We do! The ceremony pics!

The day had already gone by far too quickly for my taste, but waiting those last twenty minutes before the ceremony could possibly have been the longest twenty minutes of my life... My bridesmaids, parents, stepson and nephews were sequestered inside the Mill while our guests were seating outside and waiting. My amazing hairstylist David and his partner Peter gave me some final touches, words of encouragement, and clipped my veil into place. I waited somewhat patiently to get the show on the road. I remember a lady from one of the stores in the Mill talking to me and I sort of just wanted her to go away, LOL! The kids were getting restless. It was all taking too long for my taste! Soon enough though, it was time to go. I just wanted to get down that aisle and get married for the love of Pete!!!!

As a side note, I've avoided posting photos of my nephews and stepson for privacy reasons, but this post I just had to break the rule because they were so darn cute in their little suits and there's a funny story I need to share. When I told the kids about the wedding and we discussed what a wedding was, they got out of it that it was a big party. Immediately each of them asked "Will there be balloons and cake?!" because duh, when you're 5 that's what happens at every party. I had to say yes, how could I not?! So each of the kids got their own big white balloon with their initial hanging off it and everyone was very happy. Including me because no one tried to smack the bejesus out of each other playing "balloon wars" until after the ceremony. They were good little listeners for me!

Before you look at these photos, go to this link and press play, then come back and look at the photos while listening to the music. You'll understand why in a sec.

My bubbles which I painstakingly decorated the bottles of, one by one, and my handsewn programs.

One of the initials I hung off the kids balloons. Thank goodness they all have names that start with different letters!

My father-in-law and stepmother-in-law with my grandfather behind them

My mother-in-law with my youngest nephew.

My mom escorted by my older nephew

My stepson being SO careful with his ring nest. He took his job so very seriously, it was adorable.

As promised, a swap for the rings with Uncle Ryan (Dan's best man)

Sara, who was a touch nervous about what was coming...

Kathe, look at those sexy legs!

Sami, imported for Kansas and leaving the next day for Edinburgh!!!

Alena walkin' the walk

Stacey, my best friend of nearly 25 years!

My sister and matron of honour, relieved to not have a child attached to her for 10 minutes.

Sara is an incredible singer and sang me down the aisle to Ingrid Michaelson's "The Way I Am". So. Amazing. Did I mention how much my friends love me?!?!

Thanks daddy!!

We laughed a lot in the ceremony which was so true to the way we live our life together. There is always laughter in our home. I was so excited and so happy though I barely remember a thing, so I can hardly wait to see the footage from our cinematographers to remember what the heck I was laughing at so much!

I'm a crier. Thankfully Dan had remembered to put Kleenex in his jacket pocket. My vintage handkerchief from my grandmother was missing with my purse... I found it in time for the speeches at least!

Dan totally looks like he's going to keel over in this shot, LOL! He's fine though I promise!

This is one reason why I was laughing. This is my youngest nephew, he can be a handful at times but mostly adorable overall and he knows it! My brother-in-law was holding him in the front row and whenever he'd chatter, my brother-in-law would quietly say "Shhhh Dysan" to which Dysan would loudly respond "SHHHHH DADDY!!!". It was hilarious!!! I'm not sure if anyone else could hear it, but it kept making me crack up! I love that our photographers caught that moment!

Your ring sir!

Yay!!! First kiss!!!

Bubbles!!! I seriously forgot all about them and it was a huge wonderful surprise to me when it happened! I loved it!

Dan calls this my "Bridal War Cry". Thanks honey.

Awww they look so cute and happy! I love this shot! I also love my dad dancing down the aisle behind them.

I'll finish up by sharing the reading we asked our officiant to do. We're not religious people, so we had to search a bit to find exactly the words to describe what our wedding meant to us. The first time I read "Union" by Robert Fulghum I cried and I knew that was it. Who am I kidding, I still can't read it without crying!  So without further ado, Union:

You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way. All of those conversations that were held in a car, or over a meal, or during long walks – all those conversations that began with, “When we’re married”, and continued with “I will” and “you will” and “we will” – all those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe” – and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.

The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things that we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed – well, I meant it all, every word.”

Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another – acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, even teacher, for you have learned much from one another these past few years. Shortly you shall say a few words that will take you across a threshold of life, and things between you will never quite be the same.

For after today you shall say to the world –
This is my husband. This is my wife.