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Happy Valentines Day!
We're celebrating with a quiet evening in tonight. Witt requested baked Mac and Cheese and we're going to make two, pimento and spinach and artichoke. We'll have some champagne and put candles on the table and the cats will get a special can of food since I love them too.
Then Saturday we are off to a wine festival in Chatham, Virginia. I'm excited to get away for the day!
No matter what you are doing today, I hope you are surrounded by love. Whether you are out with your significant, hanging with friends and family, or ignoring the holiday and enjoying a comfy time at home with a good movie and your cat.
"Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:39
In honor of Valentine's Day this post like I
promised is about our wedding almost three years ago.
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My great grandmother's jewelry
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After we got engaged and started planning, I knew I wanted a very formal, classy wedding with a nod to the 1920's and 30's.
Black and white were my colors and I wanted white flowers and elegant decorations. No bows, no tulles, nothing whimsical just very classic.
We had live big band music with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin songs and dancing. Everything was just like I wanted with a traditional cake and the big church that my parent's got married in with a huge aisle to walk down.
I love the old fashioned vows and I wanted white tablecloths and black candles and champagne flowing.
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So I left it all in the capable hands of my wedding director, my Aunt Kellie and my Mom. I designed our invitations, picked out the men's tuxes, found my dress in one store in one afternoon with my mom and picked out the first dance songs.
Honestly, the big day was a blur. What I remember most about our wedding was being alone outside the church door with my dad while the bridesmaids walked into the ceremony and trying so hard not to cry. And then not being able to stop grinning as I walked down the aisle.
I also remember all the people who helped us out SO much the weeks before and the day of the wedding.
Like my Mom, who dove in head first into all things wedding and put together a magical, dreamy affair in only six months, including making a stunning wedding cake. Who, the day of the wedding had five things in the oven and a smile on her face, never once making me feel stressed. She is the epitome of grace and southern hospitality. I had so much fun planning the wedding with her.
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Putting My Hair Up
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Doing Mom's Hair
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Like my Aunt Kellie and all the work she and her husband did planning, setting up, going candle shopping, coming to meetings with the photographer, cooking, decorating, directing and making everything so beautiful and making sure everyone was right on schedule the day of. Couldn't have done it without her.
And my friend Carol Anne from Paris, who drove all the way down from Canada just to be with me for one day. I will never forget that, ever.
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Carol Anne and I
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Witt's friends who embraced me from the beginning. I have a lot of fun memories while we were dating, some that people should let me forget, like Adam carrying me over his shoulder when we were out downtown one night...
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Adam and Witt
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My mother-in-law Cathy who put so much work into the rehearsal dinner and how breathtaking it was under the tent with lights in the field and the appetizers in the rose garden and how much it reminded me of a party in the South of France.
The shrimp and Witt's favorite beer and white wine with fresh bread and the fun costume photo booth and everyone toasting us with glasses held high...everything was so Witt and I.
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The bridesmaids walked down to Moon River on the violin.
My sisters, for putting up with hearing about the wedding for six months and cleaning up after and wearing the bridesmaid dress and all the little things they helped with that no one probably noticed. And Lauren, for being beautiful and pregnant and still willing to wear a bridesmaid dress and make my beautiful engagement picture wall that was at the reception. Cate for writing us a beautiful song on the piano that she played during the ceremony. Mary, who never cries, tearing up during her toast to me. And Nan for being who she is, someone to lean on.
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My friends, Kaitlyn and Cathy, who stuck by my side as I hyperventilated in the church library waiting to walk down the aisle even though they didn't get to be bridesmaids due to my enormous family. They are the truest of friends.
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My Uncle Frank for coming all the way from Florida to do our wedding and my Aunt Dawn for being my other sister and making agave nectar chocolate ice cream punch. My Paris family.
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My grandmother, June, a former professional flower arranger and queen of southern hospitality, who made all the breathtaking bouquets and flowers, even though my grandfather had just been ill and even though she was a little perturbed that I wanted black ribbon for my bouquet. They all were absolutely beautiful.
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All my aunts and uncles who cooked and made food and helped set up so that the reception looked like a million dollar catered affair, with tomato, mozzarella basil, cheese plates, chocolate ice cream punch, black and white cookies and so much much more.
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My Mom's friend, Anya, who made every single little candy bead by hand that adorned my cake, the time and effort she put into that was just amazing.
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My parent's friends who served food, poured champagne and stayed to help clean-up, all to bless my parents.
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My friends from Canada, Leslie and Dave, who came all the way down just to be a part of the festivities and spent hours the night before ironing tablecloths and helping to set up.
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My Dad, the George Clooney look alike, for not freaking out when I wanted to get married in six months, for finding the amazing band that played at the reception, for his sweet toast when he said to Witt at the rehearsal dinner,
"There was an author I read who said he wouldn't have picked any of his sons in laws but he loved each of them. I just have to say that if I could have picked a son-in-law, I would have picked Witt..."
That forever sealed their friendship.
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My grandparent Wilders, who worked it out so we could use their church, the one my Mom got married in which I wanted really badly, and helped with everything. And were so supportive of Witt and I from the very beginning.
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I know there are more people who were there the big day that helped make it the magical event it was and I am grateful for them.
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I think that in the scheme of things, it's not the little personal place settings that matter or the venue or how great the pictures turn out, but the fact that you are starting a brand new life and if you have people by your side that care about you and support you, that means more than a ten thousand dollar dress or a dream reception under the stars.
I love having my pictures to look back on and I'm lucky that I got to marry my best friend.
It's been a good ride together since then, with our friends, new and old, by our side!
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Your wedding dress was very beautiful and classy Claire and I can understand that you had the wedding of your dreams. I am so happy for you and I wish to you to feel that way every day of your married life! Love, trust and friendship I think are the three most important ingredients to a very happy marriage!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures! I love the classy, elegant theme.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful bride you where..what a beautiful couple you are.
ReplyDeleteWOW. Your wedding was absolutely gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day to you guys!
Oh my goodness your dress is stunning. The whole day looks stunning actually. Perfectly classic and classy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post! You were such a beautiful bride (no surprise). I loved your great-grandmother's jewelry, your dad's speech, and most of all the love that came through for all your family and friends. Thanks for sharing your wedding day with us.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful wedding and what an incredibly romantic post :)
ReplyDeletewow! this looks like a catalog or wedding magazine!! gorgeous!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous Wedding. I LOVE seeing these photos! I love going to weddings ans seeing others wedding photos! So gorgoeus:) xoxoxo hanna
ReplyDeleteI smiled throughout this entire" memory book". You and Witt were a gorgeous couple, and you a most beautiful bride. I am still having a difficult time processing that it will be three years in May!
ReplyDeleteWe are blessed indeed that you became a part of our family.
Hello! Found you on the Aloha Blog hop.
ReplyDeleteI am your newest follower, would you care to return the favor?
http://www.beautybykrysti.blogspot.com
What a beautiful wedding! I absolutely love your dress. You looked gorgeous. And I love that you wore your great grandmother's jewelry. It was absolutely stunning.
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