Everything was grouped into folders on my computer: hair inspiration, stationery, 'must take photos', decor, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, music selections, shoes, make up, centerpieces, favors, and so forth.
It made planning very easy for me. I could visualize what I liked and disliked, and work everything out from there.
Since we were paying for a huge chunk of the wedding, we had to get creative. I'm fortunate enough to be a graphic designer and have access to programs like photoshop and illustrator. With the exception of our wedding invitations, which I ordered, I made all of our stationery. It cut down on our costs so much, and I had so much fun designing and assembling everything.
* in no particular order *
A few months before our wedding, on my birthday, my favorite aunt passed away. In lieu of favors, we decided to make donations to the American Cancer Society (in honor of my mother in law, who is a breast cancer survivor, and my grandfather who passed away the year prior from cancer) and to the Dana Farber Institute (who treated me aunt for seven years).
I also made wedding programs
Wedding Day itinerary (which I never used)
Table Numbers (there were 38 tables in all)
Picture Upload Cards (which I never used)
Dessert Tags for the take-out containers for our dessert buffet
Bathroom Baskets
Gift Bags for my bridesmaids for hosting my Bridal Shower
And our place cards, name cards and guest book.
I have enough cardstock and stardream paper to last me another ten years. :)
So those were all my DIY projects.
I'm really glad that I prepared in advance for our wedding and was so organized. Two weeks before our wedding I had everything in boxes, labeled and ready to go, all the way down to the flipflops I was going to have placed on the girls chairs at the reception. A week before our wedding I came down with bronchitis, which turned into pneumonia. I missed work the entire week before our wedding. On Friday, the day of our rehearsal dinner, I went to the hospital and got a shot of prednisone. I cannot tell you how much that shot helped me. I felt like a new person! They gave me a prescription of oral prednisone to take with me, another z-pack, and sent me on my merry way. That night, at our rehearsal dinner, you couldn't even tell I was sick. I'm telling you -- that shot worked *wonders*.
The morning of our wedding I was as calm. I slept well the night before, and had breakfast in the morning with my mom and April. Everything was quiet and relaxing. I was even calm while I was getting my hair done, doing my make up, and putting on my dress. I couldn't stop smiling as we started taking pictures that morning.
I wasn't a basket case until the girls put on my veil.
And then I threw up. In the limo. On the way to the Church. How's
that for classy?
{you didn't think I was going to show you a picture of me getting sick, did you?!}
But once we were at the Church, I was back to being calm. In fact, I was overly excited. My ringbearer told me I was beauuuuutiful which put a huge smile on my face. I could hear Ben's voice in the vestibule which put me at ease.
I was ready to get this show on the road!
I *raced* my dad down the aisle. I went from having a nervous stomach to being so excited I couldn't wait to see Ben. As soon as it was my turn to walk down the aisle, my eyes met his and I couldn't stop smiling. And I swear I pulled my dad down that aisle! Before he handed me to Ben, we were supposed to give each other a kiss but I completely forgot that step. I let go of my dad's arm and linked arms with Ben. My dad pulled me back and said, "Uh uh, wait a second!" and gave me a kiss. It made everyone laugh :) {If you look at the 4th to last picture, you can see B & I both laughing -- it was right after my dad *really* handed me off to Ben!}
I never cried during our vows. Neither of us did. We were both so happy and in such a trance that neither of us ever noticed the people around us. I had been worried about being in front of so many people the whole time -- and our Church was PACKED -- but I never saw anyone but him. It felt like our service was over within minutes, too. Everything was happening so fast!
After the ceremony was over, it was time to take formal pictures.
We started with taking pictures in the Church.
Then we took pictures around campus.
Then we drove to a third location.
And a fourth.
Then it was time for our reception.
I LOVED our cake.
We set up a table of wedding photos of our families. Some photos dated back to the 1800s.
We cut the cake.
Smashed the cake.
And danced.
And then it was time for some food and some fun!
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