Wedding Day!!!... (Wedding Blog 2 of 2)

Even now, a few weeks later, I still remember the incredible calm I felt on that Saturday morning of my wedding day. Sleeping VERY soundly the night before, I woke up at 8:00am to a pitch black hotel room (thanks to black out curtains ), feeling rested, refreshed and ready to conquer the day. This was my wedding day…the day I had been waiting for, and preparing for…for the last year and a half…. Well for the past 20 years really! I was confident it would all go according to our plans…and if for some reason it didn’t, I was confident that I wouldn’t let it bother me. Today was to be the happiest day of my life…and the day had just begun. :)

Knowing that it wouldn’t take long to reunite with my family (who was staying in the same hotel that night)…and realizing that the moment I walked out of that door, chaos would ensue… I took my time getting dressed, relaxing for the final moments before I was to head out to get my make-up done.

An hour later, I made my way to my brother and sister in law’s suite (which had been transformed into the “hair room” for the morning)… finding Chad’s mom and my sister in law Christi already getting their hair done. As 9:30am approached, I met up with my Dallas mom Lisa to head to the Galleria to hit the MAC store for my 10:00am make-up appointment. As luck would have it, I arrived literally SECONDS before another bride… taking the only available spot with the ONLY available make-up artist that morning. (apparently the girl I had scheduled myself with had failed to show up that day!) Putting my face in a gay man’s hands (who had on better make-up than I had seen on most women!) I closed my eyes and hoped for the best.

An hour later, make up done and looking fabulous, I head back to the hotel to start the hair primping process.  Having already done a trial run with Amanda, the hair stylist a few weeks before, she was geared up and ready to get going once I arrived back at the hotel. 

Me and my Penguino Jenn Jenn...

Me and the cat...Lola Cat that is... :)

College Station Girlies together at last..

Getting my hair DID!

Mr. Logan, aka Chad's mini me, coming to say hello..  :)

My brother Omar and my sister in law Christi...

Great job Amanda, I LOVED my hair!

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1pm had finally arrived, and my family and I gathered in the lobby of the hotel ready to make our way to the church.  With Chad hiding away in the hotel room we would share that night, I loaded into my parents surburban, dress in tow... to make my final preparations for my big walk down the aisle.  One last thing to do... DRESS!

Me and My Barca crew... Thanks guys for seeing me off... :)

Rachel, helping my dad..

My Dallas mama Lisa helping get me pretty...

Christi, my sister in law, and I

My brother and dad...

Me and my new family... my mother in law Diane and Aunt Denise

My mom... me and my grandma Nana

Our beautiful programs... designed and assembled by YOURS TRULY!

Chad and his men, having a moment... lol...

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After an hour of prepping in that church dressing room.... It began to feel like ceremony time would never come. As 2:30pm finally approached, all the ladies had left to join the line forming out in the hall to make their entrance into the church like they had practiced the night before. I waited and waited in that church dressing room for what seemed like hours until it was my turn to walk out of that room to meet my dad. For a moment, as I waited in the room alone, I feared that they would forget I was in there... for a moment, I pictured the audience looking back in wonder at where I could be hiding. lol... Silly silly little thoughts... Just then, my mind snapped back to reality as I heard the music change, signaling the processional of my bridesmaids.. and soon, my turn would come. Finally, my dad walked back into the room and told me it was time...

Here we go!
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Chad and I give great thanks to our wonderful wedding photographers, Jimmages Photography, who captured our wedding exactly like we wanted to remember it.  Jim focused on details, our friends and family, and most of all, he somehow managed to capture the incredible love that Chad and I felt that day... not only for eachother but from everyone in the room.... :)

To view our entire photo album of fabulous pictures.. please see the link below for full coverage of the wedding ceremony, reception and MORE!!
Professional Wedding Day Photos

Rehearsal Time!! :) (Wedding Blog 1 of 2)

There have only been a few times in my life when I've been short of words.  I could talk to a hole in the wall if only I knew people wouldn't think I was crazy..  :)  For the second time since Ive started blogging, I've found myself stumped... at a loss for words.  The first time came shortly after I met Chad.  It took awhile to gather all the thoughts and feelings and all that GOODNESS that was swirling around my head... and now again, after just a little over two weeks after our wedding... I'm here, again. 

The dust has somewhat settled, honeymoon bags are finally unpacked, and we've finally found a sense of normalcy again after all the chaos of the wedding has subsided.  In an effort to provide COMPLETE coverage of our lives as they happen, THEN and NOW....Here's a look back at the Kelley/Maldonado Wedding Weekend!

As Wedding blog 1 of 2:  Here is the run down of the events leading up to the day... (before I forget!) :)

Wednesday- November 11, 2009- Chad's mom arrives at our house before any other Kelley or Maldonado family members arrive.  We take her to dinner and settle in...in preparation for the next day when the mass flooding of family members were to arrive.

Thursday - November 12, 2009 - The remaining Kelley clan arrive around 2ish... and settle into their hotel (Renaissance near our reception site).  My family quickly follows arriving by caravan, driving nearly 10 hours with nearly six people packed in one suburban!  We spend the evening catching up with old friends... California folks..our wedding party and all the other guests who came in for our festivities.

Friday - November 13, 2009 - Official Wedding Festivities begin!! 

1pm - After a somewhat chaotic start to the day.. I gather up a gaggle of girlies and head to Watters Creek in Allen for the official painting of the toe nails ....in true bride to be fashion.  ;)  Three hours later, toes and fingers pretty as can be, we head back to get ourselves pretty for our 6pm appointment with the church for our Rehearsal! 

My sister in law Christi Maldonado...  :)

Ahhhh..... sooooo relaxing!...

Me and my Dallas mom, Lisa :)

Bridesmaid Melinda :)

Bridesmaid Erin :)

Chowing down on some tasty snacks Erin made... :)

6pm - It felt surreal as Chad and I walked thru the church doors that night as we had done many times before... but this time we were greeted to our friends and family gathered around the lobby.... all for us!!  After a round of hugs and hellos from beautifully familiar faces, we gather around the alter and begin to take instruction from our church coordinator.  Hands clasped, hearts pounding loudly in our chests.... Chad and I faced eachother and recited the very words that in less than twenty four hours would change the rest of our lives.  After two test runs and some last minute instructions from our wedding planner Rachel, we end the church rehearsal and begin to gather the troops for the short caravan trip to our house for the rehearsal dinner. 

Waiting in the lobby for the rehearsal before us to end...

Chads Sister Christy, her husband Ryan & their daughter & flowergirl McKenzie!

Chad and his mama waiting to practice their walk into the church..

My mom and I.. :)

Being silly with my fam..

Two of my girlies... Jenn & Lola :)

Kelley & Platt clan waiting to see what was next on the agenda...

                         

Right before we walked in...

Awww...walking down the "Practice Aisle" with my papa...

What an INTENSE look in Chad's eyes... lol

Our beautiful bridesmaids waiting to get instructions...

"You may now kiss the bride!!"

(the BEST part of the whole night!) ;)

Is that is??  Are we done?  Are we married yet??  ;)

My brother Omar and my niece and flower girl, Addie :)

7:30pm - A short ride later we arrive to our community clubhouse to a room filling with all our out of town guests.  We greet everyone again and begin the task of getting settled into our role as not only host and hostess but party honorees!  A short while later, after drinks had been served and everyone had found their place, Chad and I say our thanks and invite everyone to eat! 

Our community clubhouse/Rehearsal Site

Our beautiful flower girl, my niece Addison Grace Maldonado

Yummy Texas BBQ...

                                     

Christy and Lisa...

Chads uncle Bob..

Chads Uncle Curt..

The Fontanella Family... :)

Awww... two mothers bonding...

My mom, Chads dad and Chads sister Christy...

The majority of the Maldonado cousins...

10pm - As the night wore down, the true party goers began to show their colors as the majority of the guests head out, leaving only those willing to take to the night to continue the party.  Needless to say, Chad and I were NOT among the party crowd... but we did continue to the Renaissance hotel where we parted ways after the nights festivities had subsided and all our family members had gone to their rooms. 

The time had come... and this was to be the last night that Chad and I would head to bed single... Our wedding day was only a few hours away... and...

This was my last night as Miss Yvette Maldonado!!