Our Wedding!

I slept in the morning of our wedding... something I didn't think I'd be able to do, but I was so exhausted! I got up and showered and threw on some pj pants and a t-shirt and headed over to Nana's house for my bridesmaid's luncheon! The hair and make-up ladies met us there and did the bridesmaids hair and make-up for me and those who wanted to have theirs done. It was so much fun! I LOVED my bridesmaid's luncheon! I have such fond memories of that day. Nana was so gracious to open up her home for it and to put together such a feast for us girls! Mom had the lady who made our wedding cake also make a two tier cake that was pink with a white bow wrapped around it. In between the two tiers where little white satin ribbons with a charm attached to the end baked inside the cake. The bridesmaids each pulled a charm from the cake as a little game. I just remember Lynsey (I think) got the charm that said she would be the next to have a baby and we all laughed about that one!

John had breakfast at IHOP with his groomsmen and dad. Again... I don't remember exactly how HIS day unfolded so he'll have to fill me in on all that and I'll add it here later.

After finishing my hair and makeup, it was time to head to the church for pictures! We arrived at the church and everyone made sure John wouldn't see me. I went up to the choir room and changed in to my wedding dress! I couldn't believe this was THE DAY!! Finally! I remember sitting around waiting for the signal to go down to the sanctuary to meet John. Pam brought me a frame and a little stuffed dog (and it seems there was a poster included as well!). Inside the frame, John had typed a letter to me and at the end, he told me he wanted to get me a puppy to keep me company over the next year while he would be in Iraq. I cried!

Finally I went down to the front doors of the sanctuary. Someone was there to open the doors for me as I walked down the aisle alone. It was beatiful and very private. At the end of the aisle was John. It was so cool to see him that way! We hugged, talked, and I probably cried a little. And then it was time for pictures! Oh the madness! We were very short on time because there had been a miscommunication about when John and I were supposed to have our "private meeting." But it all worked out in the end! After pictures, I was ushered up the stairs to the back of the sanctuary where the tech crew works the lights and sound for the service. All the bridesmaids and parents of the bride/groom sat up there and we got to watch the people start arriving at the church and listen to the music. Suddenly, out of no where, I was starving! One of my bridesmaids (I think Rachel Hooper) went to get me a little snack from the reception hall.

It wasn't long before it was time to walk down the aisle with my daddy at my side. I remember seeing John at the end of the aisle, and feeling awkward as everyone was looking at me! The ceremony was beautiful and perfect! Afterward, John and I were escorted to the choir room again to sit and wait for our arrival at the reception. I remember worrying because my mom wasn't there to bustle my train, so John started trying to figure it out. That was pretty funny. Finally someone got there to finish the task and we were brought down to the reception hall to make our grand appearance as Mr. and Mrs. John Nichols!

The reception itself was a blur, just like the ceremony. I just remember meeting and greeting one person after another. When we left the ceremony in the "going away" car, we didn't know where to go! It was kind of funny. We drove around the side of the church and then decided to go to my parents house because John left something there. On the way there we called the photographers cell phone and told her to wait just a minute we were going to change in to John's dress blues and come back to take a few pictures in that outfit (military outfit for those of you who don't know what dress blues are). By the time we got back to the church, the decorations were already being torn down, but we were still able to get one of my favorite wedding pictures of the whole day (the one we used in the newspaper, too)!

All in all, it was a beautiful and unforgettable day. We were finally husband and wife...

Wedding Weekend

The weekend of our wedding was just crazy!! John was to fly in to Huntsville on Friday around noon so we would have plenty of time to get to the courthouse and get a marraige license before they closed for the weekend. On his way to the airport in the wee hours of morning, John started to question which airline he was flying with. After a few phone calls, he realized he somehow never got a ticket (we can blame it on the thyroid now... but that's another story a few years down the road!!).

When he arrived at the airport he had to purchase a ticket for a bit more than we were hoping to pay, but everything was unfolding smoothly despite the situation. John would still make it to Huntsville in plenty of time to get to the courthouse. At his layover in Memphis, his connecting flight to Huntsville was cancelled! Another hurdle!! He frantically tried to reason with the people that he HAD to be in Huntsville before 3pm in order to get the marraige license. Eventually they booked him on a flight in to Muscle Schoals, AL instead. He was just seconds from missing the flight, but fortunately, he safely landed in Alabama and Mark Holley picked him up from the airport while I made the journey over to the Schoals to get John. On the way back to Huntsville, I got my first speeding ticket. Luckily, I went to court with it a few months later, and they dropped the charge because the officer who gave me the ticket was no longer with the force, whew!!!!

We made it to the courthouse and got our marraige license! We were on our way to becoming husband and wife!!!

John's whole family came in for the wedding and that evening, we worked up at the gymnasium at the church where the reception would be. I remember a funny story about Nellie from that night, but I might embarass her if I share it!! John and I worked along side Aunt Nellie tying the ribbons in the programs for the wedding while the rest of the family worked to set up the entry foyer for the big day. My mom completely transformed the cold, plain foyer (or entryway into the reception site) into a beautiful and stunning room!

On Saturday I woke up and went to Target to find a pair of VERY tall black shoes to wear with my rehearsal dinner outfit. I got there before they were open so I sat in my car and wrote a card to John... wonder where that card is now??? After purchasing the shoes, I met up with John and we started running errands. First, we went to the nail place where I got a manicure and pedicure. I convinced John he would really like it, and he got his very first medicure and pedicure, too! I remember the ladies commenting on his feet and how rough they looked!! I swore to John that they wouldn't paint his nails, but they did anyway. I don't recall him taking it off before the wedding though. Hmmmm???

Next we went to get "spray on tans!" I had been doing some tanning leading up to the wedding, and when I saw John that weekend, I knew he desperately needed some sun to match me. So I convinced him to get an airbrush tan. The things you will do for love!!! I don't think I could convince him to do any of these things anymore!! He did it, although he hated every second of it and swears he will NEVER do that again!!

After all of our shopping adventures, it was time to get ready for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

The rehearsal was fun because we got to see all of our friends for the first time. Things went smoothly and we headed over to Shogun Japanese Steakhouse (my personal favorite!!!) for our rehearsal dinner. It was FABULOUS! We had the best time talking with everyone and we had a little slide show that showed us both growing up... It was very sweet and special. After a few toasts and roasts, it was time to go home and get ready for the big day!

I said goodbye to John in the Shogun parking lot and we went our separate ways with our families.

I rode with my parents out to New Market School (where I was currently teaching 4th grade) and returned the projector I had "borrowed" from my classroom! Then we swung back by the church for something. I can't remember why we went by there, but I DO remember we saw an armadillo!!! I went home and started packing a little suitcase for the next few nights/days John and I would be staying in a hotel...

I can't remember what John did after he left, so I'll have to come back and add that after I ask him!!!