Wedding Week: Our Ceremony Part 2

Our ceremony was a traditional Methodist ceremony without song and had one reading that I ended up finding and thought it was the PERFECT piece to have read to us by one of my dearest friends of life. We pretty much followed the outline for the Methodist ceremony to a T, with the giving away of the bride from her parents and a blessing from the congregation and the Lord's Prayer at the end which was one of my favorite parts. So let's see some of the action shall we?!

 My mom and my brother looking very dapper.

One of the cutest things you ever did see! 
The flower girls walking right up to their uncle! 

And then it was my turn!! EEK! I literally shook the whole time down the aisle squeezing my poor dad's arm with excitement and anticipation. A few tears welled up in my eyes as I focused only on my husband to be who was smiling radiantly at me. One of the things I remember most is that I didn't notice ANYONE other than hubby during that whole ceremony except for a look at the reverend and my friend Lee during the reading. I wish I had caught a glimpse of my mom at least!

I loved getting the opportunity to have a blusher veil, it wasn't something we planned on but I'm glad it worked out in the end that I went with a multilayer veil. Love the added drama a blusher adds. Also once my father gave me away, I started to lose my cool. I definitely teared up a bit when my daddy kissed my check to say goodbye to his little girl. It was such an emotional experience. I knew I'd probably be somewhat of a mess but I was hoping to keep it all together, but I heard that a few people also wear tearing up too!

 

Like I mentioned before my dear friend, Lee, read a reading by James Dillet Freeman called "Blessing for a Marriage" and it goes like this:

May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you also patience, tolerance, and understanding.

May you always need one another - not so much to fill your emptiness as to help you to know your fullness. A mountain needs a valley to be complete; the valley does not make the mountain less, but more; and the valley is more a valley because it has a mountain towering over it. So let it be with you and you.

May you need one another, but not out of weakness.

May you want one another, but not out of lack.

May you entice one another, but not compel one another.

May you embrace one another, but not out encircle one another.

May you succeed in all important ways with one another, and not fail in the little graces.

May you look for things to praise, often say, "I love you!" and take no notice of small faults.

If you have quarrels that push you apart, may both of you hope to have good sense enough to take the first step back.

May you enter into the mystery which is the awareness of one another's presence - no more physical than spiritual, warm and near when you are side by side, and warm and near when you are in separate rooms or even distant cities.

May you have happiness, and may you find it making one another happy.

            May you have love, and may you find it loving one another.

I absolutely LOVED this reading and thought it was perfect for us. I loved the words and how it sounded coming from someone else. It flowed so freely. 
We also asked our reverend to elaborate on two of our favorite bible verses instead of having someone else read them because we preferred the word of God coming from him.
 
Ecclesiastes 4: 9-1

⁹ Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰ If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.

Colossians 3:12-17

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Finally it was time to exchange vows.. And BOY was this emotional!! Hubby started his first and while he was repeating the vows my eyes started to well up with emotion and tears from his words and by the final vow that he had to say, he choked up too with tears in his eyes and a quiver in his throat. It was a beautiful, memorable moment that I'll never forget. Probably my favorite moment of the day. It was just so real, raw and beautiful.

Our reverend was a family friend of hubby that blessed our marriage and I was so glad he did. He gave a short homily and it was beautiful and funny at the same time. Hubby is a golf pro and so his homily included references to golf that were humorous and fun as well as memorable so I really appreciated his time and effort into crafting a beautiful ceremony for us. I loved that he wanted to hold our hands and bless them in the name of God and our family and friends. It was beautiful.

Then it was time to seal it with a kiss!

And then we were pronounced husband and wife! Love our enthusiasm in this photo below.

You may remember a while back how I posted about our ceremony "surprise", the a cappella group from NC State singing "Stand by Me" to signify our exit as husband and wife. Here are the photos but be sure to catch the video here again!

 

I think this may be my favorite photo from the wedding!

 And we're hitched y'all!!!

In case you missed it:

Wedding Video!

Bridal Luncheon

Rehearsal Dinner
Wedding Timeline
Getting Ready  
First Look

Portraits

Our Wedding Ceremony: Part 1

 

xoxo,
mrs. a.

Photographer: Meredith Perdue / Videographer: Simile Productions / Flowers: Aldena Frye / Hair: Kari Berry via Marigold Parlour / Makeup Artist: Fiquet Bailey Swain via Luxe Apothecary / Bride’s Gown: “Lauren" by Amsale / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin from Coplon's / Bride’s Earrings: ED-1D-261 by Bounkit from Coplon's / Bride’s Veil: Veils of Art via Etsy / Wedding Invitation: Palm Papers / Bridesmaid Dresses: “ G558C" and "G660C" in Charcoal by Amsale / Groom’s Attire: Custom Tuxedo by Indochino / Groom Bowtie: Ralph Lauren / Groomsmen Tuxedo: Vera Wang from Men's Warehouse  / Groom’s Cufflinks: Nordstrom