we did

As promised by everyone, the wedding came and went faster than an eye blink.  It was a whirlwind of family and friends, celebration (lots of champagne!), preparation and fun.  From the Thursday before to the Sunday after, we were surrounded with our dearest ones and showered with more love, good wishes, and generosity than I ever expected.  It made my heart sing to be so completely surrounded by wonderful, amazing people.  Thank you, my loved ones, for making the entire wedding such a memorable time.

But you want some pictures and some details, right?  We don't have photos from our photographer back yet (it's not even 4 weeks ago!), but a few kind friends shared their pictures with us...

Saturday started out with a trip to the salon for me, my bridesmaids, and my mother to have our hair done.  We toted a basket filled with breakfast items and were done up so prettily!

The ladies returned to my parents' house to continue preparations, meaning mimosas and makeup.  My best friend/sister Moe applied fake eyelashes to me, since I couldn't keep myself calm enough to put them on in a straight line.  More family arrived at our house, and we traveled to the church in a gigantic party bus.  The ladies and I continued to prep upstairs, munching Panera sandwiches and sipping fresh made juices (I recently discovered I love juicing, guys!).  My bridesmaid Jackie engineered a paper clip into a necklace shortening device for another bridesmaid - so clever!

Eventually, it was time to put on my dress and get the real events started. All 5 of my bridesmaids and my mother helped me into the dress.  Not that it was a complicated dress.  They all wanted to help, and I loved the team effort and flurry of activity - it felt like we were actors waiting in the wings, scurrying around before the curtain rose.  Another round of photos and we snuck down the stairs to line up for the processional.

Walking down the aisle - it was so amazing and surreal at the same time!  I couldn't stop smiling hugely or take my eyes off Eric, but somehow I also looked around at all the marvelous people there to witness our marriage.  Time did one of those too-fast/too-slow tricks it's wont to do in significant moments, where every minute felt like an eternity yet also flew by.  My stomach started to flutter for the first time that whole weekend  Then, before I knew it, we were husband and wife.

More pictures, of course.  There were a few glorious (but very, very cold) moments of clear skies amid all the grey skies and drizzle when we were able to sneak a few pictures at the arboretum.  My poor bridesmaids were shivering, huddling together for warmth.  I didn't feel a second of the cold--too excited!--though my feet were kind enough to alert me to their displeasure with heels.  And they weren't even that high....  

Back to the party bus for more pictures at our reception venue.  And some serious dress bustling.  I love our friends and family!

And the party started.  Dancing, drinking, dining, chatting, and all around merriment with the ones we love.  There's truly nothing better.  I only wish we could do this every weekend!

We did it.  

And I couldn't be happier.