As I can imagine, anyone who has ever been married can tell you that the days leading up to the wedding are stressful. So it should come as no surprise that a few speed bumps reared their ugly heads a couple of days right before ours. However, what did come up really had nothing to do with the actual wedding itself, but rather a string of calamities that couldn't have come at a worse time. However (Again), everything that did happen ended up working out in the end and the entire experience was about as close to perfect as anyone could imagine. Here's the story...
Wednesday, October 17, 2012: 3 days before the wedding...
I get a call while I'm at work from my best man, Boy Scout Ben. He never calls out of the blue so I already knew something was up. He said he JUST broke his collar bone after taking a spill on his bike and that it was a possibility that he wasn't going to be able to make it to the wedding. He called me first because he knew it was important. The irony is, this man is literally a ROCKET SCIENTIST. He deals with volatile compounds and SKYDIVES in his spare time. At that time I was just concerned about his well being. As much as it would SUCK for him not to be there, I told him he needed to take care of himself, I would take care of things if he couldn't make it. That night, he called, saying the doctor cleared him to fly and there was no way in hell he was missing the wedding... wheeew.
Thursday, October 18, 2012: 2 days before the wedding...
While in Pensacola picking up one of the bridesmaids from the airport, I get a call from my bride. Her car broke down while also in Pensacola running errands. Granted, that's bad enough, but we were going to use her car to drive to the port where the cruise ship for our honeymoon was docked in Cape Canaveral. My car was good to drive short distances, but I was overdue for new tires. Since we had poured ALL of our money into paying for the wedding, there was no way we could afford that. Luckily, my folks bailed us out and said they would pay for them as an early Christmas present.
Friday, October 19, 2012: the day before the wedding...
I got up early to take my truck to DeFuniak Springs to get the new tires for my car and stayed with my folks in the meantime. I then get a text from my bride... saying it would cost $2,600 at the very least to fix her car. She bought her car brand new and took it in to the dealership she bought it from for regular maintenance and somehow, she needed a new head gasket and radiator. I get another call from the tire place where MY car was, saying I needed my brakes replaced. My folks bailed us out yet again, saying, "Happy Birthday too." Basically, we would end up spending whatever money we got for wedding presents to fix her car. On top of that, one of my ushers had her flight canceled and couldn't make it to the wedding.
After the dust settled, it was time for the rehearsal dinner. We decided that we weren't going to worry about any of this until after the wedding and honeymoon. The whole thing was a blur. All of our family and closest friends were there and many of them had never met each other, but introductions would have to wait, since we were losing daylight and needed to do a runthrough of the ceremony.
At the rehearsal dinner, our families made amazing speeches, I gave my groomsmen their gifts, and my mom, in an attempt to make us cry, made a nice slideshow of my bride and I. Afterward, the girls split off to get a few last minute things ready for the wedding, while my college friends and I stayed at my place to celebrate my best man's birthday which was coming up at midnight.
Saturday, October 20, 2012: Wedding day...
That morning, it seemed to be like a normal day, and a beautiful one at that. It wasn't hot, the sky was clear, birds were chirping, everything was... perfect. We had brunch and just chilled at my place until later that afternoon, since the actual ceremony wasn't until sunset. While going through some old tapes in my camera, I stumbled across a graduation tape my mom had taken when I graduated from OWCC (Now NWFSC). My bride and I had met when I started college there and we graduated together in 2004. All of a sudden, a shot of her came up on the tape. She was waving to the camera and I walked up to give her a hug. We didn't start dating until 6 years after that tape was made, and I found it on our wedding day of all days.
I'm sure anyone who has been married has said that their wedding day seemed like a blur. Ours was, but it was a fun blur. We checked into the hotel, got ready, and the whole day the guys were checking on me, asking if I was okay. While going to the store my best man asked me if I was feeling unsure, and I told him that I wasn't MORE sure about anything in my life. Me and the guys got downstairs to get some early pictures done. I can't thank Layla enough for taking our pictures for us.
When it came time for the actual ceremony, one of my best friends from college was rounding everyone up as our wedding director. The ceremony would have been a cluster if it wasn't for her. The guys and I were waiting by the walkway and I was greeting guests as they were coming in. The altar was set up and the chairs were set out. My cousin did it all herself. Our officiant was a dear friend of mine from the Fort Walton Beach Roller Derby team. My groomsmen were men who I called my brothers; two co-hosts from a radio show we did in college; two airmen, one who was my neighbor and another who was the Roller Derby Coach who flew all the way from Hawaii to be there; and my future brother-in-law.
Before I knew it, the guys and I were standing at the altar. My niece, my brides little cousin, and my nephew walked down first as the flower girls and ring bearer. Then the bridesmaids; a dear friend of ours from our days at OWCC, my bride's co-worker, our neighbor, and her high school BFF. Our maid of honor was our roommate and set up the surprise engagement party over a year ago.
I looked away from the aisle until it was time for my bride to walk down. One of my listeners said I needed to have someone take a picture of my reaction when I saw her for the first time. Layla, I hope you got it.
She was near the verge of tears when we met at the altar. The ceremony was short, but amazing and full of laughter. We shared our vows, bringing more laughs. We kissed, and walked back up the aisle as husband and wife. Again, it was a blur.
We took more pictures then all of a sudden we were walking into the reception hall being announced as Mr. and Mrs. We ate very little, our maid of honor made a touching speech, my best man made an epic toast. We danced, smeared each other with cake, she tossed the bouquet, I tossed the garter, and we both witnessed the most epic "putting on of the garter" in wedding history.
All of a sudden, it was over. All that was left were our maid of honor, a bridesmaid and my folks. Almost in in instant it was over. Over a year of planning and anticipation, and it was over... and it was amazing.
Sunday, October 21 - Sunday, October 29, 2012: The Honeymoon
Get your mind out of the gutter...
The cruise was an amazing experience. We saw shows, comics, relaxed, shopped, went to new places, gambled and all the other fun that newlyweds are supposed to have on their honeymoon. Mostly though, we slept... (Again, get your mind out of the gutter). This was the first FULL vacation either one of us had in months.
We ended up spending an extra day at sea due to Hurricane Sandy, and the boat literally rocked (mind, gutter, out) due to 20 foot swells from the storm.
After a long trip home and opening of presents, we get a breath of good news, the dealership found that the problem was due to an outstanding recall, and we didn't have to pay a dime.
All in all, it was an experience of a lifetime as it should have been, but even further proof that when all is meant to be, everything comes together despite what storms come to rise.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012: 3 days before the wedding...
I get a call while I'm at work from my best man, Boy Scout Ben. He never calls out of the blue so I already knew something was up. He said he JUST broke his collar bone after taking a spill on his bike and that it was a possibility that he wasn't going to be able to make it to the wedding. He called me first because he knew it was important. The irony is, this man is literally a ROCKET SCIENTIST. He deals with volatile compounds and SKYDIVES in his spare time. At that time I was just concerned about his well being. As much as it would SUCK for him not to be there, I told him he needed to take care of himself, I would take care of things if he couldn't make it. That night, he called, saying the doctor cleared him to fly and there was no way in hell he was missing the wedding... wheeew.
Thursday, October 18, 2012: 2 days before the wedding...
While in Pensacola picking up one of the bridesmaids from the airport, I get a call from my bride. Her car broke down while also in Pensacola running errands. Granted, that's bad enough, but we were going to use her car to drive to the port where the cruise ship for our honeymoon was docked in Cape Canaveral. My car was good to drive short distances, but I was overdue for new tires. Since we had poured ALL of our money into paying for the wedding, there was no way we could afford that. Luckily, my folks bailed us out and said they would pay for them as an early Christmas present.
Friday, October 19, 2012: the day before the wedding...
I got up early to take my truck to DeFuniak Springs to get the new tires for my car and stayed with my folks in the meantime. I then get a text from my bride... saying it would cost $2,600 at the very least to fix her car. She bought her car brand new and took it in to the dealership she bought it from for regular maintenance and somehow, she needed a new head gasket and radiator. I get another call from the tire place where MY car was, saying I needed my brakes replaced. My folks bailed us out yet again, saying, "Happy Birthday too." Basically, we would end up spending whatever money we got for wedding presents to fix her car. On top of that, one of my ushers had her flight canceled and couldn't make it to the wedding.
After the dust settled, it was time for the rehearsal dinner. We decided that we weren't going to worry about any of this until after the wedding and honeymoon. The whole thing was a blur. All of our family and closest friends were there and many of them had never met each other, but introductions would have to wait, since we were losing daylight and needed to do a runthrough of the ceremony.
At the rehearsal dinner, our families made amazing speeches, I gave my groomsmen their gifts, and my mom, in an attempt to make us cry, made a nice slideshow of my bride and I. Afterward, the girls split off to get a few last minute things ready for the wedding, while my college friends and I stayed at my place to celebrate my best man's birthday which was coming up at midnight.
Saturday, October 20, 2012: Wedding day...
That morning, it seemed to be like a normal day, and a beautiful one at that. It wasn't hot, the sky was clear, birds were chirping, everything was... perfect. We had brunch and just chilled at my place until later that afternoon, since the actual ceremony wasn't until sunset. While going through some old tapes in my camera, I stumbled across a graduation tape my mom had taken when I graduated from OWCC (Now NWFSC). My bride and I had met when I started college there and we graduated together in 2004. All of a sudden, a shot of her came up on the tape. She was waving to the camera and I walked up to give her a hug. We didn't start dating until 6 years after that tape was made, and I found it on our wedding day of all days.
I'm sure anyone who has been married has said that their wedding day seemed like a blur. Ours was, but it was a fun blur. We checked into the hotel, got ready, and the whole day the guys were checking on me, asking if I was okay. While going to the store my best man asked me if I was feeling unsure, and I told him that I wasn't MORE sure about anything in my life. Me and the guys got downstairs to get some early pictures done. I can't thank Layla enough for taking our pictures for us.
When it came time for the actual ceremony, one of my best friends from college was rounding everyone up as our wedding director. The ceremony would have been a cluster if it wasn't for her. The guys and I were waiting by the walkway and I was greeting guests as they were coming in. The altar was set up and the chairs were set out. My cousin did it all herself. Our officiant was a dear friend of mine from the Fort Walton Beach Roller Derby team. My groomsmen were men who I called my brothers; two co-hosts from a radio show we did in college; two airmen, one who was my neighbor and another who was the Roller Derby Coach who flew all the way from Hawaii to be there; and my future brother-in-law.
Before I knew it, the guys and I were standing at the altar. My niece, my brides little cousin, and my nephew walked down first as the flower girls and ring bearer. Then the bridesmaids; a dear friend of ours from our days at OWCC, my bride's co-worker, our neighbor, and her high school BFF. Our maid of honor was our roommate and set up the surprise engagement party over a year ago.
I looked away from the aisle until it was time for my bride to walk down. One of my listeners said I needed to have someone take a picture of my reaction when I saw her for the first time. Layla, I hope you got it.
She was near the verge of tears when we met at the altar. The ceremony was short, but amazing and full of laughter. We shared our vows, bringing more laughs. We kissed, and walked back up the aisle as husband and wife. Again, it was a blur.
We took more pictures then all of a sudden we were walking into the reception hall being announced as Mr. and Mrs. We ate very little, our maid of honor made a touching speech, my best man made an epic toast. We danced, smeared each other with cake, she tossed the bouquet, I tossed the garter, and we both witnessed the most epic "putting on of the garter" in wedding history.
All of a sudden, it was over. All that was left were our maid of honor, a bridesmaid and my folks. Almost in in instant it was over. Over a year of planning and anticipation, and it was over... and it was amazing.
Sunday, October 21 - Sunday, October 29, 2012: The Honeymoon
Get your mind out of the gutter...
The cruise was an amazing experience. We saw shows, comics, relaxed, shopped, went to new places, gambled and all the other fun that newlyweds are supposed to have on their honeymoon. Mostly though, we slept... (Again, get your mind out of the gutter). This was the first FULL vacation either one of us had in months.
We ended up spending an extra day at sea due to Hurricane Sandy, and the boat literally rocked (mind, gutter, out) due to 20 foot swells from the storm.
After a long trip home and opening of presents, we get a breath of good news, the dealership found that the problem was due to an outstanding recall, and we didn't have to pay a dime.
All in all, it was an experience of a lifetime as it should have been, but even further proof that when all is meant to be, everything comes together despite what storms come to rise.
