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February 25, 2003
A friend of mine is getting married this weekend, and sometimes, I like to reminisce about my own wedding day. I wanted to write everything down so that later on, if the girls ever ask, I will be able to remember most of the day to share with them.
Gary asked me to be his wife on May 8th, 1998. It was one week before my college graduation, and I had no idea that he was planning on asking me. We had been dating for 2 ½ years and I knew it would be soon, but on the actual day, I seriously had no clue about what the day would hold. My parents were in Oklahoma for my Brother-In-Law’s graduation from Law School, and I stayed behind to complete my own finals and I had already started my job that I was to continue after graduation. Gary called my dad the night before to ask “for my hand.” I had no idea that Gary realized how important this was to me. I was extremely glad that he had put enough thought into the proposal to include my parents. When I came home from work, Gary was there and he told me that a graduation gift had arrived, and he was curious what it could be so he wanted me to open it immediately. I was a bit reluctant, being that most of my family and friends are close, and would have no reason to mail a gift, but I love gifts, and so I did not think much about this because the anticipation of a surprise gift was too much, I wanted to know what was inside and who it was from. I went to my room and there was a single red rose on my bed. I knew Gary was behind me, so I turned around to hug him and tell him thank you, and he was on one knee. (Read: the upcoming is not one of my brightest moments, but I was completely shocked) My immediate response was, “Baby, what did you drop?” I got down on my hands and knees and was looking on the floor when he picked me up and asked me to marry him. For the next few moments, all I could say was “Oh my gosh,” and “you are lying.” After I said “Yes,” we immediately called my family and shared the news.
We planned the wedding for a year later. In late June after a week of rain, we were finishing up the last minute details. I was ecstatic, and he was as well. We had had a wonderful engagement, and were ready to start our lives together. During our engagement, we had bought a house, and remodeled it, I had bought a car, and the week before our wedding we chose our first child out of a litter of three. “Kacy” was the only female, of the litter, and she was polite and well mannered. I could not wait until she was old enough for us to bring home!
The day before the wedding was a whirlwind it was raining so hard, I was sure it would flood, and we were separately trying to tie everything in together. I was off to get pedicured, manicured, and have my ring cleaned so that it would sparkle. Gary was getting the alcohol for the reception squared away. And we both met up before the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner because I was adamant that he pick me up and take me as if we were on a date. Earlier in the day, my mom and I had gone to check out the reception site and verify that our caterer had began her process of transforming the ballroom into my envisioned “fantasy land.” My out of town guests began to arrive--Everything was running right on target!
The rehearsal went well, and after only one minor glitch involving ushers and the mother of the groom, we were ready! We went to our rehearsal dinner and were so excited to have all of our closest friends and family with us. We gave out our gifts to the bridal party and Gary’s best friend gave the toast, “I wish Gary and Jamie much happiness and a lifetime full of happiness, and I hope one day I find a woman just like Jamie.” Oh, dear sweet Roger! God love him!
After a great seafood dinner, Gary and I partted ways, I was off to spend my last night at home with my parents, I was terribly emotional, I am extremely close to them and had only briefly stayed in the sorority dorms, and I had never really lived AWAY! And Gary was off to party with his friends one last time as a single man. (Of course, after being warned to keep it rated PG-13)
The morning of the wedding, I woke up and mom and I set out to find the fresh flowers for my cake. It rained briefly, but as the day progressed it turned out to be a beautiful, hot summer day. We stopped at McDonalds to waste money on a breakfast that I would merely look at. But, I did get some caffeine in my morning coke, and spending that morning just with mom and I was therapeutic for both of us. We picked up the flowers and delivered them to the reception so the “Cake Lady” could arrange them on my cake. We came back home so that I could get ready for the Bridesmaids luncheon at a local restaurant before jaunting off to be transformed into a bride.
I was filled with emotions that day, I was excited and nervous. Excited about getting married to a wonderful man, about committing for forever, and feeling all grown-up. I was nervous about how everything was going to come together, my first plane ride, and being all grown up. And I was feeling extremely sentimental about all of the events going on around me, my grandfather was bringing my wedding dress to the church, my mom was fighting back tears because her little girl was getting married, my dad was appearing somewhat timid and quiet, and I felt like I was on a roller coaster.
I called Gary to make sure that everything was going okay, and that he remembered to pay the preacher, etc. We only talked briefly, and we both were off to take care of last minute details.
I soaked in the tub and used the bath salts, bath gels, loo-fahs that I have accumulated for this day, and got out feeling slightly scented, with silky skin. I was so excited about being absolutely radiant for my husband-to-be. I usually use only the minimum essentials to appear girlie, but today, I wanted everything to be perfect, I wanted to look, feel, and smell like a bride. I wanted every pore of my body to scream-I am the BRIDE! I had waited, dreamed for, and anticipated this day to be so much, so perfect.
We went off for lunch where I ate a plain baked potato and drank a bolini from a glass that was bigger than my face. The butterflies began to flutter in my stomach and I knew that much more than a baked potato would have been bad news! After lunch with my bridesmaids, we all scattered to get our hair done.
My sister and I ran back home and we loaded up the car with my petticoat, my honeymoon bags and left for the church. I quickly remembered that I had forgotten my veil, so we quickly retreated back to my parents, for it was no longer my home, to retrieve my veil.
At the salon, my hair was being done, and my hairdresser loves using fake hair for extra curls and a bit more body. A few of my bridesmaids found this particularly amusing so my hairdresser braided in hair that was completely opposite their hair color. It could not be seen, but we still talk about our fake hair to this day. That was my something borrowed.
We left the salon in enough time to barely make it to the church “on time.” Gary was just arriving and the bridesmaids and groomsmen had shielded us both from getting a glimpse of the other. He was already dressed in his tuxedo, I was rushing to go get my make-up and dress on in the church.
We all arrived and did our make up together and we were getting last minute pictures before the wedding began. The few precious moments I remember during this, the most hectic part of my day, when, my dad walked in he gazed at me and said aloud, but to himself, “My you sure grew up fast.” When I heard that I lost it! So we did my make-up again!
My bouquet was a bundle of cream roses with pink tips tied with a single white satin ribbon. The bridesmaids’ dresses were “buttercup” and they carried fuchsia roses with yellow marigolds tied with a single white satin ribbon. The smell from the roses filled the air in the bridal suite.
To complete the traditions of something borrowed was the fake hair; something old was my great grandmothers handkerchief, that my mother also carried on her wedding day; something new was my gown, my veil, and my shoes, and something blue was my garter. I also had a penny in my shoe from the year that I was born.
The wedding started and I heard the music, and in my mind I was trying to imagine what was supposed to be happening. I was in the bridal room by myself and I prayed, “God, Please bless this marriage, and help me to remember this moment, right here, right now for the rest of my life.” Suddenly I was calm.
The ceremony was perfect, everything happened just as it should have and Gary looked very debonair. He was exquisite. Throughout the ceremony he had this huge smile on his face, he seemed nervous, but was extremely steady. I leaned on him several times during the ceremony just to relieve my feet. We lit the unity candle to the song I Will Be There, by Steven Curtis Chapman. Finally the kiss, we had practiced several times, because I wanted a kiss that was affectionate, yet tasteful.
Once we arrived at our reception, we noticed a lot of activity outside of the reception site. Both Gary and I dismissed that they were probably smoking, or it was extremely crowded inside. We walked in, and it was so incredibly hot, that when you would inhale, the air tasted almost had a texture. The air condition had broken and it had to be 200 degrees in the reception hall. But the ballroom looked absolutely gorgeous. There were lights and tulle, and flowers everywhere! I was amazed at how beautiful everything was. All of my friends were there and sweating it out for me! I quickly for got the heat. My mom however, was in the back “unleashing the terror” on the hotel manager, and demanding her money be returned before she would leave his office. He finally gave her a check reimbursing her for the money that she had paid him. During the reception the fire alarm went off, and fire trucks came. No fire, just lots of bodies creating lots of body heat, we actually had about 650 guests.
Our first dance was to Carried Away, by George Strait. We ended up leaving around 11:00 p.m. covered in birdseed from head to toe. Our wonderful friends covered us and the limousine in birdseed; we had birdseed in every crevice of our body. On the way, we called our families to tell them what a great time we had and how thankful we were that they provided such a wonderful evening for us.
We honeymooned for a week at Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. We stayed at the Dixie Landings Resort. There were live rabbits hopping around outside our room, it was the happiest place in the world. We had the best time! It was our first time to ever fly, and we were nervous. I guess we looked like typical honeymooners because they bumped us to first class for the trip up there. Once we arrived at our resort, it began to rain, and everything shuts down in Florida when it rains. So we waited in the lobby of our resort for over an hour until the trolley service could bring us to the honeymoon suite. For the flight home we were not able to return home in first class, and boy, what a difference in first class and coach! Our families met us at the airport and we returned to my parents house briefly to open the gifts from our reception. The next day was July 4th, and my family always hosts a huge picnic for the holiday. Early that morning, we went to pick up the newest addition to our family, a Boston Terrier named Kacy.
Currently, we have been married 3 and ½ years. Since we have built a house and had two wonderful daughters! What an amazing time I have and, and we are just getting started.
Again, I wanted to journal this to make sure that whenever the girls are old enough to ask about our wedding, I will not have forgotten most of the details.
Blessings to all,
Jamie
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