Our Wedding

OK, again LONG overdue! I think that’s becoming a catch phrase for my blog. As I’m sure everyone know by now Nathan and I semi eloped July 21^st 2011. Several months prior to our wedding we had made very last minute plans to go see my Na-Na and other Bama family because we had just found out that my Na-Na had cancer and may not make it so we figured we would stop out in Oklahoma to see grandma and grandpa too. Nathan and I actually got engaged 1-11-11 at Grandma Grandpa’s house so that’s how the crazy idea got started. We thought it would be great to get married in the same place that we got engaged AND it was perfect because it being Grandma and Grandpas it was that much more meaningful.

We planned the whole thing in maybe two months. From the begging we knew we wanted something very small and quaint. No big hoopla, not a lot of people, no uptight dinner, just something stress free that made it easy for Nathan and I to just focus on each other, after all that is what a wedding is about, two people becoming one and promising themselves to each other forever. I think a lot of wedding have so much stress and chaos over dresses, family, what food will be served and what will the cake look like that often couples lose sight of the reason that they were having a wedding to begin with. The vows are for us, the other stuff is really for everyone else.

It was PERFECT! Exactly what we wanted! Two nights prior Sheila had asked to take the kids for the day so Nathan and I took advantage of the day tying up loose ends. Sheila had asked if she could do something special for us which I thought was so sweet of her. We had told everyone not to do anything that we didn’t want any elaborate dinner or celebration and they stuck to that well! Te day of Nathan, the kids and I spent the day slowly getting ready. It was so nice being so laid back. I mean we didn’t even pick the spot in the yard where we wanted to have the ceremony till just before. Its several acres of farm land and we didn’t know where the shade would be so we just waited too around that time. We picked a spot overlooking the grassy hills with some cows in the distance. We set the arch up under a tall tree. It was PERFECT!! It was hot that day but I swear as soon as we headed out side in became overcast. I had shoes to wear but not wanting to step in stickers I opted for my sneakers. Nathan laughed at me and said they were my running shoes.

I left Maureen in charge of sitting with the kids during the ceremony but I told her to just let them be them. I wanted everything to showcase us and how we were as a family, even if that meant Ridge carry his bear down the aisle or jazzy yell back to me and Jayvin as we walked crossed the dive driveway down to the arch “look both ways”. They all sat very quietly though. As Nathan took my hand Ridge decided that daddy was getting to close so he became a bit jealous (as he often does) so he took action. Ridge walked over, bear in hand and stepped right between Nathan and I. he looked at Nathan and then wrapped himself around my legs for the remainder of the ceremony. It had to be the cutest thing.

The ceremony took all of 20 mins and then we were done. Sheila had the kids surprise us with rice bag to throw at us as we walked back to the house. The second we went inside I made sure everyone was done taking pictures and then changed into some shorts and a tank top (classy I know). Sheila and Maureen had prepared some chicken salad sandwiches for dinner, very simple and we ate standing up. PERFECT!! Then we enjoyed the cupcakes that the kids had made while at Sheila’s it was a great surprise……… and that was it really. Like I said simple, pretty, intimate and…… PERFECT!!

Nathan and I decided not to get our wedding license in Ok since we wanted it where we lived and to be honest we wanted to enjoy our time out there not worry about having to go to the court house. So about 3 days after we got back to Az we went to the court house up here and signed our certificate. It was actually funny because the judge who signed our certificate was a judge Nathan knew all too well lol. Back in Nathans rebellious days he had got into some trouble a few times. The judge that completed our certificate was a judge Nathan had seen about 3 times. We joked on the way home “well at least it wasn’t a complete stranger who re married us… so that’s significant” a joke that not many other people would probably find funny (unless maybe you’re my mom who thought it was hilarious…. Or my aunt, uncle, cousins, ok probably my whole family cause that just the way we are) lol.

Anyways here are some pre wedding pics and some of the big day!