Our Wedding Day

Josh and I became Mr & Mrs (almost) 1 week ago! I still can't believe it. People keep asking me, "Does it feel different?"
The simple answer is, No.
Josh and I have been together for 6 years, lived together for 2, we have been though so many ups and downs. We have dealt with some major problems and we have had the time of our lives. We also share 4 fur-babies. I know its different than real human kids, but our 4-legged children are our whole world, we love them as much as you would your 2-legged kid. They keep us on our toes as much (if not more) than a 2-legged kid would anyways. We have been "together" in every sense of the word. So just because we have a piece of paper doesn't really make it much different. Now this piece of paper was really needed wanted before we started a real family. I digress on this topic and get back to the real subject... Our Wedding Day.

BEST. DAY. EVER!!!!

It was such a magical day. And let me tell you when people say things will always go wrong on the wedding day, they are right! We had a few mishaps and such, but let me tell you, no one would have known, and many still have no idea.

We started the weekend with breakfast with my MOH#1 & Bridesmaid. After we throughly stuffed ourselves and downed the coffee we went over the ceremony site for rehearsal. (snafu #1 happened here) Rehearsal went well, everyone knew their place and could walk down a straight line for the next day.
The small group of us left (after work got in the way for some) got some lunch, complete with beer and sangria slushie (YUM!) to calm any nerves.

I went with the boys to pick up the suits (thankfully cause this is where snafu #2 shows up). They all looked smashing! After another quick stop at the local brewery we headed to the hotel where Mom, MOH#1 and BM checked into the hotel. Unloaded all the cart-fulls of wedding related items and chilled out for bit before heading to rehearsal dinner/hockey game.

We had to take a selfie before heading downstairs to meet everyone (and by the way, how was it that the girls were ready waaaaaay before the boys??!?!)

Pharrell's "Happy" song was the theme for the whole weekend! 

Josh hooked it up at the rehearsal with food and drinks! The box was in an awesome location and we could see everything! 

We surprised everyone with "bride" and "groom" FL Panther jerseys 

After the 1st period we gave the amazing bridal party their gifts along with gifts for the mothers and my dad.

The Boys received a small bottle of their favorite alcohol, flask, pocket knife, and Star Wars socks (for their own individual personalities). Girls got a pale yellow coach purse (filled with wedding day essentials) and Disney princess socks (for our own personal princess persona). In lieu of flower corsages, we got the mothers personalize bracelets. And my dad got a pair of special cuff links

Here is a close up of mom's bracelet and dad's cuff links

Me and my awesome girls!

The wedding party (minus 1 dude, he had to work a night shift)

After an amazing WIN from the panthers (and I believe the first shutout of the season) we headed back the hotel. After momentarily losing the cars. Back at the hotel I climbed into bed and we talked, nodded off, talked some more, then finally fell asleep. The next morning had finally come! It was finally wedding day!

We awoke to room services half breakfast (snafu #3) and had coffee and mimosas with our fruit and danish. We all put on our button down (man's) shirt and headed down for hair and make up at the salon. 

Hair and makeup went entirely over schedule and while there we had to deal with snafus #4 & #5. Once we all were done (and may I say FABULOUS looking!!!) off we went back to the hotel to get ready. This 5 minute car ride was agonizingly slow! I was literally bouncing up and down in the front seat not able to contain myself. 

We ran back up to the room, I helped the girls get into their amazing dresses and they all looked fantastic! While mine was out with the photographers getting some memory shots! The photographers came back with my dress just as mom was coming in from getting into her Oscar award winning dress! Just before getting into my dress the pet sitter that Whiskey was with sent me a picture text with my little furry girl smiling her corgi smile in the backyard, at this point I lost control of all my emotions and started crying. At one point all I could say was "I miss my Whiskey". The photographer kind of gave a puzzled look to everyone ans was like "the drink?" No my puppy dog! After that little moment. My girls helped me into my dress, my mom zipped me up, the photographers snapped away, my mom put her "something borrowed" cross necklace on and we were good to go. 

Josh and I opted to do the first look and exchange wedding day gifts at this time. 

For this moment I am going to take an excerpt from my best friend and BM's (private) blog post. She sent it to me to read and I was doing fine, until this part:

"... I feel like I was experiencing this magical moment through Katie. We headed downstairs, where the groomsmen waited.  Josh was already in their “first look location” waiting for Katie to come around.  The bridesmaids and groomsmen, mostly bridesmaids, crowded around the windows to watch the first look.

"Katie walked up to Josh, who was facing away, and tapped his shoulder.  We held our breath while he turned and took in his bride for the first time.  (Cue the tears.  Again.)  Bridesmaids exchanged tissues as Katie and Josh exchanged hugs and words of love.  Then Katie handed Josh his gift, while Josh realized that Momma Farrell still had Katie’s.  Luckily, we’d realized it beforehand and I was heading out with the gift bag (to SAVE THE DAY! At least, that’s how I felt). They opened the gifts, and Josh’s face gave away just how perfectly Katie knows her husband.  Even the groomsmen noticed his beet red, teary face and couldn't hide their smiles."

Our gifts to each other. He got Star Wars cuff links and I got the enchanted Pandora bracelet

After Josh and I had our magical moment the rest of the bridal party came out for pictures. Once these were done we scurried off towards the lobby to get into the limo/car. Josh and the whole bridal party + mom piled into a standard white limo while daddy and I got into a 1950's Bently. Once at the ceremony site I saw guest arriving and I jumped into a private room away from everyone before the walk down the aisle. Dad and the guys hung out in the kitchen and had a pre-wedding beer and toast. My wedding planner came in got the mom and my girls out and ready in line while I was told to wait. I stood alone in that room for what seemed like an eternity! Finally the door popped open and it was my turn. I could hear the music starting. We chose "I can see the light" (from Disney's Tangled) instrumental version. I was told to walk when I heard my cue, but at this point I had completely forgotten what it sounded like and just went, practically dragging daddy with my out of surprise. We mad to the end of the aisle, daddy kissed the top of my head and shook Josh's hand. Josh step forward took my hand and lead me up towards the officiant. I could see his eyes were slightly red and watery holding everything back. I was smiling like a the Cheshire cat the whole time, from ear to ear. I also had the forethought to have my phone on record mode and in Josh's pocket so we could record our vows (and also for a special present down the road). (Also in retrospect I am so glad I did this. I pulled it out and listened to it Sunday afternoon when it was just him and I around and it was great to hear it all over again, it was recording the whole time and you can hear us at the very end giving a hug and me, barely keeping it together telling him how much I loved him!!!) 

We had the officiant read something we had found on Pintrest, What is love?

Next his sister, Meena read "The Owl and the Pussy Cat" 

The owl and the pussy cat went to sea

In a beautiful pea-green boat,

They took some honey, and plenty of money,

Wrapped up in a five pound note.

The Owl looked up to the stars above,

And sang to a small guitar,

 What a beautiful Pussy cat you are, 

Pussy said to the Owl “You elegant fowl,

How charmingly sweet you sing.

O let us be married, too long we have tarried;

But what shall we do for a ring?”

They sailed away, for a year and a day,

To the land where the Bong-tree grows,

And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood

With a ring at the end of his nose.

 “Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling your ring?”

Said the Piggy, “I will”

So they took it away, and were married next day

By the Turkey who lives on the hill.

They dined on mince, and slices of quince,

Which they ate with a runcible spoon.

And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand.

They danced by the light of the moon.

After that was done, we made our vows, did a completely unique and our own unity ceremony with a Lego heart,

then we exchanged our rings and were pronounced Mr & Mrs and we sealed it with a kiss. Exiting the "alter" our friends and family hooted and hollered as we made our was back down the aisle. 

We snuck away back to that side room and waited for everyone to depart to cocktail hour.

After getting the mandatory family wedding pictures, just the bridal party headed outside for some more fun shots on the play ground and such. After we were done with the bridal party  (and they were hungry) they got to also head over to cocktail hour, while Josh and I took a few more alone pictures (I seriously CANNOT wait to see these pictures, I saw a glimpse of them on the camera and they are like ads for a glossy magazine!) Josh and I made our way back to the hotel. While riding in the awesome Bently, I felt like I was a princess, people driving by were gawking and starting in aw and smiling and waving when they say a bride and groom were in the back.

Back at the hotel my Groom left me hanging for little, while he went to get a beer and say hi to some people. My dress was being bustled at this point so I didn't get it any dirtier. Finally his mom handed me a glass of wine and I was good to go! I mingled around to and made a bee line for my work family, I was so excited all the guys and their wives made it. 

Here's Josh with his best man, and 2 other buddies that he was in a band with many years ago (notice him holding my flowers)

After about 10 minuted of socializing and say hi to family I hadn't seen in years it was time to head on to the reception. Josh, myself and the bridal party hid down a corridor so people would peacefully go into the ballroom without stopping to say Hi. Once everyone was seated we lined up for the introductions. 

Josh and I were announced and we had our magical first dance to Jason Mraz "I Won't Give Up" (seriously the perfect song for us).

While dancing, neither of us really like the spot light on us, so we sang the song to each other the whole dance and it was beautiful like we were our own little music box. At the end I asked Josh if he wanted to dip me, and he gladly obliged. When the song was finishing he dipped me back and planted a wonderful new husband kiss on me. Everyone stated to hoot and holler again! Then it was time to dance with daddy to Trace Adkins's "Just Fishin' " (again a perfect non-sappy song for my dad and I).

Dad was so pleased with how everything turned out and was surprised by the Bently car that took us there, I think he was just genuinely happy to see his little girl happy. Once that was finished we sat down for some dinner.

Side note: You know the "tradition" of glass clinking and the bride and groom kissing, WORSE tradition ever, also the most annoying!!! Josh and I ignored it all night. At the point when we sat down to eat the clinking started. My photographer came over and were like, "You know when they do that your suppose to kiss?". Yes I know, I'm just refusing to (at that point I would have kissed my MOH, Aubrey instead). The photographer asked if we would kiss to get a picture though and that we obliged to. 

Dinner was served and the chicken was ahhhh-mazing! Steak for me was walking off the plate raw (others loved it). (snafu #6 for me). At this point Josh and I got up and made our way around the tables saying hi to everyone and chatting with friends and family. The party started when the music got going, specifically with "I wanna dance with somebody" by Whitney Houston came on and I danced with BM Stephanie. 

I got called over for a group family picture when the DJ decided to put on "The Wobble" my bridesmaid and my dance!! I had to scurry away from the picture (I hope someone got a good one) at which point someone was standing on my dress and there went the bustle (FYI: The bustle ALWAYS falls!!!!! Snafu #7) So the rest of the night I was holding my dress up to my chin to keep from tripping on it or anyone else stepping on it. (And yes we did try to safety pin it back into place to no avail did it stay). 

We did our cake cutting and much to people's disappointment we did not smash it in each other face. It was too delicious!!!

 We did the bouquet toss, Josh's sister caught it, and the garter toss, Eric the best man got that.

Then we continued to dance the night away until the very last song, "Too Drunk" by Buckcherry (we have a sense of humor so sue us).

Little lessons: 

Things will go wrong, roll with it

You will not get enough to eat at your wedding, send up to go boxes to your room (snafu #8- they were forgotten)

You will not drink entirely as much as you had hoped or wanted. I had 1.5 glass of Amaretto Sour :(

HAVE FUN! Our cheeks and stomachs hurt so much by the end of the night from laughing, smiling and enjoying each others company along with our family and friends.

We LOVE everyone that made the trip for our joyous event, we cannot thank you enough!