Wedding picture slideshow

Our photographer posted our wedding slideshow and I absolutely love it! She did such an amazing job and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. The slideshow is played to our wedding song too. Enjoy!

http://meysenburgphotography.myshowit.com/derek_sarah_wedding_april30_2011/index.html

THE WEDDING!!

I'll pick up from where I left off...after taking pictures at the park, we headed back to the church to take pictures with our families. We had all of our family 2 hours before the wedding so we could take pictures from 2-3 and then rest from 3-4 (wedding was at 4). Funny story, we are finishing up with pictures with my side of the family and we realized Kayla (my cousin and bridesmaid), wasn't in ANY of the pics. She decided she needed to go out to the parking lot and have a couple beers with the guys so she isn't in any of our family pics. Luckily she was a bridesmaid so I have plenty of pictures of her but sad she isn't in the family ones. Aiden isn't either so their not good family pics anyway.

We ended pictures around 3 and I darted to the basement so I could take off my shoes and sit for an hour before the wedding. I was a little nervous sitting around and watching the clock but I was more excited to get the ceremony over with so we could head to the reception.
The wedding started on time and as far as I know, everything went as planned. This is when I wish we had a videographer so I could watch everyone walk down the aisle before me. All 3 flower girls walked down the aisle so that made me super happy. The ceremony was pretty short which is what we wanted. I of course cried coming down the aisle and again when I was saying my vows but other then that, there were no mess ups.

After we walked back down the aisle, we went and our pastor, best mad, and maid of honor signed the wedding license while I got my dress bustled. After all the guests were outside, our wedding party and then us walked out of the church. I loved seeing everyone wave the ribbon wands and I am hoping our photographer got a good pic of that. We walked out and went straight to the bus. All our wedding party got in there with us and we drove around awhile before heading to Colbert Hills. We off course had to stop by Willies and take a shot too. We have a really cute pic of me and Derek kissing in front of the Willies sign but I am waiting for my friend to send it to me.

We got to Colbert Hills around 5:30 and went straight into speeches, cake cutting, and then buffet dinner. Derek's best man is awesome and made us a plate of food and told us to sit and eat because him and his wife never got a chance to at their wedding. The food was good from what I had but my dress was pretty tight so I couldn't fit much food in my stomach. We played out wedding video after everyone was sitting down eating.

After dinner Derek and I had our first dance. Originally we were going to do Everything by Michael Buble but when we were at the Lady Antebellum concert, we heard When You Got a Good Thing for the 1st time and both looked at each other and said this is our wedding song. I love love love it! After our dance I danced (and bawled) with my dad to My Little Girl by Tim McGraw and then Derek danced with his mom to Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion. The DJ picked up the music after those and the party started. Derek and I went out on the golf course to take some pictures with our photographer and what I thought would take 30 min. turned into a good hour and a lot of our guests left while we were gone. I am excited for the pics out on the course but wish our DJ would have said we were out taking pics because I think a lot of our guests thought we left. Yeah right would Derek and I be the first to leave!! There was still plenty of people there when we got back so we made our rounds saying hi and thanking everyone and then we were able to drink, dance, and just have fun.

The reception ended at 11pm and most of us headed to Aggieville. Everyone in Aggieville was shocked I was there in my wedding dress. Neither Derek or I had our IDs but luckily the door guy believed us that we were 21. I lasted about 30 minutes before I was ready to leave. My dress is nice and dirty from Aggieville but we had sssoo much fun.

Morning of the wedding!

I slept pretty good the night before the wedding. I woke to my drunken brother and brother-in-laws coming home from the bars and when my nephew Aiden was getting sick but I knew I needed to get sleep so neither one of these things got me out of bed.  I of course woke up before my alarm (which was set for 6:30) and hopped out of bed eager for the day! Everyone else slowly got up after me (my sisters and 2 bridesmaids stayed at my dads house as well).

Our hair and makeup appts were at 8:00am and I think we arrived at 8:10am. I blame that on my sister not being able to get the car up my dads driveway. If you haven’t noticed this trend, my dad has a very steep gravel driveway that some cars have a hard time backing up and out of. The other bridesmaids, my mother-in-law, grandma-in-law, sister-in-law, and niece Halle were all already there getting started.  I immediately sat down with my hair stylist and got started.  Everyone got their hair and makeup done, ate some muffins and cinnamon rolls and had some mimosas! It was so great getting ready with everyone and the best man came and surprised me with flowers from Derek while we were at the salon. So sweet!

We left the salon around 9:30 and didn’t even need to be at the church till 10. Go us! Our photographer and the boys met us at the church soon after and the day of pictures began! She did the boys getting dressed and with Derek first while the girls ate the sandwiches we had at the church and then she photographed the girls getting dressed and finally me getting dressed! I couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls to have in the room with me while I was getting dressed and to spend the day with me.

After I was dressed it was time to see Derek for the 1st time! I went outside of the church and hid while they brought Derek out. He stood with his back to me and I walked up and surprised him from behind. I can’t wait to see those pics! The girls were watching from inside the church so my sister was able to get some through the glass and I love them!

Our photographer (and good friend) was 7.5 month pregnant and the cutest thing!

After we had a couple minutes together, it was off to the park for pics of us together and with our bridal party. After taking an hour worth of pics of Derek and myself alone, I realized none of the boys, including Derek, had the boutonnieres on! My brother quickly called my mom who rushed all the boutonnieres to the park. Derek and I redid some of our pics and then did some group ones.

Let me just say how disappointed I was in ALL of our flowers. My bouquet was what I wanted but way too small, the girls bouquets were TINY and I didn’t like the flowers, the guys boutonnieres were boring and Derek's boutonniere was boring and died really quickly. I tried not letting this ruin my day but it definitely wasn’t a good start to the day when I walked in and saw them.  Plus, I had 2 pomanders made for the 2, one year old flower girls and the things were huge! Not kidding they were twice the size of the bridesmaids bouquets and they weighed 10 lbs. I called the florist to tell her that there was no way the girls could carry these and she rushed new little baskets with flowers in them. There was nothing she could do about my bouquet and the bridesmaids though.

hot ladies! Wish someone else took this pic so Amy was in it!

This post is getting super long so I will do the rest of the day in another post. I haven’t gotten our pics from our photographer so I will add a link once I get it!

Rehearsal

We had our rehearsal the Friday night before the wedding.  I had been running around all day buying last minute things and finishing up the wreaths so I was literally running into the church.  After waiting a few minutes for my sisters (shocking I know), we started the rehearsal. Our whole bridal party made the rehearsal (all looking very beautiful/handsome) so everyone learned what to do for the real thing. Everything was going smooth until it was the ring bearers and flower girls turns.  The ring bearers (our 3 nephews) did AWESOME! They all held hands and walked right down. The girls on the other hand (our 3 nieces) refused to go down. Granted their only 3,1, and 1, none of them were having it. The littlest girls wouldn’t even attempt to walk down and the 3 year old walked down but cried the entire time. I had a feeling this was going to happen so was fine with them doing whatever needed to be done to get down the aisle for the wedding (walk with the boys, have their mom or dad carry them, etc).  I am so thankful for this picture of the boys because my nephew Aiden (in blue shirt) got sick with the flu that night and was too miserable on Saturday to make it to the wedding. It still makes to tear up that he isn't in our wedding pics.

We soon gave up on the girls and then it was my dad and I’s turn. I thought I would keep it together but as soon as the music started, I lost it. That in turn made my dad and sisters lose it and I think even Derek was teary eyed.  We made it down and my dad handed me over to Derek. Things went smoothly and at one point Derek asked if I was shaking. For some reason I was shaking like crazy. I think it was the whole rushing in, jumping into things, nervous/excited, something like that! The pastor asked us if we wanted to do it again and I quickly said yes. I felt like everything was going in one ear and out the other. We did it over and everything went good, no tears were shed, and I was able to remember what we were supposed to do.

After rehearsal at the church, we all headed to rehearsal dinner at the train depot in Manhattan. We had more family and friends waiting there to help celebrate. Derek’s parents hosted the rehearsal and they did AMAZING. I think it might have even looked better then the wedding! Everything was yellow or grey and the centerpieces were picture stands with some of our engagement pictures. Brookeville hotel catered it and there was water, tea, beer, and wine. His mom and grandma made cupcakes and I think everyone said they had 2 they were so good. I can’t tell you how lucky I am to have the in laws I have. Not only his parents but his sister, her family, and all his extended family. They are so nice and so much fun. We always tell each others family that it’s a toss up of who's family drinks and parties more.

Everyone ate, drank, and had a good time. Derek and I parted ways after that. He went out with the boys and stayed at the hotel and I went to my dads and went to bed. I wanted to go hang out with all my friends and family that were in town but we all know I don’t handle hangovers well so I happily declined and went and got my beauty sleep.

Stay tuned for the wedding post!