Hi! I'm sporting the smile of a Cheshire cat right now. I haven't been able to wipe it off my face since last Friday night. I look like a complete dork and I could care less. Most of you knew I was getting ready for the big day a couple weeks ago. I'm here to report it as a total success! I want to share some highlights as it was a night far more awesome than ten billion hot dogs.

I traveled to the US two weeks prior to the event to do the obligatory bride prep work. Jumping Jeezy my Mom was awesome. She sat up with me watching silly US television and tying bows and cutting ribbon and working every night until after midnight to get things ready. I ordered these amazing chocolate covered fortune cookies with custom sayings such as, "Filet Mignon means Wookie loin in twi'lek" which was only funny to us since almost EVERYONE going to the reception ordered the Filet. We put them in these little black take-away boxes and put silver heart charms on each one and a white bow. It took like three days to put those bad boys together. Well worth it, they looked really pretty.

So, the snowy flew out a week later. We went in to apply for our marriage license which was hilarious since the very large Berks county woman looked at us like we just landed from the moon when we told her we lived on the "Isle of Man". I was skeptical, but three days later, sure enough they granted us the legal right to say "OMGIDO!!!11one"

*side note: This last week had many extremely pleasant blasts from the past, so in honor I'm listening to AFI: Sing the Sorrow... and you should too. It's old but SO fun ;)

Right... Not sure everyone knew the logistics of this shin-dig but it was hell on Earth organizing everything. I mean that in a playful way of course... Like a tickle hell, not a hell of boiling oil. We had people flying in from: Mexico, Ireland, Scotland, Africa, Isle of Man, California. Then we had people driving in from New Jersey and North Carolina. Some took care of the planning and it was fine... others had trouble and I tried to help even though I truly suck at planning and strategics. My sister kicked my ass at Stragego every goddamn time we played, so I don't know why I thought I could make this work for everyone.

Some how it did. Everyone got there with the exception of Vlad, who got detained flying in from Mexico with over a gallon of Tequilla for us and some salsa for the extremely spicy Ainge. Bugger >_< My Mom managed to get that all worked out though... Again she rocked so freaking hard I can't even express in english. Perhaps if I knew Latin or some other elegant and sophisticated language, I could thank her properly.

Friday night was the rehearsal and the dinner which was awesome! I didn't get to eat much, but that was fine... seeing family and everyone together was the best feeling in the world!

So, snowy goes off with my Dad, Ainge and Jonny to his house. I couldn't see him that night obviously so I stayed with my Mom and StepDad.

*old school music note: now switched to G-Love: Dreamin from Philadelphonic ^_^; So gorramn appropriate!

Morning comes!! Holy shit... married today wtf!! :D

I got the pics later of snow and Ainge getting ready the morning of the big day. Apparently it's customary to do the "look off into the distance in modest reflection" pose:

They looked really calm.

-meanwhile where the ladies were beautifing-

TOTAL FSCKING CHAOS!!! :D The girl set up to do my hair managed to burn my head, burn my face, make me look like a complete idiot with horrible hair. I also had to pay a lot of money for it. Nice eh? It was a goddamn disaster. I fixed it myself later. It worked out fine I think. So the girls get ready and we get picked up in a limo at my Mom's house! RAWR CLASSY!!

They had to hide me in the limo for a while because nosey people refused to go in the church with out seeing if Bon Jovi was in the limo outside or not. He was not. Just me ;) My Dad managed to sneak a really nice pic of me hiding out in there though:

So, ceremony was pretty much the short-short Spaceballs version. Do you? Do you? Good you're married kiss her! *smooooooch* Holy crap married :D I did however manage to turn and make a goofy face at the congregation when he said "I DO" making the whole church laugh at me >_<; I couldn't help it... it was awesome! My aunt said after the service that she'd never laughed so much at a wedding and had a great time. I guess that's good... they're usually boring aren't they? ;)

OMGBBQMARRIED!!

Head to the reception... Let's just say, so many people showed up I never thought I'd see there. I knew all our parents (all 8 of them) would be there and come from all corners of the planet. I didn't however think our friends would come from so far away. Ainge was snow's best man so he had to come or would have some New Jersey politics to deal with which wouldn't have been pleasant for him ;) Good news is, I think my Uncle Carl is going to adopt him into the family because they totally bonded.

Jonny however was under no obligation to come all the way from Ireland and worked it out to be there which was awesome because he's the nicest in the universe. Our seriously special pals from the Isle of Sheep Ben and Anabelle, booked off work (they work with us and it's not easy to do there) and paid to come see us which made my heart absolutely melt. Dan and Sharon who might just be the coolest humans on the planet actually rescheduled their annual Halloween bash to fly from California to see us was completely unreal. I always feel like Garth and I should repeatedly bow saying "I'm not worthy" in their presence.

*Music note: Erlend Øye, DJ Kicks ^_^;

Vlad... Vlad came all the way from Mexico and not only did he do that but he tried bringing a lot of booze and things getting him detained by the TSA in Texas making him miss his flight. My Mom was as worried about him Friday night as she would have been about one of her own children. Thankfully he made it to PA and I think my Mom wants to adopt him too. He brought these gorgeous gifts for us and our parents that blew my mind out of my ears. Vlad is the most thoughtful, beautiful creature on Earth besides snowy of course ;)

Here's Ainge and Vlad pretending to be drunk (until they were really drunk later that night on all the Tequilla Vlad brought :P)

And a cute one of them ^_^;

Kat, snow's lovely sis came all the way from Scotland and away from her studies to attend. She looked gorgeous and got to see her sweetie hubbie PFC who was there too! Jeez there were so many of us nerds in one place I thought for sure a real life besieged would take place and orcs would storm the reception. I think it makes me even more of a nerd picturing myself drop kicking an orcish warchief while wearing a wedding dress ;)

Speaking of FFXI... GARKIE AND HIS SUPER AWESOME LADY CAME!! We met Garkin after over 6'ish years of consorting online. It was amazing... he was perfect in real life and his lady gorgeous and fun. (I know her name, but not her silly "internet name" which she might not like me posting ;) but <3 to B*** because she rocks!) :D

My absolute best friend in college even showed up. I haven't seen her in maybe 4-5 years? I almost passed out when I saw her at the wedding. When we finally could talk at the reception, all I could do was laugh remembering all the good times we had and how incredible it was that she was there with me on my day. I love her so much and she's STILL gorgeous!! ^_^;

We were overwhelmed with the turn out. It was a truly magical day. Ainge made his best man speech which was initially I think addressed to all the "nerd herd" that showed up. He basically reminded me that the person who was responsible for pulling all of us together that night didn't bother showing up.

I guess it was kind of funny, and true, and sad and well... it is what it is. I think that was the only part of the night I felt sad. I know snow tried getting him to sensor that bit out of his speech, but he did it anyway.

I don't think it's a bad thing. I just looked around... I saw the love in my friend's faces for us and they saw it returned to them by us. I don't care what brought all of us together. What was important was what's right in front of us. Our entire family and true friends that made the day so incredibly special, so special, I spark tears thinking about it.

It was the most amazing day of my life... I was so happy I wanted to jump out of my skin just to look around at all the scenery and take it all in. I felt truly blessed, truly loved and surrounded by the most amazing humans on the planet, no seriously!

<3