Boom, boom, BAM!!!!!!!!! (Non-pro pic and detail HEAVY...possibly record-breaking)

So let me start out by saying this: for all of you who did the rain dance for our ceremony, THANK YOU. We paid a whopping $1,200 to have a tent put up for the ceremony (a gracious gift from my father) that must've been rain insurance because we didn't need it AT ALL! It was HOT for our ceremony...but SUNNY! So all of your sunshine-y thoughts worked and I greatly appreciate it!!

Backing up a little...

FH and I both took off starting on Wednesday. His dad came into town late Tuesday night but I was so exhausted that I was in bed and fast asleep by the time he got there. Wednesday the craziness started with family and a few BM's getting into town.

DH went fishing Wednesday and Golfing Thursday, which drove me bonkers because I REALLY needed help with stuff and he just kept saying he was enjoying time with family...which I would’ve loved to do, too, but didn’t get to those days because I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I think his family was very confused as to why I kept getting frustrated and a few of them even tried to corner me and be like “just breathe..enjoy this time...I understand why you are upset..” but they all got a taste of my stress when the rehearsal dinner came along and the venue screwed everything up for them...apparently they hadn’t told my MIL that they had scheduled an event before ours last minute, and she wasn’t able to get in and decorate like she had planned. They also have private dining balconies off the room we had the dinner in..they told us they wouldn’t be seating people there and that we could have the doors open and get a good river breeze/take pictures...........except they DID seat guests there and we didn’t have access to them. Whatever, sucks for those people eating at the restaurant more than us, since our rehearsal dinner was really loud (60 people) and full open bar, so probably more of a party than those dinner guests wanted on their private little romantic balcony. My SIL got WAY wasted at the rehearsal dinner and could barely stand up....looking back, I know my in-laws wanted a full bar to accommodate some of the people who we know who prefer whiskey over beer/wine...but it was a hot mess. FH and I drove to the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner together in his car and back home together after the dinner....and I don’t regret that for a second. It was so nice to get some peace and quiet with him to myself the day before the wedding. I needed that. It was actually really romantic and I’ll never forget those rides, even if there was nothing that special about it.

1. Dad and I at the ceremony practicing our walk

2. Some of the BM and I before the rehearsal dinner (we had time in between, so we went to a bar...)

I stayed up until about 2 am the night before our wedding, working on vows, writing cards, making sure eveything was in place...it wasn’t an early bedtime like I had wanted, but my sister and one of my BM’s stayed with me and it was really peaceful and nice. I woke up the next morning ready to GO. All the BM’s met at my house and loaded our gear into the car. Half left to go to the salon for hair and makeup, others went to grab us breakfast, then some went with me to drop off our dresses/bags at the hotel where we were getting dressed. Funny story..I’m casually driving down the road when I pass a police officer, who turns around in the middle of the road behind me and TURNS ON HIS LIGHTS. I was like...REALLY?!!!!!!!! THERE’S LITERALLY A WEDDING DRESS IN MY CAR. False alarm though, he sped past us as soon as I pulled to the shoulder. Phew!!!

Hair and makeup went like a dream. The place we had it done at was wonderful and very FAST, which was awesome because there were 10 of us. We got there at 9:30ish and the last of us were out by 1pm. We got lunch and dressed at the hotel room. My photographer took my mom, sister (my MOH) and I down to a really pretty hallway with great lighting to get dressed. It was sort of funny because it also had a glass door to the pool area..which we avoided while getting dressed, but during pictures a LOT of small children came up and pressed their faces to the glass and started talking about the “pretty princess” inside. 

All was well...but of course if everything seems like it is going perfect, it’s not. We got out to the trolley we had rented and I immediately noticed that the sides of the trolley (okay, it’s basically a bus that looks like a trolley) were open...like windows. I politely asked the driver WTF because we had VERY specifically mentioned to them that the trolley was for a wedding and NEEDED A/C as it was 90 degrees out and the BM would be taking it 20 miles to the ceremony and the entire bridal party would be taking it to the reception and um...I did not just pay $200 for hair and makeup to have it all ruined in your little un-airconditioned trolley. Basically, I tried not to be a giant bitch but I told the driver that I was NOT getting in that thing. He told me that the one with A/C broke down the day before (and no one thought to call us??????? Really?) and that was all they had. I thought quick and called our DOC who tried to do damage control. The hotel couldn’t shuttle us because the ceremony was out of the county, so LUCKILY my sister’s husband and my BM’s boyfriend were SUPER close by about to head to the ceremony and both drive TAHOES! Thank goodness for big cars. We loaded up and headed out.

1. The only picture of the trolley...and about when I realized it was wrong.

2. Tahoe selfie with my mom!

The ceremony was perfect (except for the sound system not working..there were speakers, but I really don’t think they worked. DH booked them so I guess he’ll figure that out.). Our DOC did an amazing job wrangling everything together and we recieved so many compliments on the entire ceremony. There are no pictures of it because GUESS WHAT? EVERYONE!!!! Read the program and the schpeel about the unplugged ceremony and kept their devices away! I’m dying to see pictures of it so I cannot WAIT until the photog gets them back to us! Our second shooter was a girl who had actually photographed Cliff’s proposal to me, so that was really neat and full-circleish. DH and I wrote our own vows and I don’t regret it for a second. We both wrote them on fancy paper and when we got home from our honeymoon, we reread them and were really able to take them in. It was awesome. We’re planning on framing them and putting them in our bedroom for safekeeping.  I had our guitar/violin duo play “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” by Frankie Valli since DH and I consider it “our song” – but it was a little too fast for us to use as our first dance. It was a complete surprise to him and I wasn’t sure he would notice it in the moment but he did, and apparently the combo of that and seeing me walk down the aisle made him SOB.

Anyways..our fantastic coordinator was able to secure a party bus for us last-minute with a different company because she is AWESOME. I would have given that driver a million dollars if I could. It was expensive but DH knew how much I really wanted the bridal party to be able to all celebrate together post-ceremony on the ride over with drinks and stuff..so he made it happen and I’m so thankful. It was a lot of fun.

We completely missed the cocktail hour but we heard great things about it. When we finally did get to the reception site, I was blown away and I wasn’t even inside yet. Our venue coordinator KILLED IT. I mean she literally took everything I had and just amplified it beyond what I could have imagined. We were all waiting to be introduced by DH’s godfather and LITERALLY right as we were introduced as Mr. & Mrs. And got inside, it started POURING!!!! Ahhh it was so great that we missed it!

1. Bridal party selfie on our new shuttle! (DH and I were taking pics)

2. First dance!

3. Rando pic, but I love it.

Unfortunately, after our first dances, we didn’t really get to eat. Our venue made sure to put appetizers on our table and to bring us a plate of food, but people found it appropriate to bum-rush our sweetheart table and once one person started approaching us..EVERYONE did. I was kind of sad, I heard great things about the food. Whatever. We didn’t get to make it to every table to say hi, either, because it took soooo long. I think we made it to just 4 of 14 before toasts started. Once toasts were over, the DJ opened up the dance flood and once again...people bum-rushed it. Seriously, it was packed before we even step foot on it and stayed that way until 11pm!!!! Even my dad and aunt danced, and I’ve NEVER seen them dance! I knew our wedding would be a party but it was so much more fun than I could have imagined. DH took me to the side at one point and said “Stand here for a minute or two with me and look at everything and everyone. Look at everyone smiling and having fun and how much love is in the room...this is who we are, this is everything we ever dreamed of” and it was SO. SWEET. I will never forget that moment.

We somehow managed to get everyone outside for sparklers and the coordinator closed the door so we could have our “last dance” while everyone was getting set up. IT. WAS. AWESOME. I STRONGLY recommend this to everyone. It was so nice to just have DH and I on the dance floor together taking the night in. We did our sparkler exit (Warning: if you do one, you will feel the sparklers burn you but you will be okay! They don’t hurt long or much!) and climbed into our horse drawn carriage. It had cooled down because of the rain, and it was soooo much fun to kind of relax and enjoy the weather. Since our reception was downtown, we went down the street where all the main bars were and everyone was yelling congrats and taking pictures..it was awesome. Our carriage driver took us through some of the quieter parts of town before taking us to our hotel and it was nice to just take in the scenery and spend time with Cliff. Especially because while I was on the dance floor most of the wedding, he was only there part of the time and was chatting with people the other half.

The next day we had a brunch cookout at the awesome beach house my in-laws rented for the week. We pretty much invited everyone and a good bit of people came. It was so nice to hang out with people we didn’t get to talk to much at the wedding.

1. Rando pic that I love (I think it shows my makeup well)

2. Sparklers!

3. Carriage ride out

Annnd...last but not least..pictures of some of our details that people sent me.

I cannot thank you guys enough for all of your help. My wedding would not have been the same without your advice and general love and support. I hate that I'm no longer in planning mode (which is why I spent my entire morning at work writing this record-breaking BAM...) but I'll still be around!

1. Wreath that went on our cross at the ceremony.

2. Sweetheart table (before my bouquet was added)

3. Gift/guest book table

A few more detail pics..

1. Tables (the cocktail hour was outside, unfortunately I have no pics of that yet..)

2. Centerpieces

3. Lounge area

Double post...grr sorry!!!!

Very pretty! Everything coordinates so well.

Where did you get the sign by your guestbook?

Oh my gosh so pretty! You're making me wish we were having an exit so we could do a last dance.

WOW! You looked so gorgeous and your makeup was wonderful! I love your colour choice (probably going to be the colours I use lol). You did such an amazing job! I love your table set up especially your AMAZING sweetheart table!! And such great advice... I was seriously debating doing a last since since I don't want to do a scheduled exit but now I'm sold.

@Jess thanks! It's either from jane.com or groopdealz.com, I can't remember which. Both of them always offer a sale on something similar though, and the company I got ours from usually puts up a sale a few times a month. It was pretty cheap, too!

You are stunning and turn wedding looks beautiful! How lucky about the rain?! Lol. Did you go back out for rain pics?

Also all of your pictures are amazing, but I love the one with you and your mom! And I'm impressed people actually stayed off their phones!

Beautiful bride. Everything looked exquisite! Your bouquet gorgeous. I am so worried about the details. You made it look effortless.

@jomabago I wish! It poured, but it didn't rain that long..just during speeches. So by the time it was over it was too late

@RhnCasi Don't stress! If you have a DOC, tell them you trust them and that if they don't think something looks right or needs to be changed, that they have full authority to do so. They'll appreciate your trust and you'll appreciate them doing what needs to be done.

Absolutely beautiful. Looked like a fairytale. Congrats!

Everything looked gorgeous! I love your make up, you made a beautiful bride! Congratulations!

Beautiful! Congrats! I love love love love your bouquet and guestbook idea.

You look beautiful and your venue space is gorgeous! Congratulations!

Beautiful wedding!! The carriage ride is so amazing! Glad you were able to put out all the fires and that your day still went smoothly !

Absolutely beautiful! Glad I'm not the only one who likes wordy BAMs, I loved reading all about your day! The carriage ride sounds like so much fun! I was nervous about being burnt by sparklers too...hairspray and fire don't go together! Glad nothing bad happened though!