The Morning of My Wedding Day

January 7, 2019

I’m writing this fresh off the wedding train! I wanted all of my feelings and recollections to be as close to the wedding day as possible. While I waited several months for the photos to post this, the writing is very much real and raw in my newlywed voice. I hope you enjoy!

Pale morning light slips through the shutters of the bedroom. My sister is fast asleep next to me. I check the clock.

Damn, it’s 6AM.

There’s no way I’m going back to sleep. It’s my wedding day.

A culmination of emotions stir beneath the surface, but outwardly I’m calm and placid.

OK, I coach myself in an encouraging inner monologue, drink some water. Throughout the morning I stumble through a shortened morning routine. I slip some eye pads on to help with the puffiness that set in over night. The bridesmaids, wedding planner, her darling assistant, and the hair and makeup team will all be here within minutes.

Deep breaths. It’s only the most important day of your life, no big deal.

Everyone arrives at what feels like all at once. The makeup artist is asking where she can set up and my bridesmaids are ooing and awing over my morning attire like the sweethearts that they are. They’ve even brought me a steaming cup of Starbucks matcha!

I’ve donned a satin blush slip for the morning. But it’s the gauzy, blush, feather adorned dressing gown gliding OVER the slip that’s the real star of this morning’s attire. I found it online when searching for a more typical white and lace getting ready robe for my wedding day.

The sheer size of it and Scarlett O’Hare vibes had me in a trance. I had to have it.

It’s like something an old Hollywood movie star would wear. When else can one wear something so ostentatious and wildly extreme?

To be honest, I could hardly breathe until my hair and makeup was done. I wasn’t present. I was stressed, even clutching a strawberry gilded mimosa. There was rain in the forecast and while it would most likely end before the ceremony, there were like a gazillion gorgeous cream and pale blush roses that had to be meticulously arranged into our wedding alter focal point by the flower genius Southern Posies.

The rain would surely knock the blooms down from the original wedding arch we had selected. And the delicate draping would be soaked.

Ceremony Plan B it was.

Oh, but it wasn’t that simple. My mastermind team of Bridesmaids offered amazing solutions to setting up in the rain, but it was ultimately my wizened wedding planner Becky who gave me the most impactful advice.

With certainty and love in her piercing blue eyes, she told me she recommended Plan B for our wedding ceremony. That meant inside.

The wedding arch and sunlit exchange of vows all evaporated in an instant and I felt tears prick my freshly mascara applied eyes.

But somehow, I managed to roll with it. And I’m so glad I did. Getting married inside turned out to be the best decision ever. You’ll see why soon…

I think in moments as big as a wedding we humans feel the magnitude of the day and rally to move forward in any way possible. With the help of Becky’s guidance, and the reassurance and encouragement of my bridesmaids I was able to pivot on plans that had been set in stone for almost a year. And I was able to do it with grace.

Err…mostly grace.

I think that’s one of my favorite lessons from being a bride. Life brings storms, but it’s the ability to put your chin up, smile, and stride through them that makes the challenges not so challenging, and maybe even blessings in disguise.