Now It's Just Us...

I apologize if you were around and saw all the posts that went crazy this afternoon. I read about a new way to upload photos that would make them better and had to try it...it took a few tries!

Get nice and comfy...because as short as the pictures were of the Bridal Party...there are a TON of pictures of the two of us! It’s not that I didn’t like the bridal party pictures as well, but do you know how hard it is to capture 8 people all looking in the right direction, with the right expression on their face, in the right lighting at the same time?!?! It’s nearly impossible! But it’s MUCH easier to work with just TWO people...

There are some shots here that I love, love, L.O.V.E. And then there are some that are ok. They’re all great pictures, don’t get me wrong, but not all of them speak to me like some of the others do...do your pictures do that to you too? Or am I just crazy? (Don’t answer that MOH!)

So here’s the happy couple...we started off by staying in the field where we were...





You know that we'd been "serious" long enough...


And then we couldn't STOP laughing...which made for some really cute pictures!




Then she wanted that "Vogue" shot again, so here's our best attempt...


Which didn't last all that long...


Before we knew it, we were REALLY cracking ourselves up!



Then we moved across the field over to a fence/gate for this series.









We both look so serious here...


And you KNOW that wouldn't last!


This is one of B's favorite pictures...he loves it when I laugh so hard that my nose "crinkles"...and I, of course, do NOT like that shot!


But I like that we've both smiling in this one...wondering what he was telling me? There's NO telling!



Here's the requisite shot of the groom making a grab at the bride...


Before we headed back to the reception hall, we stopped at this corner to take a couple of last shots...







**All photos courtesy of Christina Carroll Photography

Need to catch up? Here’s some links:
Girls’ Spa Day
Bachelor/Bachelorette Party
Setting Up the Venue…
Practice Makes Perfect…
Rehearsal Dinner
5 Minutes is All that I Need
A “Quick” Stop at the Hair Salon
A Sneak Peek at the Venue...
Arriving at the Venue...to Stay!
Getting Dressed
The Maids Pose for the Camera...
Oops - I’m Out of Order!
The Boys Smile and Say “Cheese!”
It’s Show Time!
Here Comes the Bride!
Becoming Man and Wife...
We’re Man and Wife!
Family Pictures
Now THAT’S Love!
The “Group” Says Cheese!

The "Group" Says Cheese!

**Oops! I missed my goal of having these recaps done by the time that our 6-month anniversary passed...oh well, it's good to have goals, right? It gives you something to shoot for...even if you don't always make it! I thought that it would be close, but let's be honest...I don't even have all of the pictures uploaded to Blogger yet...I need to pick up the pace!!

Once the gals and I were finished with our round of giggles prompted by this episode, we were ready for our bridal party pictures. Like I mentioned before, we traipsed back out to the LOVELY field that was behind our reception hall, and it gave us a gorgeous backdrop to use for these pictures.

The only thing that was a small concern was that during the time when we were taking these pictures, there was a wedding going on at the hall right next to us. Like, as in, they were having their entrance right when we were making our way to the back field for our pictures. I was a little worried that we might be too noisy and ruin another bride’s wedding, but lucky for me our friends are just as considerate as we are and once we were all aware of the problem, we made sure to keep the noise level down.

(If you’ll remember, that was my one concern with booking at Texas Old Town – how close Redbud Hall and Tejas Hall sit next to one another. But as far as I know, this was the only time that we even slightly crossed paths, so Danny (the manager) was right and it was a non-issue!)

So on to the eye candy...we started with the "couples" staggered behind us...And then we kissed...and yes, there might have been some cat calling...We all got in a line and smiled very prettily for the camera...And then Christina moved us into some more casual shots...which turned out to be my favorites!Yes, that's all fake laughter...it's hard to laugh on command!Once we finished up the bridal party shots, we released everyone back to the main reception hall (or the bathroom) except for MOH in case we needed something held. Up next – we pose for the camera...you don’t think that they’re all going to be seductive and romantic looking do you? You should know better by now! Stay tuned – there’s some good ones!

**All photos courtesy of Christina Carroll Photography

Need to catch up? Here’s some links:
Girls’ Spa Day
Bachelor/Bachelorette Party
Setting Up the Venue…
Practice Makes Perfect…
Rehearsal Dinner
5 Minutes is All that I Need
A “Quick” Stop at the Hair Salon
A Sneak Peek at the Venue...
Arriving at the Venue...to Stay!
Getting Dressed
The Maids Pose for the Camera...
Oops - I’m Out of Order!
The Boys Smile and Say “Cheese!”
It’s Show Time!
Here Comes the Bride!
Becoming Man and Wife...
We’re Man and Wife!
Family Pictures
Now THAT’S Love!

Now THAT’S Love!

Oh wow. Are you in for a treat today or what? You can’t possibly be as excited as I am right now...you should be, you just don’t know it yet! I have a funny story to share with you. I know, it’s almost unheard of...me doing something outrageous or hilarious and making you LOL while you sit at your desk and “work.”

I mentioned a few posts back that the music was the main “oops” moment during our wedding...and that still holds true. For the most part. But there was something going on behind the scenes that only a few people know about...and it’s pretty funny! I wasn’t sure that I was going to share it with you all...not that I don’t love you...but it’s too funny to NOT share. So here goes. Oh, and I won’t even begin to apologize for there not being any pictures that captured this “oops” moment...just sit back, read and enjoy the story!

We finished with our family pictures, and what I haven’t told you yet is that all during the ceremony – well, mainly just the walking parts, I was noticing a “shift” in garments. Undergarments to be more specific. Standing still for family pictures was not that big of a deal since the rest of the family moved around us and the four of us stayed stationary for the most part. But during “scene changes” between families, I was giving a gentle tug (when I thought that no one was looking and I could be discreet) on my underwear. Now, I know what you’re thinking...the most common underwear problem known to women is crawling underwear...crawling up, that is. But that wasn’t the case here.

You see, in an effort to be slightly romantic for my hubby I had gone out and bought some new sexy VS undies for the big day. But the joke was on me, wasn’t it? Since Mother Nature “blessed” me the day before our wedding, the joke turned out to be on me...hahaha. No, I wasn’t really laughing either! Anyway, so these panties were new – washed, but unworn. They were too pretty not to wear (they were in our colors – black and cream) so I decided the day of the wedding to wear them anyway and feel pretty, even if it was that time of the month. I even managed to go to the bathroom all by myself (like a big girl!) before the ceremony started with no assistance needed from any of the Maids. They were willing, but there’s just only so much a girl can ask of her friends, right?

Anyway...so these panties were new. Tried and un-tested previous to our wedding day, which might have been my mistake. I maybe should have worn them one other time just to see how they “wore” for lack of a better way of describing things. But I didn’t. Learn from me, PLEASE! Wear your special panties at least for an hour of serious walking around before wearing them on your wedding day when they’re not easily accessible for adjustments! It’s just smart to do these things...me? Not so smart, obviously.

We finished up the family pictures and gathered all of the wedding party back together so that we could traipse off back into the meadow that we all loved so much...and as we’re walking, I admit to MOH (sort of under my breath) that I think that I’m having difficulties. I explain the problem – there are too many layers between gown, under-gown and petticoat for me to find a gauzy layer of underwear and give them a good yanking up. After we both had a giggle about it, I decided to press on and finish the pictures first and then I could make a quick “pit stop” before making our entrance in the reception hall. Good plan, right? Yeah...

Well, it seems that the panties had another plan of their own. Before we could even get around Redbud Hall to the meadow, I knew that the situation was a little more serious than I had first thought. I paused, and MOH stopped with me, along with the rest of the bridal party. One look at my face and MOH broke out in laughter, she understood that look, and immediately took charge of the situation...even if she DID laugh while doing so. She called Maid Britney over to hold all flowers, and shooed everyone else on towards the field, telling the photographer that we were having a “wardrobe malfunction” and would be along shortly. We turned and started toward our dressing room, and I had taken no more than two steps and realized that these undies were NOT going to make it to the dressing room. They honestly felt like they had already slipped over my hips and were making their way down towards my thighs...It had to be fixed, and it had to be fixed right HERE!

Being the good sport that she is...MOH didn’t even bat an eye. She backed me up against the back of the reception hall, put Maid Britney on the “look out” and dove up under my layers of dresses. Where she proceeded to get a good “grip” and make some adjustments for me. In other words, MOH has now seen my bare butt. I mean, not like she was trying to look, but how could she avoid it?!?! I was mortified...but SO very grateful to feel “secure” once again. LOL! And if you ask me, she gave an extra tug – “just to be sure” or so she said...maybe it was payback for having to pull up my britches in the first place!

After all was well in my world again, we fell apart in laughter. I mean, like give-me-side-stitches laughter. It was THAT funny! Luckily, or hopefully, no one saw anything (other than MOH, that is) and we rejoined the rest of the party quickly. B, of course, assured me that he would have been more than happy to help with the problem once I explained to him what was going on...and I’m sure that he would have...but we were in a field with our closest friends and some of their spouses...maybe not the time and place for his sort of “help.”

So the moral of the story? You’ve really got two choices: 1) Wash and wear your special undies for at least a little while before that special occasion or 2) Be sure to surround yourself with women who are willing to “go the extra mile” for you when you start to have wardrobe malfunctions! Either way works...just depends on your own personal level of embarrassment tolerance! ;)

Family Pictures

There’s really no exciting way to present family pictures, if you ask me...most of my readers don’t know my family...but since there are some family members who do read my blog, I think that they should be posted.

There were a couple of items that needed to be “set up” for the reception, like lighting candles, and a few things that needed to be taken down from the ceremony, like those chairs that we rented...and doing the family portraits right after the wedding gave us a little bit of time to do these things. Our wedding party went off on their missions, and we stayed with most of our family members and smiled and said “Cheese!” for the obligatory family portraits.

So without further ado...or too many comments, let me present our family pictures.

First up...our new family...

And just the cutie pies by themselves...new brothers and sisters! J was REALLY excited to call T her brother officially now...T? Well, he tried not to act too excited, but then again, he's 12...boys at the age try to act like everything's not really all that cool!Us with our minister...who did a FABULOUS job on the ceremony!My Mom and step-dad...Adding in my little sister and step-brother (with family)...so this would be my Mom's side of the family...Then with my Dad and step-mom...Adding in my step-sister and her family...Then all of my aunts, uncles and cousins from that side of the family...my Dad's side of the family...Us with B's Dad and step-mom...Adding in his grandmother...Then adding in sister and step-brothers...Then we called up my ex-step-dad (who raised me) for a quick shot...And then we added in my little sister...And finally, I wanted one more shot...with ALL of our parents...past, present, step or otherwise...I would have really liked to have had one more family picture...B had a LOT of family that was present on our wedding day that is not pictured here. I guess that they all (aunts, uncles, cousins) thought that the announcement for family to stick around mainly meant immediate family members. The best we can figure is that they hit the bar - lucky people!

That's where we were wishing we were headed...but nope. One more stop along the road to the reception first...up next - bridal party pictures!

**All photos courtesy of Christina Carroll Photography

Need to catch up? Here’s some links:
Girls’ Spa Day
Bachelor/Bachelorette Party
Setting Up the Venue…
Practice Makes Perfect…
Rehearsal Dinner
5 Minutes is All that I Need
A “Quick” Stop at the Hair Salon
A Sneak Peek at the Venue...
Arriving at the Venue...to Stay!
Getting Dressed
The Maids Pose for the Camera...
Oops - I’m Out of Order!
The Boys Smile and Say “Cheese!”
It’s Show Time!
Here Comes the Bride!
Becoming Man and Wife...
We’re Man and Wife!

OMG...

Let me start this post off by saying that yes, I know that I'm a dork. I revel in it and fully embrace my dorkiness...

I interrupt regularly scheduled posts to admit that I just clicked onto my Google Analytics account for this little blog this morning. I know, I know, I should look at this stuff more often than once a month...but I’ve been a little preoccupied!

Anywho...so I check my stats out today, and guess what I found? Are you ready? Are you sitting down for this? I was SO excited, that I’m totally being a little cheesy about all of this, but still...I found that there are quite a few sites that are hitting my blog by way of referral. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then I’ll explain (to the best of my knowledge) – there are two kinds of internet traffic: direct traffic that meant to type in your website and visit there and indirect traffic that clicked over to your blog through another link on a different website.

I know that this works because last month, I linked to Mrs. Sea Breeze’s blog in one of my posts on my baby blog and low and behold she commented back on my blog! Yes, I might have jumped up and down at work for just a minute...you would think that a celebrity personally contacted me. But let’s face it, there are a few Bees that I would LOVE to meet in real life who are kind of like celebrities on a wedding scale, and she’s one of mine...and she must have found me through her Google Analytics. I know that she uses it, because she’s posted about it before...so that got me thinking – who might (or might not) be reading my little blog?

Anyway, back to my story. So I click over to my account and pull up A Bride...Again blog stats. I notice that there is quite a bit of referring traffic, so I delve deeper into those Referring sites. And guess what I found? A little website called Best Bridal Blogs has MY blog listed under Texas wedding blogs to follow!!!

Are you jumping up and down for me too? Aww...how sweet! Thanks!

I was SO excited! And what makes it even better to me is that when I look through the other blogs that were chosen for this site, there are some pretty good ones out there...like Broke-Ass Bride (aka Mrs. Meatball)! Do you mean to tell me that my blog is on a list for best bridal blogs AND that also on that list are some of my all-time favorite blogs, including BAB?!?! Not to leave out the others on there that I love...The Encore Bride, just to name another one.

And that’s when the jumping continued...which 6 and a half month pregnant women should probably not be doing! At least, not without planning for a little side trip to the bathroom, people...

Anyway, maybe you care and maybe you don’t. That’s ok with me. I vaguely recall submitting my blog for consideration in the months leading up to my wedding, possibly after getting a rejection from my weddingbee application...and never hearing back from Best Bridal Blogs if anything had been decided. So I guess that I was selected! I’ve put a link to their website there on the right side of my blog if you’re looking for other great bridal blogs to read...check them out.

And yes, you can do a little happy dance for me too, if you click over there and scroll down to Texas and notice that of the two blogs listed...this little blog is one of them! It kind of makes me want to say – “take THAT weddingbee!”

Let me hear an “Amen!”

We’re Man and Wife!

I’ve spent this past weekend organizing my wedding pictures...and yes, there were 395 that just HAD to be printed out for myself! Wink, wink!! No, my Mom was in town and I’ve been meaning to print them all out and put them in an album so that family members could look at them easier than perusing the 4 discs that we got from our photographer...but between home remodeling and baby stuff...wedding pictures kind of fell to the back burner.

But this visit prompted my little toosh to get in gear, and I ordered ALL 395 of my “favorites” to be printed. (And yes, it helped that Walgreen’s was running a great sale on prints!) We looked through them this weekend, and then I spent about an hour last night putting them “in order.” This was actually an easier process than I thought...I suppose working on my recaps has helped and I was able to put all the pictures into two large envelopes before I went to bed last night. Then, this morning, I took about 30 minutes and got most of the file names on the back of each shot...this was a hard-learned lesson from previous photo shoots – label your pictures well...that way when a family says “I want a copy of this one!” you know exactly which one this one is!

Anyway, all of that was a rambling way to say that looking at my wedding pictures over the last few days makes me SO happy! Most importantly, I love, love, LOVE seeing the smiles and laughter that are apparent in almost every single picture. Yes, the boys tried to not smile and just stand there and look serious...but for the most part, there was so much joy and laughter on our wedding day. And isn’t that the way that it should be? I know, from past experience, that this is not always the case...but looking at our wedding pictures I am just overwhelmed all over again with how MUCH happiness there was that day.

It flowed from us, from our families who (I hope!) we so happy to see each of us happy, and from our friends who had been there with us through the good and bad times before in our lives...and they were all celebrating right along with us. What a wonderful feeling...and how truly blessed we are!

I hope that is what you take away from these next few posts...the joy...the smiles...the laughter...and yes, the LOVE that is so apparent to me in these pictures.

So now that I’ve said all of that...let’s get to those pictures, shall we? We last left off right after the hand fasting ceremony and we were about to seal the deal with a great, big sloppy kiss! Well, maybe not that sloppy...

Our minister said some closing words and then spoke B’s favorite part of the ceremony – “You may now kiss your bride!”

We paused to take in the moment...

Then laid one on each other!I love that the second photographer captured the moment from a different angle...and that it was a bit closer!And there was laughter...just pure joy!And possibly a few great, big, belly laughs...I can’t tell you much about the kiss...but I can tell you how extremely happy I was at that moment. Total bliss. There’s no other way to describe it, I don’t think. I was finally married to the man of my dreams!

I got my bouquet back from MOH, and we turned to face the audience as the minister announced our new names...and then the applause and cat calls started!What didn’t start? The music right away...so there was an awkward moment or two...And after the mishap at the start of the ceremony...there were a few chuckles here!Once James Brown started singing his diddy, we moved on down the aisle, hand in hand, as husband and wife. I was ecstatic the whole walk down the aisle...just had the biggest grin on my face EVER! Our wedding party followed suit, and we all gathered at the back of the clearing.

As we made our way around the side of the clearing, back towards the front of the ceremony site for family pictures, the minister made the announcement for family to please stick around for some photos and friends could head to the reception hall, just across the road. It was a smooth transition to picture time...and I can remember nothing other than how happy we were...just kept squeezing each other’s hand, sneaking little kisses, and telling each other how much we loved the other one!

A perfect ending to the ceremony, if you ask me!

**All photos courtesy of Christina Carroll Photography

Need to catch up? Here’s some links:
Girls’ Spa Day
Bachelor/Bachelorette Party
Setting Up the Venue…
Practice Makes Perfect…
Rehearsal Dinner
5 Minutes is All that I Need
A “Quick” Stop at the Hair Salon
A Sneak Peek at the Venue...
Arriving at the Venue...to Stay!
Getting Dressed
The Maids Pose for the Camera...
Oops - I’m Out of Order!
The Boys Smile and Say “Cheese!”
It’s Show Time!
Here Comes the Bride!
Becoming Man and Wife...