Our wedding photographer just sent us a link to view some of the photos she has finished editing. I opened them with giddy excitement, and promptly started crying.
Happy tears, don't worry.
My head was so far above cloud nine, and my stomach churning nervously around the bits of donut I'd crammed into it in order to have something to sustain me, that I barely remember seeing, well, anyone, really. I had no idea our photographer (shout out to the lovely and talented Homespun Photography by Teresa) was taking so many photos of us getting ready and of me hugging my brother, crying over the card my parents gave me, twirling for Justin when he first saw me, etc.
But she was there, and tonight, I got to be there on that day my life forever changed all over again. Suddenly details came flooding into my memory, evidence that my brain was working even if it didn't feel like it:
* The way my crinolin filled the back seat of my Subaru Forester on my drive to the church
* Seeing church friends hanging tulle on the fence at the church as I walked in to get ready and suddenly realizing they were hanging it for my wedding
* The way my breath caught in my throat when I pulled my dress on, zipped it up and stood with my mom and bridesmaids
* The way my mom and I lingered in our hug in the dressing room
* My brother's smile when he saw me for the first time, and the way he raised his coffee cup into the air
* The way my dad pulled me close and hung onto me for one second longer when our entrance music began to play, and the way we took a deep breath at the same time on that first step down the aisle
* Looking into the eyes of loved ones who had traveled so far as I walked down the aisle
* Time and movement ceasing, all the people falling out of my view, as Justin and I recited our vows; just us and God
* The laughs I heard when Justin and I walked out of the sanctuary to the Star Wars theme song
* Seeing my new sister-in-law in the lobby after the ceremony and having my heart leap as I realized I have two sisters now
* The swelling emotion in my throat when my maid of honor gave her title of best friend to my husband
I am glad these memories are coming to me now, and I am glad someone was there to capture them on film. What a gift. What a day.
