What A Week. Part III: The Day Of… Part II

That’s a confusing title, isn’t it?! Oh well, we’re rolling with it.

I feel like I brushed over the second half of our wedding day, so I wanted to come back in with a second part, starting with the ceremony and champagne toast. I’ll try to keep it interesting while also retelling the details as accurately as I remember them.

The ceremony started at 5pm, but at 4:15, I hosted a champagne toast in our suite with a few close members of the immediate family. My sister, Erin, my mom, Tracy, my mom’s two sisters, Carla and Leila, my grandmother, Linda, her sister, Andrea (or the famous “Aunt Andy,”), my cousin Stacey who is like a sister to me, her sister-in-law, Melissa, Matt’s stepsister, Farrah, and my new mother-in-law, Debbie, all joined us for the toast – that I realized when everyone got there and looked at me to say something – that I hadn’t really prepared for. I didn’t have anything special to say, I just wanted a private moment to spend some time with the people who have loved and supported me unconditionally for as long as they have known me.

All but three people in that group have known me since I was a child and have seen me at every age and every stage. They know I haven’t had an easy life. My mother divorced our physically abusive father when I was 7 and my sister was 3. At age 17, my sister and I were hit head-on by a drunk driver going 70mph just three blocks from our house. The result of this wreck was an ankle injury that has required 6 subsequent surgeries and that will continue to degenerate as time goes by. At age 30 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy as a result. For a long time my life seemed to be separated and measured by traumatic events. There have been times when I thought I’d never get to this place.

Which is why that champagne toast meant so much to me. Each person in that room has played an integral role in shaping who I have become today. And when Father Curley showed up to give his blessing, I thought my heart might burst open with emotion. That man is so special to me. When he first came to St. Michael’s church, I was in high school (I think). I liked him immediately, and for some reason he seemed to like me back. The day our relationship solidified and I knew we would be lifelong friends was the day after my car wreck when he drove all the way to Jackson, MS to visit me in the hospital and his first words to me were, “Emily, you look terrible.” I’m so thankful for him.

Anyway, after our blessing, Father C stepped out and eventually it came time for everyone else to head downstairs to their seats. My mom and I were the only ones left while we waited for everyone to arrive, and we enjoyed spying on the crowd watching everyone taking pictures and chatting with each other.

The ceremony began when James Brown’s “The Boss” started playing. That was Matthew’s “walk out” song, and I heard some giggling so I knew he’d made a good choice. He also had the brilliant idea to wear blue suede shoes with his suit, which everyone loved and is still talking about. Y’all know we talk about Elvis on a daily basis in our house – ask me anything, I know all about him. But the song cut off sooner than I expected. All of a sudden it was my turn, so I opened the door and walked out onto the balcony. My walk out song was “Can’t Help Falling in Love” played by the Vitamin String Quartet. I’m going to shamelessly admit that I’ve listened to that song and pictured this moment over and over again the last couple of months, and every time I burst into tears. I fully expected to do the same this time, but no tears came. Only pure joy and happiness. Seeing all of our friends and family together in one place to support our choice to swear our lives to each other was magical. It was everything I had dreamed of and then some. I knew we would never get a moment like this again, so I savored it all.

I met my mom at the bottom of the staircase and we made our way down the aisle hand in hand. We met Matthew and his brother, Daniel, and the officiant under the beautifully decorated pergola. Although I somehow ended up staring straight into the sun, it was a very sweet, Christian-based service. Exactly what we wanted. And Matthew’s “Hell yeah” instead of “I do” was a nice touch. Our officiant did an amazing job and no one lost the rings or tripped down the stairs. Great success!

When the ceremony was done and all the posed pictures had been taken, I actually got to sit down and eat some of the awesome food. Rusty’s knocked it out of the park with catfish bites, pork sliders, shrimp, crab cakes, tomato sandwiches, and all the dips, cheese, and veggies you could eat. It was so good!!

After the cake had been cut, it was time for the first dance. The song we picked out was months in the making, and we went back and forth on quite a few choices, but we finally landed on Matt’s choice of “Out of Left Field” by Percy Sledge. We asked Matt’s brother to sing the Allman Brothers version for us, which he did and did an amazing job. It was a bit awkward having people standing around watching us try to dance but we had Daniel invite everyone out there with us after the first chorus, so it ended up not being terrible! Our biggest fear was that we’d be out there long enough for people to realize we only know about two different moves, so I’m glad that didn’t happen. 😉

A little while later, Matt stood up to make a toast, which was super sweet and thoughtful. He said he didn’t need faith because he has seen. We promised to love each other through sickness and health, rich or poor, and he knows I’ll do that because he’s been sick or poor or worse the entire time we’ve been together. lol.

Once the responsibilities of the bride and groom were taken care of, it was time to party!! We danced and laughed and drank shots of Espolon (me) and Jameson (everyone else) for a few hours before moving into Cedar Grove’s bar and shutting that one down as well. We utilized every inch of that house that night. We partied on every floor, including the rooftop before making our way up to the Riverview Suites where I know we kept Matt’s aunt and uncle wide awake all night (so sorry about that, Uncle Wayne!!). And the three of us who were still awake by the end of the night sat down on the first floor of the house and ate groom’s cake while we solved all the world’s problems before finally going to bed around 4:30.

It was truly a day for the books. One I’ll always look back on with zero regrets (except for forgetting to buy a new perfume to create that scent memory, I do wish I’d done that). I’m so thankful my prayers were answered in Matthew. I know in my soul that I’ve found the person who fits me best for the life I want to live, and I know we will be unstoppable together.

I also know that this time in our lives is fleeting, and that the only constant in life is change. I know that one day we will look back on these days – and this week in particular – and wish we were here again. But that’s okay, it’s a joyful time and I’m thankful we have it to look back on at all. And I’m determined to change course and measure my life in joyful events rather than traumatic ones. Will keep you posted on how that goes.

The next post (or two) will be about our “honeymoon” adventures in the days following the wedding with our t-street fam. Starting in Memphis and ending in Nashville, my former second hometown.

TTYL 🩵