It’s pretty fair to say I don’t have a memory like the proverbial elephant–if it isn’t crumpled in a pile on the floor, I couldn’t tell you what I wore yesterday.
Prompted by E-mom and her “Wedding Day” Marriage Monday theme, I thought it’d be fun to compile a “Top Ten” list of my favorite wedding day memories. Considering that was over 20 years ago, let’s see what comes to mind :)–
[1] One of my bride’s maids forgot her shoes.
This was in the era of dyed-to- match shoes, and Katie had on black to everyone else’s cornflower blue. The funny thing to me now is, Katie was probably more in style than anyone else! In all our pre-ceremony photographs, we found a way to “hide” her shoes; a friend managed to get Katie’s to her just minutes before the processional music began.
[2] I had a native tan in November…everyone else was autumn “white”.
What an idiot–we weren’t even going anywhere tropical for our honeymoon! Remember this was the 80s when a bronze glow looked healthy, not like melanoma dawning. It’s the one and only season I tanned in a salon.
[3] Clemson~Maryland, Georgia~Auburn. What in the heck were we thinking planning our 4:00 p.m. wedding on one of the biggest football days of the year?? Growing up in Athens, Ga. and teething on Bulldawg glory, I went to college at Clemson (equally football ravenous); my hometown friends thought me traitorous! I couldn’t find a picture of it, but even my father had a transistor radio to his ear listening to the games right before we walked the aisle (when I asked Tad his outstanding wedding day memories, THIS was the one HE recalled!). Let’s just say every guy in attendance made sure I knew the sacrifice they were making….
[4]
My baby brother, at the time just six years old, was in a half body cast, having broken his leg a few weeks before the wedding. We were both disappointed he couldn’t be a little groomsman. Here, we kinda propped him up to get a picture.
[5] I can’t even remember what I did after our rehearsal dinner Friday night, but my long-time best friend, Mandy, spent the night with me in our hotel. Somehow, she managed to sneak a card in my suitcase and I discovered it my wedding night…it made me cry happy tears.
[6] We may have had one of the UGLIEST groom’s cakes on the planet, but I can tell ya this–it was one of the BEST cakes I’ve ever tasted! And though my wedding cake was prettier to look at, its taste paled in comparison!
[7] We had a short honeymoon, heading to the Old Edward’s Inn in Highlands, NC for a few nights before ending up at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville. The outstanding memory at the Grove Park? Housekeeping not only knocking on our door, but daggum opening it when we were “occupied”!! I think I jumped out of my skin and Tad somehow managed to protect my dignity…maybe….
[8] Our post-cere
mony pictures went on FOREVER–I was sick of being photographed so I KNOW everyone else was! I think we arrived at the reception close to an embarrassing hour after the wedding. Here’s one of my favorite shots–you can see the “look” in our eyes. This was before the advent of digital, so we don’t have many candids….
[9]
Before the days of Victoria’s Secrets, sexy lingerie was mild in comparison to today’s selections. Feeling particularly racy and grown up, I wore silk stockings attached to a real garter belt (do brides even wear white stockings anymore???). When Tad began to slip off the traditional throw-away blue garter, I was extremely paranoid someone would be able to tell what I had on underneath. Can you tell how I was holding my dress to make sure no one found out??
[10] I wore my wedding dress to the hotel that night instead of changing into a “going away” ensemble. To me, there was nothing more romantic or sexier than having my new husband unbutton 25 buttons…………and that’s all I’ll say about THAT! 😉
BONUS: Twenty years after our wedding, with a little help…I could still fit into my wedding dress!
I had to stop and think could I remember! Yes, I had a few things in common there! The main thing I remember is it rained! I cried! I had face ache from smiling too much! My little brother was also six, he made it to the wedding party though, my little sister was four, she disliked being in the wedding party and turned her back in all the photo’s. I was married in the kiosk of a local Japanese style garden, the rose garden was flooded out! Oh yeah, the town was called Auburn! Great memories!
I have some Bloggy Love for you over at Memoirs of a Mommy
Those are some good wedding memories. I especially like the tan in November and the maid barging in. Actually, that would have been awful.
Wow, you’re just gorgeous–and tanned. That gown is spectacular! And I think you have the biggest group of bridesmaids I’ve ever seen. (I count 7?) You obviously didn’t want to exclude a single one of your very best girlfriends. Now that’s loyalty!
I love the way you told this… ten important memories. I feel as if I was there too, sharing all your special moments.
Loved this, Robin. Thanks for joining us for Marriage Monday (on Sunday!)
(((Hugs)))
You had a great wedding but what impressed me most is that you could still fit in your wedding gown after more than 20 years! That’s a big..WOW!!:)
What wonderful memories! I love the pictures!
I enjoyed sharing your memories. Great photos.
That was great! I love hearing about your favorite memories! Your football reference made me think of how I should have posted sbout the fact that we were on the Singles Team for our Church bowling league and how my new Hub had me thinking we had to go bowling still before we could go to the hotel!
Connie
Great memories! Our post-ceremony pictures went on forever, too – more than an hour. My dad was a pro photographer, so you can imagine the list of shots he “HAD” to get! You should see my album – it’s six inches thick.
Anyway… I loved your story!
What a beautiful bride! Great memories. My wedding dress was almost identical to yours…mine was only about 9 years ago though and it was ivory. We also went to Asheville for part of our honeymoon. The Biltmore was gorgeous..it was Christmas time. We however did not stay at the Grove Park Inn.
Alyce
Beautiful! I love the wearing the dress to the hotel…how romantic!!!
Sheila
Congratulations and Best Wishes.
You can still get into your wedding dress?
Have I mentioned that I don’t like you very much?
TeeHeeHee !
Not much time for blogging at my place lately, but did want to shout out a hey from the ‘ole witch.
Great memories. Thanks for sharing.
I was getting ready for the Christmas show at school. Was that the year I played piano for the kindergarten class?
By the way, “I like your sleeves.”
Oh, I am positively GREEN that you can still fit in your wedding dress AND that you are JUST as GORGEOUS today as you were 20 years ago. I hate you.
Oh, I kid – you know I love you.
Robin, not only was this a unique way to present your story, but it was so enjoyable to read to boot!! It was funny, and re-discovering how we all used to do things just cracks me up when I think about it. All in all, you and Tad look lovely!
You go girl, still fitting in your dress. I haven’t dared try…
Found you through emom, and so enjoyed the stay. Although we were married in Upstate NY, we live in Ohio now. This is such football country I can so relate to what you say about the schedule. Around here, I wonder if parents would miss a wedding for a game?!
Thanks for the great read!
I LOVE this – the ten memories is a neat way to present the wedding day. Gorgeous photos, funny memories. I tanned a bit too, for the event, and thank goodness, else I would have fried to a crisp on our Kauai honeymoon.
That was a great post. I enjoyed reading about your pictures. You were a lovely bride. Looked like a beautiful wedding.
I love it! I’m soooooooooooooooooo in the wedding spirit right now! I can’t wait till our cruise!!! March 1, 2009! Wedding date March 4, 2009!!!!
I love your wedding story! I love the fact you are sooooooooooooooooo cute and STILL fit in your dress…that ROCKS!!!!!!
Now I’m off to check out other to check out the other wedding blogs!
Fun wedding memories! So funny too. I love your modesty, lol. And you just had to say you could fit your gown huh? huh?
Thanks for sharing, it was fun to read.
Loved this! We’ll have our 10th anniversary this August. I’m sure I could come up with a handful of things to remember. 🙂 I have a similar photo of me holding my dress the same way- can’t recall if I actually had on a garter, or just (off-) white silk stockings. I think I did have a garter though… it’s coming back to me now.
BTW – my stockings were off white because I was wearing my grandmother’s wedding dress which started off “candlelight” but with age was a beautiful shade of ivory. I wouldn’t dare try to squeeze into it now – it would be a shame to ruin such a nice piece of history. 😛
As for your question about 20 years ago.. I was nine. Hehehe. 😛
I’ll make up for that comment by saying: I can’t believe you were married that long ago – you don’t look it. 🙂
This was so fun…I loved all the wedding pictures! You are simply a stunning bride!
You write with such wit, too…
“Remember this was the 80s when a bronze glow looked healthy, not like melanoma dawning”
That was great! 😀
And it wasn’t on our honeymoon, but a few years later on our trip to New York that we had a similar experience with a hotel maid apparently anxious to make up a bed!
I participated in Marriage Monday today, too…so wonderful to read everyone’s stories!
Blessings,
~Tammy
Great photo’s. I wore my dress “going away” too. Unfortunately, we were caught in a blizzard. 🙂 Great post.