Allow me to introduce you to one of my favorite Mama bloggers. Becky is from the blog, From Mrs. to Mama. She is mom to sweet little 21-month old Elliana, and now she is expecting her second baby...a little boy. I enjoy reading her weekly pregnancy updates and hearing all about Elli's adventures. Becky is also having an awesome giveaway this week. The winner gets:
- 16x20 canvas voucher with free shipping {$120.00}
- 1 Month LARGE Ad space {$40.00 value}
- $10.00 Starbucks gift card
- Blog makeover
Here is a link-up to her blog!
Show and Tell Monday
Wedding Bells Ringing
Are you married? If so when did you get married, and tell us about your special day. If not? How would you describe your dream wedding?
I have been married to my best friend, JB for almost 3 years. He makes me laugh, smile, and appreciate our life together everyday. We got married on September 12, 2009 at the St. Clement's Castle in Portland, CT. Neither of us are from Connecticut, so some called it a "destination wedding" of sorts---just the kind without the sunshine. We chose the location, because it was halfway between New Jersey (where I grew up) and Boston (where the Mr. grew up). Now, about our special day...Here is a picture of where we were supposed to get married in a beautiful sunken garden outside the castle.
This picture was actually taken the day before our wedding. Beautiful right? Mother nature didn't agree with our plans that day. When we arrived at the castle, it had just finished downpouring, but looked like it might actually clear up. So, we made the "go-time" decision to stick with our original plan and have the wedding outside. We had a backup plan in case it started to rain. All of our guests started to arrive by bus from the hotel where everyone was staying. The weather looked threatening, but the musical quartet kept playing and the show went on. The guests were all seated on the chairs on the lawn, and JB and his guys made their way down the aisle. Then, the grandparents made their entrance and my (now) mother-in-law made hers. At this point, I was walking from the castle with my bridal party and parents toward the lawn. All of a sudden the skies opened up, and it started to POUR.
I have been married to my best friend, JB for almost 3 years. He makes me laugh, smile, and appreciate our life together everyday. We got married on September 12, 2009 at the St. Clement's Castle in Portland, CT. Neither of us are from Connecticut, so some called it a "destination wedding" of sorts---just the kind without the sunshine. We chose the location, because it was halfway between New Jersey (where I grew up) and Boston (where the Mr. grew up). Now, about our special day...Here is a picture of where we were supposed to get married in a beautiful sunken garden outside the castle.
This picture was actually taken the day before our wedding. Beautiful right? Mother nature didn't agree with our plans that day. When we arrived at the castle, it had just finished downpouring, but looked like it might actually clear up. So, we made the "go-time" decision to stick with our original plan and have the wedding outside. We had a backup plan in case it started to rain. All of our guests started to arrive by bus from the hotel where everyone was staying. The weather looked threatening, but the musical quartet kept playing and the show went on. The guests were all seated on the chairs on the lawn, and JB and his guys made their way down the aisle. Then, the grandparents made their entrance and my (now) mother-in-law made hers. At this point, I was walking from the castle with my bridal party and parents toward the lawn. All of a sudden the skies opened up, and it started to POUR.
One of the staff members picked me up in a golf cart, and everyone else ran for the hills. JB says that all he saw was me fleeing the scene in a white dress and veil. Sounds like every groom's worst nightmare, right? Once inside, we all gathered in the ladies room to assess the situation.
Show us some wedding pictures. Either yours or of some that you love.
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| Our florist did a beautiful job---one of my favorite parts of our wedding day. |
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| My gorgeous bridal party |
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| One of our first pictures as Mr. and Mrs. |
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| All of our wedding guests |
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| My hubby the rock star joined the band for some Journey...I rocked out. |
Show us your wedding rings or an engagement photo! If not engaged/married ... show us your "dream" ring.
We had been talking about marriage for a while, and even gone ring shopping together a few times. JB tells people that he originally thought I wanted a simple solitaire. However, when shopping I said, "but it looks so lonely by itself". "How about a few extra diamonds on the side?" Good thing he took me with him! He had my ring custom made in Boston at Descenza Diamonds in Boston. It is dainty, antique-looking, and ornate in design...and I love it. This is a picture of my engagement ring taken in Iceland.
Here is a picture of my engagement ring with wedding bands. We had the one band made for the wedding ceremony, and the Hubs surprised me with another one for the other side as a wedding gift. I didn't get the third one until after we returned from our honeymoon. It looks finished now.
Tell us why you think marriage doesn't work out for so many? What can we do to make things last?
I think it is really sad that marriage doesn't work out for so many people. We have several friends whose weddings we have attended over the past 5 years, and they are already divorced. I know that the decision to divorce must have been so difficult and painful for them. Marriage isn't easy. Sometimes people get married for the wrong reasons. Some people don't have the honest discussions about the future that they should be having before the wedding. Some people think they can change their future spouse. I think it's important to know that you should love and accept the person you are choosing to be with for the rest of your life before making that life commitment. Sure there are going to be things that you wish you could change about a person. But, if those things are deal-breakers (too big too look past), then you shouldn't be getting married. How do you make things last? Have fun together. Be spontaneous. Talk openly about things that bother you--preferably before they bottle up and you explode. Make plans together for the future. Having kids is something that puts a strain on a lot of relationships. We've talked a lot about this as we are expecting our first little one in a month. Before deciding to start our family, we talked a lot about how we need to make sure that we have a strong relationship (first and foremost). This is why we waited almost three years before starting a family. We wanted to spend time together--traveling, doing things for ourselves, splurging on things. We've discussed the need to still have "us" time and "us" vacations to make sure that we don't forget about "us" after the baby is here. Luckily, we have grandparents, siblings, and friends who will be more than willing to help us by watching little Dudley Farkle so we can do these things. **Don't worry--that's not his real name. Just trying it out! I think marriage is a wonderful thing--we have so many excellent examples of positive marriages in our life, and I hope that will only make us stronger as a couple in the future.
I think it is really sad that marriage doesn't work out for so many people. We have several friends whose weddings we have attended over the past 5 years, and they are already divorced. I know that the decision to divorce must have been so difficult and painful for them. Marriage isn't easy. Sometimes people get married for the wrong reasons. Some people don't have the honest discussions about the future that they should be having before the wedding. Some people think they can change their future spouse. I think it's important to know that you should love and accept the person you are choosing to be with for the rest of your life before making that life commitment. Sure there are going to be things that you wish you could change about a person. But, if those things are deal-breakers (too big too look past), then you shouldn't be getting married. How do you make things last? Have fun together. Be spontaneous. Talk openly about things that bother you--preferably before they bottle up and you explode. Make plans together for the future. Having kids is something that puts a strain on a lot of relationships. We've talked a lot about this as we are expecting our first little one in a month. Before deciding to start our family, we talked a lot about how we need to make sure that we have a strong relationship (first and foremost). This is why we waited almost three years before starting a family. We wanted to spend time together--traveling, doing things for ourselves, splurging on things. We've discussed the need to still have "us" time and "us" vacations to make sure that we don't forget about "us" after the baby is here. Luckily, we have grandparents, siblings, and friends who will be more than willing to help us by watching little Dudley Farkle so we can do these things. **Don't worry--that's not his real name. Just trying it out! I think marriage is a wonderful thing--we have so many excellent examples of positive marriages in our life, and I hope that will only make us stronger as a couple in the future.
4 comments:
It sounds like the rain added a sense of whimsy to your whole wedding day! I love when brides are relaxed about the little things that "go wrong", because the truth of the matter is that the whole day is really about your lifetime of marriage, not the wedding itself :)
Oh man, the simple fact of weather is the reason I refused to have an outdoor wedding, no matter how much my aunt tried to talk me into it. But it's true that having weather catastrophe make a really great wedding story in the years to come!
I am especially impressed by your enaggement story and how your groom proposed to you at the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. 95 degrees in the water and 20 degrees and snowing outside - Now that's original. :-)
I love your wedding colors!
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