Sposa Bagnata, Sposa Fortunata.
The main villain in this story is the weather. July is normally a dry month here in Oregon. Since our budget dictated using my mother-in-law's backyard, we needed to find the driest time of year to get married. July it was. The typical monthly rainfall here in July is 0.64 inches. It had not rained on July 16 since 1991.
On July 16, 2011, it rained 0.30 inches.
Our plans had been to set up the tables and chairs for the reception on Friday, set up the ceremony chairs Saturday morning, and spend our wedding day prior to pictures at 5 relaxing with friends and family and just enjoying a warm summer day. Even though I managed to have brunch with my girlfriends, I was on the verge of tears the entire time, watching the rain fall right outside. The weather had caused us to delay setting up on Friday. By the time I got to my in-laws' on the wedding day, they were at Wal-Mart buying a 12x12 Coleman camping canopy. Up by the poolhouse, we started pushing the tables as close together as possible in order to keep them out of the rain. Our plan to have the ceremony on the lawn was in serious jeopardy because it just. kept. raining.
In the meantime, I was upset to learn that our florist had done a terrible job with the flowers, which meant a friend had to call her mother to come over and help with the cake topper - a task which required her to go to a craft store and a grocery store to totally redo what my florist had half-heartedly done. The stress over the flowers plus the on and off misting finally got to me, and I started crying. At that point, my friend ushered me out of the house and off to my hair appointment. My other friends eventually showed up at the salon with drinks and stuck around while I got prettied up - and they tried to keep my mind off the weather. While I was getting my hair done one friend painted my nails since I'd had no time for a pedicure. She did my makeup at the hotel, helped me get into my dress, and passed along my directions at MIL's house. DH's sisters went out and got white twinkle lights to string in the emergency tent. One of my cousins came over with another tent which we were able to use to cover the bar. The caterer set up the buffet tables in the second garage off the pool area, which was an impromptu decision, but would guarantee they would stay dry. We were trying to figure out a spot on the patio where Jason and I could say our vows if the rain didn't let up. It would be tight and would not be the typical walk down the aisle, but it was something.
But at 5 it was no longer raining...so we took our pictures. In the last 15-20 minutes before the 7 PM ceremony start time drier skies looked like they were prevailing, so all the men who were there pitched in and put the chairs on the lawn for the ceremony. MIL found a clear floor mat for office chairs that she put down at the altar to keep us from sinking in the grass that was quickly becoming mud. And at 6:55, I was standing at the gate with my dad, ready to walk down the aisle with my friends and family watching.
The ceremony went off without a hitch - my aunt's harp music was BEAUTIFUL, and neither Jason nor I cried. Best part? The kiss!
We probably did the fastest family pictures in the history of wedding photography because I didn't want to take a chance on the weather crapping out. We went up to the back patio for dinner. The tables looked gorgeous (despite the unfortunate centerpieces). The darker sky meant the globe lights we'd bought and the candles floating in the pool were really pretty, and the whole area glowed. The food and wine was excellent, and people looked like they were having a good time catching up. My dad gave a great, charming toast, the cake was AMAZING, and we had an opportunity to say goodbye to nearly all of our guests as they left the reception. It was only at the very end of the wedding that there were a few flashes of lightning in the sky. When we woke up the next morning it was pouring buckets. There was a narrow window of dry weather, and we squeezed right in.
Jason and I are both surprised at how amazing it all turned out in the end, because two hours before the ceremony, we both had our doubts and were afraid it would be miserable. We were so blessed with amazing friends and family who really pitched in and did far more than I'd ever wanted them to have to do...but they saved us.
It was crazy, hectic, and stressful up until the moment we started our vows - and then it was almost everything I hoped it would be. No beautiful sunset, no full moon - but I still got a handsome husband, a wonderful stepson, and we were surrounded by happy friends and family. It was truly a day we'll never forget!
On July 16, 2011, it rained 0.30 inches.
Our plans had been to set up the tables and chairs for the reception on Friday, set up the ceremony chairs Saturday morning, and spend our wedding day prior to pictures at 5 relaxing with friends and family and just enjoying a warm summer day. Even though I managed to have brunch with my girlfriends, I was on the verge of tears the entire time, watching the rain fall right outside. The weather had caused us to delay setting up on Friday. By the time I got to my in-laws' on the wedding day, they were at Wal-Mart buying a 12x12 Coleman camping canopy. Up by the poolhouse, we started pushing the tables as close together as possible in order to keep them out of the rain. Our plan to have the ceremony on the lawn was in serious jeopardy because it just. kept. raining.
In the meantime, I was upset to learn that our florist had done a terrible job with the flowers, which meant a friend had to call her mother to come over and help with the cake topper - a task which required her to go to a craft store and a grocery store to totally redo what my florist had half-heartedly done. The stress over the flowers plus the on and off misting finally got to me, and I started crying. At that point, my friend ushered me out of the house and off to my hair appointment. My other friends eventually showed up at the salon with drinks and stuck around while I got prettied up - and they tried to keep my mind off the weather. While I was getting my hair done one friend painted my nails since I'd had no time for a pedicure. She did my makeup at the hotel, helped me get into my dress, and passed along my directions at MIL's house. DH's sisters went out and got white twinkle lights to string in the emergency tent. One of my cousins came over with another tent which we were able to use to cover the bar. The caterer set up the buffet tables in the second garage off the pool area, which was an impromptu decision, but would guarantee they would stay dry. We were trying to figure out a spot on the patio where Jason and I could say our vows if the rain didn't let up. It would be tight and would not be the typical walk down the aisle, but it was something.
But at 5 it was no longer raining...so we took our pictures. In the last 15-20 minutes before the 7 PM ceremony start time drier skies looked like they were prevailing, so all the men who were there pitched in and put the chairs on the lawn for the ceremony. MIL found a clear floor mat for office chairs that she put down at the altar to keep us from sinking in the grass that was quickly becoming mud. And at 6:55, I was standing at the gate with my dad, ready to walk down the aisle with my friends and family watching.
The ceremony went off without a hitch - my aunt's harp music was BEAUTIFUL, and neither Jason nor I cried. Best part? The kiss!
We probably did the fastest family pictures in the history of wedding photography because I didn't want to take a chance on the weather crapping out. We went up to the back patio for dinner. The tables looked gorgeous (despite the unfortunate centerpieces). The darker sky meant the globe lights we'd bought and the candles floating in the pool were really pretty, and the whole area glowed. The food and wine was excellent, and people looked like they were having a good time catching up. My dad gave a great, charming toast, the cake was AMAZING, and we had an opportunity to say goodbye to nearly all of our guests as they left the reception. It was only at the very end of the wedding that there were a few flashes of lightning in the sky. When we woke up the next morning it was pouring buckets. There was a narrow window of dry weather, and we squeezed right in.
Jason and I are both surprised at how amazing it all turned out in the end, because two hours before the ceremony, we both had our doubts and were afraid it would be miserable. We were so blessed with amazing friends and family who really pitched in and did far more than I'd ever wanted them to have to do...but they saved us.
It was crazy, hectic, and stressful up until the moment we started our vows - and then it was almost everything I hoped it would be. No beautiful sunset, no full moon - but I still got a handsome husband, a wonderful stepson, and we were surrounded by happy friends and family. It was truly a day we'll never forget!