Wedding Recap Part 2: The First Look & Ceremony

Wedding Recap Part 2! I’m breaking down a few more parts of our wedding – the first look and our ceremony!!

Part 2 of wedding recap!!! Remember when I got married almost 7 months ago haha! I shared part 1 awhile back (planning, welcome party, and getting ready) and then I totally dropped the ball. Whoops.

I told Michael I was writing a recap and he said, “only 8 months later” lol.

Since the day was so special and there were so many amazing parts to it, I’m doing it in parts to make sure I can cover it all. This is honestly really a place for me to look back on and remember the day, but I know some of y’all have been asking about it too.

And there are so many AMAZING pictures. Literally I wish I could share them all. Our photographer did an absolutely amazing job.

So today I’m going to be talking all about the first look and our ceremony!

The First Look

I knew from the beginning that I wanted to do a first look.

One, it gets a lot of the pictures out of the way so you don’t have do them after the ceremony. The last thing I wanted to be doing was taking pictures while everyone was enjoying cocktail hour. And I didn’t want to do that to everyone involved in the wedding as well.

Second, I really wanted a special moment with my dad beforehand. Obviously I wanted a special moment with Michael as well, but if you know me, my dad and I have such I great connection and he is so special to me. I am literally tearing up as I type this thinking about him – such a daddy’s girl.

It was nice to have a special and calm moment with Michael as well before the ceremony and all the partying started happening haha!

We got married at South Congress Hotel and did the first look in the beautiful outside stairway leading up the pool. It has ivory and greenery and was absolutely perfect. I felt really happy and excited walking up to my dad, but when I tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around, he started to lose it and then I started to lose it.

After hugging and saying a few words, we were back to our laughing selfs saying who knows what.

It was such a special moment that I will never forget. I am honestly so grateful and feel so lucky to have a great connection with my dad. He is one of my biggest supporters in life and always encourages me to do what makes me happy and not to take life too seriously.

Next was the first look with Michael!! After getting my tears out with my dad, I felt really excited to just see Michael. I walked down the stairs and met him in the same place I met my dad. It was special and intimate and just filled with laughter and happiness. Michael said he would have cried, but I didn’t cry lol 😆

We then took a bunch of photos with just us, with the wedding party, our families, and even Cashew. He has grown so much since then, it’s crazy!! Even though we started the first look a little late, we had some time to kill before the ceremony so off to the bar to do a tequila shot beforehand haha!

Nothing like some tequila to take the edge off haha!

The Ceremony

Our ceremony took place outside in the courtyard – if you’ve been to South Congress Hotel, it’s that area behind Central Standard and outside of Mañana. It has a little stairway leading up to the event space that we got married on with the guests below. The reception actually took place behind the doors, which opened up!

I loved this area because it had lots of greenery around it. We had so much rain leading up to the wedding which actually worked out in our favor because the area looked amazing!! And our florist did an absolutely amazing job with decorating!! It was minimal, but classy.

Our ceremony was short and sweet, just how we wanted it.

As the guests were arriving, I snuck up to Otoko and waited with my dad. I think we may have taken another shot, but I honestly have no idea lol. I remember asking, but don’t remember doing one ha! We had a live band for the reception (one of the best decisions ever) and we also booked them them to play during the ceremony. It was perfect.

It was just a duet of the guitar and the strings for the ceremony. We had them play “Here comes the Sun” by the Beatles while the guests and our parents were seated and Michael and the groomsmen entered. Then “Do you Remember” by Jack Johnson for the bridesmaids entrance. Finally they played “Till Kingdom Come” by Coldplay for when my dad and I walked down the aisle.

While I’m not big on grand entrances, I absolutely loved walking down the stairs with my dad!

My dad handed me off to Michael for the ceremony to start. It was short and to the point, but special. We had a few readings and we wrote our own vows. I totally thought I wasn’t going to cry, but I teared up reading my vows to Michael. Our officiant was so kind and let me know it’s okay and to take my time.

A lot of people said they couldn’t hear us, but I guess that is what happens when you have two soft spoken people lol. I recently saw someone mention that they read their vows to each other on their one year and I think that’s a great idea. We will be in Australia too!

We actually wrote each other cards that day that we were going to exchange on our one year (instead of exchanging them before the ceremony like some people do). But somehow they got lost that night with everything that was going on – good idea, but oh well haha.

Shortly after, we were officially married!! Gotta love the surprise ass grab by Michael haha!

We played “I Will Wait” by Mumford & Sons for our recessional. Then met our photographer for a few more pictures. And finally it was time for cocktail hour and to start the party!!!