It's Official
We got married on August 30, 2006 in Bermuda on a lawn overlooking the Atlantic ocean. The wedding was a long time coming since we had been engaged for a year and a half by the time the vows were said. The planning portion of the wedding was a headache that I would never like to go through again. We had coordinators helping us since we were planning it from Boston, but they were more of a hassle than a help when it came down to it. However, all our anxieties were laid to rest on the day of the wedding.
The weather was perfect. It was warm, but not too humid. The sun was out and the skies were clear. The lawn was set up perfectly with Bermudian flowered bushes lining the edges. We had 23 guests in white chairs and a table on which to sign our legal documents. The officiant and photographer donned their traditional Bermudian professional attire with buttondown shirts and blazers on top and shorts with kneehigh black socks and dress shoes on the bottom. He and His ushers were in their linen suits while my bridesmaids were in their pastel green sundresses, all perfect for an outdoor island wedding. I was in my wedding gown that I worked out and dieted for months to fit. Thankfully, everything paid off and it fit perfectly. My hair was exactly how I wanted it and my makeup hid the flaws and highlighted the features I wanted it to.
I was extremely calm all day, except for one minor outburst at my poor bridesmaids. I did apologize afterwards though since I knew I was being snappy. I spent the hour before the wedding watching my favorite soap opera and then having a couple glasses of champagne to celebrate my last few minutes of singledom. I was calmer than I had expected to be and was hoping I would stay that way.
6:00 PM finally arrived and we headed out of the hotel onto the lawn. As I walked downstairs, my father met me at the door. That was when my tears started. I don't know what it is about the father/daughter relationship, but it is chock full of emotions. I chided him and jokingly blamed him for making me cry and messing up my professionally done make-up. I pulled myself together just in time to walk down the aisle. I saw our closest family and friends standing up taking pictures, and He was standing there at the end waiting for me. My father gave me away and there I was, standing across from my future husband.
I really can't remember what was said during our 15 minute ceremony. It was a very surreal experience. I do remember, however, laughing when he was saying his vows. I couldn't help myself. We are not the types to stare longingly into each other's eyes professing our undying love to each other. It was very sweet, but comical at the same time. He in turn laughed at me when I said my vows. I knew that I would either laugh or cry, and I'm glad it was the former. The ceremony went by quickly as did the signing of the documents and the professional photography.
Next came our reception that was held in a function room right next to our ceremony locale. We had an open bar out on the terrace that our guests took full advantage of. Our first dance was nice, but long. We were glad that we only had 23 sets of eyes on us rather than the hundreds that usually happen at those big receptions.
We then went inside to sit down for dinner. As soon as everyone was seated, it started pouring rain outside, as if the skies waited until we were done with the ceremony before parting and drenching the land. The rain stopped as quickly as it started and we were able to enjoy the use of the terrace during the remainder of the night.
The one and only other time I cried was when my father and I had our special dance. We danced to Butterfly Kisses and my father already knew he was going to break down as soon as I told him which song I had chosen for us. We both tried our best to keep the mood light, but as was expected, I started hearing my father's sniffles and there I went, crying like a baby for the remainder of the song. It was a touching moment and one that I will carry with me forever. He also danced with His mother and that was an emotional sight to see. Tears were shed by son and mother as well.
The food was very good as was the music that my wonderful brother-in-law put together so that we wouldn't have to splurge on a DJ for such a small reception. We initally agreed on having the open bar for 2 hours. However, our lovely lady friends have a certain talent to get what they want when they ask, and they were able to coax the bartender into staying open until all the liquor was gone. Instead of ending at 9:00 PM, the reception didn't wind down until around 11:00 PM.
Everyone had a great time as can be seen in the hundreds of pictures that people have sent to me. The albums begin with everyone looking very formal and sober. As the night progresses however, the formality goes on the decline as the drunkeness increases exponetially. Even my father drank to excess and had a fabulous time dancing the night away with my mother.
We were so thrilled with our ceremony and our reception. We were able to spend the most important day of our life in an intimate setting with those who mean the most to us. We are so grateful to everyone who trekked out to Bermuda to make our day even more special than we thought it could be.
The weather was perfect. It was warm, but not too humid. The sun was out and the skies were clear. The lawn was set up perfectly with Bermudian flowered bushes lining the edges. We had 23 guests in white chairs and a table on which to sign our legal documents. The officiant and photographer donned their traditional Bermudian professional attire with buttondown shirts and blazers on top and shorts with kneehigh black socks and dress shoes on the bottom. He and His ushers were in their linen suits while my bridesmaids were in their pastel green sundresses, all perfect for an outdoor island wedding. I was in my wedding gown that I worked out and dieted for months to fit. Thankfully, everything paid off and it fit perfectly. My hair was exactly how I wanted it and my makeup hid the flaws and highlighted the features I wanted it to.
I was extremely calm all day, except for one minor outburst at my poor bridesmaids. I did apologize afterwards though since I knew I was being snappy. I spent the hour before the wedding watching my favorite soap opera and then having a couple glasses of champagne to celebrate my last few minutes of singledom. I was calmer than I had expected to be and was hoping I would stay that way.
6:00 PM finally arrived and we headed out of the hotel onto the lawn. As I walked downstairs, my father met me at the door. That was when my tears started. I don't know what it is about the father/daughter relationship, but it is chock full of emotions. I chided him and jokingly blamed him for making me cry and messing up my professionally done make-up. I pulled myself together just in time to walk down the aisle. I saw our closest family and friends standing up taking pictures, and He was standing there at the end waiting for me. My father gave me away and there I was, standing across from my future husband.
I really can't remember what was said during our 15 minute ceremony. It was a very surreal experience. I do remember, however, laughing when he was saying his vows. I couldn't help myself. We are not the types to stare longingly into each other's eyes professing our undying love to each other. It was very sweet, but comical at the same time. He in turn laughed at me when I said my vows. I knew that I would either laugh or cry, and I'm glad it was the former. The ceremony went by quickly as did the signing of the documents and the professional photography.
Next came our reception that was held in a function room right next to our ceremony locale. We had an open bar out on the terrace that our guests took full advantage of. Our first dance was nice, but long. We were glad that we only had 23 sets of eyes on us rather than the hundreds that usually happen at those big receptions.
We then went inside to sit down for dinner. As soon as everyone was seated, it started pouring rain outside, as if the skies waited until we were done with the ceremony before parting and drenching the land. The rain stopped as quickly as it started and we were able to enjoy the use of the terrace during the remainder of the night.
The one and only other time I cried was when my father and I had our special dance. We danced to Butterfly Kisses and my father already knew he was going to break down as soon as I told him which song I had chosen for us. We both tried our best to keep the mood light, but as was expected, I started hearing my father's sniffles and there I went, crying like a baby for the remainder of the song. It was a touching moment and one that I will carry with me forever. He also danced with His mother and that was an emotional sight to see. Tears were shed by son and mother as well.
The food was very good as was the music that my wonderful brother-in-law put together so that we wouldn't have to splurge on a DJ for such a small reception. We initally agreed on having the open bar for 2 hours. However, our lovely lady friends have a certain talent to get what they want when they ask, and they were able to coax the bartender into staying open until all the liquor was gone. Instead of ending at 9:00 PM, the reception didn't wind down until around 11:00 PM.
Everyone had a great time as can be seen in the hundreds of pictures that people have sent to me. The albums begin with everyone looking very formal and sober. As the night progresses however, the formality goes on the decline as the drunkeness increases exponetially. Even my father drank to excess and had a fabulous time dancing the night away with my mother.
We were so thrilled with our ceremony and our reception. We were able to spend the most important day of our life in an intimate setting with those who mean the most to us. We are so grateful to everyone who trekked out to Bermuda to make our day even more special than we thought it could be.
posted by Leslie @ 4:01 PM
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