Married!!!

So, it has been a while since I have had a minute to update my blog (keeping up has not been as easy has I had expected, but to be fair, I have been just a little busy), but I have a minute and have commandeered Laura's laptop while she rests. Seemed like a good opportunity.

Where to start? Oh yeah, I'M MARRIED!!! It still almost seems surreal, and it has already been two weeks. It's amazing how three months (maybe a little more) of preparation culminates in one fantastic event that passes without you almost not even noticing. Regardless, Laura and I are ecstatically happy, and have certainly enjoyed our two weeks!

OK, so we got married on June 18th, and it could not have been more perfect. It was a warm, but not overly hot Friday afternoon. More than 150 of our closest friends and family attended the ceremony that was held in Laura's Poppop's backyard. The setting was amazing with white chairs forming an aisle for the processional.

One of the advantages of being the groom in the wedding, is the fact that you are not hidden from all the guests until the ceremony begins. This allowed me to visit with all the guests, many of whom I had not seen in a while, prior to the ceremony. Eventually it was time to begin the ceremony, and actually get married!

After the standard entrance of family and bridesmaids, it was time for Laura to be escorted down the aisle by her father. As they turned the corner of her Poppop's house and I got the first look at my bride in her dress. She was the most beautiful vision I have ever seen. It was the perfect dress, and she only made it look better! My heart stopped beating for the minute as they made their way up the aisle. When they finally arrived and I was given her hand, I couldn't help but think of the Chuck Wicks song, "Stealing Cinderella".

Now, while Laura and I were focused on each other, we were unable to notice all of the birds that had come to act as spectators for the nuptials. Whenever the strings trio played, the birds all congregated in the tree. Everyone we have talked to has compared them to a Disney movie. As I said, we didn't even notice them.

After we said our "I Dos" and walked down the aisle as husband and wife, it was time for pictures. I wish that I had some to post, but we don't have them back from the photographer yet. During the entire honeymoon, Laura and I kept telling each other "I can't wait to see the pictures!"

Once being announced to the crowd as husband and wife, we shared our first dance as a married couple. We danced to Little Big Town's "To Know Love". While we had originally thought that the song would be long, as neither one of us is much for dancing, it passed quickly, and gave us a minute to just talk to each other.

The reception was great, even if it felt a little rushed. Everything came together with little to no hitches. While some things might not have turned out like we had planned, none of it really mattered since we were married! We got to visit with some of our friends and family at the reception and catch up with those that we had not seen in a while. Before we knew it though, it was time for us to leave. We had made it through the ceremony, the first dance, dinner, cake cutting (and no... we didn't smash it in each other's face), and it was finally time to leave.

As my car was pulled around, we got to see the beautiful artwork that our friends had so graciously painted on the car's windows. This stayed on the car until we returned from the honeymoon.
As a farewell, the remaining guests who managed to stay for the entire reception sent us off with an aisle of sparklers. It was an interesting idea that Laura had, and we both cannot wait to see how the pictures turned out.

And so we were married, and have been for two weeks. It was a perfect afternoon, and it has only gotten better as each day together has gone by. I love my wife!