Details!

Sarah is getting married in less than TWO WEEKS!!!!  I am so excited for her I can hardly stand it!  It was this exact time last year that I was all a hustle over the small details.  She asked about some details in this post... and I've had a details post written as a draft since the wedding.  I just never posted it.  I've changed it around a bit to answer the wonderful bride's questions.  Here it goes...

1. What was your first dance song?
We danced to the old Kenny Rogers song, "You decorated my life."  Doug sang the whole song to me as we danced.  I don't know if I'd ever heard the song before we picked it.  We were frantically looking for a mother/son song and this was on a list of suggestions.  We were sitting together, the song started to play and Doug teared up.  He said, "That should be our song.  It is exactly what you've done to my life."  How could we not dance to it after that??  It was perfect.

1. What was your father/daughter (or mother/son) song?
First, Doug and his mom danced to Stevie Wonder's, "I just called to say hello."  Doug's mom picked it, which was great because we had NO IDEA what to pick.  I was very anti-"Wind beneath my wings" and such.  I can't help it!  It always reminds me of the movie Beaches!

My dad and I danced to "It's Your Song" by Garth Brooks.  I had made a CD of possibilities that always made me break down and start crying in an instant.  I kept going back to this one and he loved it too.  It really fits his personality and he loved it.  We went to a Garth concert together too, so it made it extra special.  Dancing with my dad was something I had looked forward to for so long and it was one of my favorite moments of the entire day.

I had really considered "Daddy" by Kendall Payne.  It is how I felt about meeting Doug and having my dad give me away that day.  Talk about a tear jerker!  I had emailed my dad the lyrics and my mom said he was crying in front of the computer.  But in the end, the Garth song fit my dad better and I'm glad my dad and I picked it.  I was also able to hold it together a bit more with that one, for we were both crying fools!  Ha!  I love the lyrics so much... here are just a few of them: 

How long have I been dreaming? Who forgot to wake, to wake me up?

I know it sounds crazy but daddy now I think that I’m in love 

'Cause when he steps in the room, my heart begins to pound.

You said, “Never settle,” you promised there was one out there for me.

It’s true. I might have doubted, but he’s standing here and now.  Now I believe.

Yes, I know you’ll be proud of the man that chose me.

I will always love you and I will always be your little girl.

None could come between us, you’ll forever be the first man in my world.

But when he smiles I can see how much he reminds me of you.

A man of faith, a man of strength, who loves me like you do.

It’s elementary to the wise, for the fool in full disguise

Beggars bow and poets kneel, and as for me… it’s finally real!

How long have I been sleeping? Who forgot to wake, to wake me up?

Daddy, he’s amazing, he’s everything that I’ve been dreaming of

And now he has become my very best friend…

It's worth all the time I've spent in tears. 

Worth the heartache, worth the fears. 

To stand beside him on this day after you give me away.

3. Did you exchanged gifts with each other?

No, we did not.  However, we did exchange letters.  I also sent some snacks along with my letter.  I love the letters and I know we will cherish them always.  I had always thought I'd send my groom some socks... for the cold feet and all.  But I knew Doug never ever had or has cold feet!

4. How did we do the head table?

We did a sweetheart table.  Every member of the wedding party had a spouse, kids, friends or parents that were also attending.  I really wanted everyone to sit with who they came with and their other friends.  We had the wedding party at tables up front, but they sat with other guests.  Our table was off to the side, not front and center, so it didn't feel like everyone was staring at us.  But it does not matter where you sit, people will be staring at you, taking your picture and hitting their glasses so you'll kiss!  They moved the table right after we were done eating.  

5. Did you do the bouquet/garter toss? Anniversary Dance? 

We did the bouquet, not the garter.  We had not planned to do either one, but I had three tiny little flower girls change my mind.  They really wanted to try to catch the bouquet.  After they asked, I couldn't say no!  The song "Party in the USA" played during the toss... another flower girl request!  One of them almost caught it too... but at the last moment, one of my single friends reached in and grabbed it from her!  That friend is now married, so I guess it all worked out! 

We also did an "Anniversary Dance."  It got everyone out on the dance floor.  We didn't even bother going to the dance floor... used it as a much needed restroom break instead!  Ha!  This is my parents favorite part of every wedding, so it was a must for us.  My aunt and uncle were actually the winners - married over 50 years.  

6. Did you have a bridal portrait displayed at your reception?  

Nope - I didn't have any taken before the wedding.  We did not have any engagement pictures around either, but we did have our engagement video (see side bar for video) playing on a small tv during cocktail hour.  

Side note:  The bridal portrait session was included in our photography package, but we traded it in for a session at a future date.  We are planning on using it next year to get some great pictures of our parents and some of us as well.  My parents never get their picture taken and we thought that would be a great use for the photo session!  I'm really looking forward to it!  

7. What was your favorite detail about your wedding?  

This is such a hard one!  There were so many little things I loved about our wedding.  I really loved everything about the Nuptial Mass!  Big detail, but it was filled with little details I loved.  I LOVED how the procession was the Litany of Saints, with saints that we had selected.  I loved the sign of peace.  My dad and I do a special handshake and I'm so glad we could do it on that day.  The sign of peace was  banned in our diocese at that time due to the swine flu, but Fr. Richard said we could do it!  Funny story: During the sign of peace, Fr. Richard looks at Fr. Dan and as they are exchanging the sign of peace, says, "She wanted it.  She begged me.  I'm a pushover!"  I don't think he thought that would end up on our video!  I love it!!  For the record, I sent him one email... there was no begging!  Hahaha!

Non-nuptial mass details were there on the wedding day as well.  Here are some of my favorites.  

The invitation, which could also be my something borrowed.  I 'borrowed' the wording from Beth.  The first time I saw her invitation, I knew I wanted that wording! 

The rings and my necklace.

My other something borrowed and something blue. 

My mom's garter from her wedding day and my grandmother's hanky.

My Mrs. Hanger and veil.

Some jewels on my dress.

My shoes.

My mom made this patch and put it in my dress.  

It has our names and wedding date on it.

My bouquet with my favorite rosary, one my dad gave me.  

It has a Knights of Columbus emblem on it. 

Bridesmaid flowers.

Guest book images.  

I made it online with photos from our engagement pictures.

Programs.

Place card/picture frame favors.

My favorite appetizers - shots of tomato soup and mini-grilled cheese sandwiches. 

Our reception activity.

And... last, but not least... our Thank You card.