Monday, November 3, 2008

Walking down the aisle

As you may have learned from La's Facebook status over the weekend, I'm married!

I don't have any pictures yet. Apparently all of our friends wanted to do things like get home and recover before uploading photos for our enjoyment. I don't know what they were thinking. I promise that as soon as I get some decent photos, I will share them here.

But I did want to say two things about the wedding, even before I have photos.

First, I wasn't expecting it to be the best day of my life. To be honest, I kept hearing that it would be, but I thought that was a bunch of crap, and I didn't put any such expectations on the day. I was excited, but I also assumed that I'd be stressed and running around and worrying about whether other people were having a good time and whatnot.

But in reality, it actually was the best day I can remember ever having. The ceremony was incredibly meaningful, the guests were all the people I know and love best in this world, and the reception was just fabulous. The whole thing came together better than I ever could have hoped for. There were two tiny snags that I can think of, neither of which was a big deal, and everything else was just perfect. I was so happy. I could not stop smiling all day. Torsten and I had planned to circulate to the tables during dinner, but we saw pretty much everyone during the cocktail hour, and then during the reception we almost never left the dance floor.

While I was there, there was nowhere I would have preferred to be. I was perfectly happy in Torsten's arms, surrounded by those we love most, shaking it to the awesome music and eating fantastic food and wearing a gorgeous dress and seeing purple everywhere. I had boundless energy and I was so, so, so happy.

But I don't miss it. It was the right length, the perfect culmination of all that planning, a fantastic way to kick off our life together. And now it's over, and that is beautiful too, and I'm looking forward to our fabulous honeymoon followed by settling into regular married life and just... being.

Oh, and yesterday I had to sign my name twice? And both times I was thinking "maiden name, maiden name" because it isn't legally changed yet. And yet both times I wrote my married name without realizing it. Maybe this will take less getting used to than I thought.

And the second thing is the experience of walking down the aisle. I have never done anything that remotely resembled that experience in any way. I had thought I'd be locked in on Torsten the whole way, but while the first thing I did was seek him out and beam at him, I also found myself looking around at all the people standing there smiling at me. I found it grounding and reassuring and exciting, and I was smiling so big and also sort of crying from the overwhelming emotion of it. I was barely aware of my father next to me and my bouquet in my hand or of anything except all those people around me and my husband-to-me waiting for me at the end of the aisle. People afterward said that my face as I went down the aisle was priceless, overwhelmed and almost in shock in the best, happiest way possible, and I have to say that I would really kill to see a picture of that face right now. But I will have to wait, and thus so will you.

I'll be back with more wedding stuff periodically throughout the honeymoon. I have so much to talk about--the flowers, the photo experience, the guestbook, the officiant, and the vows, OMG the VOWS they were amazing--but I'll have to do that little by little. Hopefully with photos.

54 comments:

  1. It sounds amazing and perfect and everything we all hoped it would be. I'm so happy for you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations! Glad it was such a perfect day for you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yay you're married! We told you it was going to be wonderful. How bad do your cheeks hurt? :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. It sounds like you guys had a wonderful time - I'm so happy for you! And enjoy the just being after the fact, are you guys going on a honeymoon at all, or taking some time off? I definitely recommend it.

    Hurray! Looking forward to pictures and to hearing about the happy.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It sounds like it was everything you imagined and hoped it would be. That's so wonderful! I'm so happy for you, and I can't wait to see some pictures and hear all the delicious details!

    Have a wonderful honeymoon!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congrats! Can't wait to see pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Fantastic! I'm so glad that it was everything...and more! Can't wait to see some pictures =)

    ReplyDelete
  8. That description of you walking down the aisle was perfect - I felt the exact same way.

    Congratulations! I'm so happy for you. I'm glad the day was so wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It sounds like it was so great! Congratulations - enjoy your honeymoon!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Congratulations, Mrs. Torsten!!! You're someone's WIFE. I'm so glad things went beautifully!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congrats on your perfect day, Mrs! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. YAY!

    congrats- I thought about you yesterday and had hoped you were happy and that everything went well.

    I think we had a snag or two as well, but no one told me about them until the wedding was over. SMART PEOPLE!

    Karyn

    ReplyDelete
  13. So happy for you guys. Sounds like you have a wonderful wedding!

    ReplyDelete
  14. CONGRATULATIONS, Jess! This is truly so very exciting. You're giving me the chills talking about many of the same emotions and moments I shared just a few weeks ago with Sweets. Relax on your honeymoon and enjoy your time with Torsten. Before you know it, you will be back into the swing of things. Yay for you two!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am so happy that your day exceeded your expectations!

    ReplyDelete
  16. So happy for your wedding. Can't wait to see the pictures. I is weird how quickly the day comes to an end, but it is awesome that you were ok with everything.

    My family sends their most positive wishes to you on your grandiose event.

    Enjoy! Love and be happy.

    Drake Conrad.

    ReplyDelete
  17. i'm glad your day was so perfect! getting used to my new name was the hardest for me. i kept having to correct myself when i went on the air every day for the news. haha. have a fabulous honeymoon!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. It sounds lovely and I can't wait to see pics! Congratulations on your numptuals!

    ReplyDelete
  19. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

    Can't wait to see photos of you and the explosion of purple!

    Enjoy your honeymoon, Mrs. :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm so glad that your wedding was so great! Congrats to you and Torsten!

    I'm still struggling to sign the correct name on checks and receipts. If I'm not paying attention, I end up signing my maiden name.

    ReplyDelete
  21. congratulations! i can't wait for the pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Yay! Glad it was even better than you imagined. Now, go have a fabulous honeymoon, okay?

    ReplyDelete
  23. Congratulations! Can't wait to see the pics! I do remember that my cheeks hurt forever and seemed frozen in that 'smile' the entire evening. I'm glad your's was as amazing as it sounded!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I'm so glad it was the best day of your life. Congratulations, I'm so happy for you!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Oh, hooray! So glad you enjoyed yourself so much!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Congratulations! I cannot wait to hear more!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Congratulations!!!
    Can't wait to see the pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Congrats! So happy that the day was so wonderful for you and Torsten! :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Congratulations! I am so so happy for you both!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Gah. SO happy everything went well. You popped into my head a million times on Saturday. Have a FUN AND SAFE trip, Mrs. Torsten.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Woooo I'm busting to see photos! Congratulations and so happy it was a good experience. Didn't your cheeks hurt like crazy from all the smiling...that's the best part.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Yay! Your day sounds so perfect! I'm so happy for you and can't wait to hear (and see) all about it.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Can't wait to hear more! It sounds amazing!
    I am so happy for you two!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Success! Can't wait to hear more about it.

    We have two pictures of me walking down the aisle. One is very nice. The other I have this hideous look on my face because our photographer caught me in mid-smile. Oops. :)

    So glad your day turned out to be just right!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hooray! I'm so happy everything went well. Can't wait to see pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Congratulations, I'm so happy for you! I can't wait to see pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  37. BIG HUGE CONGRATS! I am super excited for you both!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Yay!!! Congrats! I can't wait to see pics!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Congratulations! So happy for you and Torsten!

    And I cannot wait for the pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  40. I knew it would be beautiful and wonderful and the best day ever... I'm so happy for you! Congratulations, newlywed :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. I'm so glad to hear that everything went great! Can't wait to see pictures and hear all about the honeymoon!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Congrats! Of course it was great, love and commitment is always worth celebrating. Enjoy your marriage!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Hey. Aren't you supposed to be on your honeymoon? I didn't expect to see anything new from you this week!

    Glad everything went so well. Congratulations to both of you!!

    ReplyDelete
  44. YAY!!!! I'm so glad it was as wonderful as you never even thought to hope. And I LOVED your description of walkign down the aisle - that's exactly how I felt but have never been able to articulate it like that.

    ReplyDelete