This is it, again!

  In a few hours, all our hard work will come down to one evening. We'll present  ourselves to our friends and family as a Mr. & Mrs, many for the first time. I hope we don't forget a single thing, but it is inevitable that something may be left out. In fact, it's Murphy's Law. I'm not focusing on that, though, but I am acknowledging that things may not always be perfect or according to plan.

I am the only one who cares about the details.

But today is not about Shawn and me. We've had our wedding day. Today will be about sharing love with our loved ones. Its about you.

We are truly thankful to have all these wonderful people who have always been there for us, and for those who are always there for the milestones. The fact that many of you have traveled on what is still a work day to be here for us means more than you know. Shawn and I are as lucky to have you and we are lucky to have each other.

To us, a big part of being married is the people in your life as a couple.

So we are going to put on our appetites, dancing shoes and love of fun to the test. There so many cool things we've got planned, and I hope this is a memory that sticks with everyone, 'cause we'll never forget it!

My friend April, who can't be here today, wrote a sweet blog post about our friendship today. Her sentiment is heartfelt and her memory-impressive! I am going to share it with you today 'cause I'm in a loving mood!

                   A Once in A Lifetime Friend by April Clark

Updates from the Whitmires:Vendors, meetings and lots of candy.

Just met with my bartender and worked out the bar details. It is a full bar, by the way (and there are a lot of details).
We've got a DJ!
We have 47 attendees so far!
And I have a load of candy. M&Ms with our names on them.
Caterer is updated.
Designer working on the floor plan.
Crafting will happen soon for decor & favors.
Compostable bar cups coming in the mail.

I will have info on these lovely vendors soon!
This is my new supply list:
Jig saw
fishing line
crafty hands.


any suggestions?

Marriage on the other hand is  a compromise as always. I love my hubbs with all my heart but everyday is a lesson on how to live with each other. I am glad, though, that at least we have the marriage down solid.  The reception details are the only things we have to worry about. Then we will gather our family and friends together and celebrate love and marriage for its true meaning: not the wedding day, but each and every day after that!
It sounds so backwards but feels so natural.
I've always over thought everything.
Like dessert before the meal.

EXACTLY!

Reception Vs. Vow Renewal?

 Lately I've been on the forums to figure out the etiquette for a vow renewal. I thought this might be a possibility for our reception. I found out some pretty good points on the subject on the I do Take Two's website, specializing in topics such as vow renewals and second marriages.

So basically, we will not be renewing our vows. They are already new! The reception is held a within a year after the wedding, so it is still considered a wedding reception. Renewing our vows at this point would be silly, showy, and utterly useless, especially since the fluff is what I did not want in the first place*.

Instead, we are CELEBRATING! Since we didn't have a reception, we didn't get a chance to party with ALL of you! I was worried that I needed to give our guests something to see, something a bit on the formal side, assuring that they would arrive in time and not roll up late, thinking they are going to just a "party." We will be introduced, have some readings, maybe a video of our wedding pictures (which are hilarious, by the way) and then proceed to celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music! Another spoiler: Shawn's learning one pf my fave Tom Petty song to play and he is practicing his breakdancing. Let's hope he doesn't break anything in the process. And, I am working round the clock on decor and have a signature adult beverage to be featured.

...Because marriage is not about the wedding day, but the day after, and the day after that....(got that off of idtaketwo.com!! golden!)

It makes me really relieved to verify things with etiquette experts.

Just remember:
Your wedding day, the day you exchanged your vows, is your wedding day. I had a friend actually tell me, she didn't think my wedding was a real wedding since I didn't do the traditional ceremonies. I thought it was rude at the time she said it but me personal etiquette would not let me call her out. I mean, we got married by a Baptist minister in a church and we had a marriage license! The nerve! Sure there were nine people there including us, and it was nine in the morning on a Friday, but we made the deal of a lifetime.....

*but, hey, if you want the fluff, you should have it! I've worked hard to give my friends and my sis the fluffiest, most fun wedding day they've ever dreamed of. I'm not against it the least bit, but I like it mostly when other people do it. I am a bit demure when it comes to traditional hoopla for myself, but am totes by the book when it comes to my friends!

The Reason

183 days to our big event. Some might be giddy with excitement. Some might simply be a bit confused since we are already married.

True.
We are newly and happily married. We got married in a small church at 9 in the morning with seven other people present. It was the happiest day of my life to date and we wouldn't go back and change things for anything in the world.
I feel that the love that binds two people together in marriage is sacred and intimate. It is serious, not to be entered lightly. It is meant to be forever.
Really, forever.

To me, that is a huge deal.

Two people make a promise to stick it out through it all, longer than any other previous relationship. Through changes, diasters, joys, betrayals, through things you don't even want to think about, through it all. We promised each other. We promised God. I've never made such a decision in my life. I never thought about it until I met Shawn. I've always fantasized about weddings and the act of getting married with others and all the happiness and tears that went with such a day. I imagined a big scene with lots of confetti thrown. There are people and food and dancing. I never imagined how the bad times could be, the tests and trials, the ever evolving relationship what we'll share every day. I started to imagine what it would be like. Who would get me through a tough time. What have we got to do to keep out love strong? What would I do if he ever strayed? Would I leave him? These aren't things that we expect, but we realize that if we don't work with each other every day, they might become reality.

I know when the answers got complicated I was really thinking about my life with him, how we can't leave.

We can't fire each other.

No, we have to think like we are other only ones for each other. Walking away will never be an option.

I knew that I wanted to make sure that i felt that way about him before I even considered marrying him. When I realized I did, I didn't even want to be engaged!
Thats why our engagement only lasted a few months.

Its not about the ring or the wedding plans that makes this relationship exciting. "It" is already there.

But, we wanted to share our happiness the way that couples do with our friends and loved ones. We didn't want to give you all three months notice. Instead, we wanted to invite you to celebrate our love and marriage with plenty of notice, and plenty of time to save the funds to do so!

I hope no one is disappointed to have not seen our wedding ceremony. Trust me, it was moving but not pretty. I sobbed the WHOLE time. It was ironically funny that all our pictures had me looking like I was in pain or something. Just too much emotion...I couldn't keep it all in!

So please join us in November. It will be a Friday night. It will be fun and creative. I am searching the blogosphere for the best of ideas. We're working on the details, and will probably be asking for your addresses soon.

There is a lot of work ahead.

At lease I know no one will be getting cold feet!He kept a straight face. I broke down and stuttered through my vows an ruined my makeup. So not smooth!