Our Wedding Day - Part 1

Getting Ready

November 28th, 2009

I woke up feeling completely rested, and hadn't woken up once throughout the night. You'd think I'd have an anxious night-before-Christmas kind of night, but I slept like a baby. Probably from working so hard the night before decorating the church for the big event. Needless to say, I felt great. And kind of surreal, like it was just any other day.

My bridesmaids and I were staying at my Maid-of-Honour's house in the country, a house I'd actually spent a lot of time at as a child, make believing that I was an adult getting married. It was extremely suitable. And her mom made us homemade waffles with strawberries and whipped cream, with orange juice and coffee for breakfast. It was a heavenly start to the day. I was as calm as a cucumber.

The weather was also absolutely phenomenal. The last few years our anniversary has been snowy, blizzardy, icy, or just really unbelievably cold, but that day it was amazing. Just a little bit chilly, no wind, just overcast enough to give the photos beautiful light, and no snow to be seen. In fact, the grass was still green in some spots.

After breakfast we headed over to the salon to get our hair styled. It was there that they installed my veil, and I started to feel a little bit more bridal. But again, I was still relaxed and completely chilled out. I don't think it really truly hit me that I was getting married that day.

I actually phoned the best man from the salon because I needed to remind Matt to not forget the boutonnieres for the groomsmen, and as soon as I got him on the phone I decided I had to mess with him, so I said "Tell Matt it's off." and without missing a beat he said, "Alright. No problem." completely straight. After which we both started to laugh and I finished the actual information I needed to relay.

After the salon we all headed back to the getting-ready location and proceeded to start to apply our makeup. I found a nice sunny spot upstairs with a little mirror and got to work making myself look beautiful, while my maids got ready in a nearby bedroom with an impromptu makeup station and nowhere to sit. Real troopers, those girls.

Then of course came time for the great big moment everyone had been waiting for - putting on my wedding dress. My incredible maid-of-honour Kirsten tied me into it, and I really started to feel like the beautiful bride I always dreamed I'd be.

There were a couple of little wedding details that never got photographed. I wore faux-crystal teardrop earrings, a cubic-zirconium hair piece (as opposed to a tiara, which I've never been a big fan of) and my bridesmaids were told they could essentially wear whatever they wanted, jewelery and shoes wise. I got my nails done a couple of days before the wedding in gel, and had one tiny little crystal on my ring fingernail. I didn't wear a necklace because I didn't want to distract from my face, and I wore all MAC makeup (applied myself.) I also wore a light blue and lace garter to which I'd stuck a tiny little snowflake to go with the theme of the whole affair.

There were also snowflakes on my flower girl's shoes, and the ringer bearer's basket.

Speaking of the flower girl, she showed up while they were putting my dress on, and got to watch the magic unfold. She looked absolutely gorgeous.

I made her a custom set of feather angel wings to wear down the aisle, because she was going to be my "snow angel." And I thought it was definitely a unique and lovely, whimsical touch. She definitely looked angelic.

While I waited upstairs, my dress on, my earrings in, my makeup applied, I just reveled in the moment. My girls all around me, sun streaming in the windows, everything felt busy but calm and relaxed at the same time. I put my garter on, and my shoes.

I wore an affordable pair of silver American Eagle flats. Because my hubby is a half inch shorter than me, and I wanted to be comfortable. Didn't really see the need in dishing out the dough for an expensive pair of shoes that would destroy my feet and leave me crippled for days. They were just right, and I still have them and wear them today!

My dad popped up to say hello once my dress was on, and he shed a tear (you did, Dad. Don't deny it - I saw it! You old sap.) He gave me a hug and told me how beautiful I looked. It was one of the highlights of my day. :)

But immediately after this moment came my absolute favourite moment of the entire day. The moment I still remember and cherish, and didn't confess to my husband until months later. The moment the magic and wonder of it all actually, truly hit me, like a train.

I was just biding my time, fiddling with my accessories, chatting with my girls, when it happened. I was just peeking out the window upstairs, and I saw it. The vehicle full of all of the men drove up into the gravel driveway. It was my groom-to-be and he was about to get out of the vehicle. I knew I was supposed to look away, that I wasn't supposed to see him until our "first look" photos, which were coming up soon. But I couldn't stop myself, I couldn't resist. My eyes were locked. And then there he was. The man of my dreams, all dressed up in a suit and tie, his hair neatly gelled, a big goofy smile on his face as he joked around with the groomsmen in the driveway.

My heart flew. And sank. At the same time.

He looked so handsome, and so grown up. He looked like the man I was going to marry. The man I was always going to marry, from the time I was old enough to understand that boys like girls, and that they get married when they grow up. That was him, right down there. And he was going to be mine.

It was the happiest moment of my entire life, peeking through that window at him from a distance. That was the moment it was real.

To be continued...