Getting ready!

I woke up a few minutes before my alarm that morning and I could not wipe the smile off my face.  Very good sign.  :)

Looking back, I'm kind of glad that I stayed in that suite alone the night before.  I was able to just relax and be alone with my thoughts.  (That big bathtub in the morning wasn't too bad either!)  I was cool, calm, collected and ready to get the show on the road!


Our hair and makeup team was supposed to get to the room at around quarter to nine, so my junior bridesmaid & flower girl joined me in the room pretty early.  We had some cereal together like it was a normal day (again, a good thing) and then they went off to the bedroom to watch some of the Disney channel...or sleep.

flower girl sleeping. 

And then the day started.  I elected not to have our photog come until after the whole getting ready thing was over.  (Well, when I thought it would be over.)  I only took a few pictures myself but I think there would be a few people who would kill me if I posted them. :)  Groomsgirl and my mom went first on hair and makeup.  I think groomsgirl was the first to be done.  Then when I started on hair with Renee, she kept commenting on how calm I was.  I don't know why, but that really took me by surprise.  I guess looking back, it is a little weird for a bride to be calm when it's snowing on her wedding day when she didn't expect it.  I asked if that was uncommon, to have a calm bride. She and Wendy filled me in on some pretty crazy stories.

Unfortunately, we hit a snag at that point.  The flower girl was refusing to come into the living area and have her hair done.  Our junior bridesmaid and the flower girl's older sister went while we let her be alone for a while to get it out.  

Oh, fun fact of the morning: every girl in the wedding party but our flower girl got their bangs cut.  Groomsgirl just had a little cut so it was just a longer side swipe, mine were lightened and jr bridesmaid got bangs for the first time ever!

yay for bangs!

The morning went pretty smoothly.  Major thanks to Nicole for urging me to eat that day and going out to get something for me.  I definitely would not have been so calm if it weren't for her, my family and a few of our awesome vendors.

Speaking of awesome vendors, Renee closed herself in the bedroom with our flower girl and just talked to her about her favorite princesses.  By doing so, she coaxed her into letting her do her hair so she could look just like Cinderella, her favorite for the day.  Talk about going above and beyond.

her cuteness is definitely her saving grace.

So, what about the bride, you're wondering?  Well, I was pretty shocked when I looked at myself in the mirror.  We had my friend Hilary on hand for a few of those photos of everyone getting the finishing touches.  She insisted that there should be at least something from that moment in the day and you know what?  She was right.

can you hear me saying holy crap, I'm a bride?

I thought the day started a bit too early but soon it was after two, Jake our photographer for the day was in the room and no one but my mom was dressed!  There was the five minute period in the entire day when I got freaked out.  I just sort of paced a little bit and then when I got into my dress, I was totally fine.  

Can you believe I didn't open my wedding present from my to be husband until we were almost out the door?  And in case you were wondering, what I'm holding is a framed copy of the rare first Hanson cd. :)

And with that we were out the door!  I was so ready to be out the door and on my way to the church but there's a story that involves turning around that I will fill you in on next time. :) 

this is one of my favorites!

xoxo!

PS, thank you to my family, Richard, Nicole, Hilary and Jake! I wouldn't have kept my cool without you!