Sorry about that ladies...ok...
Now onto Thursday...day before the wedding...day of rehearsal...day of qweh qweh:-)
Thursday morning I woke up in the suite with the ladies..some were already leaving because they had to work that morning..what troopers!! I had to go pick up my weave for my sew in the next day so my MOH was my chauffer for the entire day. We went to the hair store and got there before the store even openned. My hairstylist had already called ahead to the owner to inform him that I would be there and to help me out since this was the second time in my life getting a weave. I got a good deal on the hair then my MOH and I were off to the house to start packing up everything that needed to be at the hall that day. Then FI and brother were suppose to be there to help load up the car but they were doing airport runs. So MOH, my sister and myself packed up the important stuff (the favors that needed to be packaged at the venue) and we were off to the venue for 11 am. All the other stuff I packed in a corner so FI would know what to bring. We get to the venue and start packaging my over sized favors..lol. Those vases were huge but ah well...it was what it was. Other bridesmaids arrived and we had a good assembly line going and managed to finish everything before noon (the start of the rehearsal). It was like 11:55am and there were a number of people missing..some I knew were still at the airport and others I knew were around the corner...so I proceeded to text everyone and let them know I was start at noon on the dot. And I sure did...rehearsal went well. The pastor and my coordinator took over so I didn't have to do much. One thing I did realize that day is that a runner was necessary, I didn't realize that they were drainage vents down the aisle..lol. Another ah well moment..folks just had to watch where they were walking. The coordinator also said that if our rings happened to fall in not to get it during the ceremony they have had to fish rings out before..LOL..ok...we wouldn't be dropping rings! Pastor ended the rehearsal with a a prayer and then we were off to the restaurant for our rehearsal lunch. I chose this mexican restaurant that I had never been to before. I wanted to do mexican cause most people were from the east coast and thought it would bring a nice arizona flavor. The restaurant was so so..everyone else liked it but I guess that was because they didn't know mexican food as well as I did. Things were going so well that I forgot I had to go pick up my dress! Yes the dress that was still too big for me when I saw it that Tuesday. So MOH and sister get into the car and head over there. When I put on my dress....I still didn't see the wow factor like I did when I was a bit more full figured. I realized at that point I really missed my curves!! My dress was bunching around my hips but when I put on my shoes...I was like ok...I can work with this..LOL. Oh also forgot to mention that Tuesday when I tried on my dress...that $500 alteration price did not include my hem...so she started tacking the bottom of my dress I was like..how much is that going to cost? She told me $200 cause my dress has like 7 layers..I was like...uhm..Ill figure it out...I don't have any more money..lol. She did do me a favor and cut the raw inner most layers and as long as my girls kept fluffing my dress...my shoes were high enough to make it work. Ok, I paid her her small fortune and we were off with the dress. Next on the list was to get my nails done. I am looking at it right now and ladies do ensure that you get the gel/shallac manicure, cause mine still look all that. I got home and there were preprations going on for the qwe qwe. I got showered and everyone was arriving. The qwe qwe went well..not as traditional as it could have been if my hubby was also guyanese...but it was nice to have the experience and have the younger generation get a taste of it. I said my good byes to everyone at 10pm..I was determined not to be up late the night before the wedding. Next morning I heard that folks coming from the airport at midnight still came over to the house. I was determined to get a good nights sleep..my sister came in the room that night saying something..but I was knocked out.!
Ok...the day...October 12th :-)
I woke up not feeling the least bit strange, it was like another day for me. I got in the shower, got my stuff together and text all the girls saying if you're up say Heeeyyyyyy...they all responded saying heeeeeyyyyyy...lol. And the day started...mom and I were going to the salon for 8 am appts. Of course she was late but I was expecting that. I knew that the stylist working on my head had only me that morning so I wasn't sweating it. By the grace of God all of his usuals rescheduled...how does that happen? But it was all good for me cause I need to get a full sew in done! We get there, I head to the stylist..he decided to dye my hair that was being left out cause my hair is the dirtiest brown color and we wanted that sleek black look. All the girls arrived at the salon and I was beginning to regret having my "own" stylist. I wanted to see how all the other girls hair was going...they were split between 2 other stylists and every stylist have their own room. Anywho, I made it known to the matron that I was feeling a bit lonely so from that point on the girls checked in on me. My sew-in and style was done (thought my bun was too small but the hey, I asked him to get it bigger once before so...whatever) around 12:30 and it was time to be in the MUA chair..she did our thing and everyone wad one way ahead of schedule. I think we were all done at 1 30 and didn't have to be at the hall until 3pm. So we sat around and chatted a bit and then finally said enough is enough lets get this show on the road and tried to make our 14 min drive a bit longer..:-). We got there and I think that's when I really started getting excited...seeing my guest book and card box set up and walking into the room and seeing my gorgeous flowers in the reception hall..all these thoughts in my head was finally coming alive right before my eyes. Mom was a bit late in getting to the hall, so the photographers started taking pics of details like my shoes, garter etc and all the girls started steaming their dresses. Mom got there and I was then able to get ready and take all the getting ready pics. All the girls were ooing and ahhing...:-)..then I turned around looked at myself in the mirror and started feeling myself..I was looking good:-) Then it was time for first look. We did it, no tears and I was a bit underwhelmed thinking why did I do this? But then we got our couples portraits done and in the end it worked out cause later that evening after the ceremony we started to run out of light FAST! We were out in the court yard near the ceremony location taking pics and guests started to arrive EARLY! My family..never EARLY! So we had to stop taking pics cause I didn't want to be seen before the ceremony. I was surprised that my photographer actually asked...do brides actually like being seen before the ceremony? So I went back to the bridal suites while the photographer got all the pics of the guys out of the way. Oh, I forgot to mention earlier...why was the groom late? If he was actually on time we could have done more pics but ah well. So I am back in the bridal suite getting touched up and I had actually forgotten...the groom sent me my fragrance! His of course was already in his suite..we predetermined what the gifts will be so neither of us would be butt hurt by the others gift..lol..I can't even remember the name of the fragrance I got him...Yes I am dead wrong for that. But he got me burbery brit...I am not going to front I ran out of money after paying for those alterations and I got his fragrance at TJ Maxx. So I felt a little bad when I saw my gift set..needless to say I owe him a cologne for Christmas. He still liked the scent though. So now dad was running late. Apparently he was giving my brother a hard time getting him into his suit (dad has alzheimer's).
Ladies, I heard my dad got there and I was like cool we can start. What I didn't expect is when the door openned and I saw my dad looking all daper in his suit...I burst into tears. No one was expecting that...they shut the door so I couldn't see my dad and started fanning crazy so I could calm down. Ladies, my dad was always sharp before he was diagnosed with this disease, seeing him that day in that suit which I picked out...really got to me. All I could think of is how different things would have been had he been well. He is such a little short man but had the biggest personality in any room he stepped into. I was just thankful to God that he was there that day.
Eventually all the ladies got lined up and it was time and of course when I got out of the room and saw my dad the water works were turned on again but my sister and mom were there to help. Both mom and dad walked me down the aisle. Poor dad he kept stepping on my dress!! LOL. But I was determined to have him walk me down the aisle, even if it took all day. It took a while but not all day:-) Half way down the aisle, I finally decided to focus on my groom and everyone around..then the water works came, I'm talking all choked up with tears. Then ladies, I got what I have been waiting for...my now husband, cried like a baby..lol. The whole audience was in tears, I am guessing because of the emotion surrounding my dad and everyone knowing how close we have always been. When I got up to the alter and looked behind my groom even the groomsmen were a little choked up! The ceremony was beatiful. Ladies, I didn't have a videographer and I think just being able to see that entire ceremony again would have been worth the cost of the videographer. Everyone says you should get one and now I know why! Hopefully my photographer did a great job!
After the ceremony this is when I turned into a bridezilla..LOL. Mostly because my feet were killing me!!! It's interesting when I was walking it was fine but when I had to stand still...forget it! I was in pain and remember I told you my dress was cut right? So I had to keep my shoes on for pictures. The sun was going down incredibly fast so the photographers were trying their best to get all the pics I asked for. I think they saw the misery in my face and said forget it! We will try again later after dinner. So I am a little peeved that I didn't get pics with the girls outside...all the pics with my family and bridesmaids had to be indoor portraits. Another ah well! Can't wait to see the pics!
Everyone loved our grand entrance! And everyone kept asking us if we took dance lessons..nope..now hubby and I just love to get down!! LOL...but the reception was fun. The food was great, my cake was beautiful, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. There was one thing I looked out and noticed. I mixed up some of the seating but I just got up and had some folks moved around. I guess I could have had my coordinator do that but I thought it was faster my way! :-) Oh the garter removal!!! I think hubby must have heard of my bad experience at the strip club...uhm...he did the damn thing. My sister got the whole thing on video so I will have to share with you guys when she sends that to me. The only other thing that wasn't the way I wanted is the cake flavors...for some reason they did white cake instead of red velvet for my largest teir that went out to the guests. Sent me home with an entire second teir of red velvet and the cake top for what?!?!? what am I going to do with all this cake!
Ok, my novel is coming to a close!
I really couldn't have asked for anything more. Hubby and I the next morning when we woke up wondered if we could do it all over again this week. We had fun and of course as everyone says..it goes by way too fast!!!