The Big Day

So the wedding is over.  I spent over a year planning and stressing and crying and yelling and wishing for this one day.  Not gonna lie...I'm glad it's over!  I do however wish I remembered more, but they always tell you it goes by in a blur and it sure did.  Overall, it was an amazing day and I would BARELY do anything different which is pretty good for me.  Here are a few highlights from the big day.

The girls and I started the day off at the spa at Wine & Roses which was amazing and all the girls ended up looking beautiful even though I felt like a drag queen because I never wear that much makeup.  Thankfully I didn't look like a drag queen!  I do wish I looked less scary in the non-makeup pictures, but whatever, it was fun and relaxing, a perfect start to the day!

My inspiration picture suggested to me by Erin about 2 weeks before the wedding.

No makeup yet....scary!

Their spa is so pretty and peaceful.

Ray took these shots paparazzi style through the doors.  Love it!

Pre-spa, the girls and I had a mimosa and Kristin and Vanessa gave quick and sweet toasts.  Love these girls so much!

How cute was my mom in her Mother of the Bride shirt?  Thanks to Laura for thinking of it, Lauren for getting the shirt that morning, and Jessica for ironing it.  Team work!

The boys had fun getting ready too although theirs was a little boozier than ours.  They were great sports with taking the sock pictures I requested too.  They all looked so handsome!

My handsome husband getting ready.

Mike & the boys made good use of his groom's gift.

One of my favorite memories of the whole day is when Mike and I saw each other for the first time.  We decided to take all of our pictures ahead of time so we got to go straight to our reception after the ceremony. Ray helped us choose a place to meet to see each other alone for the first time that day.  He literally hid behind a tree taking pictures of us and they are just so beautiful, I love them so much.  Mike, who everyone knows is not normally a really emotive person, was so happy and smiley once he saw me that it made all my stress and worries disappear for the rest of the day.

Everyone knows I hate having my picture taken so the couple of hours we spent taking formal pictures were my most stressful of the day.  I wish I had relaxed a little more and taken it more slowly.  There were a couple pictures I forgot to take and I don't look great in some of them because I'm so tense and stressed and for some reason I'm pulling faces or talking in half of them which makes me mad, but overall we got some beautiful shots so it turned out great.

It's rare Laura & I take a picture together where our faces aren't touching.

Our families were great sports about everything and we got some really special photos with all of them as well.

my mom and I

Mike, his mom, & Scotty

Mo-in-Law, me, & Mike

Dad, Monica, me, & Mikey

Mom, me, Mike, & Laura

After a couple hours of taking pictures, I was pretty frazzled.  The girls and I went back to John & Jess' room where we proceeded to sip on some champagne and have an impromptu dance party.  Dancing around with them cured my frazzled nerves and it was one of the highlights of the whole day.

After the dance party with my girls I was more than ready for the ceremony.  The ceremony ended up being beautiful.  John was the best officiant I've ever heard and I've never seen Mike happier or more loving.  I couldn't believe how much I cried, but I was just too happy not to!  What an amazing memory, I'm so glad it went the way it did.

Walking down the aisle with my dad

I loved how simple our ceremony location was.  All it needed were some poms, perfect!

We started out playing it cool.

Then I started crying.

And being cool went out the window.

I tried really hard to get Mike's band on to no avail!

Husband & Wife!

Bippity Bopping down the aisle to Bruno Mars

Doing Ray's end of the aisle smooch

My favorite picture from the day

Benefit of having a tiny wedding, you can get all your guests in one picture!

I honestly don't remember much of the reception, but from what I hear everyone had a great time.  I didn't eat anything, but the food looked great, the cakes were amazing, the toasts were beautiful, and there were some funny drunk guests.  Success!!

Dad giving his beautiful toast

Cheers!

Me being weepy while Laura gave her toast.

Owen killed it with his funny toast.

Cake!

Bling!

Overall, it was a perfect day.  I will always nitpick things, especially pictures of me!, but I'm so happy with how it all turned out.  And now.....I'm married!  So weird!  I couldn't be happier though and am so glad to have started my married life and not have my own wedding to plan ever again!

Some Well Placed Capers

One of my favorite choices throughout this entire wedding process has been who I chose to do our ceremony.  Neither Mike nor I are religious so we knew we didn't want a priest to do it.  Once I'd heard that our close friend John had officiated at a wedding, I knew I had to snatch him up.  Not only is he one of my favorite people on the planet, but I also knew he'd do an amazing job because of how creative, funny, and thoughtful he is.  He kept what he was going to say a secret from us and I'm so glad he did.  I was so surprised and touched by his words that it brought this cold little ice queen to tears during her ceremony.

I wanted to share what he said at our ceremony because it's so beautiful and I know I'm biased, but it was the best wedding ceremony I'd ever heard.  Thank you so much John...we love you beyond words.

Opening Words:

I have come to believe that the marriage of two people is

neither the end of something or the beginning. I believe

that this moment marks the exact spot where both are

one in the same. The two of you have utilized truly

meandering paths and yet here you are on this day ready

to begin as one - your new life. After all, it is “The bad

things in life often open your eyes to the good things you

weren’t paying attention to before.”

I want to make clear that your future will have a great deal of; frustration, hurt, annoyance,

anger and worst of all fear--but the great news is that you don’t have to go through any of

it alone. This is why I challenge you to be very aware of what happens between the two of you

going forward - you will continue to celebrate this exciting day and monumentous step it

represents, but the real show will be when there is no one around – when it is just the two of you and possibly some well placed capers - and you realize that above being right, more important than being just, in fact greater than being popular – it is more important to love and be loved as you both do right now.

Victor Hugo once said; “The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved -- loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.”

Equally significant is the offering of Dr Suess, who reminds us; “You know you’re in love

when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”

Now for my wise words... During an early conversation with my father in law I came

to this realization. With the countless hours we spend with co-workers, neighbors, close acquaintances how do you know when you have found “the one”? I think it is simple really. Find someone you like for who they are and if they like you back for who you are, then hold on – that may be your soul mate! After all, it has been said that, “Love is not about finding the right person, but creating a right relationship. It’s not about how much love you have in the beginning but how much love you build till the end.”

The Ceremony:

The weather of life can often be extreme and even dangerous. A good partnership, a

good relationship, a good marriage can be both a shelter from the stormy times and

a shining ivory tower when things are going well.

Please turn to each other.

Do you Mike take Valerie to be your wife? Do you promise above all else to be

honest with her and to communicate fully and fearlessly, to give your hand and

your heart, and create a home that is a sanctuary of warmth and understanding?

Do you pledge not just your love, but enduring devotion, faith and honor to Valerie?

Do you Valerie take Mike to be your husband? Do you promise above all else to be honest with him

and to communicate fully and fearlessly, to give your hand and your heart and create a home that

is a sanctuary of warmth and understanding? Do you pledge not just your love, but enduring

devotion, faith and honor to Mike?

The Commitment:

Mike-

By placing the traditional wedding band on Valerie’s finger you are making a loving promise to

work through the challenges, cherish the laughter and share all that you are an all that you will

be for as long as you both exist.

Valerie-

By placing the traditional wedding band on Mike’s finger you are making a

loving promise to be present for all that your life together has to offer, to be a true

counterpart and to share all that you are and all that you will be for as long as you

both exist.

As a husband and father I can say without a doubt that I truly believe the

enlightened words, “It takes a village to raise a child.” But long before this, it takes

two wonderful families and many good friends to foster a married couple.

Announcement:

Now that you have both announced your love and lifetime commitment to each other,

I therefore by the power vested in me by the Church of Spiritual Humanism, and the

State of California, and a very proud sister, pronounce you wife and husband. It is

my privilege to be the first to call you Mr. and Mrs. Giroux – you may now kiss each

other as husband and wife.

On behalf of the bride & groom I thank each of you for being here today and would

love you to join them for a group photo.