Morning: The minute I woke up I remember my sisters head asleep on my right arm. I'm really glad that I took the moment to realize that before the day started. My sister and I shared a bed which is enough to make me bawl when I think of it but we did and it was the best. So that morning I wake up look over and she is completely knocked out from the night before (which was a fabulous rehearsal and rehearsal dinner; it was fun and I felt beautiful and my two high thoughts were: HOLY MOLY I'M GETTING MARRIED and to Paul who is fabulous and smart and handsome. IS this a movie? Am I starring in it? I Always thought it would be Penelope Cruz? Again, I digress. I do remember feeling ultra fabulous during dinner and after and when my dad hugged Paul goodbye and I hugged him for the last time as a fiance and got away in my car. (Later that night we texted until the wee hours of the morning telling each other we couldn't wait to be married and that this truly is the happiest life..) It was really something... Back to Sarah, I slowly moved my arm from underneath her head. She looked like a little kid. I felt like a little kid. Again, enter: What is even happening???!?
She's the best. She would carry on to be the best maid of honor a girl could ask for. Love her the most.
Breakfast: My mother came into the room. Wide eyed. Also looking very much: What is even happening?! ( Theme of the day) and said, "You need to eat. Here!" (Looking back that is very love language of my mother: food.) I am handed a coffee with cream and a buttered piece of bread. She hastily asks me, "Where are the place cards? Paul is looking for them. He's on the phone but he doesn't want to see you." I hear him on the speaker phone and my heart jumps. I imagine he feels as excited as I do. I then sit there and write letters to my mother, father, and future mother and father in law.
Getting ready: Madness. Craziness. I felt beautiful. I ran late. Everyone was going a bit mad but we all made it out alive. Barely.
The Church: We got out of the vehicle and I snapped my veil on and my eyes slowly looked up to the very tip top of the Cathedral. This is happening. This is the place. Everyone is in there. *He* is in there... My father and I went to the confessional and he is peering out the door saying he is nervous and I am very much the opposite. The whole weekend I felt very much..relaxed. Even when things were chaotic as they inevitably can be.. I felt very much at peace. Similarly, dating, the engagement..all of it. I never second guessed, I never wondered about Paul. It all just felt very right. The "rightness" came back in full swing moments before walking down the aisle. This was my guy. This was my man. This is exactly where I am supposed to be. We walked out of the confessional. I grabbed my father. Felt my throat close. Looked up and there *he* was. My first thought and I remember this so clearly is, "Oh, he looks so handsome." His haircut was flawless, his whites were crisp and white and his smile was BEAMING. His face was BEAMING at me. It was like a gravitational pull down the aisle. I quickly glanced around me and saw everyone staring *egad* and then before I knew it I my dad was putting the veil over my head; I was face to face with P. He grabbed my hand. The hand squeeze; I can still feel. It was solid and together. We were there and we were getting married. It sunk in with the hand squeeze. He looked at me and as we were walking over to our seats he whispered, "You look beautiful." After I said thank you, I said, "So do you." Because he did. He looked stalely and strong and sure of us. Just as I always hoped he would.
Vows: We said we would. I cried. I kissed him super big. I closed my eyes during the songs so I would somehow soak it all in and so I would hear the cello on the balcony above us. It was beautiful.
The Jefferson: After pictures and all we moved back to the Jefferson. More pictures. Then for the first time all day we were alone together in the Jefferson Suite. Which was HOLY MOLY stunning. Before we left to the cocktail hour I realized I needed to use the bathroom. We walked over to our bathroom and with two hands Paul scooped my up my gowns skirt and I sat...on the toilet that is. We smiled at each other and laughed realizing this was the first thing we did as man and wife. It was the most romantic moment in the world and I'll forever remember it. Then, it was time for our entrance on the grand staircase. My deepest and most sincere wish was not to fall down the steps of this grand staircase. Please, God. He heard and answered by letting us get to the top and hear the piano man stop playing to say, "For the first time: Introducing Lieutenant and Mrs. Paul Edward Daly" and we appeared and smiled and it was again wonderful. The server handed us champagne and white wine and we were off.
Reception: I for the first time in my life audibly gasped when Paul and I walked into the reception. The way the Jefferson set up the ballroom was not to be believed. It was breathtaking. Music from the 50's played throughout and the lighting was dim with the flowers and the cake and the menus and all; it was good. It was really good. We ate dinner. Paul barely ate dinner because he was so excited but I ate almost everything. I remember that being the being the biggest tip: Eat your dinner at your own wedding. We got up and tried to say hello to each table and then we danced. As Paul and I got up for our first dance I looked up at him and thought, "Oh, we forgot to practice." Then we danced with Frank Sinatra and it was beautiful. We laughed the entire way through it with these big goofy smiles. I remember feeling my dress in the back move with me. Then the Father Daughter dance came and as we were walking up my dad behind me steps on the back of my dress pulling the back of my bustle. I hear it snap, look behind me and see him with his eyes wide open saying, "I'm so sorry."But I said it was okay and I grabbed his hand because I could feel the nervousness through him. Not a performer, my father. But he was with me dancing to, "My Little Girl" by Tim McGraw. He told me he always knew I would be something, have a beautiful wedding with a beautiful life being married to Paul. He told me I was so beautiful in between tears. He mostly just laid his head on my shoulder and cried. Later, we danced and danced and had more champagne and took more pictures and met with more people. We heard our speeches and then danced and drank some more. We cut the cake with a SWORD. My sister and I did a dance to, Salt-N-Pepa's Push it for everyone. Paul's groomsman Joe led, "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" by the Righteous Brothers along with every man in the Navy who was in the room; replaying the scene made famous in Top Gun. What a night. Toss of the bouquet and the garter which we ultimately decided to do because it's ~tradition~, you feel? We had a really fabulous time. Our last song was, "This Is How We Do it" by Montell Jordan. Naturally. The first time Paul and I sang in the car together was to this song on one of our many road trips while dating. Long Live 90's hip hop and R&B in the Daly household. I remember my feet hurting and Paul getting on the ground. Pulling up my ball gown to find my feet and undoing my straps. Grabbing both my white satin heels and tossing them on a gold chiavari chair and taking my hand to the dance floor. Cue the *What is even happening?!* It was his servants heart shining through along with the top confidence he carried in just *knowing* he's the shit. I felt like the shit.
The Next Morning: We quickly realized upon waking up that we had a brunch at 11am with both of our immediate families. The only things we had were two phones at ten percent, one ball gown, and summer whites. Our mothers quickly made it over with out things. We then got ready and went to brunch. It was delicious. We went back to our suite where we all were together for a bit more. Then we walked my family over to their car. We said our goodbyes. I remember walking back hand in hand with Paul looking back one last time to my mom, my dad, my brother, and my sister. The only family I've ever known and been apart of. But just as I began to cry, Paul gave my hand a squeeze.
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