wedding day: the ceremony

i, like many brides i assume, was most nervous for the ceremony only because i was positive that i was going to burst out crying. (i definitely bought waterproof mascara for the occasion) i didn’t end up crying, but it was such an emotional ceremony. whenever i realized what was going on and felt like tearing up, i would try to think of the light-hearted parts of it all.

we wrote our own heartfelt vows which were really lovely… mine even got some much needed laughs from the groomsmen and guests… we all really needed some comic relief! we also chose to do a rose ceremony (giggity) which was kind of sweet– two red roses to be a symbol of love, forgiveness, celebration, or anything else as we move into married life.

my dear friends and former band-mates of mine, mike and stephen, played their original songs which i absolutely adore during the processional (”marysville”, incidentally the name of alex’s hometown) and recessional (”woke up”). not only did i love the music and have sung along to it for years, but it was extra meaningful as my friends that they would dedicate their time and talents to being a part of this day.

the last defining thing about our ceremony, besides the gorgeous blue sky and even bluer ocean, was this reading adapted from a poem by ray croft. it really deeply spoke to me, and i hope it’ll speak to you too.

i love you– not only for what you are, but for what i am when i am with you.
i love you– not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me.
i love you for that part of me that only you bring out.
i love you because you have done more than any creed could have to encourage goodness in me, and more than any fate could have done to bring me happiness.
i love you for knowing the foolish and frivolous parts of me, yet for laying hold of the possibilities for good in me that no one else had looked quite deep enough to find.
finally, because you have loved me, you have given me a faith in myself and because i have seen the good in you, i have received from you a stronger faith in all humanity.
you have done all this, by being yourself.

it was a lovely ceremony and all, but man, i breathed a giant sigh of relief when we walked through that trellis and down the beach… although i didn’t like walking away from our friends and family, it was nice to have one private moment immediately post-ceremony before the celebration began.

previously in this series: first look & wedding day morning

photos by ashley mae scott