Hitched, without a hitch!

Original post date 9/14/08

The short version: 

Everything went swimmingly well, no hiccups, no issues, and Eric and I are now married!!

The long version: 

I didn't sleep badly on Friday night, but didn't sleep well either. I guess I was restless and a little nervous. Got up early and got my big LL Bean boat bag packed up with everything I'd need for the day - shoes, undergarments, makeup, another pair of shoes, all that good stuff. I made a run to Jared's to get the rings all cleaned up - was there when they opened at 10am (after a quick trip to Starbucks next door) and out the door by 10:10 am and home in time for Pam, John and Kathryn to pick me up at 10:30. 

John dropped us girls off at Amy's house and we pointed him in the direction of Mark and Kay's house (less than a mile away) where the guys were spending the day.  Amy was hosting all the girls over at her place for "Makeup and Hairdos before the 'I-dos'" at her place for the girls to gather (and have munchies) while the bridal party had our hair and makeup done. We had nice fruits, veggies, dip, cupcakes, chicken salad, and other yumminess and the guys had beer, nachos, and other guy food. All the girls started gathering around 11 and we started hair/makeup for the bridesmaids around 11:45. In addition to the bridesmaids, my mom, aunt, Kay, Jan, Joann, Janet, Karen, Rachel, Jeanne, and I'm probably forgetting someone, were all there for most of the day. Casey, the hair/makeup person, did a GREAT job on all of us and getting us done on time. We ate and chatted and just generally hung out all day. The 2nd photographer got there around 3 and took some fun pix of us getting ready. 

My mom seemed to enjoy meeting everyone - and I guess that was really true all around - several different 'groups' of friends plus family were all smushed together all day and got along well. I think the same went on with the guys over at Mark & Kay's too.   

Kristen, Kristen and I rode over to the Woman's Club together around 3:45 and got there a little after 4. We took over one of the big rooms in the back (so that we'd have little chance of Eric seeing me - he was really insistent on this all along!), and got to the business of getting dressed. Both photographers were there w/us most of the time, and got tons of great pictures (I hope!). Having everyone together in their purple dresses was so cool - the girls looked beautiful! Once they got what seemed like a ton of pictures of us, we just hung out while they took pix of the guys. The day seemed to fly by...the 2.5 hours we were there before the ceremony started went by lickety split!

And then it was time to go! We started the wedding right at 6:30 and being the last one in, I couldn't see how full the room was until I got in there. It was darn near full and I couldn't quite take in everyone that was there while walking w/my floor-length dress, trying not to trip down the 3 steps, walking in the uncomfortable shoes, and trying not to walk too fast! 

The ceremony itself went by quickly - later John told us it was 18 minutes - and then we were all headed back to gather for family pictures.  We did Puhgers, Haywoods, Grays, and then me and Eric. I can't *wait* to see all the pictures folks took, plus the professional shots!

Next we were introduced and had the first dance, we danced to Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton. From there the evening was a lot of mingling and saying hi to everyone, meeting folks I didn't know, a little eating, lots of hugs, cake (no cake-in-the-face!), and by the end a lot of dancing. 

The kids (Noah - junior groomsman, Rachel - flower girl, and Chase - ringbearer) all did a great job and had fun at the reception, tearing up the dance floor and having fun. The band was awesome - several folks said on how good they were. Food (and all the little touches) by Sisters was fabulous, and Nick (best man) gave the world's best toast. No, seriously - several folks commented on what a great job he did on that. 

The limo took us home at 11 or so, and we found a great basket of goodies waiting for us in the car - champagne, plastic flutes and plastic silverware, and platefuls of the reception food. Hooray!! We were asleep by midnight after quite a whirlwind of a day!

Today we saw Jan and Jim who were busy rearranging their travel plans (they were to go thru IAH but it was closed due to Ike), picked up the wedding gifts, and had a quick lunch and visit w/them plus Mark, Kay, Adam, Amy and the kids. 

Phew - they say planning a wedding is uber-stressful, but we didn't find it too bad at all. make a to-do list and then check things off. After all the planning and such, I can't believe it's over now. At the same time, I'm appreciative that nothing went wrong. The  weather was beautiful (even given Hurricane Ike), it sounds like everyone has made, or is making, their way home safely (knock wood), and we're off to Jamaica tomorrow!

I'm cross-posting this all over the place, so apologies that I didn't write a new post for everyone, and when we get back from the honeymoon, I'll be over here at Typepad all the time. More to come!!