My Wedding Day: Pre-Ceremony

The morning of our wedding started early. I actually slept pretty well, which surprised me (see above tweet) - but I wasn't jittery at all when I woke up around 7:45. It was my wedding day!! I was really, really excited - and anxious about everything flowing smoothly. I took a shower, went downstairs, had some breakfast (coffee and eggs), and waited for the makeup artist to arrive. She arrived at 9am sharp, and she started on my mom's makeup.

Around 9:30, my sister's in-laws came by to pick some things up to take to our reception venue, and I helped them take things to the car. Around 9:45, it was my turn for makeup and hair!

My maid of honor and I after getting my makeup done - hair next!

We were running around getting things put together and making sure we hadn't forgotten anything, and before we knew it, it was 2 hours later and we were set to go to the church. We had to get there at noon - and I realized that JW and his family were also going to get there at noon, so we were in danger of seeing each other if we got there at the same time. I called my future sister-in-law, and it turned out that we were actually about 2 minutes behind their car! As we approached the church, I did what any normal bride would do- I ducked for cover, and took a picture.

When I got the all-clear, I got out and took my things to the bride room where I was going to be getting ready for the next two hours. While I got ready, the church was being set up to look beautiful. :)

© Kelly Garsee Photography

© Kelly Garsee Photography

© Kelly Garsee Photography

© Kelly Garsee Photography

By 12:15, my photographer was already taking pictures of the getting-ready process.

© Kelly Garsee Photography

© Kelly Garsee Photography

© Kelly Garsee Photography

© Kelly Garsee Photography

At 12:25, we put on my dress!

© Kelly Garsee Photography

© Kelly Garsee Photography

© Kelly Garsee Photography

My sister did the crochet hook :) By 12:30, I was ready to go! Too bad I had to wait another hour and a half...

The guys heard how much help I needed and posed the below picture. Hilarious!!

© Kelly Garsee Photography

All nice and ready to go, they took some pictures in the chapel.

© Kelly Garsee Photography

Above: JW and his groomsmen sure are handsome! From left to right, Top row: Kevin, John, Kevin; Bottom row: Aaron, JW, Mark

Below: JW and his family - Larry, Rachel, JW, and Carol

© Kelly Garsee Photography

© Kelly Garsee Photography

© Kelly Garsee Photography

While the boys were trying to calm themselves down, we were back in the bridal room continuing to get me all ready to go.

© Kelly Garsee Photography

© Kelly Garsee Photography

© Kelly Garsee Photography

© Kelly Garsee Photography

© Kelly Garsee Photography

Above: My bridesmaids! Rachel, Cate, Molly, Me, Whitney, and Holly. Cate and Holly are my cousins, Whitney is my sister, Rachel is (now) my sister-in-law, and Molly is my best friend :)

Below: Whitney, Gloria, me, and Michael (aka my sister and my parents)

© Kelly Garsee Photography

© Kelly Garsee Photography

© Kelly Garsee Photography

We finished taking pictures and it wasn't even 1:30 yet- I was so so SO antsy!! We did everything we could to pass the time - I reapplied my lipstick like, a thousand times.. I hairsprayed my hair.. we put on some rap music and danced around... I had a few visitors in the brides room which made time pass quickly, but still it felt like it was just inching along. My maid of honor kept me sane: 

© Kelly Garsee Photography

We passed the time by taking more pictures.

We ended up starting around 2:08 (I love camera timestamps!), just a few minutes over. I didn't mind.

© Kelly Garsee Photography

© Kelly Garsee Photography

Keep reading: My Wedding Day: The Ceremony.