Wedding Part 2: Wedding Day

I started off our wedding day, August 20, with a relaxing 4 mile run with Emily, one of my bridesmaids. It was just like old times and a great way to take my mind off of getting nervous for the wedding. A couple hours later, I headed to J. Bentley Studio & Spa in Powell to get my makeup and hair done with my bridesmaids. They had a fabulous room set up for us to use that morning where we sipped mimosas and hung out.

We arrived at the church around noon and I was quickly hidden in our designated room because Todd was going to arrive just 15 minutes later. All the bridesmaids and I ate some lunch and relaxed before getting our dresses on and taking some pictures before the ceremony. Before I knew it, 2:30 PM was here and I was walking down the aisle. My nerves hit as soon as I walked down the aisle and I teared up a little as I saw Todd waiting for me. The ceremony went by fast and all of a sudden, we were married! We had a trolley awaiting us so we walked outside through a sea of pink and gray ribbon sticks and drove around the parking lot before coming back to take more pictures inside.

Around 4:00 PM, we packed up and Todd & I, along with our bridal party, hopped on the trolley and headed to Schiller Park in German Village (near downtown) for more pictures. We got to our reception site, Worthington Hills Country Club, around 5:30 PM and were gathered in a separate room from the main cocktail hour enjoying our own hors d'oeuvres and drinks. The DJ announced our bridal party and then Todd & I at 6:00 PM and we immediately did our first dance. We headed to our sweetheart table to finally enjoy a couple minutes with each other alone. Those were the moments where we took time to soak in everything going on and realizing that everyone there (175 people) was there to celebrate our love and commitment to each other. It's pretty incredible when you think about it! Toasts were made, meals were served and eaten, the cake was cute, and more dancing ensued. Todd & I spent a lot of the evening going around and talking to each guest, which I really thought was important, and luckily we still had some time left to dance and hang out with our friends. All in all, it truly was a perfect day and I had a huge smile plastered on my face the entire time.

The following are pictures taken by my dad, myself, or friends. I won't get the official photographer wedding pictures back for another month or two so this will have to do for now.

All ready for the day in my Bride tank and white and pink running shorts

Goody bags for the bridesmaids

Mimosas while we were getting ready

Getting my make up done

Getting my hair done

Hanging out with my bridesmaids in our tanks, running shorts, and heels

I loved the color of all the flowers!

One of the bridesmaid bouquets up close

My dress with my personalized hanger

Looking good and ready to go

Exchanging rings

Officially husband and wife

Hanging out on the trolley after the ceremony

The good looking groomsmen

Todd & I with our wedding beer

One of the centerpieces

Guest book table with our parent's and grandparent's wedding pictures

First dance

At our sweetheart table

Our wedding cake

Cutting the cake

Feeding the cake to each other