PART 5: THE START OF OUR FOREVER

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Personal, Soon To Be Snitkers, The Story of Us

I went to bed on the eve of our wedding with a combination of excitement and nerves.

Unable to sleep, I took out my journal and I began to write. The words were pouring out of me and soon enough the happiest of tears began to stream down my face because God truly has bless me with an amazing life.

“Before meeting you, Ethan, I was a broken, hurting, half version of myself, but I didn’t know it. I was closed off, untrusting and guarded my heart with a fiery passion. Yet you loved me anyway. You loved me when my stubbornness got in the way. You loved me when my head was dreaming in the clouds. You loved me when my need for adventure meant spontaneous road trips with no plans. You loved me when I didn’t even love myself. And it was your love that ended up breaking down my walls and slowly but surely healing my heart. You were the one that made me believe that happiness was not only possible but that I was worthy and deserving of love…”

I went to sleep that night with excited anticipation because no fairy tale book or Hollywood movie could have prepared me for how amazing my own prince charming was going to be.

I woke up the next morning at the brink of dawn, as per usual, to a house filled with sleeping bridesmaids. One by one, they woke up and we started getting ready for the day. We had mimosas and snacks while we all got pampered. Then before I knew it we were getting into our dresses and taking pictures, but it wasn’t until I had my first look with my dad that it became real. I was getting married TODAY. To be honest, it didn’t seem real.

My dad drove me to short ways to the golf course with an army of bridesmaids following behind us. I was a bundle of nerves and excitement as we waited for our first look with my soon to be husband. Once Ethan was ready and in place, we took a golf cart down the path and made our way to him and the minute my eyes saw him waiting on the bridge, my nerves faded away. It was cold, there was a chance of rain, yet nothing mattered because I had finally found my prince.

As a wedding photographer, I have witnessed quite a few first looks. Yet nothing could have prepared me for the love in Ethan’s eyes when we saw each other for the first time on our wedding day. He turned around with tears in his eyes and couldn’t say a word. I’m not sure how long we stayed there. Just the two of us, lost in each other’s embrace but it was perfect. It was everything.

We took lots of pictures and ugh I cry every time I look at them! Then before I knew it, it was time to make it all official. We lined up our golf carts and waited for the music to play and slowly processed or rather drove down to the ceremony location. I walked down the aisle with my Dad to the most epic song ever, an instrumental cover of Africa, aka the greatest song in existence. We said our vows and this time it was my turn to cry. We had a few bits of comic relief to help with that. We forgot the funnel for our sand ceremony so we did our best which ended up being about a half an inch of sand in an eight inch box (And it looks like that is how it is going to stay). Then Ethan signed our marriage licence and when it was my turn, the pen ran out. All in all, the ceremony was everything we could have hoped for and was beautiful beyond compare.

Everything after this is a bit blurry and flew by so quick. There were countless hugs and so many congratulations. There were family pictures, a bus ride, multiple bar stops, multiple playings of the best song in existence then before we knew it we were sitting down for dinner.

As we sat back and looked out at the sea of people in front of us, we couldn’t help but be in awe. Among all of the white pressed tablecloths, glowing black lanterns, the never ending greenery, the hand crafted signage and the rainbow colored sprinkles, were our people. The people that traveled from near and far to celebrate US. I have so many favorites memories from our day, but this one, this one is my favorite. The entire day was a bit of a blur but this was the moment that we just sat back and it really sank in. We were married.

Our wedding day was everything we could have dreamed of and more.

When I think back on all of the little details so meticulous planned and prepared, I don’t want to forget them. I want to remember how right before I walked down the aisle I saw pictures from our parent’s and grandparent’s wedding days and being so grateful for their love bringing us to this moment. I want to remember that even though our little fur babies couldn’t crash the party they were present for what would have been their favorite part, eating the cake that we cut with Ethan’s grandparent’s wedding knife. I want to remember hearing the first few chords to our first dance and knowing that Ethan kept it a secret and picked it out special because the words spoke to the little moments that I love most about our relationship. I want to remember dancing to my favorite song no less than 12 times on our wedding day from getting ready with my girls, to walking down the aisle, to celebrating our marriage to dancing the night away. But most of all I want to remember the feeling of sitting in our hotel room, reminiscing about the day but more than anything looking forward to our new life together as husband and wife.

This is when all the nerves of the day just faded away.

Y’all!!!! I want to remember this moment forever.

We all know I how much I love Willow trees so it was only fitting!

When your photographer says they have this crazy idea, you knew I was going to listen! These will be on every wall of our house!

I’m sorry but no bride tribe will ever compare to this group of amazing women I had by my side all day long!

One of my favorite details from the entire day <3
My wonderful father BUILT this!!!

The moment we realized this wasn’t going to go quite as planned! I die!

Our version of driving off into the sunset.
I think marriage looks pretty dang good on us!

I have to give a special shout out to this lovely lady, for making sure the music was on point ALL. NIGHT. LONG!
“Hey babe! Guess what? We are married!”

Our day wouldn’t have been complete without our little pups!

This frame now hold a pressed collage of my wedding bouquet!
My bridesmaid Leslie made our cake, as well as the cake I surprised Ethan with!!!