The Wedding Story

It's been a month and I haven't recounted the story of our wedding day. My bad.

Nicole spent Friday night at a hotel in Orange County, I spent the night at the house.

I woke up and got ready to go. I didn't put the monkey suit on. I took it to the hotel to change. Once Nicole headed for the boat, I headed in to change.

I don't know too much of what went on when Nicole got to the boat. I know the hair doing and make up-ing went kinda well, her sister being annoying, notwithstanding.

I got to the boat and got on. lots of preparation going on. Carrie was busy setting things up and telling people what to do. I was busy trying to figure out how my damn bow tie and cuff links worked. Melissa (Nicole's sister) helped me out.

People started arriving.

Only a few minor catastrophe's take place. The florist didn't deliver the mother's  corsages (sp). She had to dash from Newport to Irvine and back. I guess driving a mini van was only her side job, driving nascar must have been her first job. She made.

The other slightly more scary problem was that the DJ's car broke down on the way to us. That's never a good call to have to make. Worst case scenario, i had my iPod in the car and it had a slightly outdate copy of our wedding playlist on it. I was about to send some one to my car when the DJ comes running up. He had rented a car and had it come get him, literally on the freeway (highway, now that I'm in Colorado).

Those two things aside the rest of the day went well.

I did the whole hob nobbing thing. Greated everyone as they got on the boat. Took pictures. Heidi the Photog was great, very funny, very cool!

Jody and I are getting ready, she's easilly as nervous as I am. Jody performed our ceremony. She is now an ordained minister of the Universal Life church.

THe guests all head up stairs (the boat had two levels) and get seated. Carrie tells Jody and I to get ready.

The music starts. Jody heads up. I wait a minute and head up behind her.

I've never been more nervous in my life. Really I mean it, in 28 years, I've never been more nervous. I'm standing up there with Jody, in front of 30 some odd of my closest friends and family. The music is going, Jody is smiling, I'm smiling, my mom is smiling, maybe crying.

Then...

Nicole walks out with her dad. Stunning, radiant, gorgeous, the most beautiful woman on the planet... None of which even come close to doing the moment justice. A bigger grin, might have cuased my face permenant damage.

I don't remember a great deal of the ceremony. I remember my ring not going over my knuckle very easy, I remember Tom reciting a poem I had no idea  he was working on, calling me a lost sheep or something :). I remember my knees feeling really weak. I remember trying to not cry.

Nicole and I say our vows, we smile at each other. We kiss, we walk down the iasle to the bow of the boat. We cry. She started it, I swear!!

Next.... The last part of the cruise, and the reception..