Wedding Recap #1- Dress Shopping

So I think I'm going to finally get around to posting about our wedding! I loved our wedding. It was perfect. It fit us so well, and it was the happiest time of my life. 

Steve and I had been talking about getting married since he went into the Air Force. We were young, and knew it would be best to wait. Sometimes it would cause fights, with one of us (usually me) wanting it and the other (usually him) wanting to wait. So for a long time, we stopped talking about it. I think it was in July, and I asked him if he'd "thought about the m word". I can remember it clearly. I was sitting on the back of the couch  and straightening my mom's hair, while texting Steve. I was REALLY surprised when he sent me a text saying, "I think we should do it when I get home from Korea." I was floored. I actually said I had to think about it! I only had to think about it for a day or two, but I had ignored it for so long!

I guess that might not make sense to everyone. The thing is, we always knew we were going to get married. We just didn't know when. So, there wasn't any proposal or engagement ring, we just decided together over the phone, from opposite sides of the world. Very us, I guess.

The next step was telling our families. It was stressful, and I think all four parents suggested waiting. They didn't understand why we would get married right before he went to Korea. Then, it was that it would be easier for my family from Montana to come if we waiting until January. Eventually, I think they understood that we do things our way. I am SO glad that we were sure about what we wanted. I don't know what I would do if we hadn't been able to get married before Steve died. Being able to call myself his wife gives me something to hold onto.

I planned the whole thing, Steve told me to do whatever I wanted. Honestly though, there wasn't much to plan. I think we had the whole thing figure out in about a month. We had a courthouse wedding, but still wanted to get dressed up, have family, and a bunch of the little wedding touches.

First thing, getting a dress. The dress I ended up with was nothing like I thought I would have gotten, but I love it so much. I tried on a bunch of styles, but I'm really glad I found the one I wore. It also fit the style Steve said he liked. Bonus!

 Went shopping with my sister and my mom. Bri brought her camera to document.

 This was my go to pose for some reason... even though it gave me man shoulders.

I tried on a few veils, just to see how it looked.

My sister got distracted by the ugly ass something dresses. Prom? Quinceanera?

I made boutonnieres for all of the guys (this one wasn't finished yet).

Almost went with this one, but wasn't a huge fan of the train or how sparkly it was. 

Here it is! Pre-hemming, of course, since I'm mini.

I also made bouquets, one for me and one for Bri. 

 AND HERE ARE MY EFFING AWESOME SHOES

Balloon bouquet and veil!

Here's my bouquet, better pictures in the wedding shots. 

And the ring. Steve picked out both of them (the one's on my middle finger, the green one was a Christmas present from Steve a few years ago) while he was in Guam. I actually didn't see mine until two days before the wedding.

Memories- First Date

Our first date. April 14, 2007. I asked him to prom. We got Chinese food, he bought. I drove and almost drove us into a ditch on the way there. He never let me live that down.

We both had braces. We were goofy. We were so nervous and awkward with each other. Also, notice how Steve is not smiling.

Once we were there, we all mostly just sat around and talked. Steve and I ~*slowdanced*~ to the last song and then we went back to Lauren's house to hang out.

Where Steve fell asleep. 

I later found out that he kept wanting to kiss me that night, once we were back at Lauren's but I wouldn't sit still. Funny, he said the same thing about when he first tried to ask me to be his girlfriend. We went to a lake in the area and climbed up on all the rocks. I guess I kept going around to other rocks when he got the nerve up to ask me.

What a dork.

Oh Myspace.

I got on myspace today for the first time in years, and found this. It was from when we were first dating. I miss being loved like this.

Mr. & Mrs.

Today was such a happy day. Steve's cousin Arrick went into the Navy in December, and this week he came home and married his fiancee. Since they started dating, and especially since he's been gone I've really become friends with Mandi. They wanted the smallest thing possible, which ended up being them, my mom and I, plus the Justice of Peace. They're having a big traditional wedding later, so she wanted this one to be small, so that one is special. I can't imagine getting married without my family, but it totally worked for them. It was fitting. Anyhoozle, here's some picture. I had fun photoshopping some, so ignore those if you feel you must.

I'll have to just document the worst part, which ended up not being too horrible. The other person they asked to be a witness was Mandi's boss. Yeah, he didn't show up, which is why I frantically called my mom hoping she was still close. Yeah... there's always something that gets messed up.

The one who fixes everything.

This is the most amazing guy ever.

He's the only person that can always make me feel better.

He's a superhero.

L is for the way you look at me...

Things I plan to post about: my anxiety and my graduation. I need an upper post right now, and I don't have my graduation pictures yet. So here's a mushy post.

*disclaimer* This is super sappy. If you don't like that, or it makes you gag, that sucks.


One of the things I really love about Steve is how he knows everything. There is rarely a time that he can't answer a question I have. He knows everything about cars. He knows random facts. He knows a lot about history. I think he really loves learning things. He watches the History Channel, and How Things Are Made, all of that. And then he remembers everything he saw. When he left for boot camp, I had to return a library book for him. It was about relativity. He got it because he thought it looked interesting.

The other day I told him that I missed that, and then asked him a string of the most ridiculous questions. He laughed, called me cute, and then answered all of them.

I guess one of the reasons I love it so much is because it's part of the reason I know he can take care of me. I grew up with my dad as the main example of what a husband should be, and it definately formed what I expect a man to be. My dad was always the one doing "man jobs", and I always wanted someone who can do that too. Someone who can build things, do the yardwork, fix the car, all of that. It isn't just about doing stuff either. A lot of it is the mindset that he has. He's a provider. He takes care of people. He's a problem fixer.

Yeah, I love Steve a lot.

I wrote this letter to him 2/13/2009
Steve-

I just thought this would be a pretty good time to tell you just how amazing you are. You see, when say things like no one is cooler than you, I'm completely serious. You are the greatest person I've ever known and I can't imagine how empty my life would be without you in it. I love you so much.
I'm so proud of you for what you have done. When you first told me you wanted to be in the military, I was shocked. I didn't think it fit you. Now, seeing you here, I was absolutely wrong. I'm so happy that you like it so much. I've never met anyone like you. You are good at every single thing you try.
Everything about you makes me so happy. Being here in Texas has made me realize how much I miss just holding your hand, kissing your cheek, and feeling your skin. No one else means what you do to me.
I'm so happy that I get to see you all day tomorrow. I hope the next two days don't fly by. I want to get all the time with you that I can.
I love you Steve. More than I've ever loved anyone.