Our Wedding Day: The Ceremony

The church has a beautiful, old pipe organ and the organist at the church is also my godfather and there was never a question that he would be paying the music for the ceremony. He started to play Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring as my girls headed down the aisle. It was strange because I was getting pretty anxious as I waited with my dad but part of me wanted to be in the sanctuary so I could see my girls come down the aisle! They all looked so beautiful.

Waiting with The Dad.

As my matron of honor turned around the corner to walk into the sanctuary, she turned back and reminded my niece and nephew to not follow her. My dad stepped forward to make sure they didn’t take off. It was pretty cute. My nephew looked at me because he knew Aunt Amber and Uncle Pilot were in charge! When it was time, my dad told them to go. Again, I wished that I could have seen them! I heard the congregation laugh and I had no idea what was going on! My sister-in-law was one of my bridesmaids and was going to go fetch them if one of the kids froze but I guess they made it all the way down the aisle just fine. I think what got people laughing was that my nephew realized everyone was looking at them and so he looked at my niece and they giggled at each other. My sister-in-law’s parents were waiting in the front row to usher the kids to sit down. I knew having them to stand through the whole ceremony was too much to ask of wiggly little kids.

It was time! Once the kids made it down the aisle, it was my turn! My godfather started to play Pachelbel’s Canon in D and my dad and I walked into the sanctuary. The walk down the aisle was a little bit of a blur. I remember seeing my friend Monica right when I entered the room and then when I made the turn to walk down the aisle, the only person I could see was The Pilot. Just like with our first look, I was tempted to walk faster just to get to him but I ended up needing to slow my dad down! I pulled back on his arm partly because I wanted to enjoy the moment but also because my shoes were a little loose and I didn’t want to lose a shoe on the way down the aisle! I don’t remember seeing anyone else in the congregation until we were almost to the altar. It wasn’t until then that I remember seeing my uncle Kent, my dear friend Lauren who was doing a reading during the ceremony and then my mom. As my dad and I approached the end of the aisle, my mom stepped out into the aisle so both of my parents could “give me away.”
When The Pilot and I were alone and had the chance to reflect on the day, we both agreed that the ceremony was our favorite part of the day. That surprised me. So much planning goes into a wedding but much of the work is focused on the reception-the music, food, cake, decorations- but the ceremony sort of takes care of itself once you have met with the pastor and selected the readings and scriptures. My sister-in-law shared will us that when she married my brother (in the same church), she honestly forgot that everyone else was there. She felt like it was just her, my brother and the pastor. That was reassuring for me and The Pilot because we were both a little nervous to stand up there in front of all those people.

I do remember that at one point right at the beginning of the ceremony, I thought I was going to drop my bouquet. When the pastor said the first prayer, I still had a lot of nerves and I was holding The Pilot’s arm tightly with my right hand and holding my bouquet in my left hand. For some reason that bouquet started to feel like it weighed 50 pounds! At one point I thought I was going to have to hand it to my MOH before we even got to the vows! This is when I reminded myself to not lock my knees. I also had a strong urge to lean over to The Pilot and remind him to not lock his knees either! I refrained and when the pastor asked us to step up onto the altar for our vows, I instantly calmed down and stopped worrying about the bouquet and our knees.

We only met with the pastor twice before the ceremony but in that time, I think he got to know The Pilot and I well. He personalized the ceremony so well that I don’t think I could have written it better myself. I think he knew that The Pilot and I are somewhat casual and we didn’t want anything too stuffy but I think he knew that we take marriage seriously. We did talk about it previously but he customized the entire ceremony, including the vows. We didn’t have any desire to write our own vows but wanted to personalize them a little. So I vowed to be patient during airport delays and The Pilot vowed to wait patiently for me during my marathons. As we said our vows, just like my sister-in-law shared, I completely forgot about everyone else and it really felt like I was exchanging those vows with just The Pilot in the room. It was perfect.

There was also something unexpected during the vows. Tears. For the second time that day, I cried. After the first word came out of my mouth during the vows, I got really choked up. My voice wavered and my eyes filled up with tears. The words just meant so much and I couldn’t help it! I didn’t want to ruin my makeup or cry so much that our guests couldn’t hear me so I took a deep breath and somehow, by the end of the vows, I had recovered. It also helped that The Pilot was squeezing my hands and looking right at me, calming me down.
During the ceremony, one of my oldest friends (5th grade!) did a reading for us. I did a reading at her wedding 5 years ago and I couldn’t imagine her not being involved in my wedding also. I knew we didn’t want a religious reading so after some searching on the internet, I came across the perfect reading. It was all about how marriage is like riding tandem bike. It was perfect not just because we are cyclists but because we already had some cycling touches in the wedding (more on that later).

A Marriage Build for Two
A successful marriage can learn a lot from bicycle riding.
You should promise each other that you will not be fair weather riders, but venture out together in the wind and the rain. Only by braving the storms as a team will you reap the rewards when the sunshine arrives.
Look after each other. A well oiled bike will run smoothly and change gears easily.
Marriage is like a tandem…keep pedaling or the one at the front shouts at you!
You should promise each other to not only enjoy new adventures and explorations, but appreciate the same old routes you know and love.
Marriage is a promise to each other to endure the climbs so that you may chase the swoops and swerves of a perfect singletrack.
The journey may be long and may have hills ahead, but if you climb together with love and passion, you will be able to achieve everything you both desire!
Wishing you all the best from the start line of the greatest endurance event of your lives.

At the end of the ceremony, we turned to the congregation and the pastor introduced us as Mr. and Mrs. for the first time. We did it! My godfather started to play Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, the congregation stood and applauded. The Pilot and I gave each other a high five and came up the aisle as husband and wife!
My MOH and sister-in-law met us so we could bustle my dress for our exit. I also gave up on the heels. I slipped into my running shoes. Hey, marriage is an endurance event; you might as well gear up and get comfortable! The rest of the bridal party handed out hot pink kazoos as our guests exited the church and waited for us to make our “grand exit.”

To be continued...

Smashed

I realize this is old news but I'm a little behind in my bloggy action. Patrick Makau of Kenya smashed the marathon world record last week at the Berlin Marathon. 2:03:38. I can't even image racing a HALF MARATHON that fast. This dude averaged a 4:43 per mile pace for 26.2 MILES. I cannot seem to wrap my head around that....even during speed work my pace never sees a 4:43 pace...not even for 100 meters.

Sometimes people wonder why you would enter a race if you know there is no way you are going to win. Obviously if I can't run a 1/2 marathon in the time this dude ran a full, I'm never going to win a race. But I'm not out to win. I'm out there to have fun, push myself to MY limits and to make sure my a$$ doesn't get any larger.

Hug a Vegetarian Day

So apparently today is Hug a Vegetarian Day. It's a good thing The Pilot comes home tonight so I can make it happen.

Our Wedding Day: The First Look

The Pilot and I felt strongly about spending as much time as possible with our friends and family, some of whom traveled from out of state. We also know from experience there can be a lot of downtime for guests in between the ceremony and the reception while the bride and groom are taking pictures. The only way to avoid that was to see each other before the ceremony. I wasn’t dead set on The Pilot not seeing me before the ceremony but I still wanted the moment we first saw each other to be special. We spoke about it and after hearing from another bride who did a “first look” with her husband, we decided this was the best for us.

We talked it over with the photographers and videographer and agreed that they would be the only people in the room other than The Pilot and me. We had everyone hide out in the bridal room or in the sanctuary. The photographer had me walk to the opposite end of the hall that runs along the sanctuary. Once I reached the end of the hall, I stopped and waited, facing the wall. I stood and waited. It felt like an eternity! I won’t lie, I felt like I was going to hyperventilate. I don’t think I have ever been more excited and anxious in my entire life!

Finally, she told me to turn around. I saw The Pilot at the opposite end of the hall with his back to me. I walked slowly towards him even though all I wanted to do was sprint down that hall and jump in his arms. When I finally reached him, I gently placed my hands on his hips and he turned around. The next few minutes were kind of a blur. I know that we kissed. I know that I cried, which was completely unexpected. I had been so calm and collected all day. Also, I’ve never really been one to cry at weddings. I’ve been a bridesmaid four times and didn’t cry at any of those weddings and those we some of my closest friends! I was completely overwhelmed but got it together pretty quickly. I do know that I didn’t want the moment to end. I don’t even remember the photographers or videographer circling around us, capturing the moment...but I'm so glad they were there because I absolutely love the pictures!


After awhile, we decided we should probably let everyone else join us and it was time to get started on the group photos. It’s not often everyone is in the same place at the same time and it’s very rare for everyone to be dressed up so we took advantage and took family pictures with each of our families and also some shots with the bridal party. Even though the ceremony wasn’t until 5 pm, we wanted to be out of the sanctuary by 4 pm to make sure our guests didn’t see us before the ceremony started. We headed back to the bridal room to hang out. It felt a little strange to be sitting next to my future husband before the ceremony but it was also nice because once again, I felt completely calm.

My 7-year-old niece and 3-year-old nephew were in the wedding and so there was some chaos in the room. Chaos seems to follow little ones but they really were very well behaved. My brother had told them during the rehearsal that Aunt Amber and Uncle Pilot (ha!) were in charge and if we weren’t around, all of the other grownups were in charge. It was cute because my nephew got a little rambunctious at one point and my brother told him to ask me if I thought he should calm down. He came over and asked and even though I told him it was time to settle down and that it was almost time to walk down the aisle, he gave me a high five…and then may or may not have wiped graham cracker crumbs on the back of my dress. Even during that exchange, I was calm. I think we may have all gasped when he touched my dress but all was well!

My niece spent all morning with the big girls.
She was so patient and even got her hair done at the salon!

My nephew is such a charmer and it was a challenge to get him dressed and then keep him dressed and clean before the ceremony started!

Before we knew it, the pastor came and told us it was time! Two of The Pilot’s groomsmen had been handing out the programs and headed to a room just behind the altar. The Pilot’s “matron of awesome" headed back with the other groomsmen while The Pilot and my brother remained at the back of the church to walk the moms down the aisle.

To be continued...

Our Wedding Day: Getting Ready

I woke up around 6:15 am on wedding day….15 minutes before the alarm. I tried to doze off again but my stomach was full of butterflies. It also felt strange to wake up in my childhood bedroom at my parents; house. I'm glad I didn't fall out of the twin bed during the night! My matron of honor, Julie, was staying at my parents’ house also and she came in at 6:30 to make sure I was awake. We went downstairs and had a quiet breakfast together. She lives just outside of DC now so it was great to spend some time together…a little quiet before the chaos began!

We met the rest of the girls at the hair salon around 8 am to start getting our hair done. It was just us in the salon for quite awhile and it was nice to spend some quiet time with my girls. I felt completely calm and at ease, even as my stylist put my hair comb into place. I was starting to really look like a bride!
There was some time to kill before our make-up appointments so we carpooled back to my parents’ house to relax. My mom brought out the scrapbooks (my mom has documented just about every day of my life!) and we had fun looking back at all of the milestones my girls have shared with me.

We headed out to another salon to have our makeup done. The photographer and videographer met us there and started to document the day. It was a little strange having my own personal paparazzi and I think it would have been awkward had I not actually known them both. My videographer was a college friend and the photographer was a high school friend. I am so thankful that I was able to surround myself with wonderful friends and family on wedding morning because I think that just added to the calmness that I was feeling.

After the makeup, we all headed back to my parents’ house and had lunch. Being the event planner that I am, I had taken lunch orders in advance and my dad and Julie’s husband picked everything up for us. More time spent relaxing with my besties!

The photographer arrived at the house to take pictures of my gown before I put it on. I had some advice from a few friends to make sure I had a pretty hanger to hang the dress up with because the photographer would want to take a picture while the dress was still hanging up. I developed a slight addiction to Etsy.com during the wedding planning process and found this great “bride” hanger. Normally I can talk myself out of frivolous purchases like that but when else other than your wedding day can you be a little over the top?

Before I knew it, it was time to put on my dress! I climbed into my dress and the funny thing is, I don’t remember ever looking at myself in the mirror. There was so much commotion in the room with all of the other girls and the photographer moving around, capturing it all. I do know that I had one of my bridesmaids tie the sash on the back of my dress and I had the photographer take a picture so I could see up close what the knot on the sash looked like. I was adamant that I didn’t want a bow on my a$$ so my friend tied a knot like you’d see on a men’s tie.

All of the girls and the photographer went downstairs so I could make a “grand entrance” on the staircase to show my dad for the first time. Again, there was a lot of commotion while I came down the stairs and it was a little bit of a blur but I do remember my dad looking a little stunned but he did say I looked beautiful.

We were in the middle of a crazy heat wave and heat, sun and I just do not mix so I opted to cut back on some of the outdoor photos. It had stormed the night before and the humidity really kicked in. My photographer scoped out a place in my parents’ backyard that was shaded and we wouldn’t have to walk far through the wet grass. We took some group shots with me and my bridesmaids and some with my parents.

A few miles away, back at our house, The Pilot was also getting ready. The Pilot’s “best man” was actually his good friend Sarah. In the programs we officially called her the honor attendant but we we lovingly referred to her as the “matron of awesome.” After getting hair and make up done with me and my girls, she picked up some sushi to take to The Pilot. I think they enjoyed lunch in the peace and quiet with the kitties before it was time to get dressed and head to the church.

Sarah helping The Pilot with his tie.

Feeding the kitties before heading to the church.

Next we were off to the church. Julie helped stuff me and my dress into my mom’s car and off we went. Once we arrived, Julie ran inside to make sure The Pilot wasn’t standing around as I made my way to the bridal room at the church.

To be continued....

Relay for Life 2011

So a million years ago, my family did Relay for Life. And I'm just now doing a blog post about it... oops. This was my 3rd year participating and again, it was a blast! My sister-in-law has been a volunteer and each year we seem to recruit more people for our team. The Pilot was even in town this year! We had so much fun spending time together and raising money for the American Cancer Society. My aunt, Julie, a cancer survivor, relayed with us this year. This is our family's way of paying it forward. It was also a chance for us to remember those that have lost their battles with cancer, include my grandma and Seth (my triathlon team's hero). We also celebrated those that are still with us, including Parker!

The Pilot made a video highlighting our 18 hours spent at the track. It was a "Lights, Camera, Cure" theme and many of the laps had movie or TV themes. Don't worry, I was NOT having a seizure during the Rocky themed lap. That's just how I run.

The Summer of Oberon

So The Pilot introduced me to Oberon. I'm not much of a drinker and neither is The Pilot but sometimes a cold beer just hits the spot. I don't like most beers so when The Pilot let me try his Oberon, I was pleasantly surprised when I enjoyed it. I then learned that my brother was also an Oberon fan. It's a seasonal beer only available during the summer...which my brother mentioned was probably a good thing because he'd turn into an alcoholic if it was available all year.

And so began the Summer of Oberon. The Pilot, my brother and I all began sending texts to each other each time we enjoyed an Oberon....

The Pilot's favorite things: Oberon and Cheese

The Pilot gives thumbs up to Oberon on tap at a movie theater.

Cats like Oberon too!

Oberon goes to the lake.

So sad...the end of summer is here. And yes, this last case of Oberon went home with us.