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After we each read the vows we’d written, it was time to finish the ceremony.
Our officiant friend asked Mr. Cola two very important questions: “Alex, with your promises to Morgan in mind, do you take her to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honor, and cherish her for all time?”To which Mr. Cola gave the standard reply of “I do.”
Then it was my turn to be asked the same questions.…but I may have been a little overeager! **blushes**Officiant: “Morgan, with your promises to Alex in mind, do you take him to be your husband?”Here, our officiant took a breath, and paused for a second too long--long enough for me to but in with my big mouth.I blurted out: “Heck yeah, I do!”
Um, yeah. He wasn't done with asking the second question, but I was too excited, and took his pause as my signal to jump in with my answer!
Our officiant laughed at me, then finished his last question, to which I replied with a much more demure “I do,” and he asked for the rings from my sister.Mr. Cola and I both repeated, as we slipped the rings on each others fingers: “I give you this ring, as a daily reminder of my love for you.”
And with that, we were declared husband and wife, and given permission to go in for a big old smooch!
Followed by a celebratory walk up the aisle. HECK YEAH, we were married! ;)
(guest photo)
We weren’t really sure how far we should walk, since we knew we would be taking family pictures right away, so we figured this was about far enough, and enjoyed a long hug.
I honestly have no idea what everyone else did after we walked up the aisle. I assume our wedding party walked just like they came in. But I was on cloud 9 and oblivious to all our surroundings at that point; there was no one else in the world other than my husband and I.
Newlyweds, did anyone else interrupt your officiant during your ceremony? Tell me I'm not alone!
Miss any wedding week details? Catch up here:
- I packed an emergency bag that saved my dress- We had a crazy 4 days prepping for house guests and stuffing favors- Shopping for a ton of wedding flowers to arrange ourselves- Mr. Cola drinks a 40 and I have a night out on the town for our low-key bach parties- A day of DIY'ing flower arrangements- I kicked off our official recaps with my #1 wedding tip
- We began the weekend festivities with a sunset cruise for our wedding party
- We rehearsed our quick and easy ceremony
- I panicked, but we got our rehearsal dinner decorations set up just in time
- Our families met for the first time at our rehearsal dinner under the trees- What went wrong on our wedding day, and my tips for future brides
- My bridesmaids and I got our hair and makeup done in the hotel suite
- I put on my wedding dress and became a bride
- The guys watched the World Cup, then got ready in 10 minutes
- Traffic delayed our decorations getting to the venue, and I almost ruined our first look
- We got to see each other for the first time on our wedding day at our first look
- We took some time for bride and groom pictures in the park
- I gave you a behind the scenes look at our family, friends and DOC setting up our venue
- Arriving at our venue and getting ready for the ceremony to start
- Everyone walked down the aisle
- Excerpts from our ceremony, and reading the vows we wrote for each other
(Unless otherwise noted, all photos in this post were taken by the very talented photographers of Shoot Me Now Photography)
Once everyone had walked down the aisle (and I managed to roll my ankle in doing so), it was time to start the ceremony.
We had put together the ceremony text ourselves, which I wrote about in full here. It was short and sweet, and perfectly suited for what we wanted our ceremony to be. And it was even more special to have a good friend marry us.A few excerpts:"Love is a friendship that has caught fire.It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving.It is loyalty through good and bad.It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weakness.Love is content with the present.It hopes for the future and it doesn’t brood over the past.It is the day-in and day-out chronicle of irritations, problems, compromises, small disappointments, big victories and working toward common goals.If you have love in your life it can make up for a great many things you lack.If you do not have love in your life, no matter what else there is, it is not enough.So search for love.Share it. But most of all… ENJOY IT."
"Let your love be stronger than your anger.Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend than to break.Look for the best in your beloved rather than the worst.Confide in your partner and ask for help when you need it.Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship.Give your spouse the same courtesies and kindnesses you bestow on your friends.Say 'I love you' every day."
Then it was time to say our vows. Mr. Cola and I had each written our own vows, and hadn't shared them with each other prior to the ceremony. But we had laid out some parameters by making "vow libs," so they would be similar in tone and length. Mr. C read his vows first."Morgan, you mean more to me than any words I put together could possibly convey. You are an amazing, beautiful and intelligent person with a great sense of humor.
Today I would like to thank you for your friendship, unwavering support and motivation, as well as your ability to keep me well-grounded, with a balanced perspective on life.
For as long as we have been together, you have always been there for me, making the good times even better, and the bad times not so bad.
(My "I'm not gonna cry" face)
(That line got a big laugh from everyone...so true!)
I vow to work hard at nurturing our relationship, so that we will always stay as close as we are today, and together we will continue building our lives on the strong foundation that we have created.
Today marks a giant milestone in the journey of our lives. I don't know what the future may hold for us, but I do know that together it will be an amazing adventure."Then it was time for me to read my vows."Alex, I love you from the bottom of my heart, and probably more than I can ever say. You know me better than anyone, and love me for who I am: a planner, a messy housekeeper, obsessed with shoes...You love me, even though I have cats, and don't really understand how robots work. (I just had to throw some inside jokes in there!)
You are my best friend, and the best person I've ever known. You're sweet, kind, loyal and funny. I love the many inside jokes we share, and how much we've grown up, and together, over the past 10 years.
Thank you for always being there when I need you. Thank you for being my rock, for grounding me when I'm overdoing it, and encouraging me when I need it. Thank you for being exactly who you are, my perfect compliment.
Today, I promise to love you unconditionally, to support and defend you in difficult times, and always appreciate you, and the little things you do.
I will try every single day to make you happy. I will listen when you need to vent, comfort you when you've had a rough day, and always be on your side, no matter what.
I vow to spend the rest of my life with you, laughing, sharing, building memories, and thoroughly enjoying whatever adventures may come our way.
I vow to build the best life together with you that we can, filled with passion and achievements, and be fully devoted to the love we share. And I promise to love you with my whole heart, forever."
Coming up next, the "I dos," ring exchange, and making it official!Will you be writing your own vows, or going with more traditional vows?Miss any wedding week details? Catch up here:
- I packed an emergency bag that saved my dress- We had a crazy 4 days prepping for house guests and stuffing favors- Shopping for a ton of wedding flowers to arrange ourselves- Mr. Cola drinks a 40 and I have a night out on the town for our low-key bach parties- A day of DIY'ing flower arrangements- I kicked off our official recaps with my #1 wedding tip
- We began the weekend festivities with a sunset cruise for our wedding party
- We rehearsed our quick and easy ceremony
- I panicked, but we got our rehearsal dinner decorations set up just in time
- Our families met for the first time at our rehearsal dinner under the trees- What went wrong on our wedding day, and my tips for future brides
- My bridesmaids and I got our hair and makeup done in the hotel suite
- I put on my wedding dress and became a bride
- The guys watched the World Cup, then got ready in 10 minutes
- Traffic delayed our decorations getting to the venue, and I almost ruined our first look
- We got to see each other for the first time on our wedding day at our first look
- We took some time for bride and groom pictures in the park
- I gave you a behind the scenes look at our family, friends and DOC setting up our venue
- Arriving at our venue and getting ready for the ceremony to start
- Everyone walked down the aisle
(Unless otherwise noted, all photos in this post were taken by the very talented photographers of Shoot Me Now Photography)
It was time!The guests had arrived and everything was ready to go. We lined up for the processional next to the bar just inside the lodge, and waited for our signal to start the long walk across the decks, down two sets of stairs, across the grass and down the aisle.
First, our officiant and good friend took his place in front of the arbor, which was the cue to our guests to take their seats.
(Guest photo)
First Mr. Cola's parents walked down the aisle (at least I think they did, but we don't have any pictures of it), followed by Mr. Cola.
Then it was time for my mom.
(Isn't her dress and jacket pretty? She made them herself!)
Followed by Groomsman A and Bridesmaid H.
Next it was our Best Man and Maid of Honor's turn.
Finally, it was my turn. While the others had started walking out, I'd begged the bartender for a glass of water, since I was still dying of thirst from the heat wave and the rush to clean my dress in time for the ceremony.
As our wedding party trickled outside, I was feeling like jumping up and down in excitement, paired with an out of body feeling, and oddly for once, all of a sudden nervous about being the center of attention. I couldn't believe it was finally happening!
And without much more time to think or process anything, Satellite by Dave Matthews started playing on the guitar, I got my cue to walk outside, and everyone stood up.
First I had to cross the decks and walk down the stairs, which was challenging in 4 1/2 inch heels and due to the fact that I couldn't see my feet under my dress. I definitely had to concentrate--the last thing I wanted to do was fall in front of everyone.
At the bottom of the lower set of stairs is where I barely avoided disaster. On the grass in front of the stairs there were some flat rocks embedded in the grass. Here, let me zoom in a little for you:
Well, as I walked across, one of the heels of my stilettos slipped off the edge of one of the rocks, and I nearly sprained my ankle! Luckily I have really good balance from years of wearing high heels, so I was able to not fall, just rolled my ankle. In fact, I'm not sure anyone even noticed my little slip!
(Right after slipping, all I could think was "Oh crap, did anyone see that?" Which you can totally see written all over my face in this picture. A poker face, I do not have!)
When I reached the aisle, I let my dad hold onto my arm for balance so he didn't have to use his cane, and walked with him down the aisle.
Or...maybe kind of drug him down the aisle.
In the pictures it looks like we walked perfectly normally, but the way I remember it was that in my mind I was like "Lets go!" and sort of walked a half of a step impatiently ahead of my dad, because he walks slowly without his cane. What can I say, I was on a mission to get to the good part! :)
At the end of the aisle, I gave my dad a kiss and a hug, and took my place in front of the arbor. We didn't really do a traditional giving away of the bride, more like a "thanks so much for everything, see ya later!" kind of kiss on the cheek goodbye to my dad. Which was perfect for us.
My dad took his seat in the front row, I handed off my bouquet to my sister/MOH, and with that, it was time for the good part, our ceremony!
Miss any wedding week details? Catch up here:
- I packed an emergency bag that saved my dress- We had a crazy 4 days prepping for house guests and stuffing favors- Shopping for a ton of wedding flowers to arrange ourselves- Mr. Cola drinks a 40 and I have a night out on the town for our low-key bach parties- A day of DIY'ing flower arrangements- I kicked off our official recaps with my #1 wedding tip
- We began the weekend festivities with a sunset cruise for our wedding party
- We rehearsed our quick and easy ceremony
- I panicked, but we got our rehearsal dinner decorations set up just in time
- Our families met for the first time at our rehearsal dinner under the trees- What went wrong on our wedding day, and my tips for future brides
- My bridesmaids and I got our hair and makeup done in the hotel suite
- I put on my wedding dress and became a bride
- The guys watched the World Cup, then got ready in 10 minutes
- Traffic delayed our decorations getting to the venue, and I almost ruined our first look
- We got to see each other for the first time on our wedding day at our first look
- We took some time for bride and groom pictures in the park
- I gave you a behind the scenes look at our family, friends and DOC setting up our venue
- Arriving at our venue and getting ready for the ceremony to start
(Unless otherwise noted, all photos in this post were taken by the very talented photographers of Shoot Me Now Photography)
(guest photo)
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