The BIG Day

I woke up the morning of the wedding not really feeling any different than any other day, except I was in a hotel room with Emily instead of in my bed with John.
I got up and went down to get some continental breakfast and then read through my vows about 18 million times so just in case I lost the paper they were printed on I would have some idea of what I wanted to say.
Emily and I stayed at the hotel until around 12:30 because we didn't have to be to Millennial Falls until 2:00 and we just wanted to be lazy.
We went and picked up Nicole and headed to Millennial Falls to get ready to go. My friend Stacee had arranged to have her cousin do my hair and make-up, so she curled my hair and did my make-up while everyone else got ready to go.
Then it was time to put on the dress, which surprising took my mom, Morgan and Whitney to get the buttons on the halter part done up. The whole time my dad is saying, "It's after 3, let go take pictures." Because I had told him the plan was to get ready and take pictures at 3 p.m.
When I was finally dressed and ready to go I had everyone else go outside so just John and I could see each other for the first time that day. Of course we both cried a little but the look on John's face when I came down the stairs was so cute!
Then it was picture taking time. It was HOT!! Like 95 degrees, so we were all sweating and trying not to melt while we took pictures. I wanted to get as many pictures taken as possible before the wedding so we would have plenty of time to talk with people after the wedding and not have to worry about taking a million more photos. A few people arrived early so we wrapped up pictures and the girls went back upstairs to cool off and wait until it was time for the ceremony to start.
Now I was starting to get a little nervous but it wasn't until about 5 minutes before the ceremony when my dad came upstairs to see if I was ready that I got really nervous. He was crying and that of course made me cry and I got a huge knot in my stomach, it was finally here!!
My dad went back downstairs and I waited as my bridesmaids made there way down the aisle with the groomsmen.
Then it was McKenna's turn. She was so cute. I couldn't hear what she was saying but I could hear people laughing so I know she was being cute. As I was waiting to come down the aisle I saw her trying to pick the flowers back up because she had ran out.
My dad and I arrived at the front and he handed me off to John and it was ceremony time! Mack did a really nice job with the ceremony, right in the middle of his little speech a duck from the waterfall behind us decided to fly over which was kind of funny.
I read my vows and cried of course and then John read his vows and I was so impressed!! I had been bothering him for weeks about writing them and was worried he wasn't going to do it (because he kept saying he didn't want to) or that they were going to be silly but they were honestly so good and so sweet and I still carry the copy of them around in my purse. I am hoping to frame both of our vows with our Marriage Certificate someday when I get around to it.
We exchanged rings and kissed and that was it! We were married. I forgot to get my bouquet from Emily before I headed back up the aisle, oops and as we were walking back up the aisle McKenna comes running out to John and yells, "That is MY prince," and grabbed onto his leg. So she walked with us back inside. Everyone else followed and their were hugs and congratulations and then dinner.
Dinner was amazing, we had stuffed chicken and roast potatoes and salad and rolls, I wish I had eaten more because it was so good!
Halfway through dinner McKenna comes running up and said something I couldn't quite understand it took me several minutes to figure it out but our reception host had given me the microphone so we could do speeches when we were ready and McKenna wanted to say "Ladies and Gentlemen" in the microphone, where she learned to do that I don't know but when it was time to give speeches I let her say it and it was so cute. Emily and Orisis both gave awesome little toasts and John and I walked around talking to each table.
Then the reception started and we took a few more pictures and some other friends and family came to offer their congratulations. Then we danced!
Again while John and I were dancing McKenna informed me that John was "her prince" and danced with us. Then when it was time for me to dance with my dad McKenna stomped her little foot and pointed at me and said, "Paige, that Nanna's Prince."
I danced to "Thank You For Loving Me," by Bon Jovi with my dad and it was perfect. He cried again, which of course made me cry again (thank goodness for waterproof mascara) but it was so sweet to see him get so emotional.
We cut the cake, no shoving it in the faces though! I didn't want frosting all over so we played nice. And then the real party began, we danced and had a great time. Even my Grandpa John got in on shaking it!
Before I knew it it was time to go home! I changed out of my dress and John and I got in our fancy rental car and were off to the hotel, which when we arrived were surprised with a big suite with a big jet tub! In our car Millennial Falls had left a gift bag with all of our desserts and pieces of wedding cake to snack on, so I had wedding cake for breakfast the next morning.
All in all it was an amazing day! And I am so thankful for all the friends and family that came and supported John and I and made everything so special.