Our Story, Part XVI: Reader, I Married Him

**Bonus points to whoever can name what book the title is taken from!**

This is one part of a much longer story, which you can catch up on here.  I've had this post on my to-blog list for over two years now, can you believe it!?  Since today is our 8th anniversary, I told myself  there will be no rest until it's done.  Without further ado ...

March 25, 2006 dawned bright and beautiful.  And perhaps a bit chilly too.  I think it *may* have hit 50 degrees at some point, but certainly not during our evening wedding.  But at least it was sunny.  People always seem to equate March anniversaries with spring weddings, but not in Central Pennsylvania.  One of the biggest blizzards of my lifetime took place in March.  So while there wasn't any rain or snow that day, there wasn't any flowers or green grass either.  And yet, it was still the most beautiful day of my life!

Photo Credit: Erin Cole

Photo Credit: Erin Cole

Photo Credit: David Miller Photography

The ceremony wasn't until that night, and thanks to my super-organized wedding planner, there wasn't much to do that day.  So it was surprisingly slow and relaxing.

Photo Credit: Erin Cole

And since I had so much free time my friend/bridesmaid/hairdresser/back-up photographer got some of my favorite pictures of the day.

Photo Credit: Erin Cole

Photo Credit: Erin Cole

Seriously, everyone needs a friend/bridesmaid/hairdresser/back-up photographer in their life!

Photo Credit: Erin Cole

My memories of our wedding day are so hazy. I remember my bridesmaids and I arranging pearls on wire to put into our bouquets ... while we were in our dresses.  I remember the seamstress sewing a hem on a bridesmaid moments before walking down the aisle.  I remember forcing myself to use the restroom before the ceremony started ... and then never going to the bathroom again the rest of the day!

Photo Credit: David Miller Photography

Photo Credit: David Miller Photography

I remember feeling so absolutely giddy in the final countdown.  For real, March 25, 2006 was the happiest day of my life!

Photo Credit: David Miller Photography

Photo Credit: David Miller Photography

The ceremony started with our worship leader singing "You Raise Me Up" and the mother's lit the candles.

I'm surprised they didn't just high-five each other here.
Photo Credit: David Miller Photography

Then, some little girls from our church did an opening dance with streamers to Michael W. Smith's "Agnus Dei."  The bridesmaids started walking down the aisle and I stayed hidden behind the stairs.

Photo Credit: David Miller Photography

Photo Credit: David Miller Photography

And then the cue.  This was it!

Photo Credit: David Miller Photography

Our church has some seriously long aisles.  It's a good thing my dad was keeping pace beside me because, judging from the video of that day, I was attempting to run down the aisle.  I just remember my face started to hurt from smiling, and we were only a few minutes in.

Photo Credit: David Miller Photography

And the rest ... well, the rest is history.  C'mon, like I could remember anything the pastor said when the love of my life is standing across from me, gazing into my eyes.  The ring bearers and flower girl were having a party behind us, but in that moment, we were the only two people in the world.

Photo Credit: David Miller Photography

And then the ceremony was over.  We pranced back down the aisle.  Nabbed a quick husband and wife smooch in the back lobby, and then ran out into the parking lot to sneak into the back door for more pictures.

Photo Credit: David Miller Photography

Photo Credit: David Miller Photography

Photo Credit: David Miller Photography

Afterwards, it was off to the reception, where we celebrated our new start as a couple.  And where I was promptly ushered into the Coast Guard family with a sword-smack to the butt.  (An apropos beginning if I do say so myself!)

Photo Credit: David Miller Photography

I don't remember eating at the reception.  I do remember rushing around trying to catch up with friends and family we hadn't seen in so very long.  And then, because time was running out, we unwittingly ended up with the divide-and-conquer-approach.  Because I remember thinking, this isn't right.  We should not be more than an arm's length apart at our reception!

Photo Credit: David Miller Photography 

Photo Credit: David Miller Photography

Eventually, the guest numbers started dwindling.  So we staged our escape and dashed through a corridor of sparklers, cheers, and smiles.

Then Jon stuffed me into the car, we drove around to the back of the building, and snuck in the back door to finish saying goodbye to people.  (Please don't think all this sneaking-in-back-doors is a reflection of our relationship.  I think it's much more a testimony of our efficiency and regimented ability to "stick to the schedule.")

And there you have it, eight years ago today.  The day I pledged my life and my love to the boy from Sunday School.  The day I made a covenant with the kid I thought would make a good husband.  The day I stepped away from everything I had ever known and set off on an adventure with my Handsome Coastie.

Had I known where it all would lead, would I have still pranced into matrimony?  Ehhh, maybe not.  But that's the beauty of a covenantal love.  On March 25, 2006 I made a promise for forever, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, (and no matter how many babies in how many years!) I had no idea what was to come, no clue what married life looked like just around the bend, and not a thought for how quickly that bend would come (with many more to follow.)  At the close of that day, I was the happiest girl alive and nothing could take that away from me.  Well, at least not for the next five weeks...


**If you guessed (or Googled) Jane Eyre, then you're correct!  And if you said this was the first line of the last chapter of the book, you're amazing!  And if you also mentioned that this line is most famous because it illustrates Jane taking on a much more active posture than we've seen throughout the whole book ... well, then you probably read the same commentary I did.  Give yourself a pat on the back!**