Flashback Friday - The Wedding

Oh, how I love the Flashback Fridays.  

I have previously written posts on The Meeting and The Proposal.  Since our one year wedding anniversary is quickly approaching, I thought it appropriate to capture the event in this Flashback Friday. 

Mr. Peters and I were married on Sunday, August 1, 2010 in Port Gamble, WA at the Hood Canal Vista Pavilion.  The location was on the water, and gave us the chance to have the wedding ceremony and reception at the same place.  When we first started looking for venues, we had some ideas in mind, but as soon as we saw this place - we knew we had found our spot.

The bridesmaids and I got ready at the Oxford Suites in Silverdale in Ryan's and my wedding night suite.  It was big and there was enough room for all of us to cram into and get ready.  At one point during the morning I heard a knock on the door and opened it to see Ryan's best men, Neil and Jeremy standing with flowers, balloons and a card.  They were all from Ryan, not them.  It was a great start to the morning and caught me completely by surprise.

I should insert here that we had a lot of out-of-town guests since Ry's family and friends are all from Illinois.  Ryan pretty much had a four day bachelor party with all his buddies, full of beer drinking, golf, and just enjoying his last few days of bachelor-hood.  Needless to say I hadn't seen much of him in the days leading up to the big day, so the flowers and balloons were a good sign to me that he was thinking of me, and hadn't forgotten I existed.

Anyway, the ladies and I got ready at the hotel, while the boys got ready up at the wedding site.  Some part of me felt comforted knowing that they were up there way before the ceremony.  Ryan has his own sense of time and I was afraid he and the fellas would saunter in for pictures whenever... So I was sure to tell him to be up there and ready 30 minutes before he really needed to be. 

We decided to do a "first look" before the ceremony - just to get pictures and all that fuss out of the way so we could cruise from the ceremony and right into the reception.  I was so nervous to see him.  My knees were shaking and so was the rest of me.  Looking back, I would have been a complete mess had we not seen each other until I was walking down the aisle.

I couldn't believe how early the wedding guests started to trickle in.  The ceremony was to begin at 4:00, and come 3:15 - I had to be hidden away... In the handicapped stall of the bathroom, no less. 

That wasn't awkward.  OK, yes it was.

The ceremony went off without a hitch.  A family friend of my side officiated the ceremony and was incredibly wonderful.  After our kiss and she pronounced us "Mr. and Mrs." three eagles flew over us.  I think Ryan and I both thought that the crowd was oooing and awwwing at us - but we were wrong.  

The reception was a blast, and so nice that we didn't even have to go anywhere.  It was at the reception that I realized our wedding cake was blue and not the arranged dark purple.  Needless to say I was a little shocked at the sight of a blue cake, but then I figured that if the cake color was the biggest hiccup - then I should just be thankful and move on. 

Lots of dancing and laughing went on, love was truly in the air and I would not change a thing.  It was the most memorable day of my life, and I am so happy that I've been able to call Ryan my husband for the past year.  He truly is a wonderful man, and one of a kind.  He lights up my life and brings me more peace and joy than I ever thought possible.  I cannot wait to celebrate this day for many, many, many more years.

Now, prepare for picture overload.

Maria trying to make me puurdy

The Future Mrs. Peters

Salsbury Park

Salsbury Park; Hood Canal

Ry-Guy gettin' all fancy

Ryan helping Danny

Ryan helping Joshy clean up

Handsome fella

Boys will be boys

Post-first look

Happy, happy, happy

Restored fire station

Love this

Me and my bridesmaids

With Mom and Daddio

Haas Family

Peters Family

So silly

I love Rachy

Webb and Peters

Ryan with his sisters

Daddio walking me down the aisle

Mom, Dad and Franky Baby

Laughing about something

Best. Day. Ever!

Hopefully he concurs

With the groomsmen

Dancing our first dance

Love the twirling

Blue cake

Kennedy and Joshy

Father-Daughter Dance

Mother-Son Dance

Kennedy dancing with her favorite guy

Jump for joy!

Groovin'

More groovin'

Dads

Mmmmm.... Beer

Throwing the bouquet

Ryan taking the garter... Awkward

Ry's cousin Jeremy caught it!

Sunset on a perfect day

Take Luck,

LP