August.11.2007.

August 11th, 2007.

I woke up and ran a 5K with Mike and one of my bridesmaids and closest friends, Katie. I hadn't ran in weeks, but I wanted to do something that would get my mind off the fact that I was, oh, you know, WALKING DOWN THE AISLE at 2pm.

With a veil attached to a barrette clipped to my ponytail, I chugged slowly along 3.1 miles. After about 2.5 miles, Mike had finished and came back to finish with me. Sweaty and panting, I hugged Mike for the last time before we'd be standing on the altar.

The morning was slow-paced and enjoyable - Starbucks, hair dos, getting dressed at the church, and hanging out in the bride's room. I was unbelievably calm. A few of my aunts and cousins came in and talked while we waited. It wasn't rushed or crazy at all, just very calm and fun.

Then, the photographer came in (while little sister was getting changed!) and started snapping away.

Note: none of these pictures are from the photographer - he did his on real film (I was too much of an idiot realize that digital would TOTALLY be worth the extra $75. Whatever.)

With the flower girls and ring bearers. Mike's niece and nephew on the left, my cousins (slash godson!) on the right. I love little people.

Before I knew it - the procession had started. Mike walked down aisle with his parents, then the bridal party, then my parents and I came down. The part I had feared most - hundreds of people staring at me - was hardly awkward at all! It was the most wonderful experience in the world, in fact. Being surrounded by the smiling, beautiful faces of those I love most in the world was the most overwhelmingly wonderful sensation I've ever experienced.

Like these cute kids. :) Oh, cousins.

In the blink of an eye, the ceremony was over - I barely remember singing, or communion, or the whole ring thing. ("It's already time for that!?" I remember thinking). I do remember, however, that the priest never told us to kiss. So Mike just stole one anyway. ;-)

We hugged everyone and then came the bubble tunnel of loooove:

It was the yay! Go outside! Okay, now back inside to take pictures! Moment. {Looking at this, I'm reminded just HOW MUCH I loved those flowers. Mmm.}

After a picture taking marathon, with lots of lovely pictures that I wish I could show you, (Oh, wait! Here's one I showed you before.) we partied hard. (And by party hard? I mean dance like crazy. I consumed absolutely zero alcohol - minus a champagne toast, of course - at my wedding because I was too busy bustin' a move on the dance floor. All. Night. Long.)

Our reception was in a Serbian Orthodox Church Hall. It was a little dark, but LARGE - which was our primary requirement with my huge family. (We're talking over 100 relatives for me, alone.) A buffet dinner, homemade centerpieces and favors (a CD recorded by Mike), and designed-by-me invitations, programs, and seating cards made it an affordable BIG wedding Plus, I totally enjoyed all the designing and creativity!

Did I mention there were 35 children at our reception? Um, awesome. Kids always get the dance party started, baby.

My wonderful parents, who will be celebrating 25 years of marriage in October. (Twenty! Five!) Any ideas of what I should do for them!? Haha. No, seriously.

I told you I had a big family: My mom's side. Three baby boys have been added since then. :-P

Cutting the cake. The top of which we'll be eating today -yes, we okay, my MOM, really did save it.

For some reason, Tara (my sister and Maid of Honor), looks like she knows what I'm going to do... {This picture is totally blurry, but I love how you can see my little cousin looking around Tara...}

Psych! A twist on the traditional "feeding each other cake" routine.

My beautiful housemates from college. (Go Flyers!)

First dance. Song? The one Mike wrote when he first met me, then wrote the lyrics tow when proposed to me. He's cute like that.

You can see my ugly-yet-comfortable heels I changed into after the wedding. :) And that dress was my aunt's - it fit me like a glove. She'd had it altered for her wedding in 2001 (good thing she's also short and petite!). That free dress saved me a LOT of time and money. Woohoo for reusing!