I'm going to pretend as if my wedding happened last week instead of 3 months ago and try to write down everything that I can think of to help me remember it years from now.
I honestly don't remember much about the Friday before my wedding. Mostly because I worked that day. Bless it. Everybody and I mean everybody was like "I can't believe you are here today" "You are crazy for coming to work" and a lot of other quotes that I can't remember but that pretty much were along the lines of this girl is getting married tomorrow and she is working, as if something was seriously wrong with me.
I chose to work that Friday for multiple reasons. One of the biggest is that I took an entire week off to go on my honeymoon. When you are a teacher and you get multiple weeks off throughout the year and 2 whole months off during the summertime you just don't ask for weeks off. However, when you are getting married at the age of 28 and you pretty much have been planning your wedding since childhood then you know what you want. I knew that I wanted to get married at Christmas. Absolutely was getting married at Christmas time with lots of beautiful twinkle lights and candles. When it came down to it I would have to miss work and miss Christmas Day with my family if I wanted to stick with that plan. So, I scratched that. My family is my best friend - if that makes any sense at all - and there was no way that I was missing a major holiday just to go on my honeymoon. Hahaha, kinda lets Frankie know where he stands huh? :) Anyways.... I had to find a new time to get married, well; Fall is by far my absolute season and I wasn't willing to give up all my dreams of my pre-planned wedding and get married during the summer. When it comes to your wedding I don't feel like you should have to bend over backwards to accommodate your work schedule simply because you are a teacher. Anyone else who had a different job, especially a job that doesn't have so many breaks throughout the year, would not have to plan what they wanted around their job so I decided I wasn't either. I took a week off for my honeymoon and when we came back we were on our Fall Break for Thanksgiving. I had an amazing week in Jamaica and then I had an amazing week to get caught up and still enjoy Thanksgiving with my family. It was perfect.
Another reason I did not take off that Friday was because working allowed me to stay calm. I'm not sure if everybody feels this way before they get married or if it was just because I was older but I was very aware that my life was about to change drastically. I was about to live with a boy for the first time, I was about to have to share everything with a boy for the first time. I don't handle change well, even if it is change that I am so super excited about. I was a big ball of nerves and working helped take my mind off of - tomorrow my life will change forever- type thinking.
The last reason I wanted to work is because I actually enjoy my job. I love to teach, I love my kids, I love my job. Don't get me wrong there are times I want to really put someone in their place or pull my hair out and there are days that I'm like I hate my job, but everyone has those days, and deep down I love, love, love my job. I was about to not see my little sweeties for 2 whole weeks. That's a long time for me. So, I wanted to work so I could hang out with them.
After work, I made sure my classroom was ready for my para and I went home to get ready for our big night. I started getting packed up for our honeymoon and just took it easy with my parents and my sister and her family until it was time to go to the church. As soon as I walked into the church I was overcome with emotion. HA! I'm a crier. I'm not ashamed of it. My wonderful friend and coworker is an amazing singer and she was already there practicing her songs, and hearing her sing songs that I had wanted in my wedding for a few years now on top of seeing my wonderful bridesmaids all proud and excited for me I just couldn't control it. I was happy and I was finally getting my happily ever after so yes, I shed some tears that night. :)
After getting myself under control and actually getting through the rehearsal itself we made our way to Barnstormer's Grill for our rehearsal dinner. We had a blast and the food was excellent. The menu was Chicken marsala, green beans, broccoli and cheese casserole, mashed potatoes, rolls and a salad. The dessert choices were banana pudding or striped delight. It was wonderful. Sitting there and watching your best friends all laughing at some story and seeing your family smiling and everyone having a good time makes you realize how blessed you are to have these people in your life.
Here are some photos of our rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
Frankie's mom is standing in for me at the front of the church :)
One of all my bridesmaids
Sandra
Lauren
Mary Jane
Garrison
Austin
Some of the pictures did not turn out good on here and the ones of my bridesmaids and Mary Jane are not my favorite but I have those in frames and I don't want to take them out. ;) All in all though we had a great time and we both felt so very blessed by the end of night.