The Vows

Oh my goodness, I can't believe wedding week is almost over. Eeek. Today's all about the ceremony and the moments leading up to it. Though there were a few times I thought it would never come together (planning a wedding alone, thousands of miles away from your friends, family, and venue... is never easy) I couldn't have been happier with how everything turned out. Thank goodness for my fabulous mom and our endless phone conversations throughout the process. I couldn't have done it without her.  

The morning of our wedding I gave all of my bridesmaids silk robes with their names embroidered, Posh Locket earrings, and glittery hangers that I made for them to hang their dresses on. 

Justin gave his groomsmen engraved pocket watches for a touch of vintage flair which also made for fabulous photo ops throughout the day!

Peonies are my absolute favorite flower, so of course my bouquet had to be overflowing with them. My parents surprised me with a gorgeous diamond broach the morning of the wedding which was the perfect touch to my bridal bouquet.

I always imagined making a grand entrance at my wedding, but never pictured something as beautiful and grand as the breathtaking staircase where my dad was waiting at the bottom. With the sun setting over the harbor, I stood there, heart pounding and tears welling up in my eyes, ready to walk towards the love of my life. Thank goodness for water proof mascara, without which I may have never made it past the first step. 

After the ceremony our guests moved into the lower level of our venue to sip cocktails, and snack on sushi and pesto, tomato and mozzarella crostinis.

The venue for our cocktail hour had flat screens lining the walls, which displayed a slideshow of pictures of Justin and I. 

The dramatic staircase, back-lit by a stunning floor to ceiling fountain and breathtaking wine display, led to the second floor where our reception took place. 

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After the ceremony I took a second to enjoy the scenery as I watched all of our guest transition to the next venue from the balcony. 

Tomorrow I will be sharing the final pictures from our wedding, including all of the little details and the father/daughter dance, which let's just say, held a huge surprise for all of our guests!