The question Jonathan and I have been hit with the most! It's great! Is it any different than it was 2 weeks ago before we were married? Not really. We both have wedding bands on our fingers and my last name changed, but other than that . . . our love for one another is still as strong! We both know that we've been married to one another for a while now. Everything with us just makes sense. I don't know exactly how to explain it, except we just belong together. I know that no matter what, Jonathan will always be by my side. He supports me in everything I do; that's something I'm not accustomed to, so I'm a little hesitant on recognizing it sometimes. Jonathan and I have grown so much over the two years that we've been dating. We've done a lot of growing within ourselves and we've learned so much about one another. He's helped me overcome a lot of issues that I've had in my past; some I still fight with but I know it takes time, prayer, and faith.
For me . . . mine & Jonathan's relationship can sometimes be an eye-opener. My first marriage was a nightmare. There were so many red flags. This whole experience with Jonathan . . . planning the wedding, him WANTING to be involved, his help, his shoulder when I needed it . . . I've tried my hardest to cherish every little thing about him because that's the person that I am and I was afraid that my first marriage stole that from me. There was one specific part of mine and Jonathan's wedding that I will forever hold close to my heart . . . the preacher told Jonathan to stand with his back towards everyone - for him to look out into the ocean and to just take that moment to clear his head and take a deep breath and when I was ready to walk down to him he would queue Jonathan to turn around and face me. Jonathan said he was completely fine up until this point; wasn't nervous throughout the day, was just pumped and excited about us getting married, but then he felt his knees lock up and butterflies in his stomach. As my dad and I walked down the stairs from the beach house and topped the "mountain of sand", my dad started talking to me while Whitney's mom was fixing the back of my dress. I saw that Jonathan was facing the ocean and at that moment I had a couple of seconds to glance around and see everyone. My dad nodded his head to the preacher and that's when Joanthan was asked to turn around. We locked eyes with one another and he started to cry. I've never felt so important and special to someone as I did then. The love, joy, happiness, overwhelming emotion that I felt was written all over my face (so I was told). As my dad and I walked thru the sand, I couldn't tell you who was there, who was talking to me as I walked by them, what Josh was playing on the guitar . . . Jonathan was the only person there that I saw.
I thought with us leaving a few days before the wedding to head to the beach, I would get some R&R in . . . HA HA HA, not hardly!
The day before we departed for the beach was a 'tension filled-hollering at each other - chunking things in garbage bags - slammin doors' kind of day . . . heehee, I laugh now. This was mine and Jonathan's first time to go on a trip together AND first time packing with the other being involved.
**Advice** All couples should do this at least ONCE before getting married
I'm a little on the OCD side of being organized . . . okay, a lot.
I had boxes and Rubbermaid tubs set aside to pack everything in that was going to the beach. I "was" planning on packing everything according to set-up and then labeling the boxes/tubs so that I wouldn't be running around like a crazy person looking for this-that-and the other when it was time to decorate!
I had "planned" to work half a day (10am) that Wednesday before leaving and then as I headed out from 280, stop and pick up my flowers. At 12 noon, I'm still at work! Already 2 hours behind! Figures!
I leave work at 12:30, make my stops and get home around 4:00. Jonathan has busted his tail on cleaning his truck ONLY for the bottom to fall out of the sky. We were able to get the flowers unloaded from my truck and into the spare bathroom to keep cool, and then pull his truck into the garage before it got bad outside. As soon as we got in the house and out of the rain, Jonathan suddenly became my shadow . . . I started out being "nice", but that didn't seem to be working to well. I guess he felt like he needed to be as busy as I was; he kept asking "what can be packed?" "can this go?" "what about this" "why do we need this?" "what's that for?" I was about to explode. If I ignored him -that made it worse, if I snapped at him - he turned around and gave it right back, if I threatened him . . . I'm Just Kidding! But it WAS close!
It had finally stopped raining and he started loading the truck and trailer. He was outside all of 30 minutes and there he was, right back behind me . . . I think I would've been fine had the NEXT statement not been made.
**Side Note** We are taking an enclosed trailer with us that will have his bike in it and extra room for boxes and tubs. He's already told me that most of everything will go in this trailer. His bike was at the shop waiting to be picked up, which he decided to wait and get on our way out. Now to me - this means that most of the stuff will need to be "re-packed" in order to get the bike in the trailer.
So, he's standing in the doorway of one of the guest bedrooms (where all the wedding stuff is being stored), looks at me and says "What's all this?" I respond . . . "This is all the stuff that's going to the beach . . . " He looks at me and says "We ain't got room for all that, it ain't all going!"
HA! DO WHAT!?!?! OH YES SIR IT IS! I KNOW HE JUST DIDN'T TELL ME THAT IT WASN'T ALL GOING!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
So back and forth we went, hollering, slamming the doors, ya know . . . THEN he thinks he's gonna mumble stuff under his breath . . . WRONG! I may be deaf in one ear, but I can still understand the sounds that letters make!!! I stomp into the kitchen, pulled the whole box of garbage bags out from under the sink and stomp back into the bedroom (hahaha), Jonathan following close behind. "What are you doin???" he says. I snap back with "What's it look like, I'm packing so you can start LOADIN IT ALL UP!" (yeah). Everything and I mean everything was going in a garbage bag. I'd stuff it full, tie it up and toss it to him. After it got to the point of me going outside and chunking garbage bags into the bed of his truck so he'd get off my back, I finally got a grip, took a deep breath and said "Okay, something has GOT to give!" Funny, Jonathan met me at the front door ready to apologize as well. We both agreed that we were tired, stressed, nervous, tired, anxious, freaking out, tired again, and HUNGRY! HaHaHa
We ended up getting everything packed and the next day was out of the driveway at 7:30am - right on time (according to Jonathan - he was happy, that's all that mattered).
Jonathan's brother, Josh and his girlfriend, Stephanie, were following us down to the beach. They were staying with us until Joanthan and Josh's mom (Connie) arrived Friday to check in to their beach house. We met them in Pelham at Victory to pick Jonathan's motorcycle up. An hour later, we headed up 2 more exits and decided to eat at Cracker Barrel. Little did we know that stop would be with the four of us for the rest of our lives! I'll just say our waitress meant well - but was HILARIOUS! Finally by 10:30am we were headed to the beach! We looked like the "Clampetts" (thank you Chris at Victory), but ya know what, everything that "wasn't going", went! HaHa
We finally made it to the beach by 4:30ish. We unloaded everything and tried to get situated in the house. Jonathan and Josh unloaded their bikes and we all rode to get something to eat. At 11:00pm we headed to bed. Whitney and her sister arrived at midnight to stay with us as well until they could check in the next day.
Friday was a beautiful day! Sheri (my photographer), her husband (Lee) and their little boy (Devin) arrived at 10am and we started on the canopy then. Jonathan had already quickcrete the four main poles into small pots the day before. Lee is awesome! He knew exactly what had to be done in order for it to be secure! Now, getting the top of the canopy up and tied off to the other four poles was interesting! Our friends Trent and (his wife) Richann walked over with her parents to see what we had accomplished, and to offer any help. It took six of us all together to get it where Lee could secure it to the four poles.
Rehearsal went great! We LOVED Pastor Glenn - he's awesome!
We worked on the material for the canopy Friday night after everyone left. We had to insert grommets so the material could be tied to the poles as well. By Saturday, all that was left was putting the flowers together for the girls, laying the sheets and pillows out for the guests, chairs out for family, and the guest sign-in table needed to be arranged.
Jonathan and all the guys went to Kiva Dunes Golf Resort Saturday morning to play golf before the wedding. They had so much fun! Jonathan came back with the outline of his sunglasses sunburned on his face . . . but hey - they had a ball!
I left out to get my hair and makeup done and all that was left was putting the sheets out. Whitney told me she would take care of that, so off to the Aveda Spa I went. I get 3 miles down the road, just long enough for her to get the sheets out and it starts pouring down rain! Whitney was able to gather the sheets up and throw them in the dryer, heehee.
Everything turned out great! The shower only lasted for 10 minutes and passed on by, sheets were dry and ready for guests to sit on, and the rest fell into place! The ceremony was perfect. The sound of the ocean, the wind blowing and the sun setting . . . Perfect!
Pictures were quick. Sheri only had about 15 minutes of sunset to work with. They still turned out beautiful though, all 600 of them! HaHa
We had 50 guests attend the ceremony and 35 that went to LuLu's with us for a small Reception. Everyone had a great time there.
Jonathan and I made it back to the beach house around 11:00 that night. We finished cleaning up and decided to break the canopy down too.
We ended up not going to P.C. for Thunder On The Beach that next morning. We were both tired, and just wanted to enjoy not having to run around like crazy! A lot of family and friends were staying at the beach until Tuesday, so we spent a lot of time with them . . . yes, while on our honeymoon.
We had Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday before check-out alllllllll to ourselves, hahaha.
We stopped in Gardendale on our way home to pick the boys up from aunt Miranda's (the vet). Before we got out the door good, Duke rips two of his toenails smooth off. They have to wrap both feet so the bleeding would stop then give me a topical powder to put on the cuticle. We pull up at home, Tyson gets off his leash, went running around like a crazy dog, we unpacked, we ate and then went to bed! Thursday morning we got up, Tyson is coughing his head off . . . Yep - its kennel cough! He even had a booster shot! Of course this means Duke also runs the risk of getting it as well! Four prescriptions and a vet visit later . . .
Welcome back home!
~The Prices
