our wedding day

{part one}

because i have a lot to say and share, i have decided to break up the wedding day post into parts. if you are willing to read along, i love you for it. if not, i am ok with you just creepin' out the pictures-it's how i read books my entire childhood and throughout most of high school. if you aren't interested at all, i also don't mind. hasta la wago.

{part one}

i have finally composed my thoughts enough, re-lived the day in my mind enough, and shared enough stories with family and friends to re-cap my wedding day. it's hard to believe it was almost a month ago...i kind of refuse to believe it.

the night before the wedding we had our family and friends do a quick run through at the hall, and then we headed to a sweet little restaurant called {corks} in niagara on the lake for dinner and drinks. we gave our wedding party their gifts {my girls received clutches i had made for them by the cutest aussie girl on etsy, and the boys were given pewter tie clips with a ship design on them, as well as the skinny ties they would wear at the wedding, both also off etsy}. are you sensing a theme here?

we had a fabulous time at dinner, and amazingly, i became even more excited for the wedding. we said our goodbyes (i even got a quick smooch from the boy) and then floated to {cecile's house}, the b&b my mom, bridesmaids and i stayed in, which was just around the corner. i mentioned the b&b in a post when i first booked, and was so excited for our stay based on photos alone-but being there in real life was no comparison. every single detail in that home was incredible on every level. the owner (the most adorable french man named chris) made us feel welcomed and treated us like royalty-from the use of the home to get ready, to the gourmet breakfast i ate with my bridesmaids and mom the morning of the wedding, complete with freshly made croissants in house, i could not have asked for one thing more. it was perfect.

by the time i closed my eyes and got my head on the pillow, it was morning and my eyes were opening as i ran to the window to see what the sky was like. {the weather network} promised it was going to be grey and rainy, and mother nature made true on her word. bummed, but not going to let it get me down, we scarfed down our fancy pants breakkie and started getting ready. half of us split up to head to the hall, and the other half stayed back to start showering and getting their hair and makeup did. my mom begged me not to go to the hall. begged me to let the florist, decorator and caterer take care of the last minute details, but i reminded her i was her daughter, laughed in her face, and headed out the door.

by the time i got to the venue, the clouds had started to break and the sun was shining like i had threatened it with its life. we hustled and bustled through all the finishing touches--the paper heart garlands paul and i had made, the memory table and my rockin' robin guestbook table, doilies here and cafe string lights there. my dad and nonno even assembled the arbour we would get married under, and the door frame they had made for us. everything came together before my eyes, and reassured me that all the hard work put in by everyone i love was going to make this day the most amazing of my life-rain or not.

my bridesmaid cass told me i had to leave the hall by 11:00, and i reluctantly agreed. when she came to me at 10:58 to tell me it was time to leave, i told her i said ok to 11 but was actually staying until 11:30 and she couldn't tell me no as "i was the bride". i only used this line once. ok. maybe twice. but both times it was in the best interest for those around me. they finally dragged me away, and drove me back to the b&b to start getting ready. a piece of my heart broke as i watched the hall fade away from the car window...i wanted to stay until it was fully finished, perfectly prepared with not one last thing to do....but as the bride, i guess i had an obligation to show up looking half decent, and my tights and beater just weren't gonna do it. although paulie wouldn't have gave two shits.

i have posted a few of the "details" shots taken by my photographer, family and friends (thank you auntie sylvia, jordy, steph and candice)-they make me a happy girl.

to be continued..............