goin to the chapel...

and i'm gonna get ma-a-a-rried!

that song just makes me want to skip.

Anyway, we went on in the church and started getting ready

brushed our teeth...

put on some make up...

Next up: Guys Gettin ready, followed by putting on the dress.

.:Ashley.Rebekah:.

the day of...

getting ready.

I'm not going to lie:

I got NO sleep the night before my wedding.

I woke up at 5:00 am

[i have no idea, belive me, i HATE mornings]

and I could.not. fall back asleep.

UGH!

I did doze off for like .2 seconds

but that doesn't count, does it?!

Around 7:30ish we rolled out of bed & I hopped in the shower for some oh-so-necessary shaving and threw on my favorite bride sweatshirt [that I'm not even sure if I got a picture of - tear] and some sweatpants and we headed to the salon with a bottle or ten of water in hand. While we were getting ready, we had fruit & mimosas, chatted, snapped pictures and joked all while trying to wake up and get a few extra winks of sleep [you'll know what I mean when you get there...].  I was so excited -- I don't really remember having butterflies or getting nervous,

I just knew I was doing the right thing,

Marrying the love of my life.

the best explanation of the aformentioned

finishing touches

the girls + mom with our hair all done up ;)

We had a blast! Danah did a great job, and we were done in PLENTY of time, and even were early heading to the church. We even had time to stop and get a no-no [McDonalds - TRUST! I couldn't tell you the last time I was there, but it was right there & fast] snack!

Then it was to the church we go!

Next up: makeup & getting dressed

.:Ashley.Rebekah:.

2010

i figured first things first in this new year.

a facelift for my blog.

important, no?!

oh well!

After too much time playing here,

I shall prepare dinner.

[oh & make some fun stuff]

my hubs will be glued to the tv

for the National Championship game.

[i may or may not be as well]

and then,

we will simultaneously

wipe the tears from our eyes.

college football season

is officially.over.

[enter GIANT sadface here]

i'll sure miss you.

until fall, I'm not sure what I'll do wth my Saturday afternoons I will manage to keep myself busy doing couple things with hubs, shopping, relaxing, shopping, working out [did I say shopping?!]... you know - keeping busy & relaxing in betwen.

recaps will resume tomorrow!

.:ashley.rebekah:.

Set Up & Rehearsal/Dinner

WARNING:

The beginning of this post is boring & wordy...ahem.

Anyway, Friday we went to the Reception Hall to start setting up around 9 am.  Most of my bridesmaids came to help, my parents, Jon's parents, his Aunt & Uncle, the neighbor lady, some his grandparents...well, you get it - we had a lot of help!  You see, we're from a small town in Northwest Ohio -- out where you don't really have the option to have someone do those things for you - well unless you have a million dollars to spare, which I obviously don't.  So we decorated ourselves.  It really was fun.  I got to be there and make the decisions rather than wait until I arrived at the Reception [church & hall were 25 minutes apart]  All of our decorations looked really nice...
AAAANNNNDDD of course, I didn't take any pictures.  My MIL has a few that I can maybe get my hands on soon, and add through an edited post.  We'll see.

Around 1:00 myself, my BM's & my parents grabbed some appetizers at Applebees, before heading to my Parent's house to get ready for the Rehearsal Dinner.  We got ready & headed to Rehearsal around 5:00 which went really smooth.  I made the modifications that I wanted and we headed out to the dinner. 

We had our Rehearsal Dinner at a little Pizza House that Jon & I love!  It is in his hometown, and they serve excellent pizza, wings & lasagna.  MIL had it decorated so cute with little favors and everything.  We passed out our gifts [I mention the girl's gifts here & guys here].  Then we feasted & had some drinks while we watched a fabulous picture video that his gracious Aunt Lynne made for us [I will post it on here someday, if I can ever figure it out!] 

me & jes

some of us with my momma

'maids minus Beck & Andrea

Coleen, me & there's Andrea!

After all the shenanigans at the Rehearsal Dinner, us girls headed out to the local hole-in-the-wall with my momma for a few more drinks that none of us needed and a little more fun!  We danced our pants off & my mom was such a trooper!  The guys were there too, but us girls owned the dance floor!  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that night!

rockin' out!

After all of that fun, we headed back to my parents house to try to get some sleep.  We pretty much had a blast all night together.  I miss all of those girls so much -- makes me hate living in South Carolina!

UP NEXT: Morning of :)

.:Ashley.Rebekah:.

home.sweet.

home.

We headed home [I think Ohio will always be our home...] for the wedding on Friay, November 19 and we were beyond exited.  We loaded up all of our goodies, well, the ones that we still had down in SC... and headed home just as soon as school let out.  It was sort of like a school child getting out for summer break.  You know, when you were like 14 and could.not.wait. for summer break. Yep. That was us.  Anyway, we got home at our usual - about 3 am.  I headed straight to bed, Jon - straight to hunt.  I spent the week before the wedding doing last minute things, picking up last minute gift items & being giddy.  I can honestly say...I was not stressed or worried at all!

When it came to gifts for our parents, we agreed that for all that they've done through the years & for the wedding, they deserved something sentimental.  I am the only girl in my family, and Jon is an only child... For the mom's, we did Pandora beads.  They have both been collecting them for over a year, and are always so excited to get a new one!

source

Couldn't be more perfect! A silver wedding [or so I tell myself] bell, with a pearl bead.  They LOVED their bead and both put them on their bracelet immediately.  Easily satisfied ;)

The dads...on the other hand were a little tougher.  What do you buy a dad?!?! I had such a hard time with my own father, let alone Jon's!  I wound up going with the tride & true...

source

cuff links with his initials engraved...Let's be honest, I'm my dad's only daughter.  He has 3 sons that are yet to be married, and will be able to wear them for their formal weddings, and maybe -- just maybe -- he'll go on a cruise or have a formal even to wear them to again.  He was in tears [my dad was very emotional all weekend -- you'll seeeee in upcoming pictures!]

and for the oh-so-tough-to-buy-for father-in-law...

source

the engraved money clip. Ugh, this might have been the one thing that I anguished over!  I wanted something that he would use/enjoy & be sentimental to him now & in the future....I'm not sure if he's using it or not, but I thought it was neat.

Up next: Friday Rundown - Setting up & Rehearsal Dinner

good to be back...

.:Ashley.Rebekah:.

sneak peak.

cheers to shopping with my hubby

& a little sneak peak :)

one of the many pics taken by our fab guests - this one: Uncle Dan

much, much more to come!

.:Ashley.Rebekah:.

freaking fabulous friday.

yes, I know...

it's been a while.

you have to excuse me though,

I just got married 700 miles away

&& had Thanksgiving.

Don't get me wrong.

Thanksgiving is one of my faves

[and will forever be close to my heart]

but paired with the wedding, it was busy.

I could not be happier with the way everything turned out.

It was perfect.

I will talk about the details later.

I am still taking it all in & enjoying the memories, while I patiently wait for my professional pictures to be available.  For now, I will tell you about my

freaking fabulous friday

I came home to quite possibly the best wedding gift, ever.

source

A Tiffany's necklace from my bestie

[love & miss you jes]

monogrammed with my new initial - S

and...

got to go pick up my other wedding band.

[Hubs announced to me the day after our wedding that his gift to me [after MUCH anguish] was my other wedding band.  He has a hard time picking things out for me, which has so far turned out pretty ok for me...that means I get exactly what I want -- i'm not spoiled, wink wink]

So now, let me inroduce

[nevermind my unprofessional photography]

my entire wedding ring set.

love.it.

I am such a lucky lady ;)

I will be back shortly to recap & share pictures...no worries!

Ashley.Rebekah