Well, I'm back..the Wedding was a Success!!!

[Marilyn]

We are sooooo tired, but we're home, and the wedding was absolutely beautiful. I'd post pics, but have to wait until we get them. We were so busy being a part of the festivities that we left the picture taking to professionals and others. Melissa was soooo beautiful. Everything was amazing.

She called today around noon and was very happy. Their cruise left port at 4:15 this afternoon. They will be at sea for two days then their first port is in Jamaca.

Garrett was able to complete his diving certification last Wednesday, so they will be able to dive in when they get to that point in their cruise. I forget, but they will be diving in Cancun or Cozomel. Can't remember which.

This was quite an experience from so many aspects.

I told people at church this evening that after all of this, they should have paid for us to take a cruise. They took off, and left us with all the cleanup.

We lost the sash for her wedding dress the evening before the wedding. Melissa, Karen and I all saw it that day, but when it came time to iron it that evening, it was gone. Karen went to the church building at 2:30 in the morning before the wedding trying to see if it had somehow been unloaded there with some other things. We searched high and low, even checked dumpster where we had thrown trash. I was so upset that I cried myself asleep at 4:30 a.m . The sash was the first thing she had bought for the wedding back in December because she liked it soo much. Karen ran to David's Bridal as soon as they opened and bought another one the same color, not the same style, or with the special beading as the original, but it worked, and was beautiful. No one but us really knew the difference.

On the way from her hair appointment the morning of the wedding, we were caught in gridlock on the interstate. There was a mulitple vehicle collision between us and the church building. We passed a stopped police car so I stopped and ask him the best way to get where we needed to go and he said straight down the interstate. The wreck had shutdown both the interstate and the feeder. We were 30 minutes later getting to there than we had planned so it really crunched us for time and as a result, some things did not get done quite like we had intended, mostly last minute coordination for the reception. Some of the candles were never lit, but again, no one but us really knew the difference. The big things all went very well and people told us how very unique and special everything was. We had live palm trees and tropical plants in the church building. The preacher said this morning he had never been to such a tropical setting so far from the coast. The flowers were all tripical, and the florist did an amazing job. Would highly recommend this florist. The bride and grooms cakes were soooo good!! A friend made the brides cake, and people were asking what bakery had made it because it was so good. It was huge, large enough for 325, and within about 20 minutes of cutting it, all that was left was the top teir (saved for the bride and groom) and crumbs.

I know this is long, but wanted to share with you all, and I'm too tired to do much but ramble.

So many emotions. I can still cry so easily. What a very special experience.