Sunday, May 01, 2011

Our Wedding Weekend - Friday

Every girl always dreams about her wedding. I was the same way, except I always dreamed about it being simple, stress-free, and relaxed. Then I dated guys that wanted big weddings with multiple receptions. That's great for some people...and I love attending big weddings...but it's not what I wanted. Well, dreams come true. My wedding was just what I had always dreamed it would be.

Friday, April 22nd
I had always wondered what it would feel like the night before I got married, and it was surreal. It was my last few hours of being a Merrell - the name that was my identity for oh so long! I thought I wouldn't sleep at all, especially since I had suffered from a migraine that day and had slept a lot. Nope, I slept just fine and woke up Friday morning in excellent spirits. I wasn't at all nervous, unlike my handsome groom, just happy the day had finally arrived.

Our appointment at the county clerk's office was set for 9am and we needed to be there at 8:45am. Our friends, Tim and Tiffany Neal, had agreed to be our witnesses and would meet us at the clerk's office - where they had been married, coincidentally. We arrived a little late (quite unlike me) because we had stopped to get my wedding bouquet (a single white gerber daisy) at a flower shop that had just opened and had been unprepared for early morning customers.

The ceremony was quick and simple but very sweet. We were in the clerk's office for probably 15 minutes, if that, yet it was an enjoyable 15 minutes. I remember looking at Steve while the clerk read our vows to us and we said our I do's. I felt so lucky to be marrying such a wonderful, handsome man.

Before the Ceremony


Walking to the clerk's office


Saying our vows


Getting my ring


Steve getting his ring


First kiss as man and wife


Steve, me, Ricky Hatch our officiator


Tim Neal, Tiffany Neal, Steve, me


Mr. and Mrs. Ellis

After the ceremony, we went to Jeremiah's for breakfast with Tim and Tiffany (Steve had changed out of his uniform but I stayed in my dress). I called my mom on the way to the restaurant and told her we'd just gotten married. She was surprised but happy. After breakfast, I called my dad and texted my brothers, cousins, and some close friends.

Then we did the really unromantic but definitely practical things that come with getting married. We went to the Social Security office (which was surprisingly open) and I changed my name - received the card with my new name just a couple days ago! It was a quick visit, which pleased us to no end since we've heard horror stories about waiting there forever. We then went to the base to get me an ID to get on to base without Steve and to sign me up on Steve's insurance. We wanted to go to the DMV to get a new drivers license for me, but it's closed on Fridays. I'll get there eventually. I can't wait to have a drivers license that actually looks like me! Mine is from 3 years ago when I weighed a lot more.

After all this running around, we came home and took a nap. Ahhh. It felt so good. I changed my clothes and we went to Salt Lake to recreate our first date - the aquarium and a Bees game. Well, we eventually realized that the Bees were playing in Vegas, so we just went to the aquarium and Blue Plate Diner in SLC, then headed home and went to African Cats. It was a fun, relaxing day and I loved it because I was with the man I love, my husband!

13 comments:

Lori Clark said...

Congrats Julie!!! You look beautiful!

Melissa said...

Congrats!! I am so glad that is was everything you had hoped it would be! I agree with Lori, you look beautiful and radiant!

Connie Meade said...

You have looked forward to this for so long. I am glad that it was all you ever wanted!

Anna-Karin said...

Hey lovely compie -- congratulations! You will have to change your first sentence on your Web site now -- the one that says you are 33, single, etc. :D We wish you all the happiness in the world -- and lots of visits to Portland. ;) Love you.

Cassie said...

You look so beautiful!! Is it weird that I'm tearing up a bit just from the pictures? (:

KieraAnne said...

Congratulations! You look amazing! I'm glad it was everything you wanted it to be. :)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations!! Thanks for sharing the photos!

Cardine said...

I'm so glad you blogged about this and posted pictures. I was wanting to see what you wore (yes, weird, I know) because I wondered if there was even a dress involved! I also wanted to see your wonderful smile, since I wasn't there.

Congratulations, again! I am really happy that you are a Mrs. instead of a Miss, and I'm glad that Steve is so great! You are a great couple!

AJEYA RAO said...

First time to your blog...Congrats!

tearese said...

So, when I saw this before it wouldn't let me post a comment, but now it looks like it's working.
Again, congratulations and I love you in the blue and white. And withe the pretty flower.
I hope all is still going well!

warnser said...

Congratulations, pretty much ditto to what everyone else said.

Lynne's Somewhat Invented Life said...

Congratulations! I love going to weddings of people I don't know. No, really, I've always wanted to be a wedding crasher. Thanks for letting me. You are so pretty and your hubby is kind of a hunk, isn't her? Good for you!

Unknown said...

congrats!!you are happy girl.