Wedding Wednesday: Wedding Day!
I finally got the wedding pictures and I can't wait to get the video! To be honest, I dragged my feet in writing this post because I lost my journal a few weeks ago that contained the details of my wedding day. I was hoping the journal would pop up so that I could record exactly how I was feeling that day, but my memory will just have to do for this post! By the way, this is going to be one LONG post, so grab a cup of tea, curl up and enjoy!
I can't believe it has already been almost two months since Toby and I said "I do"! Gosh, what a day it was! I seriously want to go back to that day!
I could hardly sleep the night before, but when the alarm finally went off around 7 a.m. what didn't soak in the night before about me getting married definitely soaked in then! I immediately texted Toby and told him that I loved him, was praying for him, and that I couldn't wait to walk down the aisle.While Courtney and Latrice headed to breakfast and Kesi slept, I curled up on the couch in the hotel room, put on Hillsong's Oceans, and poured my heart to God. I read Proverbs 31 and prayed, and prayed, and prayed. Oh, how I was so nervous and excited! I was about to be a wife! A wife! Today. Is. The. Day! Woah!
When my Court and Trice came back and Kesi woke up, I knew quiet time was over and it was time to finish getting ready. I spent the next few hours painting my toes and nails ( I am such a do-it-yourself girl), writing my vows (yes, I waited to the absolute last minute!), getting my hair curled, making last minute requests/changes, handling details, and Skyping such an amazing and special sister in Christ of mine who recently moved to Kuwait (hey, Agatha!).
Finally, it was time for Kesi to head home to get my nephew and cutest two-year-old alive ready and for my mom to pick up Court, Trice and I to take us to my friend, Chanel's, apartment to get ready for the wedding. We packed my suitcase and in the car and headed on our way to Atlanta.
Once at Chanel's I was greeted with "ahhh, OMG's!!" from Chanel and Chelsea, my amazing sister in Christ who volunteered to do the girls' makeup. While we waited for another sweet sister, Kirsten, to arrive to do my makeup, I slipped into my bridal robe I got at my bachelorette party, and enjoyed a nice glass of wine. When Kirsten arrived, we cranked up the music and got to getting ready!
One of my best friends, Nigeria, and her mom and boyfriend stop by (at this point I honestly can't remember why they showed up!) and it took so much of me to not tear up as Kirsten was working on my face! Nigeria and I have been best friends since we were 15 so to see her and her mom tear up like that almost turned me into a cry baby! By this time, I was a complete ball of nerves just shaking away in my chair! Kirsten did such a great job but I promise she couldn't finish my face quick enough!
When she finished, everyone squealed and jumped around at the amazing work. Then we moved on to hair and THEN it was time to put on the dress!!
When I slipped on that little dress, my heart near came out of my chest! In less than 30 minutes, I would be walking toward my groom. It felt so right!
A few moments later, Karolyne, another sweet sister of mine came to take some bridal portraits. I was excited to take pictures, but by this time, I just wanted to get to the venue and see my groom! Plus, we were behind schedule, which added to my nerves!
Once we got in the car, I started to calm down and began to get giddy again! Less than ten minutes and it was going to be showtime. I could hear my heart thump as we approached the venue. When I had to dunk down so people couldn't see me through the window, that's when I noticed it: the big, bright orange spot on my ivory dress right on my breast.
It came from one of the flowers in my bouquet. Talk about I wanted to have a major meltdown right then and there! Thankfully, Chanel had a stain pen, but that didn't help. Que the freak out! Thank God my mom, Nigeria, her mom, Courtney and Latrice appeared out of nowhere and into the parking deck. They reassured me that it wasn't that bad and that my bouquet would cover the spot. At this point, I was freezing outside and just wanted to see my honey, so I gave up caring about the stain. We made our way to the secret entrance so everyone couldn't see me (I am not going to lie: I kind of felt like a celebrity avoiding the paprazzi!).
I was greeted by my pastor Cierra when I walked through the door. The pastor could tell I was just a wreck and said soothingly, "Everything is fine. Calm down. Let's pray." When apparently that didn't work he siad, "Girl, stop shaking!" haha. Spoiler alert: I didn't stop shaking at all until we got to the reception venue, ha! I am actually looking forward to the video to see just how badly I shook during the ceremony!
We prayed and then my parents and brothers came in so that everyone could walk down the aisle. We took a few pictures, and then Dara Maclean's "Had to be You" began playing through the speakers. It was time. Everyone walked out one by one, and finally it was me and my dad's turn to walk out. Let the song play as you scroll though the pics! Such a beautiful song!
We rounded the bend, and there he was: my handsome man. I could do nothing but smile and look down as so many eyes were on me. When I reached Toby, we immediately took each other's hands and locked eyes. Honestly, I can't remember a thing as to what Cornelius, our pastor, said! I just remember looking into our little, intimate gathering and was just full of joy and peace. I can't believe this is happening!
Then it was time for the vows. Toby read his vows first, and my heart almost burst from the sweetest of his words and the shakiness of his voice and hands. I went next and meant every single word that was on that paper.
I was so excited to exchange rings because we were one step closer to the KISS! Ya'll I hadn't kissed this man in a year and a half! I was a giddy bouncy mess by then. When Cornelius got ready to announce that Toby may now kiss his bride, Cornelius playfully paused for a second, and I gave him this look like "come ON!" lol. Finally, it was time!
"Tobias, you many now kiss your bride."
YESSSSS!
We were now finally married! I let out a "whooo!" and we walked down the aisle to a little place of privacy to soak in the fact we just got married. MARRIED!
I am realizing just how long this post is getting so I will continue with the reception next Wednesday for our last Wedding Wednesday!
I can't believe it has already been almost two months since Toby and I said "I do"! Gosh, what a day it was! I seriously want to go back to that day!
I could hardly sleep the night before, but when the alarm finally went off around 7 a.m. what didn't soak in the night before about me getting married definitely soaked in then! I immediately texted Toby and told him that I loved him, was praying for him, and that I couldn't wait to walk down the aisle.While Courtney and Latrice headed to breakfast and Kesi slept, I curled up on the couch in the hotel room, put on Hillsong's Oceans, and poured my heart to God. I read Proverbs 31 and prayed, and prayed, and prayed. Oh, how I was so nervous and excited! I was about to be a wife! A wife! Today. Is. The. Day! Woah!
When my Court and Trice came back and Kesi woke up, I knew quiet time was over and it was time to finish getting ready. I spent the next few hours painting my toes and nails ( I am such a do-it-yourself girl), writing my vows (yes, I waited to the absolute last minute!), getting my hair curled, making last minute requests/changes, handling details, and Skyping such an amazing and special sister in Christ of mine who recently moved to Kuwait (hey, Agatha!).
 |
| my bouquet |
Finally, it was time for Kesi to head home to get my nephew and cutest two-year-old alive ready and for my mom to pick up Court, Trice and I to take us to my friend, Chanel's, apartment to get ready for the wedding. We packed my suitcase and in the car and headed on our way to Atlanta.
Once at Chanel's I was greeted with "ahhh, OMG's!!" from Chanel and Chelsea, my amazing sister in Christ who volunteered to do the girls' makeup. While we waited for another sweet sister, Kirsten, to arrive to do my makeup, I slipped into my bridal robe I got at my bachelorette party, and enjoyed a nice glass of wine. When Kirsten arrived, we cranked up the music and got to getting ready!
 |
| Can't go wrong with a satin robe and some wine! |
 |
| Courtney getting makeup done |
When she finished, everyone squealed and jumped around at the amazing work. Then we moved on to hair and THEN it was time to put on the dress!!
When I slipped on that little dress, my heart near came out of my chest! In less than 30 minutes, I would be walking toward my groom. It felt so right!
 |
| This is getting REAL! |
 |
| Ahh! |
 |
| Exchanging matching sister bracelets! Tears! |
A few moments later, Karolyne, another sweet sister of mine came to take some bridal portraits. I was excited to take pictures, but by this time, I just wanted to get to the venue and see my groom! Plus, we were behind schedule, which added to my nerves!
Once we got in the car, I started to calm down and began to get giddy again! Less than ten minutes and it was going to be showtime. I could hear my heart thump as we approached the venue. When I had to dunk down so people couldn't see me through the window, that's when I noticed it: the big, bright orange spot on my ivory dress right on my breast.
 |
| Oh, hey there, garter! |
It came from one of the flowers in my bouquet. Talk about I wanted to have a major meltdown right then and there! Thankfully, Chanel had a stain pen, but that didn't help. Que the freak out! Thank God my mom, Nigeria, her mom, Courtney and Latrice appeared out of nowhere and into the parking deck. They reassured me that it wasn't that bad and that my bouquet would cover the spot. At this point, I was freezing outside and just wanted to see my honey, so I gave up caring about the stain. We made our way to the secret entrance so everyone couldn't see me (I am not going to lie: I kind of felt like a celebrity avoiding the paprazzi!).
I was greeted by my pastor Cierra when I walked through the door. The pastor could tell I was just a wreck and said soothingly, "Everything is fine. Calm down. Let's pray." When apparently that didn't work he siad, "Girl, stop shaking!" haha. Spoiler alert: I didn't stop shaking at all until we got to the reception venue, ha! I am actually looking forward to the video to see just how badly I shook during the ceremony!
We prayed and then my parents and brothers came in so that everyone could walk down the aisle. We took a few pictures, and then Dara Maclean's "Had to be You" began playing through the speakers. It was time. Everyone walked out one by one, and finally it was me and my dad's turn to walk out. Let the song play as you scroll though the pics! Such a beautiful song!
We rounded the bend, and there he was: my handsome man. I could do nothing but smile and look down as so many eyes were on me. When I reached Toby, we immediately took each other's hands and locked eyes. Honestly, I can't remember a thing as to what Cornelius, our pastor, said! I just remember looking into our little, intimate gathering and was just full of joy and peace. I can't believe this is happening!
Then it was time for the vows. Toby read his vows first, and my heart almost burst from the sweetest of his words and the shakiness of his voice and hands. I went next and meant every single word that was on that paper.
 |
| LOVE this picture! |
I was so excited to exchange rings because we were one step closer to the KISS! Ya'll I hadn't kissed this man in a year and a half! I was a giddy bouncy mess by then. When Cornelius got ready to announce that Toby may now kiss his bride, Cornelius playfully paused for a second, and I gave him this look like "come ON!" lol. Finally, it was time!
"Tobias, you many now kiss your bride."
 |
| The BEST part! |
YESSSSS!
We were now finally married! I let out a "whooo!" and we walked down the aisle to a little place of privacy to soak in the fact we just got married. MARRIED!
I am realizing just how long this post is getting so I will continue with the reception next Wednesday for our last Wedding Wednesday!