OUR STORY: The Happiest Day, Vol. III

Hey, it's me and I'm back!

Now for the last volume of the series... This little "project" I decided to take on is getting a little time consuming! I did not expect it to take this long. So here you are, the final recap of our Big Day....

After the ceremony, all the guest started walking towards the barn for the reception.

The bridesmaids obviously b-lined it to the food after the ceremony and I sure don't blame 'em!

The food we chose was our favorite kind of food: good 'ol southern home cookin'. Yes, gumbo, sliced beef, black eyed peas, a baked potato bar, a grits bar, roasted vegetables, salad bar, and venison that my Dad and Aaron had killed that previous hunting season. My grandaddy cooked it that day and it was the first thing gone! ~~Oh, and please don't nominate us for My Great Big Redneck Wedding! I promise we're civilized!~~

We served sweet tea, punch, and a hot chocolate bar. I wouldn't know, but people still talk about how delicious the hot chocolate was... looks like it to me!

Speaking of chocolate, the chocolate fountain was a popular spot at the reception...

When the reception was over, there was hardly any chocolate dripping.

My wedding cake was everything I asked for, but it should've been bigger... little did we know. Towards the end of the reception, I looked over towards my cake and it was no longer there! Every last slice was eaten.

We had a great team of cake cutters though!

Aaron's cake was almost everything I wanted also... I would've liked for it to have been much larger and I imagined the chocolate shavings as curly Q's but the shavings ended up matching the texture of the wood chips on the ground so it worked!

Obviously the photographers weren't Mississippi State fans... they thought it was a W. Another one of those things to laugh off about the day.

Before we entered the reception, Jason and Tammy stole us away for a few more pictures while the lighting was still right and the moon was full.

When we made our way back to the reception, we mixed and mingled with our guests.

Some ate inside the barn, and some ate outside on the picnic tables.

Meanwhile all the little ones played on the swings...

and my Mom and Dad even sat down to eat and chat with guests...

I think they were just as happy as Aaron and I.

Back to the reception timeline... We cut the cake and made our toast.

And I'll just be honest here... I almost gagged when he fed me the cake. It was delectable but my stomach was so nervous/excited, that I almost couldn't swallow it without gagging. Hopefully, I played it off well! Ha!

These little cups were the same glasses that Aaron's parents drank out of at their wedding. How cool is that? Another one of those sentimental details.

Then it was off to slice the grooms cake. Thank God I didn't have to take a bite out of that one... I think chocolate would've sent me over the edge!

After the cake tasting, we danced our first dance. The song we chose was Kenny Chesney's "Me and You". Everytime I have ever heard this song, it's taken me back to our younger years and the words of the song just say it all.

Ordinary, no

Really don't think so

Not a love this true

Common destiny

We were meant to be

Me and you

Everyday, I need you even more

And the nighttime too

There's no way I could ever let you go

Even if I wanted to

Ordinary, no

Really don't think so

Just a precious few

Ever make it last

Get as lucky as

Me and you

I was obviously in "la la land" while we were dancing because I could've cared less about my dress... I just wanted to be as close to the boy as possible!

Then it was time to dance with my Dad...

And the song I chose for us to dance to was "I Believe in You" by Steven Curtis Chapman. I heard it in high school and the words don't get any closer to our relationship. I knew that by choosing this sentimental song, that I would get emotional but I knew that song was "us" to a T.

Aren't you the little one

That hid in my arms afraid of the thunder?

Are these the little hands

That held so tight to mine?

Didn't we both agree you'd never grow up

And now here we are

And here you go

Of all the things I want to say

The thing you really need to know is...

I believe in you

Yeah, I believe in you

Everything you are

Everything you are becoming

And I believe in you

Yeah, I believe in you

So spread your wings and fly

On the winds of knowing I

Always believe in you

So many prayers we've prayed

So many dreams to get to this moment

Now this is where we stay

While you go change the world

But I'll be where I have always been

Up in the stands cheering you on and

Singing this song

A song the very God who made you

Has been singing all along

I believe in you

Yeah, I believe in you

So spread your wings and fly

On the winds of knowing I

Will always believe in you

And when you rise and when you fall

I'll still believe in you

Just close your eyes and hear me calling

I believe in you

Oh, I believe in you

So yeah, let's just say I had another meltdown... but it was a happy, thankful, sentimental meltdown.

And then we "got our act together" again and were ready to have some fun!!

Aaron even signed a few autographs!

We decided to go with a DJ so that we could play all types of music from oldies to country... We had so much fun!!!

It meant SO MUCH that so many of my Chi O sorority sisters were there for me that day... and they all came ready for the party in dresses and cowgirl boots!

In keeping with Chi Omega tradition, all of my sisters gathered around me and my groom, locked arms, and sang "Shades"... Our classic song we sing at almost every significant event.

Gosh I love 'em and miss 'em!

Now, let me tell you about Aaron's little "impromptu concert" he gave at the reception... It was a hit! And I was so SHOCKED {and embarrassed!} ha

The DJ -out of the blue- asked Aaron if he wanted to get up there and sing Zac Brown Band's "Chicken Fried" {which was getting to be a very popular hit at the time) and Aaron being himself, said "Yeah! All I know is the chorus but sure!"

The crowd really got into it.. HA!

And then my FATHER gets up there with him and they sing a duet...

This is the effect they have on each other. They are both REALLY BIG kids in adult bodies... that's all.

{Speaking of kids ~~and inmaturity~~} It came time for Aaron to take off my garter... and in this case, a picture is worth more than a thousand words.

Oh yes he did.

And please notice the "three stooges" in the background...

The two characters on each end were sent by the groom to go buy an XXLARGE pair of very lacy GRANNY panties and came back with that stupid skimpy pair...

...and what is more embarassing than anything was that my first thought when I saw them was, "Wait! How did those get on my leg!???!"

But I wasn't mad because I deal with this humor every day with him... He loves NOTHING MORE than to get a "RISIN'" out of me. I always say he's the brother I never had.

Moving on from the hooligans!...

I tossed the bouquet...

And the winner was... Lauren!!

And then Aaron threw the garter and the winner was... Clay!!

Then I started getting really, reeeeally tired and famished {low blood sugar- it made me want to gag to eat, remember?} and it was time to call it a night.

We ran through a path of sparklers and were showered with sunflower seeds.

We decided to be ~~cheap~~ old-fashioned and let the groomsmen decorate Aaron's truck... what was I thinking?

Actually, my face says it all.

We left our wedding and I really don't want to sound "gay" but I was... my heart was overflowing. I was exhausted, hungry, nervous, emotional, and I was the happiest girl.