My wedding was amazing. Everything went so smoothly and it was really the perfect day. I couldn't be happier with how it went. Chad Franz was my photographer. That was the biggest question I got when I told people I was getting married. Everyone wanted to know who was going to photograph the photographer's wedding. I was totally confident in his abilities and knew he would be great. He exceeded any and all of my expectations, and they are pretty high, being a photographer. If you are living in Indy and need a photographer, he's just great.
Here is a link to his blog post.
Chad Franz I want to write about the wedding because it seems like every day I forget a little more. I don't even really remember waking up and taking a shower the day of, or how I felt at those moments. I feel like its so cliche to say, but it really went by in a blur. I remember telling myself several times, this is it, here we are, what we've been planning for all this time. I don't remember what I ate for breakfast. The first thing I can really remember is piling into my parents suburban (Jennifer, Christie, Lizzie and I) to go to our hair appointments. We waited for a little while in the waiting room. Then they had me sit in a chair and wanted to take everyone else into different rooms. I'm not sure what I said, but something along the lines of wanting them in the same room with me, and thankfully the hair dressers moved their stations so we could see each other.
After that we went back to my parents house to get ready. Chad and his assistant took my dress and shoes outside to photograph. I remember telling him that I wanted outside dress pictures and I said something about how brides never let me do it (this was before Thad and Sarah's wedding) He said that he usually just does it and doesn't ask. I don't know if I'm bold enough to do that. Of course the getting ready part took much longer then expected (as it usually does) but being a wedding photographer I planned in extra time so I wasn't worried.
My mom drove me to Oak Hill Mansion. Matt had been waiting there for me for a while (poor guy, he was probably really fidgety) I really enjoyed that time in the car with just me and my mom. I couldn't get over how bridal and perfect I looked. (I kept looking in the mirror, I know I know, a bit vain...) I seriously have never looked that beautiful in my life though. My friend and bridesmaid Melissa did a great job with my makeup, Rose Dore Salon did a great job with my hair and my mom and I did a great job picking out the dress and bridal accessories!
Once we got to Oak Hill. Matt was waiting on the other side of the Mansion so my mom and I walked around the front and waited until he was in place. I walked down a little hill towards him (facing away from me) and once I got close, had him turn around. I love these "first look" pictures and it was so worth it. I'm so happy I saw him before the ceremony! What a special moment.
After that we just took some pictures around Oak Hill and waited for my brother-in-law Derick to bring the boys. Our black lab Jake and our lovable mutt Oliver. I'm so glad we got these pictures of these guys with us. They really are everything to us! People definitely look at us like we are crazy dog people when we talk about them. They were so excited and hyper. They totally knew something huge was going on.
My second favorite formal shot from the day.
Once the dogs left we had a little bit more time before the wedding party was supposed to arrive so we went to this little nature reserve I found (on the way from the rehearsal to the rehearsal dinner). I'm so glad we found this spot because a couple of my favorite shots from the day came from there. There was this beautiful yellow grassy field. Being a photographer, I cared way more about my pictures then if I got my dress a little dirty. I think Chad was a little surprised when I told him I wanted to go into the long grass...and sit on the fence... Good thing my mom didn't come along for those pictures. :)
My favorite formal shot, I'm getting this one is as big of a canvas print as I can afford!
We went back to Oak Hill after the field, took pictures with the wedding party and the family before it was time for me to go to the bridal room and hide. Once the girls went down to get ready to go down the aisle, my dad and I went to the room (upstairs) where we could see everything going on outside the window. We watched as the mothers lit the unity candle...after someone from the audience had to give them matches. I saw my mother-in-law turn around and I saw her say "matches?" with her arms out. Then we watched as the guys walked up to the front and at that point my heart starting beating a little faster. I told my dad that, and he said he remembered feeling like that at Jennifer's wedding at that same moment. Once all the girls were at the alter, my dad and I came out the door and starting walking down the steps, and my eyes started tearing up. I tried to breath in deep and keep the tears from coming.
After the ceremony Matt and I went through the bubbles, across the boardwalk and up to the parking lot. When I turned around, I realized the only people who followed us were the photographers. I kinda forgot to tell my wedding party the plan of where we were going right after the ceremony. My photographers and Matt bustled my dress and they got a few awesome shots at the front of the mansion before heading to find the rest of my party so we could be introduced. (most of them were at the bar :) )
When I walked in I was first very excited to show Matt his grooms cake. I had been planning this in secret for so long that I couldn't wait to show him. The cake is supposed to represent our dogs and how crazy we are about them. The initial thought was to do an indy racecar, but that turned out to be way more expensive then the dog cake and his team switched him to Nascar so after that it kinda became a mute point.
Then I went over and saw my cake. It was so beautiful! All I had was an image in my head of what the cake ladies drew on a piece of paper for me. I really had no idea what it would look like and it was even better then I could have imagined. Anyway, I was SO happy with the cake.
Next came the toasts (after dinner) Wow oh wow, they were awesome. I expected my sister's speeches to be awesome but I had no idea my brother-in-law would have such a great speech. I was told that he practiced it a ton, which is super sweet. I'm so glad we got them on video! Best wedding speeches I've heard! My sister's gave us advice according to the poem everything I need to know I learned in kindergarten (because I'm a kindergarten teacher). It was so cute.
Our first dance was to Say Hey I Love You, but Michael Franti and Spearhead. I was really excited when I decided on that song because its so up beat and not a traditional first dance song. I basically choreographed the dance the day before and we practiced it about 3 times. It went so well! We totally rocked it. Everybody was impressed and thought we had taken lessons.
From the first dances to the rest of the night, everything was just amazing. I do remember that my ribcage hurt so bad! Dang lace up back, made me look great, but man, ouch. I was glad to get that off. But anyway, we basically danced the night away. It was one big party and so many people danced (including myself) up into the last song. It was just awesome, and perfect (have I said that yet?)
After the last song we headed to the parking lot and our car was decorated. Not overly so like I've seen some cars at weddings. It was tasteful. Matt and I that day had talked about how we were going to get to the hotel but it was never officially decided. A little while before we went out to the car, Matt told me he was okay to drive. So we walked to the cars, I stood by the passenger side and said goodbye to some people, talked for a little while and then opened the door to get in the car. I looked in a said "your not my husband". Sitting in the drivers seat was Matt's dad. I guess they decided when I was not paying attention that he would drive us the 5 minutes to the hotel. So I then closed the door and got into the back with my husband :) It was really funny listening to the cans trailing along behind the car.
So that pretty much sums up the day. Since the wedding, things haven't really changed much. It was really fun getting to spend all the gift cards and finding places for and using all of our gifts. It was also really weird calling Matt my husband. I don't remember the transition from boyfriend to fiance being as weird as the transition from fiance to husband. It was also a nice reminder every time I looked at his left hand. I really like his ring, we did a good job picking it out.
My favorite parts of the day:
Taking pictures in the field
Our first dance
The speeches by my sisters and brother-in-law
Getting to see some of the pictures Chad took during the day at the reception. What a nice treat.
How so many people stayed so long and danced!
