Love’s Valley of Dreams: My Surprise Getaway

Early in the planning, I knew we would want a vintage car to leave the church in.  The first time I mentioned it, Mr. CC decided that he would take charge of this one aspect of our wedding.  I put my trust in him, and promptly forgot about it.

My man came through.

Everyone who was left at the church gathered outside to send us off.

Imagine my surprise when I laid eyes on our getaway ride!

He did good!!

Um, it wasn’t exactly a crinoline friendly car, but we stuffed it in anyway!

And off we went!

All photos by Kristian Ogden Photography unless stated otherwise.

Missed something?

• The girls got ready.
• I got my hair did.
• It took a village to do my makeup.
• I got into my dress.
• We had our first look.
• We took pictures with our parents.
• We took pictures with our maids and men.
• We took pictures together.
• We waited.
• Our friends and family made their entrance.
• We got married!
• We took some more pictures.

Love’s Valley of Dreams: Family Photos

Once the ceremony was over and most of the guests had left, we took a few minutes for family pictures.

But first, we recreated our first kiss, since our photographer missed it.

Then, the entire wedding party.

My Parents

His family

Our siblings

And one more kiss

All photos by Kristian Ogden Photography unless stated otherwise.

Missed something?

• The girls got ready.
• I got my hair did.
• It took a village to do my makeup.
• I got into my dress.
• We had our first look.
• We took pictures with our parents.
• We took pictures with our maids and men.
• We took pictures together.
• We waited.
• Our friends and family made their entrance.
• We got married!

Love’s Valley of Dreams: The Ceremony

I’ve sat down to write this post about 60 times.  It’s hard!

We didn’t get very many pictures of the ceremony.  It’s not the photographer’s fault.  Our church was very particular about where she was allowed to be, and where she wasn’t.  Life goes on, right?

So, we probably should have practiced that walk with the big poofy skirt on.  Seriously, my mom kept stepping on my dress and by the time we got down the aisle to the alter, my parents were so far away from me, it looked more like a prisoner being led to her sentencing.

But, I carried that giant cheesy grin all the way down the alter to my loving man.

What you can’t see from here is me whispering to my intended, “why is it so bloody hot in here?!”  Except, I’m pretty sure “bloody” was not the word I picked.  It was sweltering.  Like, sweat rivers and sticky thighs.  And long, poofy, polyester dresses.  Blech.

Honestly, I don’t really remember much of our ceremony.  It was hot.  It was quick.  And I was nervous.  And, in true CrabCake fashion, I watched it more than I participated in it.  Sad, but true.  (Who has that song from the Little Mermaid stuck in their head now?  Oh, just me… guess that’s what having a 5 year old does to you!)

Our photographer missed the first kiss (it’s ok, we remember it.) She had to be in the choir loft the entire ceremony, and our priest skipped the cue we had given her to let her know it was about to be over and she should reposition herself.

Next thing we knew, we were practically running down the aisle.  It felt so good to be married!

All photos by Kristian Ogden Photography unless stated otherwise.

Missed something?

• The girls got ready.
• I got my hair did.
• It took a village to do my makeup.
• I got into my dress.
• We had our first look.
• We took pictures with our parents.
• We took pictures with our maids and men.
• We took pictures together.
• We waited.
• Our friends and family made their entrance.

Love’s Valley of Dreams: Down the Aisle

Our guests had arrived. 

First, Mr. CC’s Stepmom and Nana.

Mr. CC’s Dad walks his mother down the aisle.

My mom’s boyfriend and my grandfather.

My dad and stepmother.

One of the ushers walks Mr. CC’s mom to her seat.

Mr. CC enters from behind the alter

As the groom’s men and bride’s maids make their way down the aisle.

Mr. CC is waiting in anticipation at the alter.

It’s finally my turn to come down the aisle!

All photos by Kristian Ogden Photography unless stated otherwise.

Missed something?

• The girls got ready.
• I got my hair did.
• It took a village to do my makeup.
• I got into my dress.
• We had our first look.
• We took pictures with our parents.
• We took pictures with our maids and men.
• We took pictures together.
• We waited.

Love’s Valley of Dreams: The Waiting Game

Because there was a Mass at 5, and there would be throngs of people milling around the church when Mass let out, we decided to play it safe and get back to the church just before 6 and hide.  We tried once to get out and take some pictures, but our guests were already starting to arrive, so I ran back into the Bride’s room and took cover.

My mom and I took some really fake, posed shots

which we were terrible at.

And that is the “ok, we’re done with this” look.

Meanwhile, the men are hiding in the nursery.

They snacked on mini oreos and teddy grahams and drank the kool-aid bursts.  I’m pretty sure the nursery director was peeved on Sunday morning.  Oops.

And our family waited in the fellowship hall.

Aunt Teresa went all out and dressed in vintage style clothes.  She looked great!

About the time the boredom set in, it was time to send the family and the boys over to the church to get set.

People, it’s time to get married!

All photos by Kristian Ogden Photography unless stated otherwise.

Missed something?

• The girls got ready.
• I got my hair did.
• It took a village to do my makeup.
• I got into my dress.
• We had our first look.
• We took pictures with our parents.
• We took pictures with our maids and men.
• We took pictures together.

Love’s Valley of Dreams: The Bride and Groom

Finally, with most of the formal pictures out of the way, it was time for Mr. CC and I to get a little time for photos of just the two of us.

On the staircase again.

In the room that we would spend our wedding night in.

And in the living area.

And then, it was time to go back to the church and hide.

All photos by Kristian Ogden Photography unless stated otherwise.

Missed something?

• The girls got ready.
• I got my hair did.
• It took a village to do my makeup.
• I got into my dress.
• We had our first look.
• We took pictures with our parents.
• We took pictures with our maids and men.

Love’s Valley of Dreams: Maids and Men

With the tedious family pictures (mostly) out of the way, it was time to have some fun with our guys and gals.

We started with the ladies.

I had a picture taken with each maid, but that’s kind of boring, so we’ll skip those and go on to the guys.

Then we mixed it up.

Had to have one of the Mister with all the girls.

But we had to wait on the one of me with the guys, we’d lost my brother!  Have no fear, he just had to go help my grandfather get dressed!

Next up:  Mr. CC and I get some alone time.  Sorta…

All photos by Kristian Ogden Photography unless stated otherwise.

Missed something?

• The girls got ready.
• I got my hair did.
• It took a village to do my makeup.
• I got into my dress.
• We had our first look.
• We took pictures with our parents.

Love’s Valley of Dreams: The Family

The first look is done, it’s time to get some of those tedious family photos out of the way.

I’ll try not to bore you guys to death.

Mr. CC and his Dad and Stepmom.

Me with my Dad and Stepmom

Mr. CC and his Mom

My Mom and I.

Mini and I

And our little family.

Next: Bridal party pictures

All photos by Kristian Ogden Photography unless stated otherwise.

Missed something?

• The girls got ready.
• I got my hair did.
• It took a village to do my makeup.
• I got into my dress.
• We had our first look.

Love’s Valley of Dreams: The First Look

All dressed and ready to get married, my girls and I left the church and headed over to the Gates House for our pre-ceremony photos.

We had originally planned on utilizing the garden at the Gates House, but, after we took into consideration the heat (seriously, 105 in the shade, hello stinky bride), we decided that we would take as many pictures inside the house as we possibly could.

Mr. CC was safely hidden away in one of the guest rooms when I arrived.

Then, they stashed me in a corner

While they got Mr. CC situated outside.

I snuck out for our first look.

See me poking my head out the door?  I’m not very good at sneaking.

Wow, those are some seriously special faces I was making.

A little spin…

And all the nerves and anxiety are gone!

Next up: It’s time for family photos!

All photos by Kristian Ogden Photography unless stated otherwise.

Missed something?

• The girls got ready.
• I got my hair did.
• It took a village to do my makeup.
• I got into my dress.

Love’s Valley of Dreams: Slipping into the Dress

With our hair and makeup done, we drove to the church to get dressed.

Before I got into my dress, I helped the girls pin their brooches onto their gowns.

Then it was time to climb into my dress.

Ready, set, jump!  Ok, not really, but doesn’t it look like they are waiting for me to come charging at them?

Tiffany and I had practiced getting into the dress a few weeks earlier, so she was in charge.  Amber is a freelance wedding consultant and coordinator (and florist), so she was right there to help.

Once they had the dress laced completely, we realized it was going to take some yanking and pulling and craziness to get the dress tight enough.

Now, doesn’t that look like fun?  This is that moment when you realize how much you love these girls!

Jewelry

Shoes

Lipstick and gloss

And one last look before we’re ready to go take pictures.

Next, the first look and some family shots before the ceremony.

All photos by Kristian Ogden Photography unless stated otherwise.

Missed something?

• The girls got ready.
• I got my hair did.
• It took a village to do my makeup.