Two Years Later: A Look Back at our October Wedding

I originally started this blog (or bi-annual update) when I was getting married, and while I posted a few photos, I feel like I haven't accurately portrayed my wedding day.

Fortunately for you, we are now two years into married life, meaning my posts won't have that gooey, newlywed glow.

You're welcome.

The setting: The Allandale Mansion. While the temperatures were dipping and my future mother-in-law was frantically texting me about buying space heaters, we couldn't have had a more beautiful morning. Looking back, I do wish we had scheduled the ceremony to begin at 12:30 rather than 11:30, but I was worried our guests would be hungry.

And just in case you didn't notice it in the previous photo, here's a close up of the HERONS that we said our vows in front of. Maybe I should start collecting heron figurines... is that a thing? Oh yeah, definitely a thing.

The details: I didn't really have a set "theme" for my wedding, and since I discovered Pinterest after my wedding (to my eternal sadness) I used other wedding blogs for my inspiration (RuffledBlog.com and OnceWed.com were some of my favorites).

One bit of decor I am especially proud of is the photo below. We framed photos of previous weddings in our families (including Matt's great-grandparents) and placed our mothers' weddings dresses on either side (and yes, I did try both of them on). A couple of weeks before the wedding, my mother found her mother's dress.

Ceremony & reception: I walked down the aisle to "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds, a song I've had reserved for my wedding ever since my best friend in middle school played it for me and said her brother's wife walked down the aisle to it. Props to that bride!

Since Matt felt that he could not put into words how much he loves me was too chicken to write his own vows, we ended up repeating the traditional vows, although "honor and obey" some how didn't make it into mine. (Totally slipped the preacher $5. No... not really.)

So you know how something always manages to go wrong the day of the wedding? Like, the caterer is late, or you singe your bangs off, or your flower girl rolls around in mud? Well, my "Oh no, please God, Say this isn't happening moment" came about about thirty minutes before the ceremony.

Matt and I had decided to forego unity sand for a Unity Cross. Basically, the outer part represents a man's strength, while the curly-cued inside represents the delicate woman who completes him. While explaining this to our preacher, I tried handing him the "bride" piece...

... only to watch it fall to the ground and break in two.

Fortunately, my best friend Kellie jumped into crisis handling mode and started tracking down wood glue. She had her mother stop at a Walmart and the two of them worked on that baby right up until I walked down the aisle AND it managed to make it through the ceremony.

Shout out to Kellie and Mrs. Keyes!

Thank. God.

Seriously- you all have no idea how hard my heart was pumping as he held that cross up. Can you imagine what would have happened if our UNITY cross BROKE during the ceremony? I'd have expected a crack of lightning across the sky or something.

Since we were married on a Sunday morning, we decided to have a brunch reception. In addition to the buffet, we had a custom omelette station and saved on alcohol by offering mimosas, bloody marys, wine and beer. And if you're the best man- screwdrivers. LOTS of screwdrivers. 

I'm not really a cake person, and Matt doesn't care for desserts at all (so he claims...) so instead I had some family members and close friends bake pies and other goodies while the caterer supplied a coffee cake. 

Daddy and I danced to "You'll Always be my Baby," and believe it or not, I don't believe I cried. In fact, I don't believe I cried once during my wedding. Chalk it up to not being able to take it all in.

My sister rapped her toast. RAPPED. HER. TOAST. 

Kellie caught the bouquet! 

And just in case no one warns you: bird seed HURTS and GETS EVERYWHERE. And by everywhere, I mean everywhere.

Our wedding photos were taken by Kyle Gregory of K.G. Capture. Some of my favorite shots are below.

Matt doesn't understand why he doesn't have a head in this photo- but I keep telling him it's because the flowers are the focus. And maybe his wedding ring... which he lost two weeks later.

And my end-all-be-all favorite photo of the whole day that I look at when I'm so exasperated with Matt because he put a spoon covered with Greek yogurt in the sink AGAIN instead of the dishwasher:

Stay posted for some excited news next week! I may actually have a reason to keep up with this blog a bit more!