Glorious

Moments that stand out:

Waking up after a restless night to the sunniest, most cloudless-blue-sky morning I've ever seen. Being so awed and grateful for such exquisite weather.

My mom making me green tea and scrambled eggs with spinach for breakfast, and having me to sit down and peel some peaches for her when I started nervously fussing around. Later that day, my mom bringing in lit candle and a bud vase filled with extra flowers from my bouquet to the bathroom where I was doing my makeup.

Driving up past all our guests who were walking from the parking area, and having the best man blow me a kiss when he realized I was in that car.

Walking down the aisle and being so eager to get to Chris, and my dad gently pulling my arm, telling me to slow down and let everyone look at me.

Looking at our minister, Steph, during her message, and feeling like my vision was hazed over--then looking back at Chris through a literal rosy glow, like a soft lens filter in a movie from the '70s. Feeling oddly like the three of us were in a golden bubble.

Old-fashioned bi-planes from the Flying Circus on the farm next door buzzing overhead during my vows, and saying them anyway though I knew no one but Chris and Steph would hear me, because I didn't want Chris to have to wait.

Being taken by surprise by the birdseed pelting, even though I made up all the bags.

Having so much fun taking photographs after the ceremony--one of my favorite hours of the wedding. Who knew?

Our first dance, to a song we switched to the day of the wedding. So pretty. Surprised at how short it seemed. And, later that night and all day today, having that song and all the ones we danced to run through my head like a soundtrack.

The toasts, which were so ... beautiful ... a word that doesn't seem strong enough.

Dancing with my brother, sister, and bridesmaids to a song I don't remember; being so joyful to see everyone having so much fun.

Late in the evening, glancing past the dance floor into the kitchen and seeing one of the catering staff dancing around by herself to "Twist and Shout."

Rounding the corner after our exit to "The Ballad of John and Yoko" only to find our friends from New York shaving-creaming our car.

Saying "my husband" to the hotel lobby clerk.



It was the most wonderful day and the most perfect wedding ... I am so happy. Now we are off to France. Thank you so much to all of you for reading, and to all of you who made the day what it was--you know who you are.

Love love love.

Countdown.

Our photographer just relaunched her website. It looks amazing! Check it out.

As well as being talented, she is such a sweet lady; we met with her on the Sunday after my bridal shower, just a few hours after Herriot was put to sleep. She was so kind about the fact that I was a teary mess. She's also the person who told us about our location in the first place. I highly recommend her to DC area brides. Kristen Gardner at http://www.kristengardner.com/.

We're down into the single digits...nine days to go.

Smell you later.

I have a kind of bad memory, which is to say I can remember all sorts of inconsequential things (such as when we are driving through Chris's hometown this weekend and we look down toward the bagel place and Chris goes "Oh look, there's Liev Schreiber. And that chick he's married to." and I say, "Naomi Watts. They're not married. They have two kids, Sasha and Sam." It's like, why does that garbage take up space in my head while when my sister will say, "Remember when we were kids and we played ___" [see, I can't even remember the EXAMPLE] and I'll have no idea.

What was I talking about?

Oh, right. I don't remember things very well. But we were visiting Chris's mom this weekend and I stole a little bit of her Crabtree & Evelyn shampoo and the smell right away took me back to my childhood bedroom. Crazy painted walls with brushstrokes in mint, peach, pink, yellow. My Ikea dresser top, with its lace doily. On top of the dresser, two little talcum powders that my aunt had brought me from Crabtree & Evelyn. Smelling exactly like the shampoo. Which is to say, delectable.

Isn't it so amazing how one little smell will transport you so instantly?

Another example: certain deoderants take you right back to the summer you used them. Secret Powder Fresh: high school summer working at Wolf Trap. Teen Spirit: freshman year of college. Etc.

Twelve days to go to the wedding and I alternate between on the one hand zen and excited and on the other to having crazy nightmares, literally. (Saturday night: dress nightmare. Sunday night: rings nightmare.) Overall, I really can't wait. But my posts from now through my return in October may be just as disjointed as this one, I'll warn you now.

In conclusion, Chris has been watching Dollhouse for work, and it's a really terrible show. It manages to rip off two of my faves, Alias and Dark Angel ... ripping off all their worst qualities, that is. Remember Eliza Dushku in Bring It On? Yeah, apparently that was the best performance of her career. Dude. Geez. Awful.

Oh, Internets.

I had to leave a response to a question my cousin asked me on Facebook, and on her Facebook page she had voted "No" in a "Will you reelect Obama?" poll, and I couldn't help it, I clicked "Yes," and now it shows up on my wall for all my conservative relatives to see, and my wedding is in two weeks and a day. Gahhh.

I had an awesome time in the Twin Cities--speaking of Facebook, I'm waiting for a certain person (Sarah) to post pics to Facebook so I can provide hilarious recaps.