Yesterday I Smelled Like Fish...

True story! =) This is because I went offshore fishing! I love going offshore. It is beautiful and calm (sometimes; I won't go if it isn't). J and I haven't been able to make it offshore in about a year. We had a WONDERFUL day of fishing -- which would have been better had we been able to keep more of the fish we caught.  Marc, Doug, my dad, J and Christy went also -- it was Christy's first trip and I am SO happy that it was so calm!

 

 

On the trip out to the fish, J spent time getting the rods and reels ready and making sure everyone knew how to use the reels.

    

I was just excited lol =)

All-in-all we ended up catching 5-6 keeper Red Snapper, 2 grouper and at least 10 Black Sea bass -- all that we had to throw back due to restrictions.  

   

 

We were able to keep a few fish that we caught = 4 Trigger fish and a big Mangrove Snapper =)

  

I caught one of the Grouper and it was my first EVER! I was pretty excited =)

It was such a great time for multiple reasons - but I do love being able to spend time with my friends and family!

 

Other than that, J was VERY sick on Friday night so I went to the bar to sing without him so he could rest. Larry and I had 2 new songs: Don't Stop Believin' and Bring Me to Life.  I am still trying to figure out how to share our music with you -- I will soon, promise!

Saturday, I spent the morning cleaning while J worked. I also worked on some jewelry for a lovely bride-to-be.  Thankfully she LOVES the pieces.  Here is just a sneak peek of one set NEARLY complete -- she has the chains for the necklace charm.   

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Jessica at Stilettos & a Fishing Pole asked me to guest blog for her!! She is a newly engaged bride-to-be and she has decided to host a series of guest posts discussing all things to do with wedding; "Marry Me, Monday".  Check her out! She is amazing and beautiful and such a sweet girl!  

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Happy Last Day of February!!

J & A Chronicles: Wedding Day Pt 3 ::Ceremony:: Warning: Long & Picture Heavy

*If you don't want to see an amazing amount of pictures and read our ceremony, please close this window now haha =) You have been warned
*Some of these pictures are non-pro pictures taken by some of our friends.  They helped to capture some of the emotion from that day and, because of where they were positioned, had a different perspective

*I DIY-ed all the flowers, with some help from my bridesmaid, sister, and mom

Before the ceremony starts, everyone is out trying to make sure all are in place.  This included the aisle runner that my mom and I had spent several hours painting a monogram on. It was VERY windy on the day of our wedding, so it wasn't staying down. Everyone was panicking. 

Yes J IS holding a high powered staple gun trying to make our day perfect for me lol

About 10 minutes before the ceremony, my aunt came to my room and told me they didn't know what to do about the 'situation'.  I said "cut off the part of the aisle runner with the monogram and see if you can get that part to stay down".  Everyone thought I was kidding or crazy -- I wasn't.  If we couldn't have an aisle runner because of wind, what could I do? =) I didn't care about any of the details any more I just wanted to get married to J!

The other 'mishap' that the wind caused I found out during the ceremony. The wind blew over our sand ceremony frame and broke it.  One of our groomsmen diligently chewed gum to use it as glue to keep the frame together at least for the ceremony.

 We ended up buying a new one because it ended up getting lost; we don't know where this one ended up after the ceremony. You can see the updated one here

 

 

 

As I stood, waiting my turn to walk down the aisle, all I could think
was "11 months of planning comes down to this moment", the moment
I become J's wife...I hope he likes my dress!" Yes it was that simple for me 

  

 

 

 

By the time the girls were walking out, J was super emotional.  That made everyone else emotional.

**read 'emotional' = crying/teary lol

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPENING WORDS(Drew) 

GIVEN IN MARRIAGE:

Drew: Who gives this woman?

Dad: Her mother and I.



When my dad raised my veil he said "Go get 'em Tiger" and I said "gggrrrrr"! =) 
And yes you can hear it on our wedding video haha

PRAYER
Drew

VOWS OF SUPPORT
Drew calls parents forward

Drew: To the parents of J and Ashley, although they have embarked on this marriage through personal choice, their marriage will be enriched by the families from which they come.

With this in mind, I ask you, Phil and Donna to take this man, J, into your hearts, that he might live from this day as your son, for he is dear and beloved to John and April and shall be so to you and your family.  If so, answer We do.

Ashley’s parents – We do

Drew: And of you, John and April, I ask the same, that you take this woman, Ashley into your hearts, that she might live from this day as your daughter, for she is dear and beloved to Phil and Donna, and shall be so to you and your family.  If so, answer We do.

J’s Parents – We Do.

(Both bride and groom hug new family)

(Parents stand next to 'new' child and join hands -- facing guests)

Drew: Two people in love do not live in isolation. The love between J and Ashley is a source of strength to each other and to the community around them. In turn, their community has a responsibility to support them. Do you who are present here today promise to surround J and Ashley in love, offering them celebration in times of joy and counsel in times of concern? If so, answer we do.

Guests: We do.

VOWS

J: I take you, Ashley, to be my friend, my lover, and my wife  I will cherish our union and promise to love you more each day than I did the day before.  I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh and cry with you, to love you in good times and in bad, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort.  I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live.  

As soon as J started reciting his vows, I burst into tears.  I couldn't help it haha 
 I was SO excited to hear him say those words to me!

Me: I take you, J, to be my friend, my lover, and my husband. I will cherish our union and promise to love you more each day than I did the day before.  I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh and cry with you, to love you in good times and in bad, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort.  I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live.  

RINGS
J: “Ashley, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love. As it encircles your finger, may it remind you always that you are surrounded by my enduring love and commitment to you.” 

Me: "J, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love. As it encircles your finger, may it remind you always that you are surrounded by my enduring love and commitment to you.” 

 

ENGAGEMENT RING

Drew: J, please take the engagement ring.

J takes engagement ring off Ashley’s right hand

Drew: This ring is the symbol of promise and intention.  The intention is realized and the promise is fulfilled.  Please place this ring on Ashley’s finger over her band to symbolize that the love that brought you together will always protect and sustain your marriage.

J places ring on Ashley’s left hand

 



SAND CEREMONY

Steve sings first verse of "There is Love"

J telling me about what happened to our Sand Ceremony Frame before the ceremony started haha

 Drew:This covenant is a relationship pledge between two people who agree that they will commit themselves to one another throughout their lives.  The two of you have made that commitment today.

This relationship is symbolized through the pouring and combining of sand.  Each grain of sand in their separate containers represents a unique and separate moment, decision, feeling or event that helped shape J and Ashley into the individual that they are and led them to this moment in their lives.

Steve sings second verse "there is Love"

Drew: The White sand that I pour represents Christ, pure, holy, Son of God.  He is the foundation on which you build your marriage.  This foundation and love of God through Jesus can never be separated from you.
 

The blue and pink sands each represent you both, J and Ashley, all that you were, all that you are and all that you will ever be.

Bother containers hold unique beauty, strength, and character. They can each stand on their own without need of anything else.  Today we blend the two together to create and entirely new and extraordinarily more intricate entity.  Each grain of sand brings to the mixture a lasting beauty that forever enriches this union. 

The separate containers represent your lives up to this moment: individual and unique. As they are poured together, the original containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined as one.  Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into individual containers, so will your marriage and your family be.

J and I pour our sand together

Steve sings bridge "There is Love"

As God is the foundation of your life and marriage, so shall He be your cover and shelter.

Drew pours white sand over our blue/pink sand

DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE

 

Drew: J, you may kiss your bride.

♥ After our first kiss as Husband & Wife -- SO excited! ♥

Drew:  Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the new Mr. and Mrs.!

Sharing a 'private' moment after the ceremony

And just like that we were husband and wife, poised and looking forward to spending every day together for the rest of our lives.  I can't believe it has been almost a year since we said our vows. Its "mind-bottling" ;)
Happy Friday!