Our Wedding Day! Part 1~ Getting Ready

On July 17th, 2015, I woke up to the most special day of my life.  It’s one of those rare and indescribable days when so much is happening that you know you couldn’t possibly remember it all. You’re hurrying to get ready with your hair and makeup just like any other day, only this day you have people doing your hair and makeup for you, and a solid three assistants to get into your petticoat, silk gown, tiara, jewelry, shoes and veil…  There, all around you, are the dearest girls to you in the world – the ones who have been there for you through your childhood or adulthood, and they’re all dressed up like they’ve never been before, all pearl earrings and ballgowns and smiles…

Before you know it, you’re all filing out the door, slightly nervous and with a fluttering heart, and within a few short minutes you take that long walk down the aisle, into a new and wonderful life…  And the next thing you know, the ceremony is over and you’re at your wedding reception, waltzing with your husband in the elaborate silk ballgown you sewed.  And you secretly thank yourself for reinforcing that skirt seam just one more time, so there’s no chance of it tearing during all the festivities…

This is the story of my incredible wedding day to my fabulous husband, and it may take a few blog posts to recount the entirety of it.  I am so thankful to God for bringing us together, and for giving me the happiest “happily ever after”.  (Here is the story of how we met.)

The Wedding Day Part 1

The Venue: The Academy Chapel & Ballroom

Photographer: Kamirin Couch of Crooked Stream Photography

 Makeup Artist: Jessie Schultz

Hair Stylist: Janelle Hayden of The Prettiest You

The Gown: Designed & Sewn by Me (Here’s how I made it)

 I wore white fur slippers with sparkles while getting ready.  We all had matching red robes for the preparations, so we didn’t get makeup and hairspray on our beautiful gowns…

My sweet junior bridesmaid putting in her pearl drop earrings…

My silk and lace gown hung neatly in the room.

The bridesmaids wore their hair in French twists. 

Chiffon ruffles and roses down the back of the skirt, and gathered gold lace at the neckline.

I was so thankful Jessie could do my makeup!  Despite being very pregnant she did all the makeup for the entire bridal party, plus the two mothers!

All my ivory and gold accessories were put out ready to go!  (The ivory satin gloves with gold beading came all the way from South Africa via my dear friend Jennie Chancey of Sense & Sensibility Patterns!  She’s been such a dear friend to me for years, and I was thrilled that I was able to Skype her into the wedding reception later on!)  

Then it was time to hurry into my gown.  I had been slightly nervous while stuck in the hair and makeup chair – “Do you guys have my gown ready?  And the jewelry and veil?  And my shoes?”  But yes, they had everything all ready to go!  I think they got me into the gown in about 60 seconds flat, which was good since we were behind schedule for pictures.

Before I knew it, we were all ready to go get our pictures taken! 

And here’s a peek at the ballroom right before the guests arrived.

More pictures to come soon, I promise!  

Till next time,

Katrina