Love At The Ranch: ceremony

Showing posts with label ceremony. Show all posts

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Love at The Ranch: The Ceremony (Part II)

We had considered the untraditional tradition I wrote about previously, with bottles of wine, love letters, and a box we would nail shut, but decided we'd rather do that privately than at the wedding. Instead, we decided to do a secular handfasting which I thought was a beautiful representation of the lifelong commitment we were making that day. Mrs. Cherry Pie's version of this tradition was so tear-jerking, we decided to use it as a guide for ours.

We took each others palms, one at a time. Our officiant said a few words about our hands and how they would be the same hands that would be there for the years to come.

Then, we moved our hands up to grab each others arms in order to be fasted.

One of my maid-of-honors came forward with the cords. The other maid-of-honor had the job of holding my bouquet, so I felt that this gave them equal duty. She placed one cord for every line our officiant read about our hands.

My favorite line was when our officiant talked about our hands as the hands that would hold each others children. Mr. CB gave me a knowing smile after that one, because he knows I want kids one day.

Finally, all of the cords were laid. My maid-of-honor tied them in a knot around our arms...

...until we were completely intertwined.

After the handfasting, my aunt Melani and our friend Justin Bobb, performed Patty Griffin's Heavenly Day for us.

I so wish we had a video clip of my aunt singing it, because she was unbelievable, but we won't until our video comes back.

This song had Mr. CB (and me!) close to tears.

The lyrics to that song felt entirely too appropriate for the day, especially with the rain clouds that were blowing in:

"O heavenly day, all the clouds blew away

Got no trouble today with anyone

The smile on your face I live only to see

It's enough for me, baby, it's enough for me...

...Tomorrow may rain with sorrow

Here's a little time we can borrow

Forget all our troubles in these moments so few...

...All we really have to do

Is have ourselves a heavenly day

Lay here and watch the trees sway

...Can't see no other way...

Heavenly day

No one at my shoulders bringing me fears

Got no clouds above me bringing me tears

Got nothing to tell you, got nothing much to say

Only I'm glad to be here with you

On this heavenly...day

All the trouble's gone away

Oh, for a while anyway, for a while anyway

Heavenly day"

Then we were pronounced husband and wife.

Photo by Amanda Wilson

I love how Mr. CB is smiling while kissing in the picture below. And our wedding party is also beaming for us. Or maybe they were beaming because the ceremony was finally over.

After our kiss, our officiant read our benediction, which I'd come across on the internet while writing our ceremony. It's my favorite part of the whole ceremony.

May your home be filled with laughter and the warm embrace of a summer's day

May you find peace and beauty,

Challenge and satisfaction,

Humor and insight,

Healing and renewal,

Love and wisdom.

May you always feel that what you have is enough.

We made our way down the aisle with massive smiles on our faces to the sounds of a very celebratory Irish tune.

Photo by Amanda Wilson

The one thing we might have rehearsed was the recessional because we weren't sure when to make that happy walk down the aisle. Our wedding party didn't follow us (as they were supposed to), but luckily, we were too blinded by happiness that we didn't realize any of this.

How did we get here?

Mr. CB and I road-tripped it to Colorado.

I spent a peaceful morning with my girls.
Followed by a rowdy bachelorette party.
Two days before the wedding, we fought.
Then, we made up.

On Saturday, Mr. CB recuperated while I hiked with friends.

We celebrated our rehearsal dinner.

Sunday Morning: The girls got ready.

And the guys got ready.

Mr. CB and I had our First Look.

Budget Breakdown: Bouquets and Bouts.

Potraits of the bride and groom.

Our wedding party braved the cold for photos.

We all lined up for the ceremony.

The wedding party walked (and performed hand shakes).

Papa CB walked Ms (soon to be Mrs.) CB down the aisle.

Our ceremony began with a song from Grandma Cowboy Boot.

**All images above by the ridiculously talented and awesome Tec Petaja, unless otherwise noted. Head to his blog for some serious eye candy.**

Love at The Ranch: The Ceremony (Part I)

Inspired by Mrs. Cherry Pie, we also penned our own ceremony. We used a similar structure to hers, but infused our own words and added a couple of songs from our family members. Overall, the whole ceremony (songs and all) took about 30 minutes, which was perfect--just long enough to feel the transformation, harvest a few tears from our guests' eyes, and not feel like the center-of-attention for too long.

Our officiant, my uncle Howard, started with words of welcome to our guests.

Followed by a thank you to our family and friends for making the long trip to Tabernash, Colorado. Most everyone in the image above traveled around five to seven hours to be with us. We thanked our parents for their support.

Mama and Papa Cowboy Boot

My grandmother, Marni Nixon, then stood from her chair and sang Ave Maria for us. It sounded beautiful with the acoustics in the barn.

Lucky for all of us, one of my friends recorded her singing with her camera. The image isn't great but it's the sound that counts.

Yep, I cried some more as we listened to her.

After my grandmother's song, our officiant had a few more words for us.

Then we read our vows to each other. We decided to write our own vows which was harder to do than you might think. I heeded some good advice: simple is better. I couldn't memorize my vows so I read from a piece of paper. Halfway through reading them, I ripped the paper right through my sentence. It conjured up a few chuckles from me (I was embarrassed) and our guests.

Mr. CB didn't need paper. He had prepared his vows using a voice recorder and then just said them from the heart when the time came. They were so sincere and heartfelt and had everyone in tears.

Now the tears were really flowing. You can see them all the way down my chest. I don't even think I noticed they were actually falling at this moment, though.

Photo by Amanda Wilson

After our vows were complete, it was time to exchange rings. Our junior bridesmaid brought the rings up from her seat in the front row.

First, Mr. CB put the ring on my finger.

Photo by Amanda Wilson

Then I put his ring on his finger.

Next up: A ceremony tradition, a song from my aunt and friend, the kiss, and an all-too-happy recessional...

How did we get here?

Mr. CB and I road-tripped it to Colorado.

I spent a peaceful morning with my girls.
Followed by a rowdy bachelorette party.
Two days before the wedding, we fought.
Then, we made up.

On Saturday, Mr. CB recuperated while I hiked with friends.

We celebrated our rehearsal dinner.

Sunday Morning: The girls got ready.

And the guys got ready.

Mr. CB and I had our First Look.

Budget Breakdown: Bouquets and Bouts.

Potraits of the bride and groom.

Our wedding party braved the cold for photos.

We all lined up for the ceremony.

The wedding party walked (and performed hand shakes).

Papa CB walked Ms (soon to be Mrs.) CB down the aisle.

**All images above by the ridiculously talented and awesome Tec Petaja, unless otherwise noted. Head to his blog for some serious eye candy.**

Friday, November 20, 2009

Love at The Ranch: Down the Aisle We Go

Nerves were at their peak in the reception barn as we waited for guests to fill our ceremony site. As I previously mentioned, we did not have a rehearsal, so this was the first time things were really starting to feel real. We were really doing this. I was calm and excited all at the same time, waiting at the back of the line with my dad.

Our ceremony site:

Our guests took their seats and prepared for the ceremony to start. The music began. Our band, Elephant Revival, played Pachelbel's Canon in D for the wedding party's entrance. When I was a little girl there was only one thing I ever imagined for my wedding. It wasn't my dress, my cake, or my flowers. The one thing I knew I wanted? Strings to play our ceremony. There's something about them that makes my skin tingle.

This isn't our band, below, but to get a feel for our ceremony, you can hit play as our wedding party walks down the aisle.

First, Mr. CB and our officiant, my uncle, came down the aisle. Since we hadn't rehearsed, our DOC made sure she "released" us down the aisle in a timely but not-too-fast manner.

I love this picture of Mr. CB walking past all of our friends and family. He looks so contemplative and content.

Next came my brother, Tim, and Mr. CB's sister Sarah.

Followed by Mr. CB's college buddy Ryan and my best friend from studying abroad, Jess.

In the days prior to the wedding, Mr. CB had concocted up a plan with our wedding party. They each had to have a choreographed handshake once they made it up the aisle. I heard talk about this going on and thought it was really fun but was bummed I wouldn't see it happen. From where I was waiting in the reception barn to walk down the aisle, I could hear the laughter from our guests after each couple made it to the front of the room. This is one reason I can't wait to see our wedding video, currently being edited by my cinematographer brother.

Jess and Ryan

Photo by Amanda Wilson

Next up came Mr. CB's childhood friend Matt and my best friend from college, Anne-Cecile.

And their handshake.

Now that my bridesmaids had made it up to the front, it was my two MOHs turn. First up, Mr. CB's roommate from when Mr. CB and I first met, Rich, and my best friend from childhood, Jen.

No one caught their handshake on camera. Finally, Mr. CB's best man Jeremy (who, yes, is chewing gum down the aisle!! Our officiant busted him once he made it to the front!) and my other MOH and best friend from childhood, Alexandra.

This is my favorite handshake photo.

After our the bridesmaids and groomsmen made their entrance, our junior bridesmaid, Mr. CB's niece, Ariyahna, carried our rings. Recognize the pillow? It was made by the crafty Mrs. Crab Cake. She gave our flower girl, my cousin Alma, a little guidance to get her going, as well. Notice Cowboy Boot Cuz's cowboy boots!

Photo by Amanda Wilson

I love how kids in weddings always manage to make everyone smile. I mean look at the expressions on everyone's faces.

The girls were all in their places.

The guys, in theirs too.

And Mr. CB awaited my arrival.

How did we get here?

Mr. CB and I road-tripped it to Colorado.

I spent a peaceful morning with my girls.
Followed by a rowdy bachelorette party.
Two days before the wedding, we fought.
Then, we made up.

On Saturday, Mr. CB recuperated while I hiked with friends.

We celebrated our rehearsal dinner.

Sunday Morning: The girls got ready.

And the guys got ready.

Mr. CB and I had our First Look.

Budget Breakdown: Bouquets and Bouts.

Potraits of the bride and groom.

Our wedding party braved the cold for photos.

We all lined up for the ceremony.

**All images above by the ridiculously talented and awesome Tec Petaja, unless otherwise noted. Head to his blog for some serious eye candy.**

Love at The Ranch: Lining Up

After the pictures of the bridal party were complete, we made the decision to do family portraits after the ceremony. There just wasn't time. To be honest, I don't even know what time it was but someone was keeping track. I think it was our day-of-coordinator, Danielle Odil of Something Classic Events, who was back and forth between us and setting up the barn for our reception. We went back into our gathering place for pictures, Heck's Tavern at Devil's Thumb Ranch, and, to my dismay, some our guests were starting to gather there too. It hit me that they were all seeing me before the ceremony and I wasn't happy about this. I wanted out. And fast.

Post bridal party portraits but pre-ceremony

For some reason, I became the leader of the pack and the bridesmaids and groomsmen and family were all following me to where we were going to line up for the ceremony. We were headed to our reception barn. From there, we'd walk into the Timber House, about 15 feet away, for the ceremony. There was so much commotion it was hard to get my bearings and try to get to the reception barn. I wanted someone to lead me. Somehow, we managed to make it there and start to get organized. But wait, where was the groom?

After about ten minutes, Mr. CB showed up along with a quesadilla brought by a waiter. Apparently, Mr. CB hadn't had a bite all day. We all took quick bites of the quesadilla as we got in our places. So much for a fresh, minty ceremony kiss.

My mom gave me a quick pep talk and meditation before taking my place in line and finding her seat. I was so thirsty, I could not drink enough water.