Celebrating: Reception Part 1

And NOW the fun moment we've been waiting for. 

Dancing, Eating and Drinking!

My brother was paired up with one of best childhood friends. It was only fitting, Kim and I spent many hours tagging/trying to tag along with Colin as kids! And I can't count the # of times he's walked into Kim & I dancing around in my parents living room to Ace of Base.

Moments before our entrance, I made Eddie promise no silly dance moves, lets just walk in smile at our friends and fam and start our first dance...

 sure he says...

LIES! although I'm glad he went with his heart on this one.. it sure did make me laugh.

 

 And a moment of calm as we danced our first dance to Pearl Jam's: Breathe.

From our first dance we moved into the toasts. My dad was the first one up!

Things were going real good...

and then, he whipped out a letter from his pocket that I had written circa 1989ish entitled "I Hate My Dad"

He gave such a great toast, and adding this letter was so hilarious. Although I may not be in my single digits anymore. I still hold some of those very same characteristics as I did when I as a child.

Including... getting what I want. ;)

Next up my beautiful maid of honor Collette aka Brady.

She had me laughing..

.. then crying, with her thoughtful toast. Keeping strong friendships isn't the easiest thing when you move so far away from each other, but Collette makes it easy. 

I love that she included in her toast that she knew when she met Eddie that I was going to marry him. She really did, I remember those exact words coming out of her mouth upon first meeting. You called it girl, oh you called it!

Next up best man Jimmy, he did a great job explaining how Eddie has had a "lucky" streak for sometime now... obviously right, since he got me?!! ha. 

Lastly, Eddie took the mic. I mentioned in this post how we were both supposed to speak, I just couldn't do it. Eddie is a great public speaker and was more than happy to take over the job himself to thank our guests for joining us!

while I just smiled pretty.. 

After some eating and mingling we moved onto the cake..

I had SUCH anxiety cutting this cake, I could hardly enjoy the moment... maybe I just loved the cake that much and didn't want to ruin it.. maybe I was just worried Eddie would get it on my gown.. who knows?! But I was not enjoying myself at this very moment..
 

But then I was all like "Hey its just cake"

 And I breathed a sigh of relief.. 

All the formalities were out of the way now it was time for the real party to begin!

Happiness: Fun Pics

Once we arrived at the venue we hopped off the trolley quickly in search for..... FOOOD.

I made a total bride fail by not stocking my suite up with food for my girls for the 6 or so hours that we prepped for. I could hardly eat so I wasn't really even thinking about it, but obviously my girls didn't have the serious nerves going on like I did. 

BAD BAD bride!

Whoops sorry girls! :) yah still love me?!

The apps were def worth the wait. Sliders with shots of Sam Summer, bacon wrapped scallops, coconut chicken satay, & crab cakes. MmmMMm.

After I stuffed a slider or 2 down I was ready to go for some of our fun group shots!

We dismissed the wedding party, and I'm sure they were thrilled they could go take advantage of the bar and more apps!

We then jumped on a golf cart and made our way to a great location that my photographer found at the venue.

Picket fence and gorgeous light, Katie is a genious. This spot was everything I could've wanted in a rustic/chic backdrop!

 

When she told us to get down on the grass, I was a bit hesitant with my dress, but the shots came out great!

I loved everything about taking these photos. It was so nice to have some one on one time with Eddie. Although towards the end I could definitly tell he was getting ansey to get into the party!

Married: Saying the I do's!

We pulled up at the church and things started to feel real. Firstly can we talk about this image, perfect portrayal of the sun that day, it was heavenly. 

 

 

Everyone departed from the trolley except Collette & I. We were a bit clueless as to what we were supposed to do, so we sat and watched through the tinted windows as all of our guests lined into the church.

Finally we got the go ahead and Collette and I hurried in. 

We stood off to the side of the church, and I may've said a few oh sh*ts this is HAPPENING. Collette just stared back at me with confident happy eyes that gave me the final push to realize how amazing the next few moments of my life were going to be. 

I would've loved to be in Eddie's head at this moment. He's always so cool and collected, which I'm sure he didn't stray too far from, as he stood there waiting for me at the alter.

 

Our bridal party and parents made their way down the isle

 

Then it was my dad & I's turn! 

Total black out at this moment, my only regret is walking down the isle a bit too speedy.

Now, I must take a moment to say how handsome my father looked. He turned 60 the day after our wedding. He's such an amazing man & father. Like beyond amazing.

And also.... he did my mom & I a favor and shaved the day of the wedding. He had some serious facial hair going on. Thanks Dad, although I did love your beard/gohtee thingy. Clean shaven dad is the one I'm used to :)

 Being at the alter was much more calming than I could've ever imagined. I didn't feel a hundred and fifty or so eyes on us. I felt so present in this moment.

We held hands for a lot of the ceremony.

 We listened to our readers.

 I LOVED having my best friend stand & kneel right next to me throughout the whole ceremony. I realize the ceremony was mainly about Eddie & I, but these people who stood next to us are such a big part in our lives as well, that it was very nice to have them within fainting length ;)!

 Aside from kissing my HUSBAND for the first time, this was my favorite part of the ceremony. Father Tom had us face our guests and requested all the married folk stand up...

 

He told us we should look to these loved ones for guidance in our marriage. 

After some lovely words were spoken we faced each other, and this was the moment. The moment we had been waiting for!!! Father Tom was hilarious at this point he proclaimed that if he is going to use holy water he better use it to its potential and SHOWERED us in it.  Now we know we are definitely BLESSED! 

I am a crier for sure, but I didn't ball here, I did get pretty emotional though. 

Traditional vows were spoken to one another.

I kept asking Eddie to "practice" the first kiss with me months before the wedding. He wasn't very obliging. Good thing because it wouldn't have done us much good!

 

#flying by the seat of our pants.

Husband and wife's first kiss.

 

One last blessing.

and omg, we did it! I will forever look at Eddie as my husband, a pretty freaking cool feeling.

My parents surprised us and booked a bagpiper, a tribute to my Irish roots. I LOVED hearing this as we exited the church.

 After a quick hair change completed on the church balcony we were all back on the trolley popping champagne!

 

And we had a happy happy happy ride to the venue!