Since I just got back from my trip, i have very limited pics. i wanted to get my tr started as soon as possible...i'll post more/better pics at the end of this thread as soon as i receive them.
Part 3: Were finally ready! Can I go yet??????
My dad disappeared for a minute, I think he went to the car to drop something or whatever, Im not sure where he went
but he came back pretty quickly and bell services came to take our luggage. How easy is that?
I now began the, what seemed to be, endless wait to leave the GS and go to the lobby for my pics. They were doing a ton of construction on the GSs that were in between us and the lobby, I had just seen all the workers arrive for the day and was worried about how their equipment was going to be set up and if I would be able to get around it since the path was so narrow (narrow paths were a problem for me that day
). I was ALSO worried about how I was going to get out of my suite
we were in the honeymoon GS with the heart shaped shrubs in front and there were shrubs leading up the super tiny path to the room from the gate. I took all of the sheets off the beds and the extra blankets and had my sisters cover the shrubs so it didnt shrub stain my dress. At one point, a lady from mousekeeping walked by and started to disassemble my dress stain saving device and I was none too pleased with her. Megan had to run out of the GS screaming, nooooooooo! until she stopped. Back to the construction workers
they were super aware that there was a bride waiting to move, so it shouldnt have been a problem for them to set their paint up elsewhere, but they gave Randy a problem when he asked them to wait. There were some words exchanged (gooooo Randy!) so Lindsay went out and yelled at them. I thanked them profusely on my walk to the lobby. They looked annoyed. Oh well. Im sure theyll understand when their daughters get married one day
While I was not so patiently waiting to get the heck out of there, I was practicing stairs and discovered the issue with my hoop skirt, so my mom had to cut the white part out. Randy did some shots of me in the room and on the stairs and we left-FINALLY!
Part 4: And were off (to the lobby, for pics
)
I swear, I felt like Britney spears cruising around LA. There were paparazzi EVERYWHERE! And not just the ones that I hired! Our first stop was the steps leading up to the lobby. I took lots of pics outside there. Then we headed inside to the lobby and took pics in front of the doors that lead down the stairs to the GSs. Sage appeared at this point with a camera in hand and I introduced myself to her. She is a super cute little blond thing and so so so bubbly! We made our way into the lobby and out onto the BW verandah. I saw most of my guests at this point and I began to feel really overwhelmed. We were standing downstairs outside and they were all just gawking at me. Randy noticed my discomfort and ushered me under the stairs until they were all taken to SBP. We then headed back upstairs (stairs were REALLY fun in my huge dress) and took tons more pictures. There were people everywhere just staring at me
it was kind of odd. They wouldnt even say anything, theyd just gawk. This is when my ballet training came into good use. I just ignored them all, smiled and waved at the little girls and focused on Randy. Marion and Keri-Ann from DFTW were waiting in the lobby. They were great, I was really glad that I had met Kerri-Ann a few days prior. At one point, Marks business partners and their girlfriends (herein referred to as the Barbie doll look a likes who refused to eat all day) were passing through the lobby on their way to SBP. Their snarky looks were obvious to many and Keri-Ann noticed and said, are you here for the Craig/DeLange wedding? Please move away from the bride. HILARIOUS. Marion soon told us that the Rolls had arrived and she escorted my sisters to SBP to await my arrival. My parents and I were waiting in the BW lobby near the big couch, where I actually got to sit for a precious moment. The dress was starting to hurt
Part 5: And were off (in the Rolls to the altar
)
My mother was in paparazzi heaven. All she could keep saying was, this is so coooool. The Rolls picks Mom, Dad and I up in front of the BW lobby. There was a DFTW guy named Andrew there and bless his heart, they made that boy RUN in front of the car, all the way behind the BW, in front of ADH, down the boardwalk until we reached SBP. I felt so bad for him and remarked that it was a good thing it was January and not July
So were in the Rolls, Mom is doing the celebutante waive to all the well wishers staring at me and I remarked to my father that this was the time where he is supposed to say, now Caryn, if this isnt the right decision for you, we can just take the Rolls and head to Miami. He said, uh no. Im not telling you that. We paused on the boardwalk in front of Spoodles, all the CMs were outside watching, there were a bunch of people sitting outside the bakery and I got my first glimpse of Mark standing with his parents. I saw the Rabbi enter, then Mark and his parents.
Lindsay and Megan entered from opposite sides of the pavilion (I forgot to tell Randy about this important part, so I think pics got messed up. Either way, it caused some confusion
) and then we pulled up in front.
I told my mother on the drive that Mark was either going to pass out from nervousness or sit there and crack jokes until I arrived. Thankfully the latter was true
Part 6: And Im off (to marry mark..)
I dont really remember much of this part, its very spotty
so Ill rely on the spotty memories that I do have and other peoples recollections of the moments
I fell out of the Rolls, that dress was huge mind you, the driver handed me my bouquet and I went around the front of the car to meet my parents. The first thing I noticed was that SBP was PACKED. Like, to the brim. My mother was happily jaunting along and my father and I kept tripping over one another. I have three of his footprints on my dress
I think I was like, DAAAD, stop stepping on my dress! the whole way down the aisle. I was seriously nervous. My uncle even told me that he was surprised at how nervous I looked.
We proceeded down the aisle to my super secret, walking down the aisle song, the theme from star trek: TNG. Feel free to laugh at me all you want. I LOVE that song. It took my forever to find sheet music for it. Its one of our favorite shows and I wanted something that would make Mark smile!
I stopped before Mark, he shook my dads hand. I kissed my mom, then my dad and Mark took my hand and we finally were standing before Rabbi Jimmy. I handed my bouquet off to Lindsay and took my gloves off and gave them to her as well. I started to cry and sniffle (totally hypocritical, I know, I was going to banish the criers-oh well), Lindsay handed me a tissue, I dabbed my eyes (which wasnt easy under the cage) and handed the tissue back to her.
I looked down and saw that Rabbi Jimmy was wearing black crocs and I thought it was so funny! It made me feel a bit more comfortable. The ceremony last all of 10 minutes (inspiration for said short ceremony was I do, I do, Were done.). We said our I dos, then we said some sort of pre-written vow that had the word beloved in it and it was time to do the ring thing. Megan was so funny, when the Rabbi asked for the rings, she said, I didnt forget them! that was a relief! Id given Lindsay my engagement ring to wear, so Mark just had to slip that baby on my finger and then it was my turn
like a nervous, bumbling fool, I proceed to put Marks ring on his RIGHT hand and didnt even notice until Randy pointed it out when we were taking pics about an hour later. See what uncontrollable nervousness does to you on your wedding day???
The rabbi told a story, something about a cup and a saucer and he said Mark could kiss me (he did) and we were DONE!!!
YIPPEEEE! Ill assume that everyone cheered, but I dont remember. Lin gave me back my engagement ring and we walked back down the aisle to The Verves, Bittersweet Symphony which was so very beautiful and clear in that moment. I remember standing on the street in front of the Rolls thinking, oh, thats Bittersweet Symphony, it sounds really good! I think Id forgotten that was the song Id chosen.
We were supposed to get back into the Rolls, which was supposed to drive us 3 feet to the side entrance to SBP for our staged bubble exit. I really didnt want to shove my big self into that car again, so we just walked to the entrance and through the bubble blowers! Lindsay later told me that Randy was so funny, he would yell things like, left side, we need more bubbles! When we got back to the altar site, we were congratulated by like, everyone, we took pics with the family and then they all left to go to the pre-reception at LSS. The violinist was fantastic, my dad later told me that he was taking requests at the cocktail hour! So cool! He re-played the Star Trek song because Mark hadnt heard it. Mark asked him if that was the weirdest thing hed ever been asked to play at a wedding and he said yes, but that lots of brides walk down the aisle to the Death March from Star Wars. See? Im not that odd after all!
Here are two shots of my parents and I taking pics after the ceremony