A Day to Smile About

The day dawned, the 28th, the long awaited, and I awoke with the wedding on my mind. Of course. I woke up thinking about it every morning for I think a week before and didn't stop until a week after. Then, I thought about it because I thought, Hey, I didn't wake up thinking about Ryan and Grace. I can't remember a specific dream about it, but I would have a vague feeling that they were in it.

I thought it was seven, so I didn't get up until half an hour later. Then I realized it was five-thirty, so I went back to bed.

There wasn't the snowstorm we'd prayed for, but there was some snow. Whether it would last until the ceremony was yet to be seen.

Ashley picked me up about a quarter to nine and we headed to Toni and Guys. I pretty much went straight to get my hair done. I hung up my camera bag. It was hard not to greet people as they entered.

A guy named Logan did my hair. He reminded me of some of my cousins and was easy to talk to, which was nice.

As he worked, he was singing the song playing in the background. "Sorry," he said. "I always like to serenade people."

"So do I," I said. He asked what music I liked. I couldn't see his face, but when I listed classical, hymns, and musicals, he didn't seem to know what to say. It was funny.

He straightened the hair on top of my head. When Ashley came by, she said I needed a picture. So she got my camera out and took pictures as she went around.

Grace and Holly

Grace's friend Holly spent the morning with us.

I have never straightened my hair before, and when I had to take my glasses off, I looked quite unlike myself.

I also discovered that hairdos in process look quite funny.

Julie, all dressed for the wedding, looked very nice.

Grace and the flower girl

Julie  and Ashley were the indispensable wedding coordinators. They made everything run smoothly, and it was nice having them there.

Sonya may not have had an official title, but she was a big assistance as well. She got a well-deserved massage.

Bethany's hairdo was perhaps my favorite-incorporating a braid, but still a half-up. It was very pretty on her.

The girl who did Mercy's hair didn't do it the same as it had been done before. Though we had liked the first time, I liked this one even better. It was curlier, and very pretty.

Three of the Brown girls, all looking pretty!

Most of us had finished, so we could get up and watch the others.

The Brown sisters

Grace and me

Grace and Ashley

Alyssa going to get her hair done

Someone was having fun with the camera. ;-)

I'm beginning to feel repetitious, but Grace is pretty. What else can I say?

As I gave Mercy a massage, Grace warned me not to mess up her hair.

Hum...it seems like I have a lot of pictures of her texting, and I'm willing to bet they're all to the same person. ;-)

Deciding whether Alyssa should wear a crown or a flower to match the bridesmaids

Alyssa and Laura weren't done when we left for the mall.

I rode with Julie and Mercy. We were dropped off at the doors so that the wind, of which there was much, wouldn't mess up our hair. We stopped at a counter in the middle of the mall where Grace and Mercy had makeup appointments.

The lady in charge went in search of more people to do the makeup. Some of us stayed there, and others went to another place. One was Macy's, and the other I forget.

Holly was probably not sure she wanted to be associated. ;-)

When another girl came, I had to put away my camera and sit for the first real makeup I've ever worn. Ashley said we needed a picture of this, so she took it out again.

We told her we wanted it to be very natural-looking. First she put on with a big soft brush what I later wanted to call a base coat, but I knew that wasn't the official title. I felt kind of silly when I finally remembered it was called foundation.

Ashley also got her makeup done. Julie and Mercy and I'm not sure who else had my camera.

I like this picture with the mirror in the background.

Mrs. Heyerly and Alyssa joined us while I was getting my makeup done. I called Alyssa over to see her hairdo. The crown fit her hairstyle, so she wore it. I liked it.

She put eyeliner and lipstick on me. I wasn't sure about the eyeliner at first, but it was fine.

Like I said before, I'm beginning to feel repetitious, but isn't that a pretty picture of Alyssa?

I think I had the camera back in my hands at this point (judging by Alyssa's face, anyway :-).

Alyssa and her mom

We went on to get something to eat before we went to the church. Mercy wanted to see what she looked like, so we swapped taking photos.

I sometimes forget that I should pause for photos or I'm telling someone how to use the camera and so they aren't very good. I looked funny-I reminded myself, especially with the slightly pale, even-colored skin, of a ballerina from the Nutcracker.

I'm not sure if it was when we did the makeup or at Toni and Guys, but I started singing, "I feel pretty, oh so pretty, pretty and witty and gay" (from West Side Story, which Mercy introduced us to recently). As we walked down the mall, I sang that, and "What will this day be like, I wonder..." ("Confidence", from The Sound of Music) and probably something else.

"Jeannette would sing in the mall," Mercy said. I told her I wouldn't be singing if anyone else could hear me. Though I was singing "Confidence" quite loudly, I don't think anyone could hear.

"I can hear you," Holly said. "Do I count?"

"No," I said, "I mean anyone outside of our group."

As we walked through the mall, always an interesting activity, I wondered how often a bride did so. It was interesting to think how (aside from Grace's veil) no one would know what we were doing that day, and to think what stories were occuring in lives of the people we passed that day.

I think everyone had either Chick-fil-A or Subway. I had the former for the first time since I was little, when we collected the cassette tapes they used to give kids.

When we saw the Chick-fil-A cow going past, someone told Grace she needed to get a picture. She went over and I took it.

Not many cows get their picture taken with a bride...

and most brides don't get their picture taken with a cow on their wedding day!

After eating, we left for the church. It was still windy and cold, but the snow had pretty much melted.

Mrs. Olson and Mrs. Gaurin

When I entered, I glimpsed the bouquets that Sally Gaurin did. I was glad to see they had tulips in them, and they were very pretty.

Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Olson (who had my dress) had brought the dresses and they were laid out across the desks in the classroom we used.

Touch ups to hair were done:

Pretty neat pictures of the Browns by Rebekah

The Olsons brought their cool wavy mirrors for us.

Rebekah joined us there. Some of these pictures are hers (most of the artistic ones; I didn't take many that I thought were good that day).

The lovely photographer

It was sometime after twelve thirty, I believe. We all put on our dresses in preparation to take pictures before the ceremony.

Ashley fixing my hair

I made the mistake early in the day of singing, I think upon sight of Mercy, "You look so beautiful, so very beautiful," which is a sort of haunting song from Love Never Dies, the sequel (which we have the music to but have not seen) to Phantom of the Opera.

This was a mistake, not really because I kept annoying people with singing it, but because I have never heard those words or something along those lines with the word beautiful in it more times in one day-maybe in one month or several months; after the ceremony, just about every time someone greeted me, that tune ran through my head, but I couldn't really sing it then, so it annoyed me.

I annoyed Alyssa, the flower girl, (and probably some others) by much singing that morning and early afternoon, mostly of that song and the "I feel pretty" one.

"Why do you have to keep singing?" she asked.

Of course, I replied by singing: "I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free."

So, I then had that song ("His Eye is on the Sparrow", in case you were wondering) in my head, and therefore sang it often that early afternoon before the ceremony. It was appropriate, anyway.

There are many pictures of this. It was a perfect silver accent.

Some of our time beforehand we used taking pictures.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Mercy from the day.

Since I don't generally see myself, of course, it's hard to tell how different I looked, but Mom said when she came back she didn't realize it was me at first.

In case you were forgetting, this set of beautiful pictures was taken by the talented Rebekah.

Rebekah and Alyssa

In case you noticed and were wondering, Alyssa says she ruins all of my pictures by making faces.

Autumn painted Alyssa's fingernails sliver.

I like how this almost looks like a mirror at first glance. I wish we had noticed and pursued that idea.

Grace got her dress the week after the engagement when she went with Ashley and Sonya. She hadn't expected to get it that day. The next day, I said, "So, I hear you were successful yesterday."

"Yes," she said, "and that's all you're going to hear!"

I heard a lot more, things she told Ryan about the dress: it was black, with pink polka dots. No sleeves. Polka dot tights. Then it also had green and I think purple dots. After she showed Elizabeth a picture of it (since Elizabeth would be in Peru during the wedding she got a preview), Elizabeth told Ryan it had flamingos on it and one of them had purple hair. She was wearing flamingo tights. After it was adjusted, Grace told me it was hemmed about to the knees and they'd added a big pink pouf on one shoulder.

I did gather some things about the dress beforehand that were actual: while we were looking for things for their scrapbook, Ashley mentioned that a photo sticker we saw of a dress wasn't like Grace's dress; I heard Grace say that she told people who were planning decorations that she didn't want to go too much into snowflakes because her dress had flowers on it; she said it was a soft white; I saw the crown piece and the veil she was wearing; from Mercy I knew it had a train; I forget how, but I knew it had a belt (which isn't the word I want, but you know what I mean-sash, perhaps); and I knew that it was sleeveless and she had sleeves added.

Ashley made me draw a picture of what I thought it looked like, but I didn't really have any idea, especially how to incorporate flowers or draw a train.

Grace was readying behind a divider. I knew she had her dress on, and at last I couldn't wait longer, knowing that I didn't have to.

It may not have been as powerful as those who saw her first when she walked down, but it was pretty cool nonetheless.

Mercy held her arms over her head for a while in an attempt to remedy her perpetually red hands. After a while she gave up. ;-)

Alyssa and her sister Emily

The paparazzi:

The subject:

Deanna and Melody came down for a while. Melody took some pictures and took the camera out with her when they left.

Due to the wind, Grace debated whether or not we should take pictures outside. It was decided to try. Ashley and Julie were bringing the cars up, so the bridal party went down the hall and through the double doors. Peeking out into the narthex, we saw some of the guys. Mercy asked someone to tell them to move. He misunderstood and started directing them towards us.

"There's Ryan!" I said, motioning Grace down the hall. Someone told us we were supposed to go out the other doors, which were right by the room we were in. I'm not sure why we thought otherwise. We heard shrieking coming from that direction and wondered what Ashley and Julie were excited about.

We discovered that was indeed coming from Ashley and Julie, who were understandably worried since we'd been going straight to where the guys were!

Julie and Mercy in the front; in the back me with Alyssa, and Grace

 I decided not to take my camera, which was a good decision, but I did miss it. (These pictures are from Rebekah.) We had a short ride to the park. It was freezing...

The entertainment to make us smile was good:

While Mrs. Varner took photos of Grace alone, Rebekah took pictures of the bridesmaids.

I walked out to watch Grace's photos and so stepped into the sunshine, and discovered that it was significantly warmer there. So, Mercy and I huddled in the sun and I sang, "O Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, please shine down on me."

It was cold, but as I said, it only makes a fun memory later-it was fun even then-and though it was windy, no one's hair was disturbed.

But we did all hurry for the cars as soon as we'd gotten Grace in.

Mrs. Olson stayed at the church with Emily.

There was still some time left when we returned. Enough time for a few more pictures.

We wandered the hall a bit and peeked out at the people arriving. (We didn't go out; these pictures are Rebekah's.)

Abbi was in charge of the guest book

A handsome usher

Jonny chose green

We wandered the hall a bit.

Soon, instead of months, weeks, days, or even hours, we were counting down in minutes. Mrs. Bayly came back and prayed with us. We went down the hall and saw the mothers being seated.

I never did get nervous, which surprised me. It was strange to come in with the ceremony already started and the people seated. As I walked down, I forgot to think about what I was supposed to do and hoped I was fine. Ryan and I acknowledged each other with a nod, but it was obvious where his mind was.

The music changed, and everyone stood. I realized I wouldn't be able to see Grace when she entered because of the people. So I decided to watch Ryan instead. This is one of my favorite pictures from the wedding.

The doors opened, and the look on Ryan's face was indescribable as he almost cried. Then I could see her. It's something that is hard to put in words.

It would be interesting to know exactly what I'm thinking. I'm not depressed like it looks, but thinking serious yet joyful thoughts.

I am not writing much about the ceremony, but it's kind of appropriate. It went so fast. It's something I've thought about when I've gone to weddings before: with all the planning and things, all the expectations, when the day arrives, the everydayness of it seems strange. Time passes, things happen, and though it seems like you should be different, you think about them just like any other day. Yet the everydayness is combined with unusual beauty. Such that it's hard to write about.

Everything went smoothly, and suddenly it was time to walk down.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown!

That still sounds strange...

Mercy and Stephen

As Ryan and Grace dismissed the guests, we milled amongst them in the narthex.

Eric and me

Kristen and me

While everyone went to the reception, the wedding party and family took pictures at the church.

The entry of Mr. and Mrs. Brown

Mr. Brown prayed for us.

My food and the cool placecard Deanna wrote. Sadly, I set my cup down on a kiss and spilled lemonade on it.

Melody was quite proud of this picture

I got my camera back, so the rest of the photos will mostly be mine.

Mr. Varner and Mercy both gave a speech for Ryan and Grace.

Mercy's was a special toast "in the similitude of her texts to Ryan for Grace", written like Old English.

They had frames to sign, one for the adults and one for the kids. People of course had fun with the photos in the middle-and it wasn't just the kids.

We talked to Mercy's second cousin, Krista.

The Brown Family

Mrs. Olson and her adorable grandson Asher

The cool-looking cakeballs, which I forgot to try

The cake looked cool and tasted good.

Grace did the bouquet throw.

Dad told her she had the best bouquet throw he had ever seen.

Kristen caught it.

Ryan had caught the garter at a previous wedding, so he decided to bring it and throw it.

No one told him it was the best throw they'd ever seen. ;-)

At one point before the wedding, someone said something about me not being able to take pictures at the wedding.

"That's why we had her be a bridesmaid," Grace said. "So we wouldn't have so many photos."

I didn't think about it too much before, but afterwards I wished I could have taken pictures more. I'm glad I wouldn't trade the experience for anything; it was so worth it I'm not disappointed about it at all.

About halfway through the reception I started taking pictures, some just because and some I was asked.

Putting the photo booth away

Myles

Mom and Mrs. Olson

Sam Olson and family-love baby Kolby's face in this picture

I asked Rebekah to take my picture with them.

Another of my favorite pictures from the wedding

Caleb handing out kisses

This picture makes me laugh. You can get some awkward photos when people are saying goodbye.

Sonya

Sonya and Rebekah

Sonya and me

I like these ones too.

I also find it amusing that Grace apparently can't stick her tongue out.

Not sure what's going on in this photo even though I'm in it...

The cleanup was well organized; all at once, it seemed, everything was put away. I thought I'd help, but I didn't.

It was about nine when it was time to say goodbye. They didn't tell they were going, but I had made sure Grace told Mercy it was okay if she told me the next day. "What difference does it make?" I asked her. She smiled and didn't reply. "What do you think I'm going to do?!" She just laughed.

Ryan's car was decorated.

They went out and looked at it,

but they took Grace's car instead.

It was over. Things were put away, and people who were involved started to leave.

We had the first family photo taken since some someone snapped one at a softball game a few years ago.

The girls still there enjoyed taking pictures.

Melody thought the bridesmaids standing in a circle made a cool picture.

Later, I thought the Brown girls standing and talking with their father made a cool picture.

Unsurprisingly, it was late when we left the church.

(I wrote the last three paragraphs over a week ago, they're still pretty much true, and I like them, so I'm going to leave them, though they are home now.)

I didn't feel sad and I haven't had the "there's nothing left in life to look forward to" sort of feeling, like Ashley, Rebekah and I in December joked that I would have, at least yet. Maybe it's because I still have post-wedding things to do and haven't thought everything through yet.

But I think, maybe it's like Mercy said at the wedding when people asked her if she cried. "No," she said, "I was too happy to cry!" If I were sad the wedding was over, it'd be for me, since of course they're happier than they've ever been, and quite obviously it's not about me at all. In a sense, it's not even about Ryan and Grace.

It was a beautiful end to the beginning of a beautiful marriage. And Grace, you better be still smiling on your Segway in South Africa because I'm still smiling here.