When nothing else matters....

I think there comes a point at every couple's wedding when you reach the point where nothing else matters but making it down that aisle. Everything that can be done is done and everything that isn't done will have to be omitted.

The septic issue and the delayed shower were minor. Not having a beach wedding and having to set up in the living room of the house was the last thing on my mind. When people started coming to my room telling me that there was smoke in the kitchen and the fire alarm was going off...I didn't flinch. I think I growled a little when my uncle started playing with our MP3 player that was set to play for the wedding and when we were ready to walk out and G's parents informed me that G's brother-in-law was still in the shower....but deep down I really didn't care. I would have gladly walked down with no music and I really didn't care who was there and who wasn't. All I wanted to do at that point was marry G.

Here are a few photos I took before the photographer arrived. You'll have to wait and see the ceremony photos she took. :)

Oh Glorious Sunday.

Saturday night was a rough night. A nor'easter was hitting the coast and the wind blowing against the house was so loud. I was on the third floor with my sister's girls and could actually feel the house moving with the wind.

Early Sunday morning, G's mom went out on the porch...thinking someone had left their sweatshirt. What she was seeing was me hanging over the balcony taking photos of the sunrise.

Wouldn't you?

As beautiful as it was, it was troubling to see that the beach was underwater and the dunes were washing away. We would have to go to Plan B. Oh the best-laid plans...... :)

Slowly everyone started coming out of their rooms.

The groom doesn't look too nervous on his wedding day. :)

We had asked my dad to have a devotion with all of us Sunday morning. It was nice...but trying to keep all the kids still and quiet was interesting. :)

Remember I mentioned the septic system in an earlier post? Well, when everyone went to get showers we heard this loud alarm going off. The septic system was full and needed to be pumped. As people were arriving for the wedding, they were greeted by a sewage truck and a not-so-sweet aroma. YUCK! I was finally able to shower around 2:30....the photographer would arrive at 3:00....wedding at 4:00. And the tank was pumped just in time. As G always says, "It'll all work out".

Arrive. Unpack. Prepare.

We pulled into the driveway, followed by my parents who also had my grandma with them. T was riding with G's parents so we had a few hours to unpack before he would arrive. My original PLAN was to check-in at 4:00, assign rooms and then my mom and I would do a grocery run. However, I didn't realize how long it would take to unpack and before we knew it it was getting late and we still hadn't been to the grocery store.

By 9:00 PM everyone who was staying that night had arrived. G went with his mom and dad to the grocery store...carrying my list of about 100 items. :) My mom and I spent most of the night unpacking and making food for the reception.

T was in heaven with all of his cousins....all 5 of them. Here are a few photos from our first night together.

The best-laid plans of mice and men....

If you know the quote, then you'll probably guess how this story goes. But this is the beginning of our wedding story. I'm not sure how long it will take me to tell the story from beginning to end....there are 4 memory cards of photos to incorporate...but here we go:

In February of 2006 G swept me off to Charleston, SC where he proposed to me (you'll get the 'how we met' story later). The PLAN was to present the ring to me on the balcony of the hotel where we were staying. But in keeping with the title of this post, there happened to be two older women playing Scrabble on the balcony and I was in my room running a fever and feeling pretty darn close to death. So the next best thing he could do was plant the ring in my makeup bag....knowing that I almost always wear makeup when we go away. It worked...I cried....and forced myself out of bed and we had a wonderful day in Charleston. I'd share photos from this trip, but that was almost 2 years ago and we're talking about last week.....

So we started planning a wedding. At first it was to be a big wedding....150+ people....in the backyard of the Jernigan House Bed and Breakfast. We struggled through the planning process.....not really getting anywhere and not feeling very excited about the whole deal. During our vacation to Duck, NC this year we picked up a vacation home rental book. One day G came to me and proposed the idea of a beach wedding. It would be a private wedding....family-only...and we would rent an oceanfront home where we would have the wedding and then stay for our honeymoon. For the first time in the planning process, we were both excited.

Our original wedding date was Saturday, October 18, however due to check-ins being on Saturday, we would have to move the date to Sunday, October 19. My parents' preacher agreed to marry us and drive the distance after morning worship to do so.

We researched and toured several houses until we found the "perfect" house. In selecting a home, we quickly learned that only the larger homes were approved for special events due to septic capacities (a little foreshadowing here). So we decided that if we had to rent a 7+ bedroom for a week we could invite our family to honeymoon with us. Afterall, we already had T in the picture who we didn't want to leave behind for a week. What's another 16 people?

So on October 18, 2008 we checked in at the Beach House II in Duck, NC.

Hitched.

Stay tuned for details.....

It's Blue!

Same guy from yesterday....just not so sleepy. :)

This is Devin. You may remember him from the session we did in August. He is so much fun and I was thrilled when his mom said she wanted to have photos done of him in his Halloween costume! When she said that he was going to be Blue from Blue's Clues I knew I had to go in search of a Blues Clues chair! And can I just say....his mom MADE this costume!! I was so impressed....I can't even sew a straight line.

Enjoy!

And a couple of him as a fireman...

Done.

I love it when I get the chance to take pictures of children. They are so fun to work with! You've seen this little guy before, but he came in again this week for some Halloween photos. We got some really cute photos, but once he was done...he was DONE! And like most kids...he let me know. :) Keep checking back for the cute photos. Until then, I couldn't resist these. They crack me up!! :)

The Cutest Of Them All.

Can't share photos of a cute kid without sharing photos of the cutest kid. :) These were from last weekend. I really wanted to take more, but T had other ideas. :)

This weekend is a lazy weekend. Trying to take it easy before things get too crazy! In my mind it makes perfect sense for T to be in school all week and then come home for the weekend ready to play with his toys...something he doesn't get to do much of during the week. Once again, T has other ideas. :) Keeps me on my toes....literally.

I have officially started Christmas shopping. I bought a few things during the year for T, but I'm trying to get most things now. Once again...before things get too crazy! I don't like to start too late because I really like to think about what the person would want instead of grabbing the first thing I see (or the last thing on the shelf Christmas Eve). So the "most wonderful time of the year" officially starts......now! :)

Cute Kid Alert!

This little guy was at JW and Julie's wedding and I thought he was just the cutest! His name is Dawson and he didn't seem to mind me taking a few photos of him. :) He's so adorable that I thought he deserved his own blog post. :)

LRC Goes to the Country

A few months ago I got a call to do a "very simple, very country wedding". The bride (Julie) said it would be a very laid-back wedding at their home with just a few family and friends. As I crossed the state line into Virginia the road I was on basically turned into a one-lane road with no yellow or white lines. I wasn't real sure where I was going, but the ride was very scentic and pretty. I had no trouble finding their home and was amazed at how much work JW (the groom) and Julie had put into their landscaping.

I had a lot of fun at JW and Julie's wedding. They were so friendly and easy going. I never felt under pressure or stressed...I was just relaxed and comfortable! Julie's girls were so fun and we all just had a wonderful time!