Wedding -- Installment One
The morning of the wedding I woke up sometime around 6:50 a.m. with Bethanne sleeping next to me in my bed at my parent's house and it was just like all those times she spent the night at my house when we were teenagers, except that there was a big ivory dress hanging in front of the closet and Miriam was sleeping on an air-mattress on the floor. Well, except that Bethanne wasn't sleeping.
Shortly after I woke up I heard Bethanne say, "Um...Holly...Titi [one of my parent's cats] is sitting on the floor over here staring at me..." I peer over Bethanne's shoulder and, sure enough, there's Ti. Bethanne and I look from Titi to my wedding dress and then back to Titi. We unanimously decided that maybe Titi shouldn't be in my room. I climbed out of bed, scooped Ti up and escorted her from the room. I went downstairs said hi to Budd (who was busy...doing something... I don't remember what... and smiling), used the restroom and then went back to bed until the alarm went off at 7:15 a.m. or so.
Bethanne and I roused Miriam from her slumber, which was surprisingly easier than we expected (Miriam is very serious about her sleep and can be a bear to wake up), and we all threw on some clothes, washed our faces and brushed our teeth. We also helped my mom and Brad get some fruit and other breakfast foods out and had a bit to eat. Couldn't be running off on empty stomachs now could we? I called my other bridesmaids to make sure that they knew which beauty salon they were going to to get their hair done, since I had previously given them directions to the wrong salon. Whoops. I gave them the right directions and told them that we would see them shortly.
While we were getting ready, my mom called my grandma to see if she had a steamer so that we could try to get the wrinkles out of my dress. Grandma to the rescue! She did have a steamer. So at some point while we were at the salon that morning, my mom or my brother went to my aunt Lisa's (since she had borrowed the steamer and not yet returned it to grandma) to pick it up.
Once we were ready, Bethanne, Miriam and I made out way to the salon. We dropped Miriam's car off at my house on the way and arrived at the salon just as Lizi's hair was being finished. Cindy's hair has already been done and Brandy was up next. After Brandy it was Bethanne and then Miriam. Everyone's hair looked great. The hairstylist did a wonderful job. I have some darn pretty friends. Roger-Jake was also hanging out with the girls at the salon as he was Lizi's driver for the day. Lucky boy, getting to hang out with all the girls. After her hair was done, Lizi and Roger headed back to our house so that he could shower and get ready before he needed to bring her up to my parents. I have no idea what Andy and the other groomsmen were doing all morning but while we were at the salon, he and I exchanged a few lovey-dovey, cutesy text messages. We were both really excited to be getting married.
Hanging out in the salon.
Lizi gets her hair done.
Brandy's turn.
Beauty shop chit-chat.
Don't they look so happy?
Time for a leg massage.
Bethanne's turn in the chair.
She really likes her hair.
Finally Miriam.
Curly Sue Mirbie.
Once everyone's hair was done, my mom came to pick us up in the Cadillac that was to be Andy and I's transportation for the day. Bethanne and Miriam rode with my mom and I (after dropping Bethanne's car off at her mom's house) and Brandy and Cindy took Cindy's car. The Caddy was pretty darn nice. Smooth ride. My mom had picked up some champagne while she was out and about so that we could make mimosas back at the house.
The make-up artist/hairstylist was already at the house when we finally arrived. She started right in on doing mom's hair. The bridesmaids settled down to do their nails and watch Click while waiting either for their turn in the make-up artist's chair or to get ready. I waited for uncle Merle to arrive so that I could get my hair done. He arrived shortly and began his slow massacre of my scalp. Yikes! His significant other, David, just sat there and watch me make pained faces. Brandy took pictures. Thanks, guys! The doing the hair went pretty well. I wasn't really that hapy with it at first. Uncle Merle didn't exactly make it look like any of the pictures I had sent him. And he made it kind of poofier than I would have liked on top. I don't know. It just wasn't really tickling my fancy. So I had him change it a little. After he changed it, it still wasn't really tickling my fancy but it was fine. I certainly wasn't going to have him start all over again and I didn't want to keep poking at it. (Now that I think about it, I should have just had him leave it alone once he finished the first time but oh well.) I was bummed about my hair for a few minutes because it wasn't at all what I had envisioned and I was really sad about it. I felt bad because I felt like I wasn't being grateful enough to uncle Merle and I didn't want him to think I wasn't happy. But I got over that and I think it did look good, particularly now when I am looking back on it. It looked nice.
Mom's hair.
Uncle Merle yanks on does my hair.
Almost done, yay!
Hair, version 1.0.
Hair, version 1.2.
My mom was finished getting her hair done at just about the same time I was. The make-up artist did her make-up first and everyone else started getting their dresses on so that we could be ready when Jim Smith, the photographer, arrived.
After the hair, it was make-up time. The florist arrived just before or during when I was getting my make-up done with our bouquets. They looked fantastic! I love how all of our fresh flowers turned out. Valley Flower Shoppe did an awesome job and for a great price. It was excellent. I am thrilled with our flowers and I think the bridesmaids liked their bouquets too. Anyway, it was nice to just sit down and let someone else do my make-up. I think the make-up artist did a good job on everyone -- mom, Miriam, Lizi and me.
Jim Smith arrived just as everyone was finishing getting ready. The girls were all dressed and were just polishing their looks and Lizi was getting her make-up done when he walked in. I however was not yet in my dress. So upstairs I went to get into my dress. Bethanne, Brandy and Miriam helped me. I was a little worried still because I was afraid it wasn't going to fit. It had fit okay at my last fitting appointment but still had been a little tight. However, when I put it on the morning of the wedding, it fit the best it has ever fit.
Get in that dress!
Once I was in my dress and had my jewelry on, we all went downstairs and Jim Smith took our photos. We took photos inside on the spiral stairs, inside by the coal stove, me with each of my bridesmaids, outside on the deck and me with my mom, Brad and Budd. We also took one of me with Brad and Dusty. I nearly started crying them but I managed to stay composed for the most part. Taking the photos was a whirlwind of activity.
My Bethanne and I.
Miriam, Brandy, Cindy.
My ladies.
My mom and I.
My bridesmaids were done with their pictures before I was and they all changed and took off to go to the church! Lizi and Roger had to leave when Jim Smith did so that Roger could be at the church for the pictures of the groosmen. I guess Bethanne, Miriam and Cindy were just a little excited. Brad took my dress and all of the flowers down to the church and Budd... well, I don't know what Budd did. But that left Brandy and I with my mom. Rush her as we might, Brandy and I could not get my mom to hurry. There was always one more thing she needed. We left the house later than planned but finally we were on the road to the church. I was getting really excited by this point. I couldn't wait to see Andy and I had butterflies in my stomach. (And not just because we were running late!) I was just so extremely happy and looking forward to everything. I couldn't wait to give Andy his gift and I just wanted to see him and be with him.