Wood Wedding Extravaganza!!!

Yep, Hwood and I finally tied the knot!

After a 1 1/2 year engagement, we finally did it....and I couldn't have imagined any wedding more perfect. Our beautiful October day was radiant, as the sunlight electrified the changing leaves on the trees at the Theodore Wirth chalet. Anything and everything fell in to place as planned (sans my matron of honor forgetting her dress at home....but her super spouse ran back home to get it while we got dolled up at the salon).

Hiding out in the back room of the upstairs Fireplace Room, us gals got ready and hung out as the boys decorated the ceremony and got their photos taken by none other than THE Kelly Mac and her rockstar sister, Kristie. Although the Fireplace Room was warm and welcoming on it's own, with it's walls of windows, hardwood floors, and dark wood beams on the ceiling, the guys, Megan and Cassi dialed it up to 11 by lining the isle with freshly fallen leaves, lit candles along the mantle, and decked out the program tables with glass beads. The moment I peaked through the back door, tears welled in my eyes...it was beautiful! Once I get the pics back, I'll be sure to update the blog.
Once the ceremony began, the excitement grew immensely. On cue, my father escorted me down the isle towards the most handsome of all men I've ever scene...my Jay. Though neither of us cried as we read the vows we wrote to each other, tears danced in our eyes and caused our throats to tighten around our most heart-felt words.

After we were pronounced husband and wife, Jay and I were serenaded as we walked down the isle arm in arm as his brother, John, and friend, Randy, played "It's a Long Way to the Top if You Want to Rock n Roll" by AC/DC on electric guitar and bagpipes. Yep, I said bagpipes. That, and Jay and I 'danced' along on our bicycle made for two...Since our ceremony was small, we carried the party over to the reception with a little panache...
Jay and I rode into our reception on the bike as his brother wailed on the bagpipe and Randy kicked it along with Slip Twister to our same AC/DC anthem! After a few loops on the dance floor (which I politely ended by grabbing the breaks before throwing up from getting too dizzy), Jay and I dismounted to find the whole room full of the people we love, on their feet, clapping to the music! It was the most inspiring moment and, had I known how spectacular that moment would have been, I would have insisted on having the video camera on hand to document what WE saw.... it was the most touching moment and I'll never forget it.

The food was amazing, the toasts brought tears to our eyes, and the first dance was all ours.... for a girl who never dreamed of how her wedding would be, I had everything I could have ever imagined. My amazingly handsome and wonderful husband was there by my side, our families were there to celebrate our love, our friends were there to celebrate and drink and ride the bike like maniacs (yes, we're taking donations to help cover bike-related damages at Earle Brown).

Me, Megan, and Cassi.......Together we DO rock!

Me and MommaMe and Daddy

Even Sheila couldn't resist the action!.....Terri, Jay, and Randy test ridin'

Dorothy and Jay share in the fun

Zeto and the not-so-typical Runaway Bride

So far, we've only got pics from my camera, my Aunt Sue's, and Leslie's ready to go.....but don't fret...you know the vid is coming soon!!!!

It feels like I've just won some type of Emmy with all the people I'd like to thank....but most of all, I thank our parents. For loving us, for supporting us, and for helping make this magical dream come true. We honestly could NOT have done this without you. Dad, Mom, Sheila, Randy, Dorothy and Bob - we love you with all of our hearts!!! Our friends and family that helped and enjoyed the fun....thank you thank you thank you!!!!

Until next time....Love life. Love your loved ones. Love every moment.
Let the wonder and love that surrounds you make you glow.

Kristy Kreme Henderson

The final countdown to wedlock....

Obviously, we've been pretty busy these past 2 weeks, so needless to say the wedding fun recap is a little late....

On the days before the wedding, we were playing in style! It started off with mani's and pedi's with the girls once Jay's bro and sister-in-law Abby arrived from New York. Abby and I headed north to meet up with my step-sis and step-mom for some pampering...

Then we had our fab rehearsal and rehearsal dinner with friends and family from all over the globe...well the US anyways.

At the rehearsal, D&B were like kids on our bike

And dinner was perfect! We got to celebrate the wedding to come with our friends and family. The food was delicious, and they even make a pineapple upside-down cake especially for Bob's 45th birthday!!! ;O)

Dorothy & Bob...........Lulu, Leslie, and Cassi

My mom & hubby........sista's from otha mothas? Elissa, Megan, and me

Thanks for such an amazing dinner, Dorothy and Bob! And thanks to everyone for coming out for it. It was the perfect dinner to kick off the wedded bliss!

Kristy Kreme

Pre-Wedding Rockin'

To kick off our wedding debauchery, what better event to attend than the Motley Tuesday reunion at the Spring Street in NE???
Even though I'm with Jay, I don't have the same skills with a mic, so I was there only to watch and have fun. And boy what fun we had!

The whole gang was there livin' it up in style

And of course, the ladies were kickin' it too!

Reflections

With just over a week to go until my much-aniticipated wedding day, I can't help but realize the fortune in my life. I sit here on a Friday night, watching old episodes of "My So Called Life" on the computer, reminiscing in days long passed. And one thing was so obvious in the classic reruns...

In our youth, we spend our time loving and pining after people who don't love us as deeply. We pour our heart and souls out in romantic guestures, waiting for someone to reflect the depth of love we feel (or at least think we feel).

And then something wonderful happens. After years and years of heartache and mistakes, we find that one soul on Earth that yearns for us as passionately as we yearn for them. We find in existance someone who amplifies our life to the world, and makes the sky multi-color. We find in some stranger, some day, the secrets to that which makes us whole.... And, if we're smart enough to act and wise enough to see the splendor in front of us, we find a way to make the magic real.

There's this time in life when all the kharma of breakups and bad relationships comes back to reward us with smiles that never seem to end and fairy tail endings... it brings us that "Hollywood" romance we'd been told was just a dream... But in my case, it was real beyond the wildest imagination.

To the moment I decided to by a bicycle, and to the man who fell as hard as I did..... Thanks. To remain childlike and never give up on fairy tales is a dream come true in itself.

Happily counting down the minutes,
Kristy Kreme