J received his marriage commissioner's license back in the spring so he officiated, which was incredibly special. G and N were our witnesses and the little boys even played a part in the ceremony by carrying our rings. I wouldn't have had it any other way!
It was a simple affair - a short ceremony on our back deck, then a BBQ supper, then some songs by my eldest brother and his former bandmate and good friend, who was, for years, like an extra big brother to me, then a bonfire complete with fireworks to celebrate the day!
In keeping things simple and as a "theme" of sorts, we decided to try to do handmade/homemade as much as we possibly could for the wedding. From our invitations - that the little boys helped me glue to my bouquet which was thoughtfully made by some very dear Ravelry friends who sent me knit and crocheted flowers from across the continent.
In the weeks leading up to the wedding I made and froze eight dozen dinner rolls, cubed and froze meat for kabobs and subjected my family to more than one marinade recipe in my search for the perfect souvlaki and teriyaki. They were good sports about it although we may not want to look at a kabob again for a while. The week before the wedding (BF)G's niece, along with G, myself and some of the little ones in the family got together for a baking day to make cookies for the wedding favours which she then decorated the day before the wedding, then I set to work searching out the perfect recipes for the cake I made. (It was shipped off to the city the day before the wedding wrapped and frozen, along with 12 cups of homemade buttercream and hand knit rosettes and leaves to G's niece to assemble and decorate). The day before my niece, R, came over and helped chop veggies and make signs so our guests wouldn't get lost on all the rural roads they had to travel. Then that night, (BF)G and I "kabob-ed" and marinaded 100 kabobs. Did I mention I don't want to look at a kabob for a long time?
I also made my dress. After stumbling across the Lorelei Dress* in the blogosphere back in June, I knew exactly what pattern I wanted to use for my dress. I couldn't have been happier with the result. It turned out so well and was an absolute dream to sew. I could wear my dress any given day it felt so good. Seriously. I could live in it. Of course it would seem a bit overdressed to go grocery shopping or to the playground in a wedding dress… I'm totally going to have to make a less fancy version.
My kids (and my "extra" kids - the older three's boyfriend and girlfriends) and my niece R were AMAZING with all the help they gave us to make sure our wedding day was spectacular. They were all on a mission to keep "mom out of the kitchen" the day of and did splendid.
Thank you to our families for making our day so special and perfect. We are truly the luckiest. I'll leave you with the lyrics to one of our absolute favourite songs, that really does sum things up perfectly. (You can find it on the About Time soundtrack if you want to actually give it a listen!)
The Luckiest - by Ben Folds
I don't get many things right the first time
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns
The stumbles and falls brought me here
And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face?
Now I see it everyday
And I know that I am
I am, I am the luckiest
What if I'd been born fifty years before you
In a house on the street where you live?
Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike
Would I know?
And in a wide sea of eyes
I see one pair that I recognize
And I know that I am
I am, I am the luckiest
I love you more than I have
Ever found a way to say to you
Next door, there's an old man who lived to his 90's
And one day, passed away in his sleep
And his wife, she stayed for a couple of days
And passed away
I'm sorry, I know that's a strange way
To tell you that I know we belong
That I know that I am
I am, I am the luckiest
