You all ready for this? (or Part 1: Getting ready to roll)

Ok, so here's how we'll do. I'm going to go in order, but not minute by minute--more by broad chunk of the day, with lots of pictures.  I'll start tonight with getting ready. And maybe later I'll go back to write a bit about the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

We each got ready at our respective parents' homes (our childhood homes), surrounded by our parents and our wedding party. It was a really nice way to start such a big day. I woke up early-- my mom was already up and puttering around the house. We shared the first moments of the day together. I was happy and excited from the moment I woke up-- nerves crept in for a minute or two here and there, but mostly I just felt a kind of happiness I've never felt before.

We girls (my mom and Pat's mom included) began by getting dolled up at a salon just a couple minutes from the house. Everyone had their hair done, and some of us had our make up done. The salon had mimosas, coffee, bagels, and pastries out for us-- I actually managed to have a few bites (and a few sips). It was calm and laid back- a good way to begin.

From the salon, we went back to Mom and Dad's, where we had time to get ready at a relaxed pace. There was a lot of laughter and activity, but we managed to avoid much frenzy.

The mirrored vanity in the photo below was my grandmother's-- my mom and both of her sisters all had their photos taken in front of it on their wedding days.

And then, of course, it was time for me to put my dress on. It was so fun--I mean, I really only needed one person to help me into it, but I felt so supported having 6 of the most important women in my life surrounding me.

My mom was a little disappointed that we didn't get a posed photo of just the two of us, but I think the moment Brenda captured here trumps any posed photo we could have taken. I love everything about this-- the look on her face, the look on my face, the reflection- everything:

Of course, while all this was going on, Patrick was getting ready with the guys a couple miles down the road at his parents' house. The scene there was basically the same as the scene at my parents' house, obviously.

Pat's older brother/best man couldn't resist getting out his 8 bit tie...

There were sweet moments, too:

Patrick's mom helped him (and the rest of the guys, from what I hear) with his tie.