I apologize in advance if there are typos, disjointed thoughts and pics that don’t load properly. It was a challenge for me to get back to blogging today, but was so ready to share some thoughts and photos, as well….
Wow. It has taken almost a week to get somewhat back to my normal self, after the incredibly magical wedding weekend. It was beyond my greatest expectations in basically every imaginable way.
From the moment we got to the Don Cesar on Thursday afternoon, love was in the air. From our quiet lunch with our new in-laws, LeeAnn and Gary, to seeing Kyle and Nicole walk onto the beach so smiley and sparkly, and then picking up Derek and Jolene and having dinner all together, we knew we were off to a great weekend. With NO hurricane threatening, we were weather happy, but the sunshiny blue skies and warm gulf waters were more than we could have hoped for. Just being with our 4 kids was something I waited over a year for and it made my heart sing.
Friday was amazing because we got to greet all our guests as they flew and drove in from places afar. Close family, great friends, all converging to celebrate together. As Kenny said, it was like a big chill weekend, only for the very best of occasions. Friday night was rehearsal dinner, but not before the kids called both sets of parents in for a little slice of quiet time, beautiful gifts and the expression of gratitude. It was very special. Then we were off to rehearse, before catching up with over 50 of our guests who had made it to the hotel by then. It was a wonderful night, on the beautiful 5th floor with the veranda over the beach. The sunsets were amazing every night! Being together with family and this group of “girls” was fabulous….
Saturday was filled with a lot of getting ready. Hair, makeup, photos, etc., The ceremony was perfect. Nicole looked just stunning as she made her way down the aisle. She truly was the Cinderella princess we all talked about for months. Since the ceremony was a no camera zone, I am awaiting the professional pictures of her walking down the aisle, but this beautiful shot of the couple was taken as the photographers stole them for some beautiful sunset shots.
So the wedding surely turned out to be the beautiful fairy tale night the kids dreamed of and planned for. Nicole’s dress, their ceremony, their first dance (a waltz to So This is Love from Cinderella), their beautiful bridal party, flowers, the guests, everything……..just one big LOVE fest………..
So with all the weeks of non sleep and all the anticipation and excitement and worrying, Mitch and I are definitely taking our time weaning from fairy tale back into reality. It’s taken quite a few days to process it all and there has been a lot of catching up on sleep, as well. I do have to say that a lesson (well quite a few) was relearned through all of this and that lesson is………expect the unexpected. But that’s a blog for a different day!
Wishing all my kids the happiness and love they so deserve, today and every day!