Say Cheese - Taking Pictures

After the ceremony, while our guests were enjoying cocktail hour in the farm house, we wandered off with the photographers.  While neither Anthony nor I enjoy having our pictures taken, this time was really nice.  It was the first time we had to talk with each other and it resulted in a lot of laughing...  Unfortunately, my laughing usually results in something we call "Crazy Misty Face"...  So, while so many of our pictures are beautiful, my face is far from acceptable in quite a few of them:

(all pics from our photographer, Rodger Obley)

Perfect example of "Crazy Misty Face" right after the ceremony

Despite having to weed out a bunch of those types of pictures, I have a ton of favorites.  Here are some of them...  I think they really highlight the beauty of Succop Conservancy.

Trying so hard to be normal, picture taking types

Weeping willows were a must

And a picture by one of the ponds

And, of course, a shoe pic

We practiced dips for months... I think it turned out pretty well

Then, the Barn!  

Totally loved the colors and feel of these

Seriously.

A few quick pics with our parents, 

ending with this one of all of us together.

Finally, it was time to head back inside.  I took a trip upstairs with my mom and Teri to be bustled and take off the veil.  We also attached the flowers to the belt I'd ordered with the dress.  Once I'd touched up my lip gloss and felt ready, we headed back downstairs to cut the cake!  (For me, that deserves and exclamation mark because I was SO EXCITED for the cake...  Seriously.  SO EXCITED.)

Our cake with the handmade topper and cake stand.

I'd decided early on I wanted a bright pop of color under the cake, 

since the room it went in was so neutral.

We sliced into the base layer...

It was way harder than I would have guessed to get a piece out

Then, Anthony sweetly fed me a bite

And, I did likewise... Once he opened his mouth

Then, Anthony fed my nephew a bite when he escaped 

from my sister's grasp and ran over to be near the CAKE

The first slice of cake removed and eaten

Cake eaten, it was time to move the guests into the event shelter so that we could make our entrance.  Everyone was out there, the DJ had our song queued up and we had an umbrella all set for our walk.  We waited for the signal.

Up next, we make an entrance and get the party stated with some dances.

Down the Aisle - We Get Married!

And, now, for the main course: the ceremony!

After getting ready (and waiting for what seemed like forever), we separately made our way to the starting points for the walk down the aisle.

Anthony and his mom came over from the cottage to the main house.  They made their way towards the wedding arch.

(All pics from our photographer, Rodger Obley.)

After a short walk, he was there, waiting for me to make my entrance.

We made our way out of the farm house...

And down the aisle towards Anthony.

I made it! 

(without tripping over anything)

Hugs for my dad...

and my mom.

Then, the same for Anthony.

And, we begin the ceremony with a story of how we met.

Then, Anthony's niece did a reading:

Union by Robert Fulghum

Then, our vows and an exchange of rings.

Next, an exchange of 13 coins or las arras.

Then, my Aunt did another reading: 

Thoughts in a Garden by R. Gerhardt

Finally, our first kiss as Mr. & Mrs.

And, just like that, we were married.

Our whole ceremony took less than thirty minutes.  It was quick but so beautiful.  It had so much personal meaning.  Sandra from Weddings without Worries did an amazing job of integrating everything we'd asked for into it.  I've received many compliments on how unique and interesting it was; most people had never heard a ceremony that involved so much about the personal history of the couple getting married.  It was exactly what we'd hoped for.

Next up, we tramp around the land taking our formal pictures and cut into the cake!

A Break in the Action - The Details

After we got ready, we had a bit of time before the ceremony.  So did the photographers.  I think this is when most of the "detail" pics were taken.

And, as a bride who agonized and DIY-ed her butt off, these are some of my favorites.  They really capture all the work I put into the planning and I'm so happy that I'll be able to look back on these in the future.

All pics from our photographer, Rodger Obley.  In no particular order...

The Invite 

(which I never got around to actually showing in its final form)

The Cake Topper

Another of our Bird Theme Items

The Escort Cards

One of my very first DIY projects

My bouquet...

And Anthony's bout

A mix of clay flowers, sola flowers, feathers and ribbons

Our Card Box

Some Paper Parasols to shield guests from the sun

(too bad it was a rainy kind of day instead)

The Event Shelter with our Papel Picado, one of my main inspirations

Our Window Program...

And our Bar Menu, both recycled windows

The box that held our rings and 13 coins

A fan on each seat...  Even though it was rainy, it was warm

Our festive ceremony arch

Anthony's family made the traditional flowers for us

(you can see our ring box on the table there)

Our brightly colored sodas...  

So cheerful and a big hit with the younger guests

One of Anthony's big projects: two cornhole sets...

One set in Pittsburgh colors, one in Detroit's

The Big Day Begins - We Get Ready

So many people had told me I wouldn't be able to sleep the night before the wedding...  They were wrong.  After the rehearsal dinner and getting organized a bit, I took a shower and crashed.

Six thirty in the morning, my alarm went off.  I couldn't believe that I'd slept the whole night...  I mean, it was probably only about 6 hours total, but I slept really well.  I still think it was because I made a huge list of things I needed to do and take with me before I went to bed.

So, I got up, took another shower (trying to avoid getting my hair wet), and sat down to have a cup of coffee with my mom.  Soon after, we started packing the car.  Everything took a lot less time than I had expected.  We still had a bit of time before we had to leave for the salon.

Meanwhile, Anthony was waking up in a hotel room.  I never asked him how he was feeling but I'm pretty sure he was super nervous about his nine a.m. wave at Run for Your Lives.  I didn't hear anything from him that morning, but one of our friends did keep me updated on how the guys running the race were doing.

Around the same time Anthony's wave was beginning, my mom and I headed to Izzazu Salon in Wexford.  I'd purchased one of their bridal packages and was getting my hair and make-up done here for the wedding.

The photographers arrived a little bit after my make-up appointment began and snapped a few shots.
All pics are from our photographer, Rodger Obley

The final hair-do results... I loved it!

Getting my face on

Got an update that the guys had made it through the race w/o any serious injuries...  So relieved.

After the hair and make-up, my mom and I headed to the grocery to pick up some lunch.  Sushi and salads in hand, we drove to the venue.

And, on the way there, it was pouring!

My heart dropped a bit.  

My mom called to say it was only dust, not rain.

I drove on.

Once we arrived at Succop, it was clear, but it was easy to see the clouds moving in.

Surprisingly, I was kind of calm about the weather.  What could I do but go with it?

So, we ate lunch and wandered around a little bit.  Then, eventually, we started getting me into my bridal attire.

My dress!

The lace up back I really wanted...  Took awhile to get on though.

Almost in there.

Time for the finishing touches, like earrings...

And the mantilla veil I made.

Once I was dressed and accessorized, my dad came up to see me.  

This is one of my favorite pictures from that day.  

I was so excited for him to see me.  

He teared up a bit and I tried to make him laugh.

Next, I got a quick visit from my Aunt Susie, who was one of the readers at our wedding.

Then, a few more finishing touches and all there was to do was WAIT!

Teri, the wedding planner, kept updating me on what was going on outside and with the decorations.  They were waiting for the rain to stop for all of the final ceremony decorations to go up.  

Meanwhile, Anthony had arrived at the venue and was wondering around in his race t-shirt.  Eventually, he headed to the cottage to get dressed.

Anthony's suit jacket - on one of the matching hangers I made for us.

Seems like guys have it a lot easier when it comes to getting dressed.

His mom stopped by to help put on the bout.

That was it.  We were both ready.  All we had to do now was GET MARRIED!