After four years together, one year of planning, and 100 dresses tried on and rejected... we're married! It was a smallish 100-person wedding in a quirky garden in New Hope, Pennsylvania. The day was personal and fun, and created so many memories for me, D, and all our guests. Seeing everyone together and saying our vows on a perfect autumn day made all the work and craziness worth it.
I'll finish what I started and write more about the dress, shoes, food, and general decor. I also have thoughts on crafting your own short but meaningful ceremony, exercise and skincare regimens, and establishing a state of Zen for the final two weeks. But for now, I'll answer the top 4 questions people have.
Do you feel different?
Since D and I live together, in some ways not much has changed. Now that wedding stuff has died down, we're back to our regularly scheduled program. But there are some differences...
Sooner than you'd think, you'll have to use the word wife or husband. The Monday after our wedding, D had a doctor's appointment. I'm his emergency contact, but this time, under relationship, he put WIFE. Weird!
Also, before the wedding, D was basically a stranger that I found in the universe. We were not connected by blood, upbringing, schooling. But a marriage makes an instant, unassailable connection. Maybe that's the difference between fostering a dog and adopting it. In both situations, you're eating, sleeping, and living together. The difference is once you're adopted or married, you're family.
Are you changing your name?
Legally, yes. Professionally, no. Some pretty cool and accomplished women already have my married name.
Where are you going for your honeymoon?
Australia and New Zealand in Spring 2017. We wanted to wait until our winter/their summer was over. And -- truth -- planning a wedding and an Australian honeymoon was too overwhelming, so we decided to space them out a bit.
Who were your vendors?
It might take me awhile to write full posts that unpack all of these roles, so here's the list upfront:
Venue: Paxson Hill Farm
Planner: Two Little Birds
Caterer: Birchtree Catering
Cake & Desserts: Sweet T's Bakeshop
Photographer: Weddings by Two
Videographer: Love Note Weddings
Ceremony Musicians: Rittenhouse Music
DJ: Philly Custom DJ
Dress: Truvelle purchased at Schone Bride
Shoes: Paul Andrew purchased on Moda Operandi
Reception Dress: Alice + Olivia
Reception Shoes: Fendi
Reception Crown: China Cart
Hair & Makeup: Daneene Jensen Hair and Makeup
Floral - Personal Flowers: Pod Shop Flowers
Floral - Decor: Darlene at Paxson Hill Farm
Officiant: Our friend Claire, who has ordained for the occasion by the American Marriage Ministries
... plus a whole lotta DIY by me.
I know it's the "cool girl" thing to pretend like you don't care much about your wedding. But you know what, I care about it, and we worked hard to make it special. Getting married wasn't the pinnacle of my life's accomplishments -- far from it. But it was still an amazing, unforgettable day -- maybe the happiest day of my life. I have so much more to share. More soon!