Stephanie and Jeff- October 8, 2005

[smiles]

I'm so glad I saved my wedding story. I sure didn't want to have to type it all out again. (I'm slowly going to reenter the photos, so be patient)

Background
We met through friends. His friend was friends with one of my friends. We were all hanging out at Buffalo Wild Wings one night and that is the night we met. I didn't think much about meeting him, and then my friend asked if she could give him my phone number because he liked me. I said ok, and then didn't hear anything. He finally called me when I was home from college for fall break and we went on our first date to see the movie "The Rundown." We had fun, and he kept calling and we kept doing things.

Proposal Story
Of course we made plans to go out for dinner to a nice
place on Valentine's Day. He made reservations at a
Schererville Lounge, which is a nice restaurant in town. He came to pick me up at my door and
had balloons and a card. I opened the card and I gave
him his gift from me. I figured he would get me more
than a card, but I didn't think to much about it.
When we went back to his car to go to dinner he opened
the door for me and kneeled down to put the gift I got
him away in his backseat. Then all of a sudden he
said here is your real gift and he handed me a bag with
a teddy bear and a small wrapped box. He was still
kneeling down as I opened the box. He began to say
how he loved me and a bunch of stuff that I don't
remember as I opened the box. When I opened the box
all the way, He said "will you marry me?" I said yes,
I was expecting it kind of to be that night but not
then by his car in my driveway. Then I ran back into
my house to show my mom after a few minutes, and I
dropped the bear that was in the gift in a mud puddle.
I went in the house and showed my mom, and after
dinner we went back to his house to show his family.
That's the story.

Ring:
3/4 carat yellow gold round solitaire. It's a
beautiful diamond. He had no idea my ring size and
guessed the perfect size.


Engagement Photo:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d93/steffiegirl815/95df6c17.jpg

Engagement ring
(Post Photo)

[smiles]

Rehearsal Day
I worked until the day of the Rehearsal, so I spent most of the time confirming everything, and doing as little as possible. Most of my wedding planning was done over the summer.

Rehearsal Day:
We woke up early at our apartment. (We lived together the month before the wedding) We each went to our parent’s house that day. We went to White Hawk Country Club (reception location) to confirm everything, and take the centerpieces I made over to them. We spent the day picking up tuxes, confirming everything, and running around. I went with my friend Jenn (guestbook attendant) to get my nails touched up for the wedding; my DH went to his house and spent time with his brothers. I got fake nails and I wanted to get them painted. When I got back my MOH was in town so I talked to her. I got ready for the rehearsal, we dropped my dress off at the lady that was pressing it, and went to the rehearsal. It was stressful getting to the rehearsal. We were running late, and everyone was mad.

Rehearsal: Rehearsal started at 5:30 and we arrived exactly then. Most everyone was already there including DH. We just had to wait for one Bridesmaid, and my Jr. Bridesmaids. We forgot to invite one of the ushers to the rehearsal, but at least he heard about it through others. Our rehearsal went well. We practiced the ceremony, and it went well. The ring bearer did sit down on the stage and pick his nose, which we were hoping he did not do during the ceremony.

Rehearsal Dinner:
Teibles Restaurant

30 people came, which was primarily the wedding party, and our families. The dinner was very good. We had a choice of Chicken or Perch. We passed out our gifts and that was about it. When we left my FH gave me a kiss, and we were not going to talk or see each other until I was walking down the aisle.

Then it was time to go home and sleep, and rest up for the big day. I literally went home and changed, talked to my sister, and slept.

[smiles]

Wedding Day
I tried to sleep but I couldn't. I woke up at 5am, and laid in bed until 8am. It was so unreal that I was finally getting married. 7 months of planning and now was the big day. I got up and ate breakfast, and kept trying to take it easy. I went to my hair appointment at 10am. I got my hair done and it looked great. When I got home my bridesmaids were all at my house getting ready.

We ate lunch at my house at 11am, and then left for the church at noon. We had to stop by and pick up my dress from the lady who pressed it.

The girls arrived at the church and we continued to get ready. There was so much to be done. We got dressed and did our makeup. My sister did mine, and she did a great job. There were things to set up, but no one let me do anything. I was suppose to stay calm and enjoy the day.

The Groomsmen arrived at 2:00pm all dressed and ready. There were pictures to be taken. The photographer took lots of pictures the girls and guys separately.

I was stuck in a classroom, so Jeff would not see me. Everyone was running around getting things set up and in order. I could hear it all but couldn't leave the room.

Then guest began to arrive and the wedding party all left and lined up and left me in the room. I had some time to reflect, and that was so weird. Finally my dad came and got me, and it was time to walk down the aisle.

Me getting hair done
Me and my mom
(Post Pictures)

[smiles]

Ceremony:

I waited at the end of the line for everyone to go down while holding my dad's arm. That was weird. I watched the MOH and BM go down, and then it was my turn. I heard the music Here Comes The Bride.
I walked down and that is when I knew it was real. When I saw Jeff's face I knew he was the person I was spending the rest of my life with.

The truth is the Ceremony is a blurrr. I can't wait to get the wedding DVD from the videographer to see my wedding day.

There was an introduction and prayer, and a message by the pastor. We said our vows. We chose the traditional vows and we each said them repeating after the minister. We exchanged our rings. We did the unity candle, and gave flowers to our mothers after lighting the candle. We kissed, and then we were husband and wife. I couldn't believe it we were Married. It really didn't feel any different. We dismissed our guest by rows greeting each of them. We left to bubbles and jumped in DHs car which was decorated and drove around the block. We came back to the church signed the marriage certificate, and took pictures.

His parents being seated
(his mom broke her foot 3 weeks before wedding)
My mom being seated


Ring Bearer

Me and My Dad

Him waiting at Alter
(love this picture)
Best Man

Ring Ceremony


Kiss

Recessional

Bubbles

[smiles]

Reception:

When we got to the reception the guests were there. It seemed so disorganized. I left so much in my parent’s car that I needed. Everyone was running back and forth and wanted pictures with us. We smiled so much my jaw hurt at that point. We went outside and took pictures. I wish we could have took more pictures at the Country Club outside, but it was so cold.

us





We lined up for the wedding party introductions. It was so funny that the DJ started out saying parents of the bride and then my grandparents’ names. After lots of laughing we got seated, and then the best man did a short toast. It was time to eat.
Grand Entrance

Toast


The Food was good. We had ham, baked chicken, and Roast Beef. There was salad, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies, and rolls. The food was so good, but I didn't enjoy eating that much because I had so much on my mind.

Then it was time for the cake cutting. That was quite interesting. We took the pictures and cut the cake, and then when Jeff went to feed it to me he threw it in my face. I got him back. It was a classic cake fight. The problem was is there was not a plate or napkins so we had to hurry and find some. We ate our cake served with vanilla ice cream with berries. The cake was so good. There were leftovers that we got after the honeymoon which we also enjoyed.

Cake Cutting

Cake smashed in face


The dancing started. We did the first dance to the Aerosmith song "Don't Want To Miss a Thing" The song went on forever, but I will always remember our first Slow Dance literally. Then I did the Father/Daughter dance to "Butterfly Kisses" My dad cried, but I held it together although I was close. His mom and Jeff did a Mother/Son dance to "Wind Beneath My Wings" It was amazing his mom could dance, because she broke her foot 3 weeks before, but she did it. We also had an Anniversary Dance since both of our parents were married in 1973, and had "We've Only Just Begun" as their wedding song.
First Dance


Then it was time for everyone dancing. Many left right around the time dancing began, but many stayed. We had fun dancing to such songs as the Electric Slide, YMCA, You Shook Me All Night Long, Livin’ on a Prayer, Twist and Shout, ect.
Ring Bearer sleeping


We did the bouquet toss around 9pm. I threw the bouquet over all the girls’ heads and it landed at the best man's feet. He gave it a friend's fiancé who really is the next to get married probably. The Best Man caught the bouquet.

We did a little more dancing, and then the reception began to wind down. We changed out of my dress and his tux. We got a limo to take us to Chicago for our wedding night. We stayed at The Millennium Knickerbocker hotel. It was a very nice room, and a night I will never forget.

[smiles]

Honeymoon

We went to the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel in Chicago that night. We had a very nice room. The next day the city was crazy because of the Chicago Marathon. We had a complimentary breakfast at our hotel. We went up in the John Hancock Observatory, and walked around. I was so tired. We took the train back to Indiana where our car was left at the train station. We got our car and drove to Saugatuck, MI.


We stayed in Twin Gables Inn Bed and Breakfast. It was very nice, and we had our own suite.
We stayed in Twin Gables Inn Bed and Breakfast. It was very nice, and we had our own suite.


We walked around the town, when out to dinner, went through a corn maze, and took it easy.


We enjoyed our daylong honeymoon. Then Tuesday is was time to go back home, and go back to the reality of work.

[smiles]

More Pictures

Wedding rings

cool picture of bubbles

me

bridesmaids and I

All the girls

With his brothers

The guys

[smiles]

Family Pictures

GM (DH Brother), his Wife (7 months pregnant with niece) and Ring Bearer

DH with the girls

With his parents

with my parents

Wedding Party

My Family Picture

us

me

us

[smiles]

Random Reception Pictures

We were told it was no fun to clink glasses because we kiss to much

His giant family plus a couple of wanderers

My family

Father/Daughter Dance

Mother/Son Dance

Us Having Fun

Best Man Kept Everyone Entertained


I owed my sister a dance

Must have been taken the 1 minute we sat down

[smiles]

More Reception Pictures

Bouquet Toss


Garter Toss



Fake Leaving for pictures


Really Leaving

Limo

Us in Limo

Cool thing the photographer did

[~LeAna~]

I just loved your WDS on UW. I can't wait to see the pictures again!!

[smiles]

I'm having picture issues right now. It may take me a while to get them back up, but I'm planning on at least getting some of them up in the next couple of weeks.

[mrs.g]

Enjoyed reading your wedding story! I hope you get your picture issues resolved soon so we can enjoy your pics again!

[smiles]

I am still working on getting the pictures up, but if you want to see them in the meantime until I have time to repost one by one you can see them at www.stephenmartinphotography.com, current projects, wade 1&2