I have to say, the week leading up to the wedding I was feeling very stressed and nervous that the wedding would not turn out the way I had planned. I was sick for a day or two early in the week, so some of my last-minute tasks ended up getting postponed and being even more last-minute. Franchesco's family came into town on Wednesday 2/1, so I wanted to spend some time with them, but I also felt like I was running around for a couple days like a chicken with its head cut off...shopping trips, printing ceremony programs, putting together the candy buffet...
The evening of the rehearsal made me epecially nervous because the whole thing just felt very chaotic and unorganized, and I was worried that nobody was going to know what was happening on the wedding day and it would be all my fault for not having organized the details well enough or early enough. The lack of organization was worsened by the language barrier, as we needed to translate every step of the way for our visitors from Brazil. The night before the wedding, I was barely able to sleep because there were still last-minute "to-do's" bouncing around in my head all night.
Luckily, all the stress and minor problems are beginning to fade from memory, and are being replaced with all of the wonderful memories from the week and the wedding day itself. Somehow everything came together for the wedding day, and although not everything turned out picture perfect, I couldn't be happier with the way our special day went and that I am now Mrs. Franchesco Borges :) And surprisingly, I'm a little bit relieved that the planning process is over!
I want to give a big "THANK YOU" to everyone who was there to celebrate with us. I truly hope that everyone had a wonderful time at the wedding! I especially want to thank Franchesco's friends and family who came all the way from Brazil to be with us. I have some truly great memories that I hope will never fade!
Speaking of memories, I'd like to finish this blog post recounting some of my favorite memories from the week. The actual wedding went by so quickly (5 hours really is not long enough), but many of my best memories are from some of the other smaller moments of the week:
- Playing music and singing along in our living room with Emilio and Enildo. What a great time and a great way for both sides of the family to get to know eachother!
- Dona Nilza and her constant picture taking. Thanks to her we'll be able to look back and remember all the little things and not just the big events.
- Brazilian food - it was so great to enjoy homemade Brazilian food and see my family experience a little bit of Brazilian culture. Thanks again to Dona Nilza for all of her hard work in the kitchen!
- The "Man Cave." I will never forget walking into our basement and seeing my Dad and 5 other Brazilian guys huddled around a computer laughing and having a good time together despite their different languages and cultures. I am SO happy that Franchesco's family loved my family and vice versa. A big thank you also to my parents for hosting everyone in their house and making sure that everyone had a great time!
- Franchesco kissing my hand after putting my ring on during the ceremony. We may have fumbled through our vows and shared an awkward nervous kiss, but that moment when he kissed my hand really melted my heart...
- The end of the wedding night when the DJ had stopped playing but nobody was in a rush to leave. People were still standing on the dancefloor or sitting at their tables chatting and enjoying themselves. It made me so happy to know that everyone had a good time.
- The pictures that friends and family took at the wedding and have given to me on CDs. Seeing all the smiling faces in the photos made my day!
- Coming back home the morning/afternoon after the wedding, with beautiful flowers from the wedding displayed on the table, fresh coffee and homemade cinnamon rolls. Possibly a minor detail that many people wouldn't notice, but I could just feel the love that my parents put into preparing coffee and breakfast for everyone each morning.
- Lastly, I'll never forget my dad all dressed up for the wedding! But not only that, he was incredibly dependable and helpful throughout the whole week when I was stressed and overwhelmed. Even the morning of the wedding, anything I asked him to help with, he was on it. I couldn't have pulled it all off without his help! I love you Dad! Thank you so much for everything!
I'll be working on an online photo album of pictures, and I'll definitely keep everyone updated once I get the photos and video back in a couple weeks. In the meantime, check out the pictures from the photo area at the reception!
Now begins the countdown to our honeymoom...4 days!!
I loved when Franchesco kissed your hand too. I also loved havin a front row seat to see all of your expressions on your wedding day. It was beautiful! - Sarah
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