casting my cares: Mr. & Mrs. !!!!!! - Part 3

More wedding recapping!

If you missed the first two posts, check them out here:

Rehearsal Dinner

Getting Ready

So last we left, I was coming out of the tent after getting my dress on. Here's the full ensemble:

And here's a shot with my chapel-length veil

It's hard to make out the 3D flowery detail that cascades down my dress, but the picture below (taken during the reception) captures some of it. I absolutely fell in love with this dress. It was 'different' enough for me, yet still made me feel like a bride.....and I thought it went perfectly with our outdoor ceremony and barn reception.

Brandon and I opted to see each other before the wedding. We wanted to get our pictures out of the way so that way we could go straight into the reception. We were doing a dessert-only reception and the reception site was only a couple hundred yards from the ceremony site, so we didn't want our guests to have to wait forever for us to get pictures after the ceremony, just to eat dessert (not a full meal). Plus, with doing pictures first, we really liked the idea of getting to enjoy the whole experience together versus not seeing each other until the ceremony. We're radicals, what can I say?

Our wedding took place at a small park in Shelbyville, KY called Red Orchard Park. The land was previously a farm complete with farmhouse and barn. It has 131 sprawling acres that the owner donated to the city in 2007. The city has kept it pretty much intact as it was, although they've added some trails, a dog park and a horse-riding ring. I think there's plans to develop it more, but as it stood on our wedding day, it hadn't gotten too developed/populated yet.

Even though we were seeing each other before the ceremony, we still wanted the moment to be special and private (just us and the photographer). We wanted a moment together before everything got rolling...and blurry. We scouted out a spot for this a few weeks before the wedding. We just went walking on the property and it was one of those serendipitous things. We happened upon a secluded area (away from the trails and the dog park) about a half-mile from our ceremony/reception site and over a hill (out of view of most everything) with nothing but trees on one side and fields on the other sides....with the cutest little gazebo right in the middle. It was the perfect little place for us to see each other for the first time on our wedding day.

Since the place we picked to meet was a ways off from our wedding site and not accessible by car, we asked my Uncle Eddie to bring his golf cart and ride us there.

Brandon headed to the site first. Our photographer rode with him - she was in the front seat next to Uncle Ed - and Brandon rode on the back.

While they were waiting for Eddie to go back and pick me up, the photographer got a few shots of Brandon by himself.

This one Melts.My.Heart!

Uncle Ed got back to where I was waiting and I hopped in the golf cart to go see my Groom.

Here we are pulling up to the gazebo.

Brandon had his back to me until I could get into place. (Don't I look like a ghost?? - His mom said I look like his dream - I like that better!)

Then I said "Okay" and he turned around. It was really important to me that the photographer get *his* face during this moment. All the preparations culminated to this moment for me - that I could present myself to him as his radiant bride. I *love* the look on his face and how he turned his head sideways. I mean, isn't he just the cutest thing *ever*???

We had several minutes all to ourselves. The photographer took a few photos of us and then walked off a ways to give us some time completely alone.

I like this shot too - this was when she was giving us alone time and shows how secluded the gazebo is amidst all the tall grass and trees.

Then she came back and snapped some more shots of the two of us.

Here's some of my favorites:

Then we all hopped back on the golf cart with Uncle Ed (who was waiting nearby) and it was time to get pictures made with our families and the wedding party.

Here's when my Daddy saw me that morning:

My Dad and Mom - they mean so much to me and are so sweet and loving.

Here's my immediate family.....My parents, sister-in-law, brother, 2 nephews and 2 nieces.

And here's a shot of all of us with my grandparents. My mom's parents are on the left and my dad's mom is on the right.

My nieces and nephews....the older 3 were in the wedding as Flower Girls and Ring Bearer - aren't they adorable??

Brandon and his parents....so sweet!

Brandon's immediate family. His brother-in-law, sister and parents

And his grandmothers (each standing next to their respective child)

The Wedding Party!!

We wanted to keep it small and simple, so we each chose two folks to stand up with us.

This photo includes the 'extended' wedding party including the kiddos and ushers.

Brandon and his guys.

Brian (left) Mark (right)

Brandon's friendship with these great guys started years and years ago and has continued with each phase of life.

Brian and his family live in Ohio - we're heading there in a couple weeks to visit them (and for Brandon to run a half-marathon with Brian). Brandon talks to Brian every few weeks and he very much values Brian's wisdom, advice and musings about life as a husband/father.

Mark and his wife live in Lex. They opened their home to me on several occasions when I'd come in to visit Brandon while we were dating. It was fun getting to know them by staying with them and not have to worry about finding arrangements otherwise. Mark is a very witty guy and he and Brandon love to banter about pretty much anything. He is always there for Brandon to listen to him, challenge him, encourage him and undoubtedly keep him laughing.

Me and my girls

Shannon (left) Alisha (right)

Since I couldn't pick between them - and since I was Maid of Honor at each of their weddings - they were both Matrons of Honor at mine.

If you're a regular reader of my blog, Shannon will be pretty familiar to you. To quote from a previous post, I have known her "since our Youth Group days at church - long, long ago!...She and I have had similar life paths. It's been really neat to see how the Lord has intertwined our lives so that we each have someone to lean on and understand each other, but also, so that we could experience a lot of the same things together....and have a lot of fun traveling and seeing all kinds of places along the way...It's been fun and meaningful and a joy to have her as a best friend." Shannon was my travel buddy for many, many fun and adventurous trips, she opened her home for me to live there, has been such an encouragement to me through my single years and such a blessing in more ways than I can count as a best friend! We've spent many a night talking, talking, talking, been accountability partners, celebrated the big and the small together and have just shared life together for many years. She rocked the Matron of Honor status too - keeping me on track and even taking away my phone for the day!! :) Also, although I didn't set them up, the Lord used my moving to another church to bring Shannon and her hubby, Mike, together. Isn't He just so good like that???

Alisha and her hubby, Scott, are two of my absolute dearest friends. To quote from the Getting Ready post, Alisha and I "met on our very first day of college (at band camp!) and have been best friends ever since....sharing an apartment, many, many memories and even more laughs." We have so much fun together, playing games, laughing and hanging out. We've also seen each other through the loss of family members, boyfriend turmoil & subsequent break-ups (mostly on my part!) and figuring out life's road and our true passions. She's a Momma now too and it's been fun to see her in that role. The love she has for Little L, we'll call him 'The Beave' from now on is amazing to watch. I've known Scott since before there was a 'Scott and Alisha' and he quickly became one of my favorite people. They are a precious couple very close to my heart. Alisha also made our wedding cakes! (as detailed in the Getting Ready post too).

Pete and Re-Pete (my Dad and nephew) - you can't leave these two alone together for too long! ;)

Although you can't tell here (below), poor Kerry (my former youth pastor who would be performing our ceremony) was getting over an awful sickness. He had to miss the Rehearsal Dinner, but was able to show at the last minute for the wedding. I'm so glad he got to marry us!! My sweet big brother (who is a pastor) would have stepped in, but having Kerry perform the ceremony was something I'd wanted since my youth days. He's very special to me and to so many others. You won't find a man with a sweeter spirit than him.

Pictured below are Brad (my brother-left) and Jamie (my cousin-right) They were our Ushers. Brad also had a part during the ceremony, presenting the Lord's Supper and the Gospel.

We debated on whether or not to have Brad perform the ceremony (and not have Kerry do it) when we first got engaged, but in the end, we both agreed that having him at the wedding as my brother, and not the minister, meant more to us. My big brother by more then two years, Brad's always been special to me and has been a good big brother...meaning he was pretty nice to me in our growing-up years...and I know I can go to him for anything if I need to. I've watched him in countless baseball games, followed him to the same college, helped with various home projects, gotten to be a leader for his youth when he was a student pastor and thoroughly enjoy being an Aunt to his 4 kiddos.

So, even though we didn't ask him to perform the ceremony, we still wanted him to have a special role in it and we wanted to present the Gospel and it's comparison to marriage, so it all worked out perfect. Brad did an awesome job and got to enjoy the rest of the wedding in the front row with my parents and his wife and kids.....instead of having to 'work' too much that day.

Jamie had just torn his ACL, and was hobbling around a bit, but did great getting people to their seats anyway. He's the man. Jamie is the little brother I never had. He's my "Bud", as I call him. Although 10 years younger than me, we've always been close and I consider him a good friend, not just a cousin. He's sweet, personable, mature, friendly, talkative, funny, genuine.....seriously the list could go on and on. He is truly one of a kind.

Jennifer (my cousin) and Tyler (Brandon's good friend who is a missionary and happened to be in town from India during the wedding) read some passages from the Bible during our ceremony.

Jen and I are three weeks apart in age and have always had a special bond. We always say we're 'Best Cousins Forever'. She is very, very special to me. She's not just a cousin, but a good friend. We still get together about once a month or so with our Mamaw just to hang out and catch up. She's so fun and has such a big heart. I always have so much fun with her!

Brandon has known Tyler for a long time and actually got to be in Tyler's wedding in India a few years ago. It was so special that he just happened to be in the US (with his wife and baby girl) and got to be in our wedding too - God's good like that! I'm so glad each of them were a part of our wedding!

Below, Joey (left) and Barrett (right) are good friends of Brandon's. Brandon has known both these guys for years and I've heard many fun stories about both of them. They are such sweet guys and were eager to help make our wedding perfect!

Joey was our Emcee and DJ at the reception. He came in from Texas just to be a part of our day. He did a great job and we were blessed to have a friend introduce us 'for the first time in public' as 'Mr. & Mrs'.

Barrett came in from Indiana and was our musician and soloist for the ceremony. Since our wedding would take place outside, we wanted a very casual, acoustic feel and Barrett provided just that! He sang/played several songs with a guitar and ran the sound system during the ceremony. I found out a few weeks after the wedding that he even wrote a song about Brandon and I and our journey to finding each other. I will post about that another time - it's so amazing!!

What sweet friends my Hubby has!!!

Gina (left) and Jenn (right) are very good friends of mine. I've know them both for many years.

Jenn and I went to the same high school and college, so I had always known of her. Gina and I first got acquainted when we went on several church trips together in the early 2000's. My friendship with each of them has grown strong over the years and I love them both dearly. I'm not trying to talk about them like they are one entity, by any means, but it's just that we've done a whole lot *together* (and with Shannon too, making a great foursome of gals!). We've been in Bible Studies together, gone on road trips, and we've all spent many a Girls Night together to celebrate anything and everything or just to hang out. My wedding wouldn't have been complete without them. If I had gone unlimited on the number of Bridesmaids I had, they would have been standing up there with me. But, in keeping with our 'small and simple' theme, we asked them instead to be part of the wedding in another way.

They wore many hats that day as our Wedding Guest Greeters, Program Passer-Outers, Way-Pointers and all around Sweet Gals! They were the first faces people saw as they walked up. They helped direct people on where the wedding and reception were, where to put their gifts, where the restrooms were, gave them a program, answered questions, helped anywhere and everywhere they were needed and they even color-coordinated to match the wedding colors!! How fab are they??? I love these girls!!

I call Jamie M. my 'Sister From Another Mister.'

From the moment we met (about a year and a half or so ago) we just clicked. We have so much in common and have so many similarities in our personalities and interests. We even do the same thing for a living! (when I'm actually making a living). I'm so glad and blessed to have her as a friend!! She was a Life Saver when I had a bit of a hair emergency (see the previous post about Getting Ready). Jamie was seriously awesome! She did my hair and make up (which I *loved*!), was there for me ALL day, running around, doing crazy things I asked of her like finding people she had never laid eyes on for me. I'd scream her name and she'd come running!! I pretty much wore her out. I'm so grateful and so thankful that she was my Right Hand Gal that day!! I love me some Jamie M!!

Shannon pinned a penny wrapped in tulle onto the underside of my dress. The penny was from 1979 - the year I was born - and served as my 'Something Old'. As you might recall from her wedding, I gave Shannon the traditional 'Something Old...New...Borrowed...and Blue' and she did the same for me.