Our Wedding

For this week's challenge Courtney has challenged us to simply Remember; to Remember the day you entered your sacred vows. Also to share your story and some photos from your special day. To link up, click here.

We were married on November 24, 2001. It was the Saturday after Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday and season. Autumn in NY is truly breathtaking. Tom and I had become officially engaged in August of the previous year, so our engagement was about a year and 3 months long. We had so much fun planning our wedding. We had been waiting for our special day for a while and wanted to enjoy each and every moment of the planning. We went to wedding showcases, interviewed several photographers, looked at many places for our reception. It was fun.

It had rained the morning of the wedding. As I was getting dressed it was cloudy out. Tom called on his way to the church to tell me he saw a rainbow as he was driving and the sun was coming out. When we left my house for the church, it was as if God had flicked the clouds out of the way with His finger. God is so gracious in giving us little gifts along the way to remind us that He is sovereign over all. My old pastor used to call that "little kisses on the cheek from God".
I rode to the church in an old Rolls Royce with my Dad and Mom. My two sisters and two childhood friends followed behind us in a white limo. They wore platinum dresses. The church was decorated beautifully. The pews were draped with white tulle. There was an archway at the altar decorated with white tulle and flowers and a candelabra. We had two trumpet players dressed in royal fare for the grand occasion. They greeted our guests as they entered the church and played along with the hymns during the ceremony. We sang one of our favorite hymns, "I Know Whom I Have Believed". I had trouble singing because I get so choked up with that song. "I know not why God's wondrous grace to me He hath made known. Nor how believing in His Word brought peace within my heart." Our pastor presented the Gospel and did a wonderful job describing Christian marriage. He gave a charge to each of us as we became one. As we exchanged our vows, my voice was shaking because I was so emotional. My sweet Tom took his handkerchief and wiped the tears from my eyes so my makeup wouldn't run. We were so excited to be pronounce Mr. and Mrs. we wanted to run down the aisle. We didn't though, the photographer wanted to capture some photos along the way.


We went to the ocean for some photos after the ceremony. Remember it was late November in NY, the temps were in the 50's and it was windy at the beach. We didn't care, we wanted pictures on the beach. Some of the bridal party didn't want to get out of the car, so we had photos taken of whoever was willing to brave the wind. I am so happy we did. Those are some of my favorite photos.
Next, it was on to the country club for the dinner reception. We had such a great time. We had about 170 family and friends there to celebrate with us. We had a Christian band playing music and lots of great food. When we danced our first dance it was as if the world around us had stopped; at that moment it felt as if we were the only two people there. Of course when I looked at everyone watching us I saw all the love and support they were giving us. It was such an exciting time!
After the wedding, we returned to the new home we were renting. He followed the tradition of carrying me over the threshold. The next morning we got up early and went to church for Sunday morning worship. We were so excited to be with our brothers and sisters in Christ for the first time as a couple.

We left the next morning for our vacation. Tom had been making our honeymoon plans to a tropical destination where I could swim with dolphins, when 9/11 happened. We were both uncomfortable with leaving the country at that time, since we were not sure what was going on. He surprised me with a beautiful honeymoon in New England. We took the ferry to Connecticut and drove up to Maine. We stayed in a quaint bed and breakfast and enjoyed God's beautiful creation there in Maine. It was snowing on the day we left to drive to New Hampshire. In New Hampshire we stayed at a beautiful Victorian resort in the White Mountains. It was such a great time bonding as husband and wife.

Whenever I remember our wedding day I am overjoyed with God's many blessings. I like to watch the wedding video and see the photos of each of us growing up and then us together. It is amazing to see how God brought us together. I need this challenge to remember this. To remember how exciting it was to become husband and wife and to serve Him and His Kingdom together. To remember our vows and to live them out every day. Thanks Courtney for another great weekly challenge. And as it says on the church in the background "To God Be The Glory"!