My wedding day was The Perfect Day. Seriously. Eight months later to the day, I look at these photos and think, "I've never had a better day." I left my reception and cried in the car because the day was everything I could have ever wanted. The weather was amazing. The temple felt heavenly. The country club was a perfect back-drop for my reception. The flowers turned out lush and the food was yummy. The little touches turned out great. Best of all, so many people I absolutely adore were all in one room celebrating my new marriage. How could I not cry (being me and all)? I had so much gratitude.
To start off, I had a relaxing morning: no nerves - no reservations - no "well hello there" facial breakouts. My ceremony was at 2pm by design. I wanted to be well rested and calm the morning of my wedding. Y'all know I love my sleep. Personally, I think too many women get married in the morning and have to get up way too early to primp. Not me. I had Brooke do my hair and I did my own make-up. Simple.
I'll never forget Cody's look when he first saw me in the temple on our wedding day. He had the perfect smile: happiness, excitement, with a twinge of nerves. Cody had never seen me in the temple before because he was adamant that he not see me in the temple until our wedding day. I always thought he was weird for being so particular, but in the end it was nice to enter the celestral room after changing and seeing him light up at my entrance, and my appearance, for the very first time.
Cody and I just sat for a while in the celestral room holding hands, smiling, giggling at the fact that "today is our wedding day", and eating mints the temple matron kept offering us "because we were going to kiss over the alter." She was very attentive and adoring.
My heart lept when we entered the sealing room. I loved looking around the room and seeing all our temple guests. The sealing ceremony was perfect. The Newport Beach Temple President sealed us and he was very thoughtful in what he said. He wasn't too short or too long winded. He complimented and described Cody and me. I love compliments. And oddly, he described Cody and me with three descriptions each, which unfortunately, I failed to write down. But I remember that all were distinct and true. He said I was empathic. How could he know that I am trained to be empathic through my studies, but that I'm naturally inclined to "be with others" in their emotions and experiences? Cody always laughs at my "nobody cries alone" habit.
He said that Cody had always been faithful. How could he have known that Cody was always true to his covenants? He knew Cody had gone on a mission, but Cody could have been wayward before his mission and had a period of inactivity afterward. The sealer just seemed to be intune with the spirit and was able to describe us accurately. I felt known and loved by my Heavenly Father during the ceremony.
Across the alter, Cody became emotional. He had never cried in front of me before and I had always wanted him to. I just like unblocked emotional expression. And on my wedding day, he cried. Not a fake cry, like he had done before, by staring at me long enough to produce tears from not blinking, but real, honest, loving, happy, joy tears. I thought for a brief second "Oh, he really does love me" and then I remembered that I knew that all along. Our kiss was sweet - and we did two.
After the ceremony, we hugged all our guests, and the immediate family stayed behind to have a special discussion about eternal families while looking through the eternity mirrors. It was very intimate, something for just the family to experience. The sealer talked about how we need to pray for our families to make good choices, to put their names on the prayer rolls of the temple when they falter, and to never give up on the power of the sealing covenant. It was touching - and applicable given that not all of our family members could be at the temple (my dad's family isn't Mormon and the like).
The most awkward part of our wedding day was exiting the temple. Everyone was clapping and blocking the path so they can just congratulate and stare. OH BROTHER!!!! We did not know what to do with ourselves.
Pictures followed. Cody was happy to take pictures at the temple for as long as I wanted. He was so lovable - kissing me lots and smiling lots and just being my husband.
The Newport Beach Temple that afternoon felt exactly the way I want heaven to feel. Reception post to follow...
And now for some black and white images:
