4 Years

That's how long we have now been married.

I was never nervous.  Not once.  If anything went wrong, I didn't care.  I was marrying my best friend.

As I began to walk down the aisle, everything moved in slow motion (and the fact I wanted to run down the aisle made everything feel slower).  The violinist playing Canon in D was so beautiful and I felt like a giddy little girl.  There was no hiding the large smile on my face. 

First my father walked me from the back of our large church to the last row of chairs and I was on my own with empty hands.  I had no beautiful boquet of flowers...yet... 

After a few steps, I met my older brother he hugged me and handed me a perfect white calla lily.  A few steps on, my younger brother did the same.  Followed by a close family friend and the man who would give us our first communion as a couple.  Next was my Grandfather.  He was so handsome that day.  Now I would get a hug from my Godfather, who was also the minister that would be marrying us in just a few moments.  Lastly, my Father in Law would hand me a flower, including me in thier family and them in mine.  I then walked to my mother who, just like she had done my whole life, tied it all together for me.

I then joined my groom in the front of the church to say our vows.

He was squeezing my hands so hard.  Nerved I think.  This was the same man who bluntly told me on our first date that he could just never see himself getting married...21 months later...there we were.

The ceremony was simple and beautiful.  We said the traditional vows (but I can honestly say I had no idea what "for better and for worse" meant until this year).  We played I will be Here, by Steven Curtis Chapman during the ceremony.  The words are so beautiful.

I Will Be Here

Tomorrow morning if you wake up

And the sun does not appear,
I will be here.
If in the dark we lose sight of love,

Hold my hand and have no fear,

‘Cause I will be here.

CHORUS

I will be here when you feel like being quiet;

When you need to speak your mind, I will listen.

And I will be here when the laughter turns to crying;

Through the winning, losing, and trying, we’ll be together,

‘Cause I will be here.

Tomorrow morning if you wake up

And the future is unclear,

I will be here.

As sure as seasons are made for change,

Our lifetimes are made for years,

So I will be here.

CHORUS

I will be here, so you can cry on my shoulder;

When the mirror tells us we’re older, I will hold you.

And I will be here to watch you grow in beauty,

And tell you all the things you are to me;

I will be here.

I will be true to the promise I have made,
To you and to the One who gave you to me.

As sure as seasons are made for change,

Our lifetimes are made for years,

So I, I will be here.

We'll be together and I will be here.

~~~~~~~~~

After we were declared husband and wife, our first act as a married couple was communion.  We realize that our love can not compare to the love Christ has for his Bride and we wanted to publicly show that He is the first and the center of our marriage and lives together.

After the ceremony, we took pictures...lots of pictures!

And then it was off to the reception, in our horse drawn carriage.

I was so glad we had a 60 degree New Year's Eve!  It was such a beautiful day!

If I had all of our photos on the computer, I would post so many more!  Like the beautiful decorations that my mom, brothers and friends helped make and put up.  Or the white chocolate oreos that my brother painstakingly drew little snowflakes all over.  Or maybe the real mistletoe that was shot down and hung on the dance floor for us. 

We had a wonderful day, with wonderful memories made.  We had so many people contribute to making our wedding day such a perfect day.  We love you all and wish you all a joyful new year full of beauty and grace!