Everything Wedding

That. Was. NUTS! Also wonderful.
Everything came out so beautiful and it felt so amazing! Thank you so much to everyone who came and for all the lovely gifts that were sent.
"Gifts?!" you may ask. Why yes, we got lots of them. Everyone was so generous and we hardly know what to do with everything! All the money is being saved and will be used toward a great honeymoon, likely to take place in February. We have no idea where we'll be going yet... but it will be great to get away. As for all the presents, we're so excited trying to figure out where they should all be displayed! For those of you who missed it, here's a run down of our fabulous gifts:

We got so much awesome stuff I'm not sure where to begin. I think I'll start with a very cool toy, the LEGO Man Lantern:

Isn't he awesome! Alex's aunt Chris and uncle Rich got him for us (they also slipped another nice present in the box behind him ^^). I'm not sure what to do with him yet, but he's just so cool we'll definitely find a place to display him.

This is a really special gift from Alex's grandmother Norma and Jim. It's a commemorative coin made for the Falkland Islands. It was struck to commemorate the marriage of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, in 1986, the year we were both born. It's a very unique keepsake we're very in love with:


We got a very fun gift from Alex's aunt Terry. I'm not sure where she got the idea for this but we can't wait to break it out and give it a shot:


We LOVE to cook together, and one of the things we asked for is recipes to try. So we're super excited about these two presents! The large green book in from my lovely friend Brittany, and it contains some amazing recipes created by her fiance Marcel. The wooden box is full of custom designed recipe cards from Alex's wonderful sister Katherine. We can't wait to finish filling it!


So many of our other family members sent generous gifts and lovely wedding wishes, so thank you all too!

Speaking of those who didn't get to be there, we missed you! As you probably know, Alex and I wrote our own vows. It was very important to me to do that so we could share our deepest feelings, not just with each other, but with all our assembled family and friends. Just in case you didn't make it to our ceremony here are the vows we wrote and shared on our big day:
Dearest Alison,
My friend, My confidant, my love. Words cannot express how deeply I care for you or how much I value you. More than anything else I want to be with you. I want us to spend the rest of our lives together, to share our happiness and our sorrows. To make everything you have mine, and everything that I have yours. My love for you grows with each passing day. Let us join ourselves together forever and never part. Let us love and cherish one another. Let us build a life together, facing whatever the future may hold with honesty and dedication and love. I will remain faithful to you and care for you and protect you with everything that I have and all that I am.
Alison, Please be my wife.

Alex,
There is no doubt in my mind that we are here to love each other. I believe it with a conviction so strong sometimes I think it’s what keeps my heart beating. I believe that talking on the way is better than reaching the destination. I believe that sharing a little is better than having a lot, and sharing everything you have is the best you can achieve as a person. I believe in honesty, fidelity, honor, compromise, and trust. But mostly, I believe in love. And I believe that love moves mountains. We have an amazing, rare, and beautiful thing that has changed our lives, and even ourselves, in wonderful ways. We are strong in love, and as long as we are united I believe that we will move mountains too. I love you Alex, more than I can express and almost more than I can contain. I am so joyful to stand next to you today, and all the days of our lives.

... I still cry when I read that. Anyway, on to even happier things! Last but not least, my favorite part: the pictures!


It's a beautiful thing to be married to your best friend.