Thursday, June 26, 2008

Wedding Party


The invitation read:

Do you love looking at wedding photos? I do. Let's see yours, please! On Thursday, June 26th, play along with me at my Virtual Wedding Party. Post photos from your wedding - they can be pretty or funny or just pretty funny! Tell us a story! What happened at your wedding? Did Aunt Marge trip and fall on the cake? Who caught the bouquet, and did they get married yet? We'd love to hear it. Don't spare any details.

Excellent idea, don't you think?


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I thought that I would start off with two of my

most favorite wedding pictures ... EVER

Here's my Omi (Mom's mom) on her wedding day:



and this is Omi and Grandpa Pitcarin:


so romantic and dreamy, don't you think? *sighs*


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Ok, now onto my own story ...

Before I share, I'll give you a little background info ... Don and I started dating in June of 1997. He asked me to marry him right around Halloween and we were married on November 22, 1997. Yep, five months later.

When he "popped the question" I wasn't even sure that he had asked. I was just waking up and actually thought that I was dreaming, so ... I didn't answer. The day happened like almost any other. That night (over a game of backgammon) he said, "you never answered my question" ... ok, so it was real ... and I said, "yes". That simple. It's important to note that I am the Queen of Second Guessing myself and almost everything I do. This was one of those rare occasions when I didn't pause and just reacted from the core of my being; I'm convinced it's the best decision I have ever made.

So, we sent out our wedding invitations (a bunch of post cards that I ... and he ... had collected throughout the years - some were of beautiful places, works of art, cute post cards, sweet ones, funny - they ran the whole gammit) and started planning - we had a little over a month to pull it off. Thank heavens for our moms and our friends!

We decided to have the wedding in the back yard of one of my dearest friends in AZ - we had just over 40 invitee's RSVP and the house/yard could easily accomodate that number. Don's mom and brother flew in a few nights before the wedding - it was the first time I met either of them ... thankfully, we had soooo much going on and soooooo much to do that there wasn't time to not like each other (and actually we all got along splendidly! - sometimes I am a really lucky girl). I put together all the wedding favors - a polished rock & a chocolate lady bug placed in a pretty piece of lace and tied with a ribbon. The food planning was easy, too: simple snacks out - cheeses, crackers, shrimp, nuts, veggies, etc. and after the ceremony Don would grill a bunch of sheesh kabobs - lots of veggies, filet & shrimp. We opted for fruit pies from Marie Calendars rather than a wedding cake ... we had so many pies that some of the guests would leave with an entire pie. There'd be a full bar (thanks to the mom-in-law) and plenty of great music (thanks to the house DJ).

Flash forward to the wedding day. Our friends came to help out, so even the set up seemed like a party. We all spent most of the morning setting up chairs & getting the food ready - there was tons of laughter in the house. My girlfriend (and hair stylist), Beth, came over to do my hair and make-up, so I actually ended up looking put together.

Friends started arriving and there was such a casual atmosphere ... pretty laid back, actually. The minister showed up ... and that's when we realized that our marriage license was back at our apartment - oops. My best friend, Tom (the person that was supposed to "give me away"), decided to jump into the nearest auto and fly back to our place to pick it up ... wouldn't you know it, he was in a fender bender and ended up missing the entire ceremony (the minister decided to go ahead with the service & planned to visit our apartment the next morning to sign the license). My mom had bought me a lovely eggplant colored Laura Ashley dress (completely inappropriate for a back yard wedding - and what was I thinking getting a PURPLE dress - but I loved it. I still have it and it's perfect for a nice dinner party). Don wore jeans and a lightweight long sleeve pullover (he looked/was way more comfortable than me). The minister was a strange duck. He talked about the wind in the trees and other more random stuff (while Kinu, our Shiba Inu, proceeded to lift her leg awfully close to his trousers) ... I don't really recall what he said, but I do remember trembling and I remember hearing Don say, "Yep" ... and his sweet kiss. Suddenly I was a Mrs. ... How weird. Cool, but weird.

My girlfriend, Jody, took a whole role of black and white photo's during and right after the ceremony and then did one of the cleverest things ... during our "reception" she snuck out to a one hour photo place, had the pictures developed and put a handful in one of those multi-picture frames.


This is my absolute favorite photo from our wedding:




Hmmm ... those two just might actually like each other, eh?

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Random Tidbits (wedding related, of course):

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We had a tatoo artist at our wedding (to do our wedding bands for us). Big mistake. Not the tatoo's, the artist (not so much an artist). Don's tatoo isn't great, but mine looked like a horrible prison tat, sooooo after the party dust settled we spent some time with a wire brush and that gritty orange soap stuff and tried to remove as much ink from my finger as possible. Not a pleasant experience, but it did help lighten the tatoo.

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The minister showed up at our place the next morning to complete the paperwork. Remember how Tom was supposed to give me away? Well, he was supposed to come over to be a witness for the paperwork ... guess what ... he was LATE and missed the whole shebang ... we did have him sign our copy just the same.

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OH! and the poor minister forgot about the cabinets right above his head ... he stood up too fast after signing on his dotted line and wacked his head so hard it made my teeth hurt!

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Don's wedding gift to me was a beautiful wooden backgammon board.

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Not long after the wedding (about 10 days, actually), Don and I moved to Baltimore, MD (and if you want to call driving 2000+ miles across country in a U-haul a honeymoon, I wouldn't neccessarily disagree with you) ... as we entered VA we were treated to one of the most amazing meteor showers I have ever seen.

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We stopped someplace in VA and had a really crabby guy attempt to fix my wedding band; he was pretty clueless, too. I ended up having to draw what I wanted right on my finger and went over it with his gun (I'm left handed, too) ... it now looks like a messy XOX ... ah well. watcha gonna do?)

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Sadie was born one week after our first wedding anniversary.

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At the rehearsal dinner of my most funnelest girlfriend we were served some terrific food ... it was so good infact, there was a party crasher:


This praying mantis must have really liked the red frosting ... it was kind enough to pose long enough for me to get a few snaps (before picking a fight with me and trying to take my head off!)




That face!

If you've made it this far then I believe you have time for one more wedding tidbit ... I became an ordained minister just so I could perform the ceremony of my best friend (from high school) Tom - the same one that was in a fender bender on my wedding day ... AND for the beginning of the service I recited the wedding scene from The Princess Bride ...


"Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday.


Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam...


And wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva..."

28 comments:

Saucy said...

Wow! That post was awesome. I loved all of your stories, I can imagine your Laura Ashley dress and the oxymoron of getting a tattoo while wearing Laura Ashley!! Your photos are great, I'm in perfect agreement, that is surely your favourite!

And that mantis! Too cool. And a little scary. That.face.is.right!

Thanks for coming to the virtual wedding party! This was fun!

Twyla and Lindsey said...

I so enjoyed reading your very funny wedding day. Thanks for sharing.
It is because of Vanessa's party that I discovered your blog. I am so glad I did. Thanks for visiting mine. See you on Saturday!Twyla

Lisa Wheeler Milton said...

I'm with you; love that shot of the two of you, candid and sweet.

Thanks for sharing...

oliver rain said...

I love your wedding story! That is one of the most lovely wedding photos I've seen. I just love seeing too people in lovely.

Janet said...

First of all, I think the wedding photos of your grandparents are fantastic. But the story of your wedding is just great! It sounds so much more romantic than spending thousands of dollars and untold hours planning some extravaganza where everyone is stressed and too tired to enjoy it. Your wedding was much like mine....casual and meaningful.

alittlebitofscrap said...

Good story and I like the way you told it too. Those old wedding photos are amazing. Sounds like it was a real fun time.

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

Oh, you really painted out the whole wedding in my mind! Wonderful post! LOVE your fav wedding pic~ Mine will be posted later on today, so please come check them out.

Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

Karen said...

Okay, that was great! I adore your wedding story.
We have a friend who got a wedding band tattoo. Big mistake. Now he wears an actual wedding band to hide it, because it looks so bad.

Rebecca said...

This was awesome! Love your party crasher! hee hee
That is so cool that you got ordained to marry your friend. Thanks for sharing.
Hugs and Blessings,
Rebecca

Danielle said...

Love the photo of you and Don, you two are great together!

Yesterday was our 13th anniversary and I don't think DH remembered. I guess I should have clued him in, even the kids asked "why didn't you say something?". Stubborn I guess.

Last week he was asking if it was June or July 25th. I told him "I'm not telling". So if DH ever askes "when" its better to be honest and not leave him guessing.

Oppsie!

I'll try and post a wedding photo on my blog later today.

Janet said...

Everything about your post was awesome! Your Omi & Grandpa look so elegant...but where's the shiba picture? I do love the praying mantis one...she totally looks like she's smiling :-)

Jan said...

I love your wedding story. All the tidbits are great to know. You're a lovely couple, and I love the praying mantis photos. An uninvited guest, indeed.

Amber Dawn Inventive Soul said...

WOW!
I love the picture of the Mantis!
It looks so friendly! I would have let it have the cake! LOL
AWESOME stories and the Princess Bride is one of my childhood favorites!
I am TAGGING YOU!
read my blog later today for more info!

MJ said...

Fun to visit your blog and read of your wedding! The mantis photo is pretty amazing....

couragetocreatewriteandlove said...

I want a wedding like yours very different and unique.
On the tattoo part, I want henna in my feet and hands.
I can't wait for that fun, yay, yay!!! and then share it in my blog ;-) I guess i have planned my wedding in my head already, LOL
And all those stories/memories very well told, you made me feel i was there for sure. Thank you!
SUPER GREAT pictures! yes!!!

3rdEyeMuse said...

thank you to everyone that stopped by for a little walk down memory lane with me ... how fun was this?!?

hope to see you again soon.

xx's ~M~

Heidi said...

Made me laugh! Good stories! Poor Tom.

Thanks for sharing and making me laugh.

Unknown said...

Your grandparent's wedding picture sure is dreamy! I had a good laugh reading about your wedding!!Did you know that praying mantices kill their partner once they have 'done the deed'? I'm just glad that the two of you prevailed-in spite of it. Love conquors all!

Sandy:)

Unknown said...

P.S I forgot to tell you that I LOVE Princess Bride and our priest looked and sounded like their Minister. At one point he too said "For eever aand eever"!

Marilyn said...

That is one of the best wedding stories I've ever heard!
And all of those photos are just fabulous! Thanks for sharing...Marilyn:)

Anonymous said...

What a hoot!! We actually have much in common - my wedding dress was a pink confection that to this day I STILL do not know what possessed me to get it! When I talk about it now, my mom just reminds me: that is YOU, Donna. It's just YOU. She is absolutely right! =) We also arranged our own reception at home and had a bit of trouble on our honeymoon - but all in all - it was definitely worth it! We've been together for 23 years and we just celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary last week. =)

I loved reading your story!

Lea said...

I enjoyed being an after guest at your wedding! Loved the stories and pictures too, seeing your Omi and Grandpa smiling out at you!

Mel said...

I subscribed to your blog after seeing this, but forgot to comment! I think the close-up of the mantis is my favorite, but it's all fun.

MARLOU B. said...

Your wedding photo is lovely!!!!!
I like your wedding story!
See you Tomorrow :)

Danielle said...

Just wanted to let you know I did post some wedding pics on my blog. Thanks for letting us know about it - perfect timing!

http://wahm922.blogspot.com/2008/06/saucys-wedding-party.html

JenniB said...

I love the mantis pictures! My favorite to date!

And I cracked up at the lines from Princess Bride... I'll fly you out to PDX so you can marry Clint and I next year. *wink wink

e.beck.artist said...

ok!
this was hysterical!

Cathie said...

What great photos - AND that story - priceless. You are beautiful and that mantis -- so handsome!! What a cool picture.
I can't believe how weddings have ballooned into such "dog and pony" shows these days. All bling and no intimacy. Sounds like you did it right -- focused on what "really" matters.