Our Happily Ever After!

     It has been a month in a half since we have been married! So we thought (it was actually Chad's idea...) for our Family Home Evening activity it would be fun to create a post about the best day of our lives. Here is the story of our wedding, we hope you enjoy! Thanks to Keala Jarvis for supplying the beautiful pictures!! She did an amazing job!

The Whole Gang

     The night before, I was so excited to marry Chad! I could not believe the day was finally here. Literally all I had to do was fall asleep and then when I woke up, I’d be marrying Chad. I still had to pack for the honeymoon and take a shower. I was not tired and couldn’t seem to sleep. Chad was having the same problem. So we decided to have some “pillow talk” over the phone. It was so much fun! We talked for 45 minutes and then realized that we should probably go to bed so we wouldn’t be tired on our special day. I finished packing and took a shower then fell asleep around 2:45 AM.

     I woke up at 5:45 AM and was so excited! So I got all ready and ate a bowl of fruity pebbles. They were delicious of course! I had asked my dad for a blessing the night before and we decided to do it before leaving that morning.

     I am so grateful for Father’s blessings. I want my children to be able to get them whenever they want them and I know that they will, because Chad is such a great man. One who wants to share his priesthood power and use it well. :) The blessing was very comforting and reassuring. Not that I was nervous, it just is a big decision and I wanted to be absolutely sure that it was right. During the blessing it was reaffirmed to me that I was making the right decision. My dad also gave great words of advice such as remembering to have fun in life. We can’t always be working hard; we need to play hard too. That is something my dad really taught me well. My dad is the hardest worker that I know but when it’s time to play we have so much fun! Whether it was camping, boating, four-wheeling, or just going for Sunday drives my dad truly taught me how to enjoy life, and I appreciate that greatly.

   

  Heidi helped me put make up on. She did a great job. I thought I look so beautiful and my hair wasn’t even done! I was so excited to see Chad; I just wanted to be ready and go to the temple. But, I went out to get my hair done so I’d really knock the socks off of Chad’s feet! ;)  She gave me socks in my “groom survival kit” the night before so I wouldn’t get cold feet.

I was so lucky to have my hair dresser and make-up
 artist in my family :) Thanks Suzy and Heidi!

     We headed out to Suzy’s. It was super fun! Camilla, Everett and Greg were all in the salon, as I was getting ready. Suzy finished my hair and I looked so pretty! Dazzling you might say. I felt so pretty and all I wanted to do was see Chad!! My mom and I headed to Salt Lake and Chad said he was almost to the temple. Ahhh I couldn’t wait, I was almost there. We got to the conference center and it took FOREVER to park! I started to get worried she wasn’t going to show up…but then she texted me. Literally probably 10 minutes because of the tabernacle choir Christmas concert that night. Boo! I just wanted to walk to the temple haha but we finally found a spot and started walking over. I was so excited!! 

Gorgeous picture of the Salt Lake Temple.
Thanks to Keala Jarvis

     As I walked into the temple. I was looking for my fiancé. I couldn’t see him and then I spotted him. He was in the corner talking to my dad and his parents. I’ve never seen a more handsome man. My heart started to beat so fast as I realized that in a couple of hours he would be my husband. He looked up and saw me and got a huge smile on his face and gave me a big hug. :) I love his hugs. Yes, she does. Most people before her thought they were awkward, so it was a positive sign. J  That was probably because you didn’t give hugs...

     We then went to check in my dress. I was a little nervous just leaving it with the sister workers but they said they’d take good care of it. Sandra stayed in the waiting room, our dads went somewhere special to sign the marriage certificate and Chad & I with my mom went back even farther. Chad and I went into a room where we signed our marriage certificate and made sure all of the information was correct. We then went downstairs and parted ways to get dressed.

     My mom and I went into the bride dressing room. It was gorgeous. It was a huge room full of mirrors and vanities to get ready. Numerous brides were in their getting dressed. My mom helped me put on my temple dress.  My mom then left and I waited in the dressing room until my worker came to tell me I could go into the next room. I sat with a girl while waiting who was also getting married at 11 AM. She was super cute but she seemed a little nervous. I was super happy that I was not nervous just utterly incandescently happy. (Yes, I just quoted Pride & Prejudice) the lady came back and told me I could go into the next room.

      I opened the door and there was Chad. He was so handsome. I have the most handsome husband in the world. While we were in the temple waiting, I was so happy and never wanted to leave. While sitting there I’ve never felt more love for a person. I love Chad so much and never thought that I could ever love anybody that much.

     The time came for Chad and I to go get married! AHHHHHH! (That was a scream of joy) We went to talk to our sealer, Wayne Peterson. He told us that he wouldn’t ask us any questions that we didn’t know the answer to because there was only one question he was going to ask. And then it was time to go. My heart started beating so fast. This was it. We were getting married. We got to the sealing room and there were so many people in it. I couldn’t believe how many people were there.  The sealing room was very hot. I had to remember to just keep breathing because I thought that I might faint. The sealer talked about so many great things.  I couldn’t stop smiling. My mouth muscles started to hurt and quiver actually. It was kind of funny. After giving us words of advice, he had Chad I and come forward. Chad led me over to my side, and then knelt across from me. I was so happy. So, so happy! The sealer then sealed us and said that we could kiss. I was a little nervous but we did it and it was such a cute perfect kiss. The sealer said that he had never seen such a perfect kiss without him giving instructions. I love kisses like that; they are just so cute and sweet.

This isn't the one mentioned above, but I love
every bodies faces in the background!

     Everybody then congratulated us and gave us a hug. My mom was crying and everybody else was so happy. The sealer gave me my certificate to Chad as my husband. It was pretty funny. I was finally married to Chad. :) CHAD WAS MY HUSBAND!!!!!! Ahhh! Crazyness! :D I was married! To Chad! The man of my dreams!!! I’ve never felt happier in my life!

     As we went back downstairs to get changed we had to part ways earlier. Before we did a man said wait both of your come over here, he told us that whenever we leave each other we should have a little kiss and say I love you. Afterwards we parted ways.

     After having much assistance in getting ready, as speedily as possible, I was actually surprised at how fast she came out, I was off to find my husband. I walked down the hallway and found him sitting on a couch writing in our journal. He didn’t see me walking up to him until I was almost right next to him. He looked up and got the biggest smile on his face. It was because I was looking at the most beautiful woman in the world! He looked so happy! I was. And he was my husband!!

My Wedding Dress

     We got ready to go up the stairs to meet people outside. I was a little nervous but my happiness overrode my nerves. So, we walked out the doors and had a sweet little kiss and then ran down the mancave line. 

Walking out the doors of the  temple

The Man Cave Line 

It was so much fun! Everybody was outside waiting for us. It kind of got a little crazy. I realized I didn’t know where Chad was and was like, “where is my husband?” All my girlfriends started to freak out haha and then I saw Chad. Chad, with all of his friends looking so, so happy! Every moment on our wedding day was so amazing!

After hugging I'd realized, I had lost my husband...

But, he was soon found, looking handsome as ever!

     After things settled down a minute we started to take pictures. Sooo many pictures. But, I am so grateful for them and our awesome photographer (Keala Jarvis! She is the best!!) After pictures, we headed up to our luncheon, at The Garden Restaurant in the Joseph Smith Building.

The Garden Restaurant

      We sat at the end table and had balloons at our places.  The lunch was really good. It happened to the be the chef's birthday, so they opened the roof and let her let go of a balloon. Since we had balloons at our table we thought that it would be fun to do the same thing, so we ran up and let go of our balloons. It was really fun!

The release of the balloons!

     Then it was time for the reception. I was a little skeptical about it, everybody always said the line was the worst thing ever and the reception isn’t fun. But, to be quite honest I loved it!  There were so many people that came, I could not believe it! There were people from my home ward growing up and there were a million people from the Provo Ward, Chad and I had been in. All of them adore Chad and they all mean so much to him.  It says really fun talking to everybody that came to the reception. I never thought that a line would be fun but I found it super fun. I loved catching up with people and introducing Chad to people that had made an impact on my life. I am so grateful for everybody in my life and everything that they have done for me and taught me.

The Delicious Wedding Cake!

     After the line was over we went to cut the cake. I was so excited to eat my cake! It literally is an amazingly delicious cake. I was a little nervous to cut the cake with chad but we decided that chad would actually cut the cake and I would just hold on to his hand. That made it easier. After getting our pieces cut it was time to feed each other. It didn't look like chad was going to shove it in my face but then right at the same time I went to do it, he did it too! The look on Sandra's face was priceless. She could not believe that her son would do such a thing. Cake was all over both of us but especially all over me! I think I even had some up my nose! Andy said he’d give me ten bucks if I did it, I was going to do it anyways…and I never got the ten bucks! Somebody in the crowd yelled lick it off and of course chad did. He licked my entire face! I couldn't believe it. It was soooo funny! That will be a great memory to have the rest of our lives.

After Chad licked my face...

     We then did the traditional bouquet and garter toss. 

       

Our first dance and dancing with our parents. 

Which was a really special moment that we both enjoyed.

First Dance as
Husband and Wife

Dancing with the parents

And then it was time to PARTY gangnam style!

Thanks for all our wonderful friends and family for dancing!! J

     Shortly after that we gathered all our things together to leave for our honeymoon. After running through a tunnel of friends, family, and bubbles we saw our car. Poor Betsy. Covered. And FILLED with balloons! Literally!! After getting enough balloons out to sit down and reach the pedals, we drove off and lived happily ever after J

The tunnel of friends, family and bubbles!

The Getaway Car

     Thanks everybody for our making our wedding day so amazing! There were  so many friends and family that helped make it possible. And a special thanks to my Mom, she is “the best in the west!”