Your Presence is Requested at the Marriage of...

Today is "Weddings, Part 2: The Ceremony,Wedding Party, and Flowers" at Kelly's Korner.

So, roll back to April 5, 2003.......

This was my wedding party. Yes, I know it looks like a small village of people...but, we had so many friends and family that have touched our lives that it was incredibly important to us to have each and every one of these people be apart of our wedding day. We each had 10, yes TEN, attendants; as well as 4 ushers, 2 junior bridesmaids, 2 candle lighters, 2 flower girls, 1 page, and 1 bride's book attendant.

We got married in April, and being the lover of flowers that I am...flowers were everywhere. I chose the color palette of orange because the first flowers Brad ever sent me when we were dating was a bouquet of orange roses. They were the most beautiful flowers I had ever seen, and since then are the only color of flowers Brad sends me.

Everything was in shades of oranges, yellows, and touches of purple. I carried all orange roses, and the bridesmaids carried mixed bouquets with tulips, calla lilies, and roses. The bridesmaids wore persimmon orange colored strapless dresses, and had wraps that matched.

We got married at 6:00 in the evening, so we had lots of candles. During the ceremony, the lights were dimmed, with just a spot light on Brad and I and the glimmer of the candles.

I am a person that loves weddings, but not sappy ones...you know, with a country love song for the theme? If you like that, that's great!! But, that's not my cup of tea. We worked very hard to keep our wedding as Christ centered and spiritual as possible. My attendants walked in to a medley of "Canon in D", "Seek Ye First", and "How Beautiful". Right before the wedding march was played, "I Love You, Lord" was sung acapello. We also used during the ceremony "Surely the Presence", "Savior Like a Shepherd", and "Father, We Commit to You". And, we left to "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee". (If you would like to know the writers or singers of any of these songs, please leave me a comment and I will send that to you.)

We had 3 ministers to be apart of our wedding: Al Elmore - my Youth Pastor when I was growing up, who I worked for for 2 years and means THE WORLD to me; Roger Wilmore - our Pastor at the time; and Ricky Hall - a dear family friend of Brad's. Al did the giving away of the Bride, Roger did the vows, and Ricky did the unity candle. It was so special to us to have these 3 men do the ceremony collectively.

This was a snapshot taken in the Bride's Room right before the wedding started of me with my bridesmaids, flower girls, and page.

Top row (L to R):

Lori - cousins by blood, but sisters at heart

Lauren - my "little sister" that I babysat growing up

Bettina - my cousin

Callie - my friend that introduced Brad and I!

Clair - my cousin

Andrea - my other "little sister" that I babysat growing up

Leslie - Brad's sister

Valerie - my sister, and Matron of Honor

Bottom Row (L to R):

Melody - my friend since the 1st day of Kindergarten!

Hunter - Callie's daughter (she was my page)

Audrey - my precious angel that I babysat from an infant

Baileigh - Callie's daughter

Juddie - my room mate in college, and friend since the nursery at church!

Me with Valerie - my Matron of Honor - my sister and dearest friend in all the world.

Baileigh - one of my flower girls - broke her arm the day before our wedding, and of course what little girl would want any other color of cast than bright, neon pink??!!?? HA!

This was my Wedding Coordinator, Rhonda...who is also one of my dearest friends, my 2nd mother, and my kindred spirit. She helped to make my wedding such a special day!

Stay tuned...next week is Weddings, Part 3: The Reception!