The Big Day...
July 31st was a perfect day. Sunny and about 75° with a slight breeze and a few cotton candy clouds decorating the sky.
I woke up around 9:00am, after a night of restless sleep (Trevor slept like a log!) and met my mom in the Tavern Restaurant for breakfast. Trevor joined us shortly thereafter and we had a lovely meal. (As you can see, Trevor and I decided not to abide by the rule that the bride and groom cannot see each other the day of the wedding.)
After breakfast and a quick shower, Trevor ran over to our groomsman Nick's apartment to type up a copy of our vows for the minister (in true Carleton fashion) while I readied myself for the days events.
Around 11:00am, we drove to the chapel to get changed for the pictures. When we drove up, we were greeted by our families and most of the members of our wedding party. What a wonderful welcome! (I figured we'd be the only ones there.) Everyone was so excited for the day's festivities to begin. Once we transported all the tuxes, guestbooks, cameras, and other wedding day miscellany from the car to the chapel, I gave my final debriefing to those helping out (i.e. my grandmother distributed the flowers, my sister-in-law was taking candid pictures and helping put place cards on the tables in Great Hall, my mother was to remain calm and help me get ready, etc.), Trev and I parted and went to our seperate dressing rooms.
At 12:00pm, our photographer arrived. We decided to take pictures before the wedding so we wouldn't keep our guests waiting at the reception. Since Trevor and I met and got engaged at Carleton, we decided it would be fun to get our pictures taken at significant places around campus. When we were finished taking pictures of the two of us in the chapel, I grabbed my brother and we took off for Margart Evans Hall with the photographer following in his car. We got a couple of choice shots at Evans, and took the "shortcut" (which involved driving on sidewalks) to Laird Hall because it has cool columns. The we drove out to the Hill of Three Oaks where we got engaged. This involved driving down a small dirt road, through a construction site (they are building a new Rec. Center), over the rubgy field, around an ultimate frisbee field, and finally hiking up the hill in my dress and high heels. After snapping a few photos there, we hightailed it back to the chapel for the family shots. I must say that our little picture taking excursion was one of the most enjoyable, relaxing, parts of the day!
As the family pictures were finishing up, guests started arriving, so we made a hasty retreat back to our changing rooms. My last half hour or so before the wedding was spent hanging out in the dressing convincing myself I wan't nervous. Trevor on the other hand, was actively being nervous--pacing around and getting support from his groomsmen. Soon, it was time for the parents to be seated and the bridal attendents to take their places. Since I didn't want to be seen before I walked in, I waited downstairs, alone, until our minister, CathyAnn, gave me the signal to come up. That's when the panic set in. Mentally, I knew there was nothing to be paicky about...I knew I was making the right decision, Trevor and I are really in love and are ready to make this committment...but my body acted otherwise. I started breathing heavily, my knees started shaking; I thought I was going to hyperventilate! At one point, I even crouched down and put my head between my knees! When CathyAnn FINALLY came (it seemed like hours) I wasn't sure I could make it up the stairs I was shaking so badly.
I took my place behind the wedding party and waited. This was the only moment that I questioned my decision to walk myself down the aisle ("What if I fall? They're be no one to catch me!" "I wish I had someone here to pat my hand and tell me it'd be alright!"). Thank God for the ushers...they helped me to calm down. And once the music started, I forgot all about my nervousness and focused on all the happy looking guests looking at me and my wonderful husband-to-be anxiously waiting for me a the end of the aisle. As I started walking, all thoughts of slipping or tripping over my dress melted away and I was in the moment making eye contact with special friends and family who radiated love out to me. When I reached Trevor and CathyAnn and turned around to face the audience, it took everything I had not to release all the joy I felt by crying. My nervousness was leaving me, and I felt ready to participate in this sacred ceremony.