When California Meets Texas: Day of the wedding. Church Ceremony

After falling asleep, rather early. Probably like at 1:30 a.m. I finally went to sleep. My Sister and I (along with her 3 girls) stayed in a hotel the night before the wedding so Edgar could have our room at my Mom's house. We woke up at 7 and got (semi-dressed) to go over to the reception hall and begin decorating by 8. It went smoothly. I'm so glad I thought about who was going to do what. I thought I was short one vase, but it was really hiding out in the kitchen area and we found out just in time for me not to panic! lol I was seriously considering running to wal-mart to get another vase at about 9 that morning. Luckily, it didn't have to happen. Then, I also wish I would have taken a picture of everything that happened that morning. My camera is REALLY picky about what batteries I put inside(totally gonna put a new camera on my Christmas list) and Edgar was supposed to bring some by and give them to my sister, so they never made it and I never got any pictures. But, my cousin did and when I finally get them from her-hopefully soon-I will post a picture. The hall looked AMAZING! I was soo excited it turned out so nice, and it was great to see my visions come to life. After over a year of planning, I was afraid all of the pieces weren't going to match. When they did, it was a weight lifted off my shoulders. I got soo many compliments on everything, I wanted to give myself a pat on the back all night long. :)

Anyway, finished decorating and hanging out at the hall around 10:30 and had to rush back to the hotel because I was supposed to start on my hair at 10:30. When my hair took longer than expected, and I didn't get fully ready until around 1:30 or so...I was beginning to get nervous. I had told mysef I would be at the Church by 1:10 and that's when anxiety began to set in. I was afraid I was going to be late, people weren't going to show up, people would see me walk in through the side door...etc. But, when we got there everything was okay. The Priest came up to me and said "It's 2:03 on my watch, time to get the show on the road". I began to feel like a weight was on my chest. My knees felt like they were going to buckle beneath me and I began to breath very heavily. I even had to go PEE!!! :) It wasn't until they tried to start the music, after the bridal party began to line up, Edgar sends someone to tell me the CD wasn't working. This was the same problem we had at the rehearsal the night before. I made that CD 2 times!!! It worked in the car, how come it wouldn't work in the Church!?!??!! I was just about to say, sorry, no music just walk in-when one of my Bridesmaids said "Chad (her fiance) will play a song on his guitar. ::Cue angels at the pearly gate:: AHHHH!!! Those words were magic to my ears, and they literally saved the day. I don't know how we could ever seriously repay her. So, the bridal party was able to walk in and everything was great.

I was still feeling like OMG I'm about to seriously pass out and my nephew looks at me and he's like "okay, come on Laura-it's our turn!" The minute I walked in front of those doors and felt the wave of everyone looking at me, I began to feel a huge splash of emotion hit me. I stared at Edgar the whole way down, because I LOVE to look at the Groom when he sees the bride for the first time, it's soo emotional, and yea it was! I had to actually look away because I began to tear up and I didn't want to cry walking down the aisle! By the time I got down and Edgar held my hand, every kind of crazy emotion left me and I knew this is what I had been waiting for.....

Me, while getting ready with my Laura & Edgar 7.11.09 zip-up hoody on.

Me with my handsome nephew aka the other love of my life. I chose him to walk me down the aisle since my Dad passed away in '03 and since my Mom was no longer here either.