Now that I’m back home from an amazing honeymoon and semi-caught up on work, I can finally get back to blogging! So many times throughout the past two weeks I have wanted to write but just couldn’t find the time. SO happy to be back in a routine at home and able to slow down a bit. Now to try and refocus the sweet memories from the past two weeks!
The night before the wedding, I slept about two hours. Two of my sisters came over to spend the night with me and we stayed up cuddling and giggling until about 1am. Then they passed out and I laid there thinking about every possible wedding detail. Who is going to get all the ice for the bars? What time are the caterers arriving? How are all the bridesmaids getting to the venue? What am I forgetting??
I was so grateful when 7am hit and I could get out of bed and get the day going! There is nothing like your wedding day to make you feel the love from pretty much everyone who knows you! I woke up to emails, texts, and facebook posts wishing me a happy wedding day and they were so appreciated. They were little reminders to not be nervous about anything; everyone was there because they loved Isaac and I and wanted to celebrate us. The waterworks were in full gear on Saturday morning. Especially after getting texts like this from my dad:
The drive to the wedding venue was about 45 minutes and I was so grateful for that near-hour of alone time before all of the madness began. It was a gorgeous day and I drove through the North Carolina mountains with my windows down listening to “Marry You” by Bruno Mars. Everything felt perfect. And I cried more happy tears.
After arriving at the Bed and Breakfast, it was go time. My cousin, Janine, who owns a salon in Hollywood started working on my hair and I loved getting to spend a few hours hanging out with my parents, sisters, aunts, grandparents, uncles, and cousins. I loved the fact that the Bed and Breakfast was bursting at the seams with my family members (98% of them women) and everybody was so happy. No drama, no fighting, no typical catty female behavior. I feel so blessed to have been surrounded by these amazing men and women. So many brides on their wedding day are dealing with family tension in addition to all of the normal wedding stress. Not us. Our biggest problem was trying to fight the happy tears so we could stop smearing our makeup!
The funny thing is I was extremely nervous (like SHAKY nervous) up until the moment I put the dress on. As soon as I slipped into that bad boy, all felt right. My mom and I talked about how clear and beautiful my skin was and we cried. My dad came in the room and saw me all ready to go and we cried. My best friends and bridesmaids looked at me all teary-eyed and we cried. My sisters and I were pretty much a teary mess every time we made eye contact. What a beautiful, teary-eyed, snot-faced day it was.
The ceremony was perfect. I started crying during Isaac’s vows and didn’t stop until I had finally managed to get through mine. We had a reading done by our brother-in-law that I wanted to share with you all because it is just so beautiful. I felt like it perfectly encompassed Isaac and I’s relationship and was casual and honest.
The Union by Robert Fulghum
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.
So sweet, right? A few other wedding-ish things happened and then BAM we were married. Since that day, life has been a complete whirlwind. The month of March seems to have completely bypassed us. Over the past two weeks, I have LOVED getting to see all of the pictures our family/friends/photographer have been posting.
The photographer we hired is out of this world. I have been stalking her work for over a year now and was giddy at the thought of her capturing our wedding. She posted a sneak peek for us and I am not disappointed. Here is what she has shared so far and I must say, I cannot wait to see the 300-400 more. I already feel so happy with just these!
I must say, now that it’s all over I feel a little sad! Maybe sad isn’t the right word. I just want to do it again. Throughout our entire wedding day I kept reminding myself to be present. In fact, before our pastor began our ceremony he looked us in the eyes and whispered “are you here?” I loved that he did that. It brought us back down to earth, made us look around at our guests and at each other, and be present. So many people kept telling me how the whole wedding day and night blows by and you barely remember anything, so I tried my hardest to take mental pictures. I think I did a pretty good job, but what I wouldn’t give to do it all over again!
I am so thankful for those sweet memories and amazing family members and friends who made March 9, 2013 the happiest day of my life. I would not have changed one thing.
The Other Courtney 
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Congrats on the big day!!!! One of everyone’s most vivid memories from my wedding was my sister’s hiccuping sob as I came done the aisle. She’s always embarassed when anyone brings it up, but it’s always followed by “Oh man, but when I heard Julia cry, I lost it!” She effectively got the tears out of everyone in the building. Crying with your sisters is one of the best things about weddings.
Thank you so much!
What a sweet/funny memory you and your sister have, haha! I LOVE seeing people (especially the family members) get all choked up at weddings, it makes it sweeter. And I agree, it really gets everyone else emotional, too! It’s a good thing! Heck I think every wedding could use a professional tear jerker to get things going. Your sister could hire out her services! 🙂
Bahaha I’ll be sure to tell her that.
Great pictures!
Thanks!
Beautiful bride! Glad to hear your day was perfect!
Thank you!!
Wow, what an amazing day! And you look gorgeous…and SO happy! Congratulations…wishing you two a beautiful life!
Thank you so much!!! I felt like I was floating on a cloud all night- so elated 🙂 I appreciate your sweet words!!
How adorable are you guys? The text from your dad made me teary eyed! 😀 Haha. Your wedding day looks truly beautiful (I love the tulips!) and you did as well.
I felt the same way about our wedding day – that it just fleeew by, and I wished I could do it over again or to experience the different parts again, but with someone I missed it with (I pretty much wish I could have danced the Macarena with everyone, lol) ..
Best wishes to you and your new husband, Courtney! 🙂
heheheh thank you!! Yeah, my dad is so ridiculously sweet and sensitive. It makes me cry when I hear people say their dad never hugs them or tells them he loves them because I used to just take that for granted. I probably still do sometimes. He tells me he loves me ALL the time and will leave me voice mails when he knows I’m working just to tell me he’s thinking about me and he’s proud of me. Ugh. Melt.
I love the tulips too, I was SO excited to get them! I ordered all the flowers from a wholesale company so my sisters-in-law made all my bouquets and bouts. If I had ordered those from a florist it would have been over $1,000!!! Instead I spent $300. AMAZING. Thank God for crafty family members haha.
I know EXACTLY what you mean about spending the wedding day with different people. I realized at the end of the night I didn’t even get to talk to or dance with some of my bridesmaids. I also barely saw my cousins or grandparents and several other people. What in the world?! It’s crazy how that night just flies. What a wonderful experience though.
Thanks so much for your well wishes, they are appreciated! So far we are hanging in there- we’ve been married 2.5 weeks and don’t hate each other. Yesssssssssssss.
Beautiful!
Thank you!!
Our oldest daughter (24) was married a year ago; your dresses were very similar and, like her, you were/are a beautiful bride! God bless your marriage.
Oh congratulations to your daughter! I hope she is enjoying marital bliss? 🙂
And thank you so very much!!
It looks like you had such an amazing day! Thank you for sharing your joy. Its very contagious! 🙂 Congratulations!
P.S. The photos really are amazing and I love the Skittle infused Vodka idea! 😀
Thank you!! It was wonderful 🙂 Glad it made you happy too!
Aren’t those vodka things awesome?! Had to blur out the location due to creeps on wordpress LOL but just loved them. My mom also made bottles of homemade vanilla extract. She is pretty much amazing.
Courtney – congrats on your marriage ! It looks like it was an amazing day ! I am getting married in 33 days and haven’t been nervous until just a few days ago – I hope I can have such a great day like you !
Thank you, Kim!! It was truly amazing and I can’t believe it was MY wedding. You know how us girls dream about our wedding days for so long and it finally happened haha. At one point during the night, I walked past a big window and when I saw my reflection, I startled and thought “oh my gosh, that’s me in that big white wedding dress” haha! So surreal.
I KNOW you will have an amazing day, too. I know everyone says to try to not stress, but it’s so true. It works out perfectly even if it isn’t perfect, you know? I mean shoot, my guests didn’t have water in their water glasses for 30 minutes into dinner b/c someone dropped the ball on filling them. Did it matter? HELL NO! There was alcohol and food and music and people have fun no matter what. Plus if at the end of the night you’re married to the love of your life, what else matters?
I can’t wait to hear about yours. Enjoy every minute!!! I want to do it again! lol 🙂 Congratulations to you!!
I loved reading this. I loved how this made me feel. I wanted to feel happy … and this blog post has made me feel that.
The reading that was done…oh…that was lovely indeed…then I got to the photos and thought…ohh that one is so wonderful. And the next was too. And the next. (I really liked the one of you and your dad dancing … and the ones of you and your husband walking … and the best men look sooooo stunning in their outfits….and and and and.
Then it hit me. It was not the words…or the photos…but you. What you were saying at the end. Being THERE…taking that snapshot in your mind…and holding the moment. Aye Cortney … it was you and your husband that made things so grand.
Congratulations Courtney.
Oh Katie, your words just brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for understanding and expressing yourself so eloquently. You are right, it’s not the details that mattered but our love for each other. Love really can make things grand.
Thank you xoxo!!!!
This post made my cry!!
You look so elegant! It sounds like you had a magical day, and you clearly had a fantastic photographer to capture it for you. Congratulations!
Thanks, CJ! It was truly magical. I’m so happy to say I had my fairytale wedding, what a blessing. I appreciate your kind words!
Congratulations! You look beautiful and the day looked beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much! That is a perfect way to describe the day- beautiful.
Wow! You both look amazing, in love, and SO happy. What beautiful pictures! Congratulations on your wedding and wishing you many, many years of blessed and happy life together as husband and wife!
Thanks girl!! We were beside ourselves happy. Just getting to marry each other was awesome, but then partying with all of our loved ones was overwhelming in the best way possible. Thanks for your kind words!
Oh my goooosh! I love love love! You were GORGEOUS and I love the skittle infused vodka and the bridesmaids clutches! Great eye for detail 😉 You two look SO happy – congratulations!!! ❤
Thank you!!! You’re sooo sweet. Yep the vodka was a big hit, haha! My mom also made little bottles of homemade vanilla extract for the people who don”t drink. My mom is the shiz!!
Everything looks perfect!!! You were stunning, the dress and makeup was perfect, you dancing with your dad in the picture? Ohmygawsh. Fantastic photographer to capture all of that.
Congrats again, friend. I’m so happy you have your happily ever after. xo
It WAS perfect. I can’t believe that with all of the logistics/planning/decorations/clothes/random other details it just ran so smoothly! LOVED every part of it. My cousin Janine did my hair and makeup, she is AMAZING. I told her that she gave me the best gift of all- she made me feel like the most beautiful bride ever! She was on Shear Genius a few seasons ago, did you ever watch that show?
Yeah, the pic of my dad and I makes me MELT. Cannot wait to see more!
Thanks for the well wishes, sis!! Love you!
The pictures came out amazing! You look completely stunning and so in love! I’m glad the day went so well!
Thanks Amanda!!