Mrs. Lambert!!!

In the foyer.

Our second...

and third kisses. :) :)

On the way to take pictures. Att held my train so I could hold my bouquet (and Josh) easier.

I've decided to have another post for group pics, and maybe one for bride and groom pics. This post is long enough as it is!

"Announcing Mr. and Mrs. Lambert!" (again. ;) )

Mrs. J, my coordinator helping me with my lipstick. (This was the first day I ever wore real make-up, and it was mostly for the pictures. The only thing I left out was the lipstick 'cause I didn't want my first kiss ever to be waxy. And then I forgot to put it on for the outside pictures! Oh well :P.)

Cutting the (cup)cake.

"Now what...?" (It took us a second to get this right :) )

"Open wide!"

Josh's turn.

Laughing because I didn't expect him to eat the whole thing in one bite.

"Ready? We gotta do this without ruining our clothes."

It's a lot easier than it looks. I only had to stand on my toes a little. ;)

Then it was time to head out!

The decorated car. I'm so glad they took pictures and video, because parts of this I didn't even know about 'till I saw these. The rain washed most of it away. :(

A couple of the bridesmaids changed into more comfortable footwear.

Note Lydia's feet. ;)

Den's got her camera! (Where did that come from? I honestly never noticed her having it! As far as I knew, the only pictures taken were from Mrs. Natalie; then Den posts wedding pics on her blog. I was happy to discover it though, you just about can't have too many wedding pictures.)

Getting pics of the car.

"Here they come!"

The Lambert ladies helped me make my going away dress. Matching with Josh was a complete accident! :)

The bouquet toss.

Can you see it?

"Who got it?"

There in the back. See?

Time for the garter toss.

We decided we wanted to do the traditional garter toss, but how to make it as UN-awkward as possible was a matter of importance. As it turns out they sell elastic lace that looks just like a garter (maybe that's what it's for, but it didn't say on the tag) by the yard at Hancock’s Fabric. So we just made one that fit below my knee without falling off. Awkwardness averted! (And it was cheaper than buying a pre-made garter.)