The Wedding...

The big day finally arrived! Sunday November 7th will be a day that plays in my memory for many years to come.

I spent the night before at home with my two best girlfriends, my Maid of Honor, Guenevere and Matron of Honor, Allison. We sadly could not get ourselves to bed early (which I was worried would happen) and I spent the night tossing and turning. I woke up about every 45 minutes until I finally got up around 6:45. I went ahead and got coffee made and breakfast set up for everyone and just smiled about what a day we had in front of us. We packed up the car and headed off to my Uncle's house to take over and get ready. A short text to Jeff to say good morning and to tell him I loved him and we were off!
Jeff had stayed at our hotel - the amazing Hotel Palomar in Dupont Circle so that we would be
traditional and sleep apart the night before our wedding - it would be only the 2nd time in 3 1/2 years that we would sleep apart!

We spent a couple of hours at my Uncle's house getting ready, I layed down for a bit just to catch my breath and to just absorb the intensity of the day while the girls got ready first. Then I had my makeup done and finally my hair. Before we knew it, it was 12:50 and we needed to head out. Running 20 minutes late was actually pretty good, especially since Guen, Allison and I are all already really bad about being prompt! Our car awaited us outside as we headed out into the crisp Fall afternoon. We placed "the body" aka my wedding dress in the trunk and off we went. Jeff texted me that he had arrived at Woodend already and I alerted him to the fact that we were almost there and to be away from the house. It was really nice to build the anticipation of seeing each other even more throughout the day. I saw my sweetheart pacing near the woods and asked our Best Woman - Penny to come meet me so I could give her a love note for Jeff. Sadly, he was so nervous he didn't want to read it until later. I headed upstairs once inside the mansion and it was intense. My whole family was standing there as I raced past everyone to go get ready. The girls brought everything inside and we got my dress all ready to put on. We waited a minute while I calmed myself and the photographer got some pictures of just the dress. Moments later I was in my dress and all of the emotions were just so overwhelming. I was laughing and crying and for a moment hyper-venilating. I could not believe that the wedding day had finally come, but mostly that I was so lucky to be marrying the man of my dreams. Jeff truly is amazing and so loving and kind and funny - man is he funny. I am so lucky that I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend.

At 2:20, it was finally time! We all wiped our tears, the photographer included and had a big hug and headed downstairs... I could hear the music starting, Jeff walked into Johnny Cash's Walk The Line




and I walked into Louis Armstrong's version of La Vie En Rose

it was really amazing walking down to meet Jeff in the grove. I could see him watching for me and as I got to the start of the path we gave each other a little smile and a wave. I walked with my papa down to the grove and felt so amazing and beautiful and so happy to see our friends and family there to witness such a special moment in our lives. Of course as I was halfway down the aisle, the song ended! I just made a joke of it and said of course I am always a few minutes behind... everyone laughed and certainly got a kick out of it! The ceremony was short and sweet, my Uncle John officiated and Allison and my brother Steven read a few readings throughout. Jeff and I just held hands the entire time and smiled, and laughed and cried. It was just the perfect start to our days as husband and wife.