I have a really bad memory, and it seems like the little details of the day are starting to get fuzzy. Not the big memories of the day, of course, but for a day as monumental as this, I want to make sure I remember every single little thing.
I should warn you that I'm big into scrapbooking and using pictures to remember my life. I always have a camera in my purse, and I save cards, ticket stubs, little love notes and mementos from all over. I think aside from my love of photography (and looking at my smokin' hot husband), this hobby became a passion of mine because my grandmother had Alzheimer's disease. It really is heartbreaking to be robbed of a lifetime full of memories. So I probably over document things, but memories with my husband, family, and friends are precious to me no matter how big or small. I love Becky Higgins' whole approach to the hobby- simple, clean, and easy. If you aren't familiar with her Project Life line, you should totally check it out (www.beckyhiggins.com), even if you don't scrapbook. I do most of mine with digital templates and Photoshop Elements and stick them into her photo pocket pages. No paper, glue and scissors, and it's genius.
So on our anniversary, I reread something I had written about our wedding day...a letter to myself. I can just see all the eyes rolling now...Not corny, just an honest, heartfelt account of the day, should I ever have trouble remembering my own past. I decided instead of keeping the letter saved on my computer, I'd turn it into a part of my scrapbook. The 6x12 inch pocket pages are perfect for letters like this one, or including a blog entry in your memory keeping.
I think writing a letter to yourself for any momentous occasion is a great way to remember all the little things that you may one day forget. (Birth of a baby, a big move, new house, etc. ) If you don't scrapbook, write them out, or type and print them, and stick 'em in a box in your closet or a notebook on the bookshelf, and take them out and read them every once in a while. I also love putting them behind a picture (of the event) in a frame to open and read later. Who knows...you may be glad you wrote it down one day. :)
My letter (should you need an example...or be interested in our wedding story):
Dear Mary,
This is a note written from your 27 year old self. Almost three years have passed since you’ve been married, and already you’re starting to forget all the small moments of being a bride. In a short span of time, I still can’t remember what I ate for breakfast or lunch the day of. I am writing this so that there will always be a note, a memory, a written log of the feelings you had, the emotions you experienced, and the things you never want to forget. I hope that one day in the future you will read this and be glad it’s here.
Even though it wasn’t pleasant at the time, I hope that you haven’t forgotten the anxiety and stress that surrounded the beginning part of the weekend. This stress caused by the hotel fire is partially what made your wedding weekend YOUR wedding weekend! The moment you stood inside the lobby and saw the curtains catch fire. You stood in awe as it all unfolded, much like it was in slow motion, and the confusion you felt as all anyone could do was stand and look at the flames also. It seemed to take forever for people to react and start running and the alarm to go off. Maybe it wasn’t as long as you thought. Maybe it all happened in a split second. Everyone ran outside, and you were worried about Josh and Daddy. They drove around the back of the hotel, and you didn’t know immediately that they were safe. You stood in the median of the street and greeted out of town guests and family members, everyone still in shock as the fire trucks and news vans pulled in. Don’t ever forget the sense of calm that came over you as you realized that having Josh and your family there and safe were all that mattered. Even though Josh thought something was majorly wrong with you for not freaking out, everything that mattered was ok.
Never forget Christi’s determination to make the situation light, and somehow talked the firemen into letting you and Josh take your picture with the truck.
After a Mellow Mushroom lunch to wait out the fire marshall’s ruling, you were evacuated and told that the hotel probably wouldn’t open for a few days. Sweet Clint was going to go back into the building shortly after it all happened, claiming that he was going to climb eight floors to get your dress. You told him you’d rather have your friend than a dress. All of our belongings (minus several important wedding items) were carreid down all eight flights of unairconditioned stairs so that we could find temporary residence at the Westin. Despite craziness at the Westin desk, being told that there wouldn’t be enough rooms, and lack of time to get ready and properly shower, the rehearsal went well. Mrs. Caywood snapped everyone into shape, and you didn’t have to worry about a thing. Dinner at The Lady and Sons was perfect, and everyone enjoyed drinks at the pool of the Westin to destress from the day.
Never forget the hustle and bustle before the ceremonya hair appointment, a last minute trip to Publix for forgotten waterproof cameras, getting ready at the church with all the girls, running down the hallway in your veil and underwear to use the bathroom, and taking pictures with our photographer. How could you forget the tornado warning, heavy rain and hail that pelted the church minutes before we were set to start? You joked about hoping Josh didn’t take this and the fire as bad omens. Wes delivered your card from Josh, that you got choked up reading, and sending him back with a gift for Josh. A leather bound Bible with a special note in the front.
You wore Grandma Mary’s blue ring as your something old, and blue, and you thought of her just before it was time to get started. You wished special family members from both sides could have been there, and you also realized that you were gaining a lot of new family members that day.
Never forget the nervousness that surged through you in the few minutes before the ceremony. You stood in the little closet/stairwell of the church with all your bridesmaids being silly, hoping to distract yourself from the organ bellowing familiar music into the tiny room. You insisted that you had to pee, and Lauren, being Lauren, laughed and ensured you that it was just "nervous pee," sure to be forgotten once you were standing up there. Remember the sounds of the songs being played over the huge organ, and your bridesmaids trickling out one by one. Katie kissing you and smiling. Remember how happy you were to see Daddy's face when you stepped in front of those big red doors. He kissed your cheek and asked if you were ready.
I hope that you remember the feeling of those huge doors opening, and walking into the church seeing all your family and friends standing, turned to look at you walk in. Janet Laskowski was the first person you really saw, and her smile made you feel less nervous. Don't ever forget the most precious moment of the day...when you first met eyes with Josh. His were full of tears, and he never looked at you that way before. Truly happy and treasuring every moment, walking to the man of your dreams was like a fairytale. You were thinking, "Oh my gosh. This is perfect. This is just how I imagined it would be. I want to remember this forever. All the details, forever."
Josh kept trying to talk to you all throughout the ceremony. He beamed and whispered to you over and over. Telling you that you were beautiful. Telling you that he loved you. You squeezed his hands as you told him you loved him too, and partially to get him to stop talking so you could listen. You were so worried about missing something Rev. Caywood said and missing your cue to speak. Distracted by the overwhelming love you felt for him at that moment, you thought how lucky you were to have a man like this love you as much as you love him. What a profoundly amazing thing that is. You didn't cry. You were too happy. You were savoring every word and every moment.
You said the vows without faultering, and you meant every word you said. You looked right into Josh's eyes, and made your promise. Forever.
Never forget that your "second mom" , Ms. Betty, read the traditional Irish blessing to wish you well, and that your godfather, Uncle Robert, read scripture to bless the union. That Rev. Caywood blessed your hands, with a poem that is your favorite. You stared happily at the new gold band on Josh's hand thinking how strange it looked there. Strange but wonderful.
I know you will never forget the kiss. How your heart thumped crazy when you knew it was coming up. How he grinned at you until Rev. Caywood told him that he could kiss his bride. How he took your face in his hand and kissed you like he meant it. Kissed you to seal the promise before God and our loved ones. How you giggled when you pulled away, and waited anxiously to be pronounced man and wife. How you happily walked out of the church hand in hand into the warm sunshine and Savannah humidity, man and wife. Thinking "this is perfect." And being stunned at how quickly it went, realizing that you have a soulmate, and that this moment was the very first moments of the rest of your lives together.
Don't forget that feeling... it was awesome.
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