Happily After All: The Processional

The moms walked, in the unity candle was lit, and the aisle runner was laid.  It was finally time to get this show on the road!  We decided to have all of the groomsmen walk in with the bridesmaids because there was just no room for them to be up front, or for them to come halfway down the aisle to meet them.  So we all lined up outside in the hallway, and they entered in pairs.
First up was Katie and Russ.

Then it was Arin and Scott's turn.

After those two, Brianna and Eric followed.

And then it was onto Brittany and Joe, one of the best men and Mr. T's brothers.

And finally, the maid of honor, my sister Sam, and the other best man and Mr. T's brother, Jake.

Our pastor told us numerous times leading up to the wedding and during the rehearsal that the flower girl and ring bearer should walk in with Sam and Jake.  He kept saying that they were little and they might not do so well on their own.  That might be true, but that's what makes them so darn cute when they're coming down the aisle and looking for mommy or daddy.  I wanted to give them the spotlight and let them walk themselves down the aisle, so I pretended to agree with him, when all along I knew we would be doing it my way.  And yes, they didn't make it the whole way down, and my flower girl didn't carry her parasol, and she walked way faster than the ring bearer, but they were so cute that it didn't even matter.  I wasn't expecting a perfect performance, nor did I expect them to stand at the front of the church for the entire ceremony.  So they did a great job and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

I would have loved to watch them walk down the aisle, because there was some laughing and oohing going on, but I couldn't see them without stepping out into the doorway, and I wasn't ready for Mr. T to see me just yet.  I think he was ready to see me though!  So the organist cued up Bridal Chorus, or "Here Comes The Bride."  I decided to go very traditional when I picked this song to walk into.  And then it was time.

I think this might be the exact moment that I stepped into the doorway on my dad's arm.  I managed to keep everything about my attire for the day a complete secret from my almost husband.  He had absolutely no idea what the dress was going to look like, or how my hair was going to be done, or that I was wearing a veil in front of my face.  It was all a complete surprise to him, and I'm really glad I didn't give anything away.

When I think back on my walk up the aisle, sometimes I think it went incredibly quickly, like maybe we were walking too fast, and other times I remember it taking forever.  But either way, I made it to the front of the aisle where Mr. T was waiting for me.

Then it was time for my father to give me away.  They came up with a great hand off the night before at the rehearsal dinner, and they made sure to practice it multiple times to get it just right.  First, my dad lifted my veil over my face.

Then it was a kiss on the cheek and an "I love you Dad."

And then a handshake...

...that turned into a hug for his almost son-in-law.

And then on the release, they did a nice stealth move that placed me in Mr. T's arm.

And up to the altar we went to begin the ceremony!

Next up:  The Ceremony

Unless otherwise stated, all pictures are by Brandy Swartz of Photography by Brandy.

In case you've missed anything...

The Pre-Processional

The Church Details
Heading To The Church
Slipping Into My Dress

The Flowers

Getting Pretty
A Crazy Lady The Morning Of
Decorating the Reception Hall
Honoring Our Family
The Rehearsal

Dressing My Girls For Around $50 Each

Chartreuse [shar-trooz] -noun. 1. a clear light green, with a yellowish tinge.

Chartreuse is the name of the green I want. To explain to most people I tell them I don't want mint, or grass green, or kelly green, or clover or whatever other color greens exist. I tell them to think lime green but subdued, a not so bright, fluorescent jump at you lime, but kinda.

And so began the longest search of this whole wedding process. I was hoping to find semi-cheap dresses somewhere all my girls could go. Two are in Chicago during the school year, one in western IL, one in WI, and one in IA. So first I looked at David's Bridal. They definitely didn't have it. Then came the online searching and searching, and searching.... Bridal stores didn't turn up anything either.

Then one day I was looking on the website of the photographer I was hoping to have for my wedding. There they were!! My dream dresses were sitting there on the very first picture of her wedding section. Even better... it was the daughter of a woman my mom knows well through work. So she called her up and asked for the style and who made it.

Jim Hjelm Style JH5520 in "Kiwi"

And there was the color I had been searching for.

Only downside...it was going to cost them...big time!

I just couldn't do that to my girls. So we did the next best thing. We called up the mom again and asked if she could find out from her daughter if her girls would like to sell us the dresses. And guess what.....
They did!! We are in the process of collecting the dresses. We currently have 4 of the 6 available. All but one has been dry cleaned and are in excellent condition!! They all said if we pay them around $50 they'd be happy.

Then all the girls will need is some alterations which my mom's best friend is going to do for us!!
I'm so, so excited that I was able to find the color I wanted, and to imagine they were sitting in my own hometown =]

My Bridesmaids

I have the greatest friends. Really that's all there is to it. And everyone knows you have to have your best friends there for you on your wedding day. Asking these girls to be in my wedding party was a no brainer for me. In fact, after getting engaged and calling everyone to tell them the good news, I blurted out to each of them that they just had to be my bridesmaid.
So, let me introduce to you the ladies that will be standing up for me at my wedding.

MAID OF HONOR "S"

S and I in Chicago this May...can't you tell how much she loves me?!!

S is my sister. Has been my whole life. Well her whole life anyways. She is 2 years younger than me and goes to school in Chicago. Growing up my mom always told me "You better start getting along with your sister, she is the only one you have!" We were the kind of sisters who fought, CONSTANTLY. Usually it was about silly stuff like her taking my clothes without asking, or simply the fact that she bugged me often. But now that we've both moved away to school we get along great! Imagine that =]

Bridesmaid "BH"

BH and I celebrating "Unofficial" at U of I 2 years ago

BH has been my best friend for pretty much my whole life. I met her the day she was born, although I don't really remember since I was only 4 months old. Her parents introduced my parents and they live right down the road from us. They're great family friends, emphasis on the family part. So needless to say, she has been a huge part of my entire life. (An interesting side note: BH and S are roommates in Chicago. I always find it funny because BH is "my friend" and BH's sister is S's friend)

Bridesmaid "BW"

BW and I camping in Wisconsin in 2006.

BH lives in Wisconsin and got engaged the same day I did!! Her and her Mr. are getting married a month after me (yay!). There are pictures of us in diapers together, that's how long I've known this girl. BH is also a cousin. But she's not mine. BH and BW are cousins. You see we have kind of adopted BHs entire 50+ extended family. (They're all coming to the wedding too!!)

Bridesmaid "A"

A and I in my dormroom my Freshman year.

A and I met my sophomore year of highschool when she transferred in as a freshman and joined the soccer team. It took only a matter of weeks for us to become inseparable. I hardly ever get to see A anymore because she goes to school in Iowa and is super busy!!! But when we do manage to catch up it's like we haven't missed a beat.

Bridesmaid "K"

K and I going to the Superfriends Wedding in November.

K and I went to the same highschool too, but didn't really become friends until the summer after I graduated. And by becoming friends, I really mean we became family. She has always been more like a sister than a friend. We fight sometimes, but always get over it and move on! I credit my freshman year of college survival to her very regular visits on the weekends.

These girls have all played such major roles in my life and I couldn't imagine them not being there for the biggest day so far!