Mr. & Mrs. !!!!!! - Part 4 - Ceremony

.....And some more wedding recapping!

(I promise I'll start blogging about "normal life" again at some point....and I still plan to finish blogging about my trip to Europe even though it has been 2 years since I was there!  Can anyone say Procrastination???)

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

Rehearsal Dinner

Getting Ready

Pre-Ceremony

If you read the previous posts, then by now you know it's time for the ceremony.  But first, let me set the scene for you.....

Driving up to Red Orchard Park, where both our ceremony and reception were held, trees line the entry driveway, providing a beautiful welcome to our guests:

Our ceremony took place outside in a large field at the park.  We rented white chairs and a cute little white gazebo to decorate the 'altar'.

(I love that the special moment Brandon and I shared before the ceremony took place at a gazebo and so did our ceremony!)

As guests entered, they were greeted by Gina and Jenn.  As stated in a previous post, "They wore many hats that day as our Wedding Guest Greeters, Program Passer-Outers, Way-Pointers and all around Sweet Gals!"

Guests slowly filtered in and filled both sides of chairs. 

This is Anne, she is the wife of the Best Man, Mark. 

A last minute family emergency prevented our ceremony coordinator from being at the wedding, so Anne stepped up and filled in for her.  She did such a great job!  I know she felt frazzled a bit that day, but the entire ceremony came off without a hitch!   Okay, well there was one hitch - Brandon and I were hitched!  But otherwise, nothing that I knew of went wrong and everybody made it to their spots in there ceremony when they needed to be there.  I'm so thankful Anne was willing to fill-in!!  I think I would have had a melt-down if not and we had to wing it!

So, it was finally time for things to get rolling with the ceremony.

"Be Thou My Vision" was played acoustically to start, while my cousin, Jennifer, lit a candle in honor of my Papaw and Brandon's Grandpa's who are no longer with us.

"Somewhere in the World Today" by Wayne Watson was sung by Barrett during the seating of the Grandparents and Parents. 

First in was Brandon's paternal grandmother, Bertie, escorted by his Uncle Jerry and Best Man Mark.  Following them was my paternal grandmother, Juanita, escorted by my cousin, Jamie, an usher.

Then on to our maternal grandparents.

Groomsman Brian escorted Brandon's Grandmother, Martha.  Then my brother, Brad, an usher, seated my grandparents, Tillie and Bob.

Then it was time for our parents to enter. 

Brandon's parents, Jimmy & Beverley, entered first and lit their side of the Unity Candle. 

Aren't they too cute?

Then it was my parent's, Robert & Cindy's, turn.  They did the same, in lighting the other side of the Unity Candle.

Doesn't my mom look very "Jackie-O-esque"?

Next, it was time for My Groom to take his place up front.  Kerry lead the way as Brandon and his guys followed.

An acoustical version of Pachelbel's "Canon in D" was played as Alisha and Shannon started the processional down the aisle.

Funny story:  About the time the kids were supposed to walk down the aisle, Little Miss Boo (my younger niece) decided she wasn't having it and instead of walking down the aisle, she sat down on the ground and wouldn't budge.  (She sat down shortly after this picture was taken while Nancy, my sis-in-law was trying to convince her to walk).

Well, The Tank got a little tired of waiting on Boo, so he just took off and trucked it down the aisle alone.  I mean, he was a man on a mission with that pillow.

Another funny story is that back when I asked Tank to be in the wedding, he said no at first, confessing that he was 'neuh-vous'.  But my dad persuaded him to be in it by saying "I'll buy you a toy if you'll be in it."  The Tank thought about this a minute and responded "Ten dollars and a toy!."  To which my dad gladly agreed. 

Well, Little Boo finally decided she could muster the nerve to make it down the aisle after Nancy told her either she had to walk down the aisle or she had to go sit down. It was her choice.  I'm glad she decided to walk down the aisle with Goose, even if she didn't throw any of the daisy flower buds on the ground on her way down.  Although they were both flower girls, Boo carried a basket with flower buds, while Goose got to also double as a Junior Bride and carry a bouquet.

Aren't they the sweetest things?  Even my photographer thought so.

My dad and I patiently waited our turn.  I was trying not to become overwhelmed with emotions....and unless I'm wrong, he was doing the same.

I've dreamed of this moment all my life, having my Daddy walk me down the aisle.  What a special time.

The song that played while my Dad escorted me down the aisle to be given to My Groom was "Love Me Tender" by Elvis, although it was a very pretty acoustic version with no words.

I love how much my dad loves Brandon, shown here by this simple act of placing his hand on Brandon's shoulder.  He prayed for my husband for many years, although he didn't know it was Brandon that he was praying for.

The Giving Away.....

.....and the Ceremony began.

Kerry started out by welcoming our guests and said how I had known him since I was little and he had dark hair (I've known Kerry since I was about 5 years old).  

Then he told a story about me when I was little and choked up as he thanked God for working in my life ever since I was a little girl.  It made several others shed a tear or two as well. 

Next up was Kerry's charge to us as a couple and the exchange of Vows. 

I'll admit, I cried during the vows a little, while Brandon was able to keep it together (he's typically the cry-er in the relationship!).

We had two readings during the ceremony.  Tyler read from First Corinthians 13 and Jennifer read from Ephesians 5.

After the readings, we exchanged rings.  I love how Kerry pointed out that the rings are circles, they have no end, which symbolizes our covenant to each other.

Once we exchanged rings, my brother, Brad, delivered a presentation of the Gospel and the Lord's Supper and how it is a beautiful picture of marriage. 

After the presentation, Brad and Kim, Brandon's sister, served the Lord's Supper to Brandon's parents and then to my parents.

Then they served it to Brandon and I

Then my brother lead the four of us in prayer

Barrett then began to sing "How Beautiful" by Twila Paris (although in a much lower octave!).  This song reiterates the picture of what Christ has done for us and how marriage parallels Christ and His Bride, the church.  I simply couldn't think of a more perfect song than this to be sung while were received the Lord's Supper.

During the song, we also lit the Unity Candle (don't tell anyone but our parent's candles had long since been blown out by the wind!).  Brandon whipped a long lighter out of his pocket for us to light our candle.  He's always very prepared, I should have known. 

Then, Kerry pronounced us 'Husband and Wife'....and said, "What God has joined together, let no man separate."

Then, the words I'd been waiting for, "You May Now Kiss the BRIDE!!!"

We turned to face our guests and Kerry said, "I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. <last name not listed for privacy>"

"What If I Loved You" by Joey Gian (and featured in my favorite movie "Return To Me" - which took place in Chicago, where we got engaged) played as we walked out.

The rest of the wedding party followed us in the Recessional

And our sweet parents all got up and walked out arm-in-arm together!

Then the grandparents (unfortunately there's no photos of my maternal grandparents in the recessional)

Then our siblings and their spouses

As our guest were dismissed to the barn to find seats at the reception, we made it official by signing our marriage license.

Then our photog got a few last shots of us before we headed to the reception.

Next up, we cut a rug at our reception!  Check back in a few days!

To give credit where credit is due, the majority of the above photos were courtesy of jhendersonstudios.com.  The rest are from friends and family.