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Monday, October 20, 2008

1 year down...


Today, our marriage is one year old! 366 days ago Nick and I said "I do". (Thanks leap year!) Originally I planned to publish our very own "Wedding Story" a la TLC, but I know no will read it all the way through. Instead here are some favorite memories of our big day, in bullet points.

The Rehearsal Dinner:

  • The wedding rehearsal was the most relaxing fun day of my life. It was so fun and casual and LOW STRESS.
  • My 8 year old cousin making a speech at the rehearsal dinner. She said something like, "we never expected Benay to get married...or speak Spanish."
  • Nick's grandmother planting a slightly tipsy kiss on Beacon, the best man.
  • Dancing all night at Cookies, the world's smallest bar, with all the people I loved.
  • A drunken rendition of "Son of a Preacher Man" sung by yours truly.
Pre Wedding:
  • Waking up early, early and driving from the hotel to Nick's house where I crawled into bed with him for a few minutes. I knew we wouldn't be alone the rest of the day. Plus I wanted to make sure he still wanted to go through with it.
  • Putting on my BRIDE tank top, finally!
  • Going down to the lobby to meet the girls so we could go to brunch and the salon and seeing a white stretch limo arriving to pick us up! A surprise from my brother and my mom.
  • Giving gifts to the bridesmaids at lunch.
  • Having my mom give me a surprise gift, a pretty bracelet.
Wedding:
  • Seeing Nick before the ceremony and crying like an idiot.
  • Take picture after picture.
  • Being surrounded by all of our friends and family made me realize why people have weddings.
  • Right before walking down the aisle, feeling panicky and short of breath.
  • Tyler calming us down with some jokes.
  • Tyler and mom flipping my veil over and kissing me on the cheek.
  • Reazling that my shoes are killing my feet.
  • Actually listening to the wedding message from my dad, and being in awe that this was happening to me.
  • Trying to figure out a way to slip off my shoes, like Audrey Hepburn did in Roman Holiday.
  • Nick's beautiful vows to me, hand written and so well thought out.
  • My blubbering, incoherent vows, completely on the fly.
  • TJ's song being interrupted by the train.
  • Being pronounced husband and wife and being showered with rose petals!
Post Wedding:
  • Taking my shoes off immediately after making it back down the aisle.
  • A tearful hug from Soni.
  • Spending time alone with Nick in the bride's room and taking some pictures.
  • "I think you just got pregnant from that kiss." - our photographer after some steamy shots against the barn.
Reception:
  • Being announced to the Monday Night Football theme. The things we do for love.
  • The first dance. I wanted it to go on forever.
  • Dancing with dad. I don't know what we talked about but the pictures show us laughing. As usual.
  • The cake. So good. So sad we didn't get to eat more.
  • The toasts! Beacon's was SO sweet and of course Soni's made me cry.
  • Gary's song to the newlyweds.
  • Greeting everyone in the barn; getting hugged and kissed more in a day than I had in years.
  • Dancing with everyone to Footloose and Love Shack, my faves.
  • The last dance of Twist and Shout; felt a sudden pang of sadness that it was over.
  • Taking our last picture by the Surrey in the barn.
  • Seeing the decorated car. Sheesh.
  • Continuing the party at the Skirvin.
  • Opening the gift from Nick's groomspeople: Rockband! Or at least the promise of Rockband in a Hannah Montana singing card.
  • Waking up the next morning with a sense of huge relief and a huge let down, until I remembered there were presents to open!
It has been an amazing year, harder than I thought it would be. More fun than I thought it would be. It's just amazing when you realize you have finally found your home. I'll leave you with part of our wedding message...

    • Nick:

    • Do you also promise now to take Benay, to be your wife, loving her as she is and continuing to love her as she grows into the woman she will be?

    • Do you promise to share with her your joys, sufferings, fears, victories and share in her joys, sufferings, fears, and victories as well?

    • Do you promise to be faithful to her, in body, mind, and heart, and to make the decisions daily to keep yourself faithful?

    • Do you promise to treat her with patience and respect, listening deeply to her, and accepting her influence in your life?

    • Benay:

    • Do you also promise now to take Nick, to be your husband, loving him as he is and continuing to love him as he grows into the man he will be?

    • Do you promise to share with him your joys, sufferings, fears, victories and share in his joys, sufferings, fears, and victories as well?

    • Do you promise to be faithful to him, in body, mind, and heart, and to make the decisions daily to keep yourself faithful?

    • Do you promise to treat him with patience and respect, listening deeply to him, and accepting his influence in your life?


Exchange of rings

    • Do you have rings as symbols of your promises?

    • Please place the ring on her finger and repeat after me.

    • With this ring

    • I devote myself to you

    • Until death separates us

    • I am your husband

    • And you are my wife.

    • With this ring

    • I devote myself to you

    • Until death separates us

    • You am my husband

    • And I are your wife.


I love you Nicholas!



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