I woke up pretty early with a case of the “Wedding Day Jitters”. I had been doing so good up until this point, but my tummy was just a fluttering! I tried to eat a little breakfast (we’ll just say that didn’t stay down where it was supposed to) and then headed out to Melissa and Company Salon. My mom, Tiffany, Natalie, Lindsay, Linda, and I were getting our hair done there. Some of the other bridesmaids came there after they’d gotten their hair done in other places. Victoria was there shooting pictures. My hair turned out absolutely perfect! It looked the way I that I’d envisioned it to look for the day of my wedding. We did make-up and attached my finger-tip veil. Tiffany and I set out for the church and when we got there, I had to remove the make-up, except for the eyes, and try again. Girls are just funny about their make-up and it didn’t look quite right. The girls helped me climb into my dress and Linda corseted me up! They all helped me get my shoes and jewelry on before the cathedral veil was finally attached. I was ready! All the bridesmaids looked gorgeous in their dresses and the flower girls were just picture perfect! My mom was a hottie in her dress of red! We waited for Victoria to finish up pictures with the guys, and then we took pictures. She did a couple cute things with us & the next thing I new, it was time to go! My uncle Tony and my dad both came to see me (they both cried) and then we went to go get ready to go into the church. Natalie and I stood outside by ourselves for a few minutes (this is when I realized that I really had to go to the bathroom, but knew that I’d just have to hold it – for what ended up being a VERY long time!) We chit-chatted for a few minutes, then she went in and my dad came out. Daddy and I stood there for a couple more minutes, then they told us to come in! Then the music began, the doors opened, and every jitter that I’d had up until this point completely went away! I was so excited! I saw Shane standing there beaming at the end of the aisle, I saw all the wonderful people that were there for our special day, and I just took off down the aisle with my daddy. We practically tripped the whole way there, but I didn’t even care. I was just overjoyed with excitement and happiness. We said our vows perfectly, we lit the unity candle, we went and gave roses to the special women in our lives (that was a surprise), we said the Lord’s Prayer and kneeled to pray, we exchanged the rings (they FIT!), I did a little dance, and then we saw the “special video presentation”. This was supposed to be set to Steven Curtis Chapman’s “I Will Be Here”, but Shane, my dad, and his dad had a different plan. It opened up with humming of Amazing Grace and a “In Loving Memory” portion ( I cried when I saw my Grandmama and Granddaddy looking down at me). It then proceeded into the Feather Song and my dad’s voice again, but with pictures of me through the years to match! It was gorgeous!!! Just when I thought it was over, it transitioned into a song that Shane’s dad had written for him and pictures of him growing up! The song was called “Crystal and Shane” and it was just wonderful! The whole video was so touching and I know I will never be able to watch it without crying, but that’s okay. Shane did a wonderful job putting it together and I will cherish it forever! The next thing I knew we were pronounced as husband and wife, we kissed, then the Hallelujah chorus was played, and we headed back down that aisle! WE WERE MARRIED! We were escorted off by ourselves for a few minutes while the guests went on over to Roselawn, then we took pictures for awhile. An old timey car took us over to Roselawn where we, along with the wedding party were introduced by the Deejay. It was so great to see all of these people there to celebrate with us! Shane and I danced our first dance (to Jim Brickman, “The Love of My Life”), I danced with my daddy (“the Feather Song” ironically I’d chosen this song before I ever knew anything about the poem), and Shane danced to the Hawaiian version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” with his mom. We cut the cakes, fed each other (all of his groomsmen sang Rocky Top when we cut his cake), drank out of our glasses, then headed down to the carriage house for dancing and fun! We had SO much fun (my mom got jiggy with it on the dance floor & my dad, well he gave it his best shot), we took more pictures, threw the bouquet, flung the garter, danced our last dance (to Sara Evans and Vince Gill’s “There’s No Place That Far”),then we all gathered together to let brown and ivory balloons go before we left. We said all of our good-byes, then the old car picked us up again and we left! It was the most perfect day, I couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful time, and I am so appreciative to everyone who was a part of it!

Off to the Renaissance Hotel and then to Maui!!!!