During the course of your wedding planning, you’ll hear it 100 times:
“Remember, no matter how much you plan, the big day will just rush by; savor every minute and just relax and enjoy yourself.”
Well, friends, I have to say, this couldn’t be spoken wiser. I loved November 21, 2009 and will always remember it – but boy, were they right when they said it would go fast; and it all started with the ceremony.
I entered the Town Center building at 3 o’clock sharp. That’s when the ceremony was gonna start, and I could peek through the windows from the reception hall through to the adjoining lawn and see our guests waiting. I hid in the hallway and talked with my dad, and he asked if I was ready; ad for the first time, I was getting a little nervous. When I gave the okay, it was time to start, and they sent my hubby-to-be out to start the whole thing.
Now, cue the beginning of the selected ceremony music:
So then, came the mamas…first the Mother of the Groom, and Scott, the Groomsman.
Then, the Mother of the Bride, with Matthew, the Best Man.
As you can see, your ‘aisle’ was quite long and grassy. Everyone was doing great with it, though!
Next up, bridesmaids.
First, Ali – my lovely almost-sister-in-law.
Then Liz…bff since forever.
Then, Jenni, the Maid of Honor (and, of course, my fantabulous sister).
Yipes. Everyone was poised, waiting, and they were waiting for…me! Cue next song…
Yes, in fact, the world did feel black and white! It was a surreal feeling for everything to be actually happening, after months of visualizing, guessing and planning. And though the music was all instrumental, I could hear the lyrics to my processional in my head:
We were strangers, starting out on a journey
Never dreaming, what we’d have to go through
Now here we are and I’m suddenly standing
At the beginning with you
No one told me I was going to find you
Unexpected
What you did to my heart, when I lost hope
You were there to remind me…this is the start
And Life is a road and I want to keep going
Love is a river I want to keep flowing
Life is a road now and forever
A Wonderful journey
I’ll be there when the world stops turning
I’ll be there whenthe storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
As I walked toward the gazebo, I could see all the wonderful friends, family and loved ones that had traveled from near and far to witness this special day. And this is, literally, when everything came into focus, and splashed into color. But nothing was brighter then the sun that shone on my gorgeous almost-hubby
It was unreal. And wonderful.
We were strangers on a crazy adventure
Never dreaming how our dreams would come true
Now here we stand unafraid of the future
At the beginning with you
Sigh.
All photos by Amanda McMahon.










































