“Alright, folks. Let’s get the parents up here,” our ‘wedding planner’ (this was her title only, really she just directed traffic) said as she motioned for my parents and Jeff’s parents to get ready to walk up to the front of the church to light candles.
As people began to shuffle into place, I couldn’t believe that this day was finally here. Jeff and I were finally going to get married. All the planning had come to an end and it was time to just get married and then party.
It had been a very busy summer. My youngest brother graduated from high, I graduated from college, took my state nursing boards and now it was time for the wedding. I was more than ready to de-stress and relax on our honeymoon.
“Ok, now parents, after all the candles are lit you can take your seats but not you, Dad. You need to come back and walk your daughter down the aisle,” the wedding planner instructed.
“Bet he forgets,” some one taunted from behind me.
I forced a smile on my face and let out a half ass giggle. We were so close to getting married. I didn’t want anything to go wrong now. I just wanted everyone to do what they were suppose to do so that wedding could be over.
Its not that I wasn’t excited about getting married but I was just tired of thinking about it. I had been planning this wedding for the past 2 years and now it was finally here. I was tired of talking about it. I was tired of thinking about it. I just wanted to get on with the marriage.
“Alright, and go,” the wedding planner said and with that our parents began their walk.
Suddenly, everything become very real. I was getting married. I was about to start a new chapter in my life as a wife. I had found the man of my dreams and I couldn’t wait wake up with him every morning and kiss him good night every evening. I was ready, life was going according to my plan.
As I got into position behind my bridesmaids, I looked in the church for the first time and saw all of the people sitting in there. It was amazing to think about how loved we were. All these people were there to support us in our journey. I was humbled as I choked back my tears.
I watched our parents, light all the candles and then go to sit down and then I knew it was time. It was time for me to get married.
Wait, did my dad just sit down with my mom? What?! He was suppose to walk back down here to walk me down the aisle. How was I going to get married if my dad didn’t walk me down and give me away?
In the stress of the whole day, I let the panic get the best of me. I felt my heart began to race as the wedding planner turned to me and asked, “What do we do now? He wasn’t suppose to sit down.”
Having a flare for the dramatic as I do, my mind began to race. Suddenly, the wedding was canceled and I was a sobbing mess in the corner because I didn’t get married and Jeff ran away with the soloist and went on our honeymoon without me. I was could feel the my eyes start to water. All this planning, all time and effort spent on this wedding was wasted. It just wasn’t going to happen. Jeff was going to marry someone else because I wasn’t there. I would be left alone and my life plan would be ruined.
“What do you want to do?’ the wedding planner asked again?
I couldn’t speak. My throat was dry and I felt like at any moment I was going to lose it.
“I’ll go get him,” my brother said, “Don’t worry, Jen. I will go and get him.”
Suddenly my fear and terror left me, as I watched my brother walk up to my dad, calmly tap him on the shoulder and remind him that he was needed at the back of the church. I watched them both smile and chuckle at the situation as they entered the foyer.
“Gosh, I am sorry sweetie.” my dad said as he gave me a quick hug. “I just wasn’t thinking.”
I hugged my dad back and told him that it was, “No big deal.” I knew that he felt bad and I hoped that my racing heart wouldn’t let on that I was on the verge of a panic attack.
My dad turned and stood at my side and I took his arm. One last time, I was ‘daddy’s little girl’.
The veil was placed over my face as the music for my prosessional began. I felt my heart racing once again and with all those faces upon me, I could feel panic creep up in my chest.
But soon, I found my strength. I locked eyes with the man that I loved and nothing else mattered. As my father walked me down the aisle, we held each other in our gaze. There was nothing that could separate us or keep us from getting married. We were destined to be.
The only thing that mattered was that at the end of this day we got married.
And thankfully on August 24, 2oo2 at 4pm in the afternoon, we did.
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{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy anniversary:)
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Happy Anniversary!
You are a great storyteller. I love reading your posts.
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Hey we got married Aug 10 of the same year!! Love your wedding picture…you look absolutely stunning!!!!
What a story!!! Sounds like something my dad would’ve done!
Happy anniversary!!! Isn’t it amazing to look back at that picture and not have a clue about the journey you were about to embark on? Did you ever think in a million years you’d have 4 kids (including triplets) just 8 years later??
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Jen Reply:
August 24th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
Never in a million years!
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Every wedding has to have just a little, tiny snafu, right?
You are a beautiful couple! Happy Anniversary!!
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Happy anniversary!
I love that you admit to your freak-out. I tend to do that with every day things. I’m a mess. LOL
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Happy anniversary! It may have been stressful in that moment but now you have a funny story to tell about your big day.
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That is a sweet story. You know at least one thing always has to go wrong. At least it is something that you can smile about.
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Poor Daddy! He was shell shocked, I’m sure. Good for you for not screaming at him and giving the guy a break! Afterall, he was giving away his daughter and his wallet in one night!
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Well Happy Anniversary you two! What a great story! And I totally would have done the exact same thing.
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Happy Anniversary!!
What a sweet story. And I love that photo. You had a beautiful dress.
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What a great story Jen!
Happy Anniversary to you both
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Wow. Amazing, truly and utterly amazing. Have a fab anniversary
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Happy Anniversary! I would have had a heart attack, too!
We nearly forgot to put my veil over my face, and halted just before we officially walked into the church (dad & I). But that was the only last minute thing.
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Happy Anniversary! What a sweet story. My dad didn’t screw up but my brother failed to get my 4 year old nephew a nap before the wedding AND lost his precious blanket. Therefore, my ring bearer walked down the aisle crying and screaming “WHY!! WHY!?”
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Happy Anniversary!! I hope you have many many more years of wedded bliss.
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Happy Anniversary!! I hope you have a great day celebrating a great love:-)
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Happy anniversary! That a gorgeous photo of the two of you. What’s a wedding without a bit of last-minute drama??!
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Happy anniversary!! Hope the day is wonderful. I would have been freaking out too if I were you.
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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY…
that story, ALL OF IT, was perfect. Hey sometimes you need the “story” of it ….and you got one, full of love, laughter and a mishap.
MANY, MANY, MANY more years of happiness and “stories” to both of you.
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Lovely!
(…and now I have to write more b/c it said my comment was “too short”…)
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Wicked cute.
Happy Anniversary!
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Happy Anniversary!!
(my father-in-law’s pants fell down during the pre-wedding photo session.)
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Jen, it takes a lot to make me cry while reading blog posts but you did it! That last part about locking eyes with your husband-to-be while walking down the aisle gave me goosebumps. It reminds me of my marriage just 2 short years ago. My 13-year old son walked me down the aisle and nothing could tear my eyes from my husband-to-be. It was a magical and surreal moment. (It wasn’t anything like that in my first marriage. lol) Thanks for taking me back and sharing your special moment with us. And for the record, can I just say that your wedding planner was terrible? She should’ve had a back-up plan. *shaking my head* And your dad? Too funny. That’s the kind of stuff my dad does. lol
I always look forward to the little email that pops up in my inbox when you write a new post. Thanks for another great one Jen. Have a fabulous day.
Kristi, Live and Love…Out Loud
@TweetingMama
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Jen Reply:
August 24th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
You are just the sweetest ever!
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What a great story Jen! Your words were enough to make me relive my own wedding day jitters.
I can’t believe your wedding planner asked you what you wanted to do when your dad sat down. I would have been, “Ah, march down that aisle and get him back here!”
Happy Anniversary!
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Happy Anniversary! No wedding goes off without any hitches! yours makes for a great memory!
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Happy Anniversary!! Hope you get the chance to celebrate!!
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True love….it’s a good thing! Congrats on your anniversary!
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happy anniversary!
I love your wedding picture. I’m taller than my husband too!
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Happy Anniversary!
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I would have completely panicked. Although I wouldn’t have kept my composure as nicely as you did…I probably would have demanded that the wedding planner walk me down the aisle.
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I think I would’ve put my fingers in my mouth and whistled. Because I can whistle really loud, and I’m sure it would’ve gotten his attention.
Happy anniversary!!
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Happy Anniversary!!! That is a BEAUTIFUL picture of the two of you!
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Aw, lovely post! Amazing what goes through your mind at times like that, isn’t it? x
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Oh, what a great story and how funny that your dad forget what he was doing! Happy Anniversary – looks you’re just as happy now as you were on your wedding day!
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Whew! What a close one. Thank goodness your brother was on his game!
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