The Wedding Ceremony!

Everyone was saying how calm I was for a bride within minutes of saying "I do". As I remember it, I was just super excited, and ready to commit my life to an amazing man. The Rivermill planner Jeri, lined us up, and I heard the last couple of songs play from our pre-wedding ceremony CD Ben and I had made together. (Songs from our years together than had special meaning to us)

***Flash back 6 months to our first meeting with our DJ.....Ben joked over and over that as long as he played Fergie's "My Humps" he would be happy. So, as Ben left our meeting to watch a baseball game, I came up with a fun idea and our awesome DJ helped me carry it out. We found a instrumental jazz version of "My Humps". He edited out the parts I didn't want and that was the song I had for him to play when Ben, our "minister" Mike, and the groomsmen walked down the aisle to.***

The last song of the CD plays starts playing and I tell the guys, "You better play this up, I have a fun song for you." After a little prodding, I told them what it was. Mike immediately says, "You're kidding......right?!?!" And then it started to play.
It totally lightened the mood, gave everyone a good laugh, and started our ceremony off with a little fun.Ben and I put a lot of thought into the rest of the music to be played for our ceremony. For the Grandparents & Ben's parents we played "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" because I love that song and we are huge Disney fans.Then my Mom, escorted by my Uncle Wayne walked down to "In My Daughter's Eyes". It was just a little something to show how much she meant to me on that important day. She did so much to make it the perfect day for me. My Mom is generous and kind, thoughtful and funny. I know it made her tear up, but it also made her smile and that meant the world to me.
For the girls, another Disney song. My heart was racing, and I was itching to walk down the aisle, but it was also bittersweet, because I was being "given away" to start my own family. Lauren cracked me up and she looked down the long walkway and aisle and said, "That is SO far" and proceeded to sprint down the aisle. Krista, much more calm, and Nicole and Sara, as if they'd done this a million times.
Shea, our flower girl and my new niece was all business. She took her job very seriously, knew when to walk and was absolutely perfect! She was a pro! She was all alone, but took her time, stayed an even distance with Sara and decided she was mature enough to stand up there with the rest of the girls for the entire ceremony!
Then it was my turn. "Dream" by Priscilla Ahn, was the perfect song, and I still tear up any time I hear it. (I will also be choreographing to it for our spring dance concert this year.) The first time Ben and I heard the song, we fell in love with it, and knew it would be the perfect choice. There was a pause and then the music started to play. My dad looks at me and asks, "You ready kiddo?" in a voice choking back some tears. That's when I lost it. "Dad, you can't do that to me, I'm going to ruin my make-up!"

My Dad walking me down the aisle was a dream come true. Everything was extraordinary. We took our time walking down the sidewalk and then turned to walk down the aisle of chairs. I caught Ben's expression, and knew I this was the man for me. He couldn't hold back tears, smiling through them. It also made me laugh, because he kept saying there was no way he was going to cry on our wedding day.We made it to Ben, who stepped in to take my hand, when my dad cut him off and said to me, "I get this first" and he gave me a tight hug and kiss on the cheek.Mike, our "minister" did a wonderful job on our ceremony! We got together a couple of weeks before the wedding to discuss his duties (I'll blog about that later), and plan out the ceremony. He read from the book I had copied his notes into, and then wrote our wedding vows in as well. Most people didn't realize that Mike is actually not a minister, but Ben's old roommate and our co-worker. We couldn't have had a better officiant. He knew us, and was able to re-tell stories from the beginning of our relationship.Ben and I wanted to write our own vows, but still be able to look into each other's eyes as we said them to one another. Instead of writing them down and reading them to one another, I had written them in Mike's book so that we could be somewhat traditional in our vows, but have our own twist on things. This was amazing, and something I would recommend to any couple who wants to have a personalized ceremony, with the feel of a traditional one.We got a few laughs, and it was interesting to find out most people thought Mike had written our vows.
When it came time for the exchanging of the rings, as is the case on most hot days, our fingers were a little bloated. I could not get Ben's ring on to save my life. I struggled for what seemed like 5 minutes, and out of nervousness, made the comment, "Well, as least we know it won't be coming off." This got a new round of laughs and made for some interesting pictures!

As the ceremony finished up, I was overflowing with happiness! It was perfect....not a thing I would have changed. Well, maybe the wind picking up, and me having to tuck my veil under my armpit so that it wouldn't whip me in the face. ;) But other than that, not a thing!