A day in the life of our wedding: October 6, 2012
How is it possible for a year to flow through your life so quickly? Five days ago, I glanced at my work calendar and couldn't believe I was seeing "October 1, 2013." I took a yoga-influenced deep breath and relived a few memories. Around this time last year, Zach was moving his belongings into my little Bellingham, WA apartment in preparation for our union. I remember feeling a calm anticipation for the change inching towards my life. I have had the most real and positive examples of marriage in my life; How could I see it as anything but a blessing and an adventure? I remember feeling a teaspoon of melancholy. Part of my story was about to alter (forever) and I wondered if I'd miss my single life. Four months prior, my best friend had given me a beautiful engagement ring. A style I had loved ever since I'd seen it on a vintage 1920s ring. He may have had my mom's help when having it designed. ;)
On the evening of October 4, 2012, Zach and I were driving to our hometown, Ephrata, WA. It was time to get married! Having driven about 3 out of 4.5 hours of the trip, my mom called me to make sure we had remembered the tuxes. Had it not been for her superb motherly instincts, we likely would have driven all the way before remembering that they were still hanging undisturbed in the closet in Bellingham. Let's just say that was a late night.
October 5, 2012: The night before my wedding. I slept in the guestroom of my parents' new home. The familiarities of childhood had already begun to transition out of my life (but not my memory). In a way, that realization gave me bravery for the landmark ahead. It had been a great night of rehearsal and reunion with friends and family. I went to sleep exhausted. But, surprisingly, there was a stillness in me that replaced the anxiety and jitters I expected to have. How could that have been anything but a peace from God, who had greatly and generously influenced this choice to make a covenant with my best friend?
I woke up way too early on October 6, 2012. My nine month old North Dakotan nephew, Declan, was functioning on the timeline of a different time zone. He was cooing and babbling and it made me smile in the 5 a.m. darkness. That morning was quiet - just how I like it. My dad brewed his tea like he does every morning. Maxwell, the La Plant family dog, lay comfortably on his bed. The pink and orange sunrise was like a painting through the living room windows. I took that as another gift from God who had ministered through beautiful country sunsets and sunrises during the Summers and Falls of my youth.
The morning included a trip to the hair salon with my bridesmaids, mom, lots of bobby pins, some hairspray and a perfectly placed vintage-inspired wedding hat. By the time we got back to the farm, the family, groom, groomsmen and photographers had trickled in. I had planned on doing my own makeup. But with so much going on around me, I ended up needing my sister's help. I have many memories of "prettying up" in a small bathroom with my mom and sister. This moment brought joy and relaxation.
While my bridesmaids got dressed in the basement, I had the help of my lovely Mother of the Bride, sister and wedding organizer, Jan.
Then it was onto the first look...
Fellow introverts may relate. While I am so happy we had a great photographers (and friends) to document our day, I got a little overwhelmed by the attention. I was glad to be surrounded by Zach, my family and friends as they helped ease my camera discomfort.
My two precious nephews met each other for the first time that weekend. My older brother, Tyler, with his son, Colton, and my older sister, Nicole, with her son, Declan.
We left for the church. When I think about the rest of the day, I realize it was much more modest than a lot of weddings these days. There was no dinner, no toasts, no dancing, a relatively quick ceremony and an old-fashioned cake and punch reception. Sometimes, I think back to things I had wanted in my wedding day that hadn't been able to happen or things I wish I had thought of. But then, I remember that my wedding was full of simple, personal details and good things that I treasure: A dress I loved, a typewriter guest book, our wedding favors: pencils with our names and wedding date etched in them, the most delicious and lovely cake I'd ever tasted, stunning white roses, my dear friend Libby playing the piano, the best wedding "sermon" I'd ever heard (thanks to our friend, Tom Stredwick), and the presence of so many people who love us. Above all, we had planned this day so people from every stage of our lives could gather as we made a promise.
At 1:00 p.m., dad walked me down the aisle to a beautiful song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-4wUfZD6oc).
Zach and I are convinced we have the greatest grandparents to walk the earth. They have enriched our lives in many ways and we were thrilled to have their love and support at our wedding.
The ceremony ended and the reception began. There were many faces, hugs, smiles and words of encouragement.. Family and friends who had shared life with us since birth. Friends we had met in grade school (I was friends with Dylan first!). Teachers who meant the world to us. College friends and roommates. Family from other states. Church family from Ephrata and Bellingham. Coworkers from jobs in Ephrata and Bellingham. God surely lavished us with the presence of these people.
Things seemed to naturally end around 4 p.m. People said goodbye to us, the chairs in the reception hall were loaded, some groomsmen had changed out of their tuxes, my baby nephews were getting tired. We left in our newly decorated car.
Instead of driving straight to Seattle, we reconvened at my parents home with my immediate family (though we missed having Zach's there). We ate, recalled the day's events and opened some gifts. Holding the cash and checks we'd received as gifts, I exclaimed, "I feel like a bootlegger's wife!" It's a quote from one of my favorite movies, It's a Wonderful Life. And I'd hoped for a chance to say it on my wedding day.
We left for Seattle and a great honeymoon in Maui.
It's the day before our anniversary. I'm looking through photos, reading my wedding day memories that I've documented and remembering the beauty and emotions of that day. I'm also alone today. Due to a family emergency, Zach has been gone this weekend. He will fly back to LA tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow night, we will eat fancy Armenian food (http://www.raffisplace.com/) and celebrate our first year together, God's goodness, and all the crazy changes the past 12 months have brought.
Happy first year anniversary to us!
